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Hello! Welcome to my online travel-food-life journal/virtual scrapbook. I am a poet, playwright, journalist, editor and basic jack-of-all-trades writer. I was born in El Salvador and raised in Minnesota. I have just returned home from a year and a half in South Africa.

24 December 2012

3 Months Back, Ending 2012 & Feliz Navidad!

Just about three months ago, Aaron and I came back from South Africa.  They've gone by quickly, and before we say goodbye to 2012 I just want to share a few pictures/glimpses into life as we've known it.

Less than 48 hours after I landed, I was called to duty! 


I'm very proud to be on the Board of The Loft, the US's largest and most comprehensive literary center.  And wouldn't you know it, basically upon disembarking (30 hours, 4 flights) I was at a Loft event!  I had the great pleasure of thanking Bao Phi for 10 years of dedication to our unique spoken word series, EQ.  That night, we featured bow-down-and-recognize poets Patricia Smith and Anis Mojgani.  I also got to see my poet-brother, Rodrigo, and his family, including little Santiago, who was born while we were away:


Cuteness, no?  And speaking of cuteness:


I was SO happy to have gotten back in time for autumn.  It is my favorite time of the year here in Minnesota.  We went apple and pumpkin picking with my sister Carolina's family.  That's Aaron with my niece Naomi and my brother-in-law Paul on the hay wagon.


We also had to have a Salvadoran feast upon our return:


On a beautifully warm day my family gathered in our back yard and I was able to have all those foods I could not get/find/make in South Africa:


Yuca con Chicharrones!


A meltingly tender Salvadoran tamale, note the chicken and chunks of potato within?

... and Mamones! (Also called quenepas)  They are a weird tropical fruit that Aaron looks askance at and which I gorged on.

Also, there was some bocce played:


One of the nicest things about being back has been sitting with my kitties in my sunroom:


I am a complete animal lover and I missed these guys terribly.  This sunroom is filled with my books and little mementos.  It is my happy spot.  But truth be told, my whole house is my happy spot.  I am a true homebody.  I love our home with its warm wood and books everywhere.  I'm a nester for sure and I can't tell you how lovely it has been to be back in our own home, with our own stuff.  To have more than one room to live in -- it's glorious!

But gosh we miss South Africa!  We miss the people, the food; in fact, we were braaing till we absolutely couldn't anymore.  Look at this chicken my boy made.  Yum:


And then he attacked a pumpkin with a drill:


Hee!  It was all good (Halloween) fun:



Also, I turned 30somelalalala:


My brother-in-law and I share the same birthday.  So we went to one of our mutually favorite restaurants, Bucca, to celebrate.  Yes, that is the pope's head on the table.  And yes, there is a small monkey sitting on top of his head.  Let's just say we had a good time!


November was a more somber month.  A good friend of mine passed away suddenly and it marked the third anniversary of my sister's death.

And on Thanksgiving, we decided to finally scatter our cat Mickey's ashes.  Mickey had to be put down while we were in South Africa.  It was awful.  When we got back, my in-laws had his ashes for us.  We thought about it for a while and then decided we wanted to scatter them in one of our favorite places on earth, Minnehaha Falls:


The falls are right in the middle of the city; they empty into the great Mississippi River and are about 5 minutes from our house.  They don't look like much right now because there was almost no water and it's fall and all the leaves are dead, but it's a spectacular spot. 

We decided to scatter the ashes on Thanksgiving; we were very thankful to have had our little guy for 7 years, we loved him utterly and it seemed appropriate.  His absence is palpable in the house.



The rest of Thanksgiving was lovely.  Lots of pies of course:


And we got to meet another baby born while we were away, our cousin Kadie's boy Roman:


Such a cutie, he's like the Gerber baby!

Which takes us into December:


Not only am I a nester, I am a crafter!  Made the most awesome salt dough ornaments this year!



We also had a big, beautiful snowstorm:



A total winter wonderland, like living in a snow globe!  I guess I really am a true-blue Minnesota girl because I really love it, I love having a white Christmas.  There's something so finite and ethereal about a snow-covered world.  Happy sigh. 

By the way, I love Christmas.  I love this time of year, I love the decorations, I love the snow, I love the preparations for it, and most of all I love sharing it with family:






We are a bit torn this year.  On the one hand, we are really missing our South African friends -- who are like family to us.  We will miss the Christmas crackers and the braais (and OK, it would be nice to take a dip in the pool!)  But we are also so incredibly grateful to be home again and to celebrate with our families.  We are going to savor the paella and the squid and pasta (and we're gonna go cross country skiing soon!)

So I guess all I can say is that we are just really grateful.  To have had the incredible array of experiences we've had this past year.  To have all the families we have.  To have weathered difficult things and come back out.  To have savored so much, with so many beautiful people.  To have each other. 

From our little family to yours, we wish you a beautiful, safe, and joyous Christmas. 

Love,
The Armstrong-Duartes


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