Postcard from La Orotava, Tenerife

Tenerife, land of the highest mountain in Spain, El Teide. Last time I visited my friend was fulfilling a life long passion, learning the arts and crafts of the delicious Spanish pastries. I asked her several times to take pictures of her work and document the recipes and as everything in life you o one or the other. So she decided to do what she does well, the pastries. I was able to palate some of these savory pastries and I have to say "they are delicious". I finally got a picture of her new place called "La Ferrera" in living memory of her grandparents who were born in a town in Asturias (main land Spain) in "Los Picos de Europa". I just wanted to share with you. Next time you are in Tenerife, stop by and savor yourself. It is located at the bus station in La Orotava.

Smile

Smile is an expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement. It is also a stress reliever. Never been in a situation where there is total silence and someone starts laughing, I bet it will make you smile. I recall I was once swimming in the beach and the relatively calm waters where interrupted by a strong wave, there was this kid in the sand and the wave surprised him and for a moment there was silence, and then he start laughing, as only a 5 year old kid can. It was so contagious, you could almost feel his happiness. Refreshing how in a moment we learn to decide if the wave that hit us is going to be a motive of happiness or otherwise.

I read a long time ago in a Selections Magazine an article about how if you disguise yourself, sooner than later you become that what you are acted upon. I guess is one of those things that influenced my life. The article was about this particular person that was an actor and was not feeling particularly well that day but he needed to work and after a while he realized that he was feeling really good. Sometimes I think about that and act as if I was the happiest person on earth and I can tell you that for me, it works.

I can totally agree with Bob Marley when he sings "Don't worry, be happy"

Try it.

Take the stairs.

I made it a habit to take the stairs. It is a great workout and as we not necessarily have a lot of time to exercise as much we should every little bit counts. I truly believe we get to live a longer and healthier life. I remember my dear friend Josefina told me that when she used to live in Paris in the 1940's, she rented a place in the 4th floor with no elevator from an elderly lady. Years later she returned thinking that the lady has passed but to her surprise she was alive and well. We supposed that the stairs kept her alive and healthy.

Drink Water

Water is life. Most cities in the US invest and are proud of having clean drinking water out of the pipe. Water has no calories and it keeps your joints working smoothly and your intestines doing what they are supposed to do. When we drink enough water we return to the real thirst. Water keep your skin dewy and youthful. We are 90% water when we are born and about 70% when we get old. So it is a very important part of us. It reflects and absorbs everything around it. The sounds of water are calming and refreshing. Water is a good friend. Drink water.

Postcard from Holland (from an outsider POV) II

Part of the joy of traveling for me, is the preparation. I enjoy it as much as the trip itself. I try to learn a bit about the language and the history and customs. Normally my best source is the good old fashion library. I usually get a basic language CD and try to watch as many movies in the given language as I can. Dutch or Netherlands was in a way very difficult for me to learn. I was able to get a few phases and even was able to imitate their famous guttural sound. My challenge was mostly to get to practice. Most of the people I meet spoke several languages, I understand they have German and English as a norm in schools. They really liked that I made the effort to speak Dutch but if I asked how to say this or that, they will just reply, it's easier in English. I notices that most of the houses have a lot of windows and they look like doll houses, usually with a flower arrangements or some decoration in the windows. My friend told me that they have signals like if the curtains are open, that means that they can receive visitors, but if closed they want their privacy. One thing I noticed before landing in Schiphol was the gray, at that moment I was able to understand the reason they like the Caribbean so much. The colors are not as bright but I think they balance the lack of light with beautiful bright flowers, letting as much light as possible into their homes and riding bikes. When there is a birthday in the family, they announce it by adorning the window and if invited, you are expected to congratulate everyone in the family by “Gefeliciteerd!” and 3 kisses alternating cheeks. The birthday person will buy pastries for the office or school class. Some of the buildings, I noticed mostly in Amsterdam are crooked, they rest on each other for support. I understand the foundations are long wooden pillars onto the muddy soil. Water and waterways are so abundant that is normal to see boats being used for almost everything, from housed to transport heavy equipment of both combined. In some of them I saw their cars on top.

Rolled Beeswax Candles

Beeswax pillar or spiraled taper are very easy to make. You need sheets of beeswax in desired size & color, a square braid wick in size to fir the diameter. A craft knife, scissors, a ruler and a hairdryer.

Cut the sheet of beeswax to the desired shape, for tapers angle ruler lengthwise across wax from right 1.5" down to top left corner. Trim ( you can use the remnants for decoration on other candles) Place wick along longer side edge an press it gently into the wax. Roll wax evenly and use the hair dryer to soften the wax if needed.

Beeswax are beautiful and fragrant in it's natural amber color.

Postcard from Holland (from an outsider)

One of my favorite pastimes is traveling and learning about other cultures. When I first visited the Netherlands in 1999, I went to visit a dear friend. On the preparations for my trip I got all kinds of feedback that I didn’t find very positive at least from my point of view. Statements like “very weird” to “are you going to the coffee shops?” At that point I was unaware of what they meant by that, but it increased my curiosity. My first impression in customs was a peak at my passport, no questions asked and a “Welcome to Amsterdam”.
I stayed in Bloemendaal, a beautiful town in North Holland. I find it fascinating. I visited the coffee shops and walked thru the red light district. I guess it is a "must see" for tourist. But what really caught my attention was how I thought this society is misrepresented outside. I was really impressed by their struggles with water the way they reclaimed the land by building dikes. As I wrote before about sea level and I always been fascinated by water, I think this will explain my awe at this vision, this is not the work of an individual but the vision of the “people”. The bridges are engineered with what I thought was the simplest of techniques. They open and closed most of them by a pendulum system. Depending on the size of the bridge with very little force to move the weight for it to acquire momentum and open or closed as needed. Very fast and agile. I also wondered how come no one in the city of Miami Beach ever look for ideas as I could only think about me sitting in my car on the traffic that can bring the Boat Show and waiting for what it seem an eternity for the bridges to open and close and the amount of energy and effort that was needed for that. See link below for pictures...
The pasturage land is divided by dragging a canal so the livestock will remain in the selected area and when moved they build small bridges using the same technique. It is so simple is almost perfect.

Candle Making

Electricity may have rendered candles unnecessary but it was not made them undesirable. They can create a festive or romantic atmosphere enhancing any occasion. They are easy to make at home and will make an excellent present.

Safety first. I love candle making as it helps me relax, I just need to say that paraffin wax is flammable and I don't mean to be patronizing, just that I don't play with safety. No kids running around or pets should be allow near the wax. Wax and water don't get along to well either.

There is a lot of books on the subject and also you can find the materials on any craft store on on the web. I use a bit of new material and a lot of recycled materials.

1. Wax is the fuel of a candle. Paraffin is a type of wax and is sold in several grades and forms including blocks, sheets and pellets. Paraffin wax premixed with stearin to prevent excessive dripping is the most convenient to use. There is also  long burning beeswax sold in honeycombed or smooth sheets and as pellets. You can also use old and used candles, as the material is recyclable.
2. Dyes, comes in blocks, pots, pellets and powder. Make sure is meant to be used for candles.
3. The candle’s wick is the vehicle to burn the wax. You can do it yourself using cotton rope or buy it. Must be primed by dipping in molten was before they are burned. The diameter is important as if too thick the candle will smoke and if too thin the flame will be too small and extinguish. For molded candles you can also use a wick clip to anchor the bottom of the wick.
4. Spices such as star anise, cinnamon, dried orange peel and dried flowers can be added as a decoration and aroma.
5. Cookie cutters to use as molds and also to cut sheet wax and use as decoration.
6.  A hair dryer to warm a sheet of beeswax may also be useful. 
7.  Aluminum cans, beach sand, paper, buttons, for decoration. 

My favorite candles are the tapers dipped candles. Dip the wick onto a melted wax, I make them in pairs.

I will be getting in the details in the near future...

A blessing in disguise

I was surprised to see an old man riding a bike with a helmet and knee protector; he stopped for a moment to get his mail so I told him how refreshing was to see him riding his bike. He asked me to guess how old he was and I said 70? He immediately replied, “I’m 88 years old and the best thing that ever happened to me was to lose my drivers license 4 years ago, I was born in 1921”

I wish, if I ever get to 88 that I look as good as he does. His body lean, his mind lucid, and I can guess that he is saving a bit on car insurance and meds.

I can only imagine how hard must be for an individual to give up the “freedom” that driving allows, and this man choose to look for a better way, and he found it.

He is my new hero.

Enjoy every moment and make the best of it, that is all we have! 

Balance

I believe in energy and the best way I have to interpret energy is by waves. I can hear the sound waves and I also have the ability to select what I hear by discriminating all around and focus on what I chose to hear. Now I can hear the insects outside, the highway far away, the a/c, or my own hart pumping. To me, that is the key, were I place my attention.

When we are awake we have at least to mayor electrical patterns that our brain emits, the right side is believed to emit Alpha waves. This is when we are receptive, intuitive, relaxed, imaginative... If we are not aware, we can be in the alpha state for only about an hour a day. Usually just before or after sleep.

The left side emits faster waves called Beta and this is were most of us live. I call it the automatic state. This is when we are active, tense, talking, driving... If you think about it, we do at least 90% of our activities in auto pilot. e.g. Once you learn how to drive, you don't pay attention to the gears or the brakes ( as long as they are working ) or if you know a language, you speak and you are not debating what verb or adjective goes before or after, you just act. My problem with the auto pilot is that if I happen to learn something wrong and I store it on the back on my brain, when I use it, I am not aware that is wrong or that there might be a better way. I need someone, or something to make me aware of the problem.

Statements like, the closest you have from your eyes is your nose and we can hardly see it, or when you point your finger at someone there is 3 fingers pointing at you, seem appropriate.

The balance I am looking for is to be open and receptive to this alpha waves. But I won't let them in unless I am relax. I try to recognize the signs and which activities take me to one or the other and how and when can I combine both. e.g. an artist is composing music or a paining they have to be in both, one is the creative state of mind and the other is the auto pilot. I am not able to compose music as I am able to imagine and have ideas but since I don't know the language of music I am not able to communicate my message. That doesn't mean that I can't, it just that I am not interested.

One of the most powerful statements I ever heard was " be here now" meaning: when we are eating, enjoy and bless your meal (we may end up loosing weight since we won't over eat) if we are having a conversation with a love one or a client, be here now, we may be able to learn about them. Be here now is being mindful of what we do and how we feel so we can be in an alpha and beta state interchangeably.