Cordoba, Spain

CORDOBA

The city lies in Andalucia along the banks of the Guadalquivir river. We arrived there early in the morning. our hotel was located just near the historical center, the second biggest in importance in Europe. Michael and I are ready to explore the city. The temperature is over the 37ºC! It is April 2010, regardless the heat Cordoba looks wonderfully attractive!

We had heard that Cordoba had three towns with three different languages, religions and traditions. There were Muslims, Christians and Jewish all these three towns living in such impressive armony. It is hard for me to believe such thing, knowing that for centuries, and nowadays people still kill each other because their believings. This coexistence served to show that it is possible to live in tolerance, not even having a common language neither a tradition, it is possible.. Their will to live in peace was bigger than their desire to conquer minds. Among those groups, la Judería from the Jewish side, had notorious culture. in one of the plazas of la Juderia there is a notable statue from the great Jewish  teologist  philosopher and medico Ben Maimónides, born in 1,135. He looked the truth, the sense of life, the acknowledgment. Maimonides rejected blind faith in creeds, in the fanaticism that nullifies all the freedom of thought and action. 
Among the famous streets of La Juderia, where someone can easily get lost! We found the precious Mezquita de Cordoba although its composition looks as a big cathedral. Years later under the catholic dominio it is given the name "La Catedral de La Asuncion de Nuestra Señora". The Mosque of Cordoba was built in 786. It is the second biggest Muslim temple in the world after the Mecca Mosque.

Inside the Mosque, the edification has the impressive number of 1,300 columns with bicolor arches.
Cordoba has impressed us so much for all its architecture, balconies, walls with hanged pot flowers making the city truly nice!
I am so thrilled trying out a fan, the temperature had raised a lot! Playing with my new toy made me feel like a Spanish girl but I didn't have such abilities to turn it back and fort in her stylish way. Well, it was try... Sigh. Every time I think there is a good spot to shoot something interesting, like this one in a botanical garden of Cordoba, when Michael was trying to get rid of the sun for a while. I was just playing with my new xsi rebel Canon camera!

If someone get lost, which really happens, just looking around the corners or walls, you will find written "reminders" that you are lost. Cool!

Rooting in the USA

Cusco, Peru - Sacsayhuaman Fort

When arriving to a new country, one can have the feeling of knowing nothing about the people, the place itself, food, even the water tastes different, the language is another issue and it can be a kind of barrier to communicate with others. It is known where the sun arise always, but in my case I got the sensation that it raises from a different way rather than from the east, funny! Well, almost everything it's different. So, life becomes a challenge. -- Here, my short story about living in the USA. It was spring of 2006 when I arrived to Vermont, north-east of the country. On my list of doing things, first thing was learning the language, even though I had learnt some basis English in my home country, Peru, then meeting people. I remember that my first way to contact them was going to whatever church I found on my way later on, I became fond of the people of Saint Paul Episcopal church. After a month my husband and I moved out to New Hampshire, just 45 minutes driving. 

STARING UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Enfield, Fall in NH

First job, first driving license, first English school, first garden experiences, first American friends (besides the ones that I made already in Vermont - Maggie). During this rime my husband taught me how to drive, how to swim, how to play racquetball and tennis, almost everything I have learnt in a short time, you can imagine how exhausted I felt sometimes. No doubt Life in other place is an opportunity to grow. Little by little I felt connected with the new place, rooting in such wonderful way. In one of the gardening seasons a short report was written on a local magazine, it was about my skills of growing vegetable. Well, life was good specially when meeting people from other countries in the English conversation groups, everyone had the same goal, learning the language. Also I have belonged to the International Women Club -IWC and growing vegetables in two garden communities. I became so passionate of such tasks that I ended up studying Master Gardening.

It was November of 2009 when I got my test for the American citizenship. I approved the test at my first attempt. Then I waited some weeks for the Oath of Allegiance.

January 22, 2010 - Concord, NH - OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

Concord, NH

The day arrived and I might consider the most beautiful one of my life, not because I am quitting from my beloved Peruvian roots, it is the fact of being welcoming officially in a new society, and that matters to me. In the hall, there were a judge, the Governor Lynch and around 90 persons, also some children who sang the American anthem and the relatives of the new citizens.

I remember that day when a neighbor from Lebanon city drove all along to Concord to witness my oath, it was nice of her coming to the ceremony from far away.

As soon as the ceremony ended, I did my paper work to obtain my new passport.

In the afternoon I received from friends some flowers and cards about the news, ohhh, I can still smelling the aroma and the remembering the cheerful notes. Thank-you!

WHAT A SURPRISE IN MY JOB!

Wow! Hard for me to believe, it was the most beautiful surprise that I've ever received there during this time! On Sunday, January 30th, my boss, Rev. Virginia Fryer, as usual she lead the service, but this time it was in honor of my naturalization, but I was not aware of that. I was there, in the church, attending the invitation that I received the previous days. Here the audio of what happened. Well, the service started with patriotic hymns like "American the Beauty", being January it was odd singing such songs, the attendants, most of them, were dressing in red and blue. I was gladly surprised. The last song cheered me up, it was sung in Spanish. Vaya, que bien lo hicieron!  Here is something about the place Lebanon United Methodist Church .

At the church Karina and I.

The moment was magic, although Michael was not me at that moment, he was working at the hospital. Instead, two Peruvian friends Giovanna and Karina came with me and they were having fun as I did.

Abby and I cutting the cake.

At the end of the service, hugs from people came over and over, then I took some pictures, and ready to go home, or at least it was what I thought! Suddenly, my beloved little friend Abby (my boss' daughter) whispered me to go to the fellowship hall, she was quite demanding hahaha!. Abby asked me to close my eyes and to walk slowly. I did it. "Open your eyes!" -she cried. Oh my god! What a terrific surprise!!! In January the blue-red-white of the decoration reminded me the 4th of July! The tables were set up beautifully, the main table with the American pye, goodies and the Peruvian drink "chicha morada"! And what a feeling looking at the two American and Peruvian flags hanged on that table. Below you can see the healthy and delicious Peruvian drink -chicha morada -- cooked with peruvian ingredientes: purple corn. 

Linda Kane one of the organizers.

The party surprised were on hands of these handsome ladies Linda Armstrong and Linda Kane, they did such a good job to welcoming to their country. I felt so happy and I knew since they that I have a new family here... While my roots are getting stronger. THANK-YOU!

Linda Armstrong. The other one who prepared the party!

Marilyn Dunten gave away her earrings.
Now they are mine!

Olé in Andalucia, Spain

SEVILLE - APRIL 2010

Mi first time in the Madre Patria! For Michael was another visit :)
Angie, Rogelio y Hector showed us a warm welcoming in their apartment in Seville, capital of Andalucia. We are very grateful for all their kind advices to visit the city. Because of them, we were able to taste and recognize the pure extra virgin oil olive, which is part of the daily cooking of Angie:). What a delicious paella we have eaten there! Thanks a lot Angie, Rogelio and little Hector!

We arrived on time for the celebration, it was April and La Fiesta de Abril is celebrated annually during a entire week. Hundreds of people walk around the city with their colorful dresses, specially women. Of course, I dressed up a colorful or sort of flamenco dress. I had fun walking the streets so easily as if I were Spaniard among the others. Hector, looked so cute on his tiny suit called 'corto' . 

Rogelio, Angie and little Hector.

Angie and I. She got this dress for me.

Hector and I

Finally, we have reached the fair, which begins each year two weeks after Semana Santa or Eastern. The day was a little bit cloudy with a nice temperature and the colorful flamenco dresses of the women waved from side to side trough out the streets making more cheerful the day. Several picturesque boots or casetas were set up all over the fair near the banks of the Guadalquivir river, people can eat some tapas, dance flamenco or drink some wine like "La Rioja". Those casetas looked so familiar to me... mmm... I have seen them in Peru in a mini version, yes! They are the famous "Retablos" of Ayacucho, I got it! retablos de Ayachucho. They were incredible alike. No doubt Peru and Spain had a strong connection through history, customs, food, language, folkclor, architecture, etc.

Casetas - Feria de Sevilla, España

Michael at the entrance of the
"La Maestranza"

PLAZA DE TOROS, SEVILLA

In Seville there is a well known Plaza de Toros, called "La Maestranza". Getting to the oldest bullring in Spain was not easy, we booked our tickets in advance. We indeed were attracted to this bullfighting festival. Many ladies dressed up in Sevillana style, with colorful flamenco dresses, shoes with heels, fans matching with the color of their outfit, delicate parfume, so stylish. While men are dressed in 'cortos' a sort of short jacket, tight trousers and boots with a handkerchief on the chest pocket and a flat big hat. 

At the beginning wasn't easy to get used to watch how man can provoke an animal who can not defend itself the attacks... Fooling and killing the bulls was just disgusting. I should admit that I wanted to run away leaving my photography practices. I sadly teared. And yes, I did not leave. Sigh...

Acadia Maine

The Garden 2009

Again this year, the Coo-op Community Garden in Norwich VT, gave us the opportunity to develop our inside gardeners. The lack of space at home was not a problem to cultivate our own veggies and flowers in that place, as you can see above the flower came from a seed, turning out in a cute Teddy Bear Sunflower, it was a birthday present from my friend Mimi Pearson, what a surprise! I called the photo "Running with the wind".

Sunflowers from our garden in Norwich, Vermont

SUMMARY

FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL
Nice thing to start the plants from seed. Above, you can see the tomato seedlings growing indoor, when outside the temperature reached -26ºC. Unfortunately, when I transplated the tomato seedlings, some of them died because an unexpected frost... but some of my hot pepper seedlings survived!


JUNE, JULY - The Agricultural Disaster in New England?

Everything was fine until an unwanted fungus spread out to every garden in the area, it is called Late Blight which attacks tomatoes, potatoes plants and weeds. It was something devastating in the Northeast of the country. LB had not beeing seen since around 100 years. 97% of my fellow gardeners lost all their tomatoes. Michael and I lost all of our tomato crop (24). I read several articles about this symptom, like this one but I needed a local help, our garden coordinator was away at thime. I spread the word in the garden about what I was told.

A prevailing atmosphere of uncertainty was among everyone in the garden. My first contact was Cooperative of Extension of New Hampshire asking for help, I received a prompt and an appropriate answer!
The advise was pulling out all the affected plants and throw them out in the garbage bin, not in the compost pile. It was a hard time for Michael and myself I just coudn't believe all our effort that we did at the beginning bringing compost from a farm horses in Hartland, VT where Mrs Polly Smith was so generous with us donating the compost; we did several trips driving our tiny blue Elantra Hyundai car... all almost for nothing.

Michael pulling out the tomato plant.

Regarding our potato crop the plant were cut, while the tuber were left underground, it was not the same, but it was a challenge. I was dissapointed to see an empty garden. We tried to save the green tomates, we got a huge bucket of them, but after some days at home all of them turned awfully brown.

AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER - After the Storm

Fresh radishes ready to be eaten!

My favorite crop: ONIONS

I kept going with my major enthusiasm after this sudden storm. Then, there was a time for the first harvest of radishes, arugula, lettuce, Swiss chard, hot peppers, flowers. Between onions my favorite hot pepper! This has its own story. When I transplanted the seedling, I broke part of its root! I just got mad with myself... after an hour, the seddling looked so weak... I touched and talked to it saying what a fool I was... the next day for my surprise this tiny pepper plant looked alive and ready to go.. so, it survived! THANKS, I said. Since then I called it "El Malimuerto vivo" (something that the dead is alive)

Another surprise in the garden. Of course, gardening is also a kind of experiment. So, I planted the seed from this decorative gourd and look what I got.


GIFTS OF THE NATURE IN THE GARDEN WHILE GROWING THE VEGGIES

Cute nest of birds located between weeds in the plot of my neighbor Jerome, who is nearby my garden.

Some days after a rainy day, I was cleanning up the garden from weeds (I heard it is easier to pull them out when the soil is wet), then I found this innocent and quite toad in between my onion crop!

And finally, this bicolor spider was looking at me while I was harvesting peas :)

LOOKING FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GARDEN IN OTHER PLACE

"CANILLAS COMMUNITY GARDEN" In LEBANON, NH

Starting the garden with raised beds. The CCG started late (June) but with so much energy!
Celebrating and sharing our first harvest.
The Canillas Community Garden group

Patty McGovern (right) is who is leading this project very well! I love to work with her and her team. In the center is Helen Brody and Rebeca Perkins (left). Behind, Normi, a friend. It is a nice team!!

COMMUNITY GARDEN - NORWICH, VERMONT

It is September and everything is growing fast, peas, onions, corn... It is a privilege to have a pleasant summer here.. everything grows fast. The flowers give their best to the environment: color, beauty, scent, happyness...

Here the first zucchinis. I was told that I can eat their flowers which I tried them with garlic and oil in a pan... Guess what! Delicious!

Cleaning the space, feeding the plants are our priority to have success with healthy and delicious harvest. When I sowed this tiny Chamolille seeds, almost invisible I couldn't imagine what will come later!...Then looking at these plants, their shape with flowers, it is something wonderful!

We cannot stop the harvest!

Onion, onions, onions, potatoes and flowers

Before ends the season, we had a Harvest Potluck with all the gardeners. I prepared a Peruvian spicy sauce with fingerling potatoes (see below photo in the red dish)Dominica Borg our gardener fellow, cutting blueberry cake.

Enjoy Michael!

The below coliflower was my huge challenge... I saw it growing step by step until it turned like a tender cotton.

Then it ended up cooked in this delicious dish "Escabeche de Coliflor" a Peruvian dish.

Eating what we grew up in the garden this "Escabeche de Pollo" with carrots, onion, parsley, hot pepper, coliflower, peas, green beans. The recipe has chicken.

ENDING THE GARDEN SEASON

The kale is a strong plant. In the middle of october after several critical cold nights, the kale is still up.

Before, this was the kale seedling among a path of green been seeds that I planted for companion.

The kale harvest was a lot! We need to buy a freezer. The plan is to enjoy the frozen kale in delicious green soup from Portugal... I cannot wait!! Michael at home having difficulties cleaning up the kale, because we got a lot!

That was our wonderful time in the garden. With expectations, dissapointings, challenges but with lots of perseverance and care.. All these were the ways to do gardening. We love to see butterflies, bees, birds enjoying our plan... and of course, eating our organic veggies.


Videos that I recorded before we pulled out our tomato plants due to the Late Blight.