Saturday, July 31, 2010

Project 365, Week 31

I didn't participate in Project 365 last week for two reasons. One was that my daughter had just gotten engaged and I just HAD to share that news :)  But also Ivan loaned our camera to someone and I had no way of taking any photos that week anyway. We got the camera back last Saturday and I've only missed one day since.

We had a crowd here a week ago for an asado: our co-workers and all four of their kids (the two oldest were on winter break from Bible Institute) and another family in our church. We enjoyed grilled beef and pork along with a rice and vegetable dish and salad. The kids, who had learned to make brownies in English class that week, made them again for dessert. Ivan ran out for ice cream to go on top, and I made some homemade hot fudge sauce. Can we say D*E*L*I*C*I*O*U*S?!
Here's a group photo after church. Unfortunately I wasn't fast enough and some folks had already left so we're missing five or six.
Monday we went back to a used furniture store we'd visited the week before and bought six dining room chairs and a couple of nightstands. These are the chairs:
I plan to re-cover them in an indoor-outdoor fabric which pattern and color is still to be determined. I thought I'd found the perfect fabric only to discover, THERE WAS NONE LEFT. Ugh. Why don't online stores take things off the site when they're no longer available?! Get my hopes all up and then dash them to the ground. Hmmmpf!

Tuesday I had some time for sewing and whipped up these coordinating aprons. We're not keeping them though. I made them to give as a gift for a special couple. Hope they like them!
Wednesday a couple of students took the bus from Cordoba to visit us one last time before heading back to the U.S. this weekend. Both have been studying at the university here this semester.
We also got to know another girl who returned to the U.S. a few weeks ago and I'm not sure we ever got a photo of her. It's been a fun experience to get to know these students and we hope we'll be able to do that with others each semester!

The girls stuck around for part of English class that evening, when Charlie taught us how to make bread. Here he is giving Lucas a turn at kneading.
And here's a short video clip of Ale mixing the initial ingredients together. At this point not a whole lot of English was going on :)

It's been beautiful all week with sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s and 60s -- perfect for walks along the lake. The city has begun installing these little cement posts along the costanera to prevent cars from driving over the park lawn.
You can see how well that's working...several cars have pulled right down to the lake -- obviously they haven't installed the posts around the entire perimeter yet.

[BTW, I hear a cold front is moving in during the next day or two so we might actually have a week of really cold weather. LOL  I am sooooo lovin' winters in Carlos Paz!]

And finally, on my walk today I snapped this shot from the end of our block. Look at that view of the lake!
This empty lot is not for sale but even if it were we couldn't afford to buy it. I'm sure it would sell for at least $100,000 U.S. Our neighbor next door who is currently building a house said he's turned down offers of $60,000 (when his lot was still empty) and he's in the middle of the block with no view of the lake.

Much as we love our barrio and being so close to the lake, we ARE excited about buying the lot by the river. I'll try to get a photo of that for next week!

13 comments:

Dena said...

I love the chairs and hope we get to see a picture of them once you have them finished.

The aprons are great! I'm sure whoever receives them will really appreciate them.

How fun that you get all that interaction with the students. What a blessing for them and you as well.

SusanD said...

Great aprons. I really like the apron the girl in the bread making video is wearing. Did you make that one too.

Oh, and happy birthday to your MIL. 89! That's awesome. What's amazing is that she has and iPad and is using it. What fun for her.

You will L.O.V.E. your new skillet.

It's good to catch up with you. Blessings, SusanD

Lisa said...

Congrats to your daughter...HOW exciting! It IS frustrating to pick something out online and then find out its not available. I was thinking of you the other day and how you were fairing during "winter".

sara said...

so is there an Asado recipe on your recipe site?

you need to try the carne asada recipe I posted this week..yummy. speaking of recipes, I gave your cuban pork to Lois Lane (blogger), she LOVED it!! :)

can't wait to see the finished chairs. fun, bright colors come to mind for me!!

great week!!!

Betty W said...

Looks like you had a fun week. Love your chair "find" and also the aprons you made. Good job! I can´t wait to see more of you lot and what you plan on doing with it.

Willys and Elizabeth (Lizzie) said...

I love those chairs you found...
and cute aprons you made!

riTa Koch said...

Love the pics of table scene and aprons!
Homemade bread! Yum! We have that treat almost every Monday. It's the one time we feel compelled to eat bread.
When will be able to take walks together on the costanera???

RaD said...

The view of the lake is lovely, I can see why you love it so much.

Your aprons look nice and I'll bet whoever they are for will enjoy them.

McCrakensx4 said...

Love the coordinating aprons...so cute! And you are such an inspiration with all of the young lives you touch. Thanks!

Robin Lambright said...

Can't wait to see the chairs when they are finished and your new property!

How very exciting!

Blessings
R

Heidi said...

Congrats to your daughter! Wow! Very nice aprons- a wonderful gift. You have so many exciting things happening there- it would be easy to be jealous, but not very virtuous, so I'll practice some self-control.

You're right when you said not a lot of English was going on there with the bread clip. :)I understand the smiles and tone though- everyone was having fun- I guess that language is universal.

Tori said...

I think you had very good reason to be gone! Congrats to your daughter..how exciting!
Can't wait to see your chairs. You are so talented and have such a good eye, I know they'll turn out great!
Love the aprons!!
So what did they think of the brownies and ice cream? I know that makes for a lot of smiles and "yum's" around our house!
Have a super week!!

The Bug said...

It's definitely interesting to look at your pictures of winter while I'm in the middle of summer! I'm glad you're excited about living near the river since you're moving away from the lake.

Can't wait to see the finished chairs!