For the past two weeks, we have reported to Olga's farm to volunteer, but today I played hookie to take care of some shopping business. Plus, it's market day so Olga, and recently, Noelani will be there until the evening.
Today, I loaded up on local, raw milk and yogurt, mostly local and organic frutas y verduras, and some snack items while in the larger neighboring town. I stopped by to see Noelani, working Olga's frambuesa stand at the feria, market (literally carnival or fair, but that's how it's referred) to say hello and fetch her a quick snack of empanada frita con cebolla y carne. And munch on some delectable raspberries...
Afterwards, I took the bus from El Bolson back to Lago Puelo, crossing state lines from Rio Negro to Chubut. I noticed the bus doesn't continue on the regular route but turns down a side road to avoid people carrying a large banner down the street. I can't quite make out what it says but I vaguely remember it being painted a few days earlier in the park. I think I catch a glimpse of Elsa, the mother of a family we have become acquainted with around the corner from our house. Her husband, Alejandro, is the cousin of the director of Gabriel's school back in New Jersey. I wonder if the banner and group of people are demonstrating. Our small town seems to have a bit of political action going on. I only caught part of the story at our weekly pizza gathering at Elsa and Alejandro's this past Saturday night, but it seems a few families are upset about being displaced so they have set up a camp outside of a construction area with tents and shade structures. I will have to attempt to find out more information this week.
January, with it's blustery cold winds and piles of snow, often makes me want to hibernate in the kitchen with the oven and stove constantly on full blast. I relish in finding recipes hidden in cookbooks and food magazines, or experimenting with creating dishes I've sampled in restaurants. Such a North American centric idea of what January means from the other side of the equator!! I find myself longing for the creativity of cooking hot foods! Bags sprawled around me in our compact kitchen as I wash, prep, and imagine what I can do with this leftover chicken carcass...
Ameen is the true professional in this department, of course, but I enjoy my hobby cooking just as much, I suspect. He spends at least an hour a day creating tasty treats of all sorts for the family to enjoy. (We had a great time meal planning on the farm in Ecuador where our creativity was further challenged by lack of refrigeration, the nearest store existing no less than an hours journey, and a makeshift kitchen that left much to the imagination.)
Currently, even in 90 degree heat, I am listening to the sizzle of confit potatoes in the oven, and smelling the savory chicken noodle soup on the stove...
I am appreciating the little nuances of my unconventional life for the month. To save money, I wash my clothes by hand in the sink. I think my first load took me nearly an hour. But now that I have it down, a small load is only fifteen minutes or so, except for the time our water was shut off and I had to continuously run to the spring tap to refill. The tap is in the backyard and crisp, mountain cold water runs right to it. Drinking water has never been so good!! There are plenty of reasons I try not to drink bottled water, but this tops them all... Although I suppose that's exactly why some people want bottled water to begin with... Not all water from the ground or a tap could be this Damn good.
Reading Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" and wondering why I haven't read it sooner, and will everyone of my Facebook friends become annoyed with my constant quoting of it, and do I really care??
-Briana
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