Saturday, August 7, 2010

The Birthday Girls











Another niece and I did all the decorations. Jazmin did their make-up and hair. I have little flowers all around the cake because, here, in Paraguay, all the single girls and friends have to pull one of the strings with flowers on it. Tradition says: if you get the string with the gold ring on it then you are the next to get married. Then, one by one, or family by family, goes and gets a picture with the birthday girls. Since I was the fotographer, we just got some close-ups of us...

Friday, August 6, 2010

Cold, Cousins, and Cakes





It's been so cold for the past month that I don't sit down and write often. It's too cold to sit still and my hands freeze while I write. I like to be in a warm spot, like the kitchen. Well, I am way backed up from the birthday party, but I still wanted to show you some of the pictures of my cakes. My icing didn't work as well as I wanted it to. It was kind of runny, but I tried to hide it well!
There were bunches of cousins at the "Quince" (the 15th year birthday party).

Saturday, July 31, 2010

More (San Pedro) Winter Shots




1.My sister-in-law is using the wood stove to make fried tortillas for about 50 people.

2. Yes, there is a kitten next to the fire in the second picture.

3. Check out the little niece by the fire...she is bundled up in sweaters and has on flip flops.

4. Our little nephew, Juan, was just so cute and funny. He was helping me make bread.

Friday, July 30, 2010

San Pedro Adventure...









So, on one of the coldest and rainiest week ends of the whole year we went to San Pedro to celebrate two nieces 15th birthdays. The guys butchered the cow while the ladies prepared for the massive cooking! I was kneading 25 lbs. of flour/bread. Oscar was chopping wood for brick oven. Then...we started cutting and cutting.

Every once in a while we had to take a break beside the fire, just to warm our hands up a bit and drink some máte together.

Even the kids made a fire for them to sit around...and pop popcorn over the flames! When they weren't by the fire, they were all huddled together watching a movie...
Ok...three posts in one day is ENOUGH!

Friendship Day - July 30th

To all my friends...HAPPY DAY...Thanks for your encouragement and prayers! Read up about Friendship Day in Paraguay HERE.

Winter Weather

...A glimpse of the Paraguay River from our bedroom window...

Today: 85º F


Sunday: 44º F


CRAZY winter weather!!!!


Monday, July 26, 2010

Baking Bread San Pedro Style





Last weekend we were in San Pedro for Oscar's nieces 15th birthday party. The uncles butchered a cow. I made the bread and milanesas (500 milanesas!) These are pictures of baking bread San Pedro Style. No trays...we use banana leaves and bake them in a tatakua...a brick oven.