Birthday Season
25 Oct 2011 05:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wayfaringwordhackTwo weekends ago, as I mentioned before, S and I drove to my bro- and sis-in-law's for a visit and to celebrate my m-i-l's birthday. I made her a succulent wreath and Gramercy Tavern's Gingerbread Cake. (I love this cake. Love, love, love it with extra ginger. Sadly, it isn't J's favorite.) This past weekend, we took S to Spain as planned, and we had a great time. I think she did, too.
One year old, but still a little too young to understand how to open presents
La Concha Bay in the background, family in fore: Tonton (uncle) Mat, Manou (grandma), and Papa with Sprout and Rosalie the Cow.
At the aquarium, in the tunnel:
In front of Basílica de Santa María del Coro:
Eating her first birthday cake on the lawn of Miramar Palace:
The cake she found so-so, but the pear we gave her afterwards met with her whole and fulsome approval:
The beret met with less approval. She is not a hat baby, more's the pity.
And a final frolic on the beach before heading home because Beaches = Happy Baby:
The weather was really on our side. With people swimming and sunbathing, it was hard to believe November is only a week away.
Then, Monday, it was J's birthday, and we headed south again, this time stopping in Basque Country* on the French side of the border. The weather was wet and blustery, though, so we didn't spend time outdoors, exploring, as I had planned. Instead, we ate lunch in Espelette, where eponymous chilis festoon white, white houses with pepper-red or Basque-green shutters. We then visited Edmond Rostand's mansion, now-museum, where his works, notably Cyrano de Bergerac, and life are featured. Photography is not allowed indoors, but you can visit the site here to see a little of the interior.
_________________
* This being the area of France J would like to settle in on that distant day when we shall decide to put down roots.
One year old, but still a little too young to understand how to open presents
La Concha Bay in the background, family in fore: Tonton (uncle) Mat, Manou (grandma), and Papa with Sprout and Rosalie the Cow.
At the aquarium, in the tunnel:
In front of Basílica de Santa María del Coro:
Eating her first birthday cake on the lawn of Miramar Palace:
The cake she found so-so, but the pear we gave her afterwards met with her whole and fulsome approval:
The beret met with less approval. She is not a hat baby, more's the pity.
And a final frolic on the beach before heading home because Beaches = Happy Baby:
The weather was really on our side. With people swimming and sunbathing, it was hard to believe November is only a week away.
Then, Monday, it was J's birthday, and we headed south again, this time stopping in Basque Country* on the French side of the border. The weather was wet and blustery, though, so we didn't spend time outdoors, exploring, as I had planned. Instead, we ate lunch in Espelette, where eponymous chilis festoon white, white houses with pepper-red or Basque-green shutters. We then visited Edmond Rostand's mansion, now-museum, where his works, notably Cyrano de Bergerac, and life are featured. Photography is not allowed indoors, but you can visit the site here to see a little of the interior.
_________________
* This being the area of France J would like to settle in on that distant day when we shall decide to put down roots.
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no subject
Date: 25 Oct 2011 09:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25 Oct 2011 09:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25 Oct 2011 09:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 26 Oct 2011 07:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25 Oct 2011 09:29 pm (UTC)Roots are good. (Carrots, potatoes, Queen Anne's Lace....) Are the French Basque as insular as I have heard of the Basque in Spain, or is that Spanish situation a mis-creation of the Spanish gov't?
no subject
Date: 26 Oct 2011 07:17 am (UTC)The French Basque are known for their strong personalities and their fierce grip on their heritage. Some people will tell you that they are chauvinist and insular; however, as in all cases where people try to apply stereotypes wholesale, I believe it is a matter of who you meet, what your expectations are, etc.
Most of the ETA stuff happens, I believe, on the Spanish side. We hear less about the group these days.
no subject
Date: 26 Oct 2011 09:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 26 Oct 2011 10:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25 Oct 2011 09:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 26 Oct 2011 07:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 26 Oct 2011 04:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 30 Oct 2011 05:50 pm (UTC)Yes, I am catching up with your journal again ;-) I am late with my birthday greetings again, but they are heartfelt nonetheless: A belated Happy Birthday to you, young Sprout!
*Edited to change sigpic!
no subject
Date: 30 Oct 2011 08:09 pm (UTC)Glad to have you back around. I only wish you'd stay this time. ;)
How've you been?
Going to give Ni90 a whirl with me in two days? *bats eyelashes winningly*
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Date: 30 Oct 2011 08:22 pm (UTC)I have every intention of staying this time :) I'm working up to a blog post about it, but the words are being a bit coy.
Funnily enough, I did wonder whether it was a coincidence or fate - you know, that I've chosen to return now. Just as a new round of Ni90 involving so many people I recognise from my first attempt is about to begin.
I've thought about it for most of this evening, actually.
I've decided that it's just a coincidence ;-)
no subject
Date: 31 Oct 2011 05:14 pm (UTC)Coincidences are good. Just not in fiction, apparently. ;-)