Weeks 48 and 49: Project 365, the 2015 Edition

Monday, November 23

While in Sta. Rosa on Friday Ivan met Brian, who bought a tricked out rig and plans to discover Argentina via a huge road trip. He came into our friend's tire shop looking for hydraulic fluid. He'd already been to several other shops between Belgrano and Sta. Rosa and was desperate by the time he got to Jorge's. He doesn't know much Spanish so he hadn't been able to communicate his needs at the other stores (all of which probably had what he needed). Anyway, Ivan was able to help him find some other things he needed as well, and took him back to his rig which was parked at a campground in Belgrano. Ivan extended an invitation to visit us if Brian came to Carlos Paz, and today he arrived!

We had fun showing him around our fair city, and he camped out in his rig overnight, leaving early the next morning so he could get to his next destination. We were pretty impressed with his set-up; it's like an RV but in a 4-wheel drive rig. It was late (and dark) by the time I saw inside, so I didn't get any photos, but he has all that he needs as he travels. And the cool thing is, he can be completely off grid since he has solar panels on the roof! This shot of the truck is from the website of the company that makes these customized trucks.

 What a grand adventure he's going to have over the coming weeks!

Saturday, November 28

This evening we were sitting on the couch, working on our computers and I realized I hadn't taken any photos since Monday so I set the camera on the little bookshelf next to the sofa and took this shot.

These side views really show my age, but hey, what can you expect from an old(er) woman? ;)

Sunday, November 29

We were all excited when Rodolfo walked in with HIS ENTIRE FAMILY. People, this was momentous! Thiago was born in July and this was his first Sunday in church. Although he'll have to remain on antibiotics for a full year, he's doing well enough that they finally felt comfortable taking him out. As soon as the service was over, all the women clustered around to see him, and he rewarded us with lots of smiles!

Wednesday, December 2

We had to make a trip to Sta. Rosa (a quick one, there and back) and we planned to eat at La Rueda, a very nice restaurant we've been to a couple of times over the years (most recently with our son and his family). Sadly they were closed, but fortunately the German restaurant across the road was open and we enjoyed a fabulous meal!

Naturally smoked pork chops, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes. Yum! Too full to eat a whole dessert, we shared a flan. Sort of a pre-birthday lunch.

Thursday, December 3

Had to go downtown on errands and saw that this bakery/coffee shop had reopened (it's been closed for a really long time). They completely remodeled and took off the plaster, revealing the brick underneath on one wall and they hung old metal mesh racks that they used to use to make bread in brick ovens.

On another wall they painted large stalks of wheat.

Even though I couldn't eat anything, I did enjoy one of the best cappuccinos I've had in Argentina.

Friday, December 4

My birthday! For a whole month Ivan and I are the same age, and then he's older again :) He took me out to breakfast, something that's only recently become possible because Vitto's added some gluten free options to their menu.

Breakfast in Argentina means bread... or bread :) And what I got was bread, but of the gluten free variety. My meal included two biscuits, a pack of crackers, cream cheese, marmalade, freshly squeezed orange juice and café con leche. Ivan shared the fruit salad that came with his breakfast. I can't even express how happy I am that I can once again go out for breakfast!

Later in the day we worked on lunch together. Lunch is typically our big meal of the day. The original plan was to grill a chicken and some vegetables, but stormy weather quashed that idea. Instead we roasted the chicken, made mashed potatoes and Ivan whipped up some gorgeous (and delicious) salads.

Saturday, December 5

The barrio next to ours has a community building that has evolved from an open air facility when we first moved here, to a fully enclosed building. Recently a mural appeared on one end of the building. This is equivalent to a two-story building, so this mural is HUGE.

It takes some work to coordinate a Skype call with both kids simultaneously, due to the five hour time difference between us and our son in California. So thankful that Jon's always up for organizing the calls. It's so fun to see both our kids and all the grandkids on the screen at the same time!

Sunday, December 6

Dear friends were visiting Kyle and Tina so we ended up getting to Skype with them for a while. So fun! I thought I'd taken a screen shot, but apparently not. So I stole this one that Kyle took on that end.

Monday, December 7

Ivan found this tiny egg in the middle of the foundation for the house. How did it get there? It would have broken if it had fallen out of the tree (but it was too far from the tree for that to have happened, anyway). It's a mystery!