Saturday, January 16, 2016

B'days

    Birthdays in our family go for at least a week. This time it is Sarah's 32nd. The last week has been a mix of perfect weather and irritating glitches in progress and events. However, we persevere. I am walking carefully with gimpy knee and hoping the car is returned from the south very soon. 
    Last evening we had a Mexican theme party with friends from around the world. I listened to the river flow of Spanish and used my pidgin and hand signals to communicate. Much of the culture here is about wine making. Los chilenos aman su vino! There are many beautiful vineyards here, large and small, growing and producing wine for international sales. Wine makers come from Europe and the US to work or learn. 
    I am trying to make the tiny vegetable/herb garden flourish in dry season and bad soil. The gardener is confused when he comes to work and the plants have already been watered. I asked him for compost and he brought a bag of sticks and rotten leaves. I must learn more words! 
    Painting is progressing slowly as I watch the sky and sea, study the trees and the rock formations. The colors are different from other places I have lived and it is a wonderful way to experience a place by absorbing and transcribing the impressions as they develop!