La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I LOOKED OUT THE BEDROOM window yesterday morning and discovered Dudo at his usual spot, ready to pounce on any avian intruder daring to enter through the drain pipe. This time, however, he was brilliantly inventive. I would have been impressed had he not reminded me somewhat of Wile E. Coyote with his latest gadget from Acme Corporation. Still, Dudo’s a genius, don’t you think?
Later, on my walk on the beach, I saw birds that would have made Dudo so happy. The most pleasant sightings for me were a little egret (that’s what it’s called) and many black-headed gulls (they get black heads during breeding season). I love watching the black-headed gulls plunge-dive for fish. Unlike the larger gulls, they torpedo into the water and totally submerge. I’ve been trying to catch them in action, but it’s not easy.
In the evening, San Geraldo had the heat blasting in his office. Both cats decided to join him. Moose arrived first and chose Dudo’s usual spot atop their tree. It’s a small platform (for two such large cats) and they don’t like to share it. Moose rarely goes up there, and when he does Dudo gets seriously bent out of shape. San Geraldo soothed and lectured, and Dudo settled down. For a bit. It was obvious neither cat was happy about it but they were tolerant.
As for tonight, I thought we would just ignore the departure of 2020, but San Geraldo returned yesterday afternoon with grapes and three splits of Champagne. The Spanish tradition is, at midnight, to eat one grape for each chime of the clock. Called “las doce uvas de la suerte” [the twelve grapes of luck] or simply “grapes of luck”, it’s supposed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year. I guess San Geraldo doesn’t want to risk it. And neither do I for that matter.
As The Kid Brother used to say, Happy You Year!
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AYER POR LA MAÑANA MIRÉ por la ventana del dormitorio y descubrí a Dudo en su lugar habitual, listo para abalanzarse sobre cualquier intruso aviar que se atreviera a entrar por la tubería de drenaje. Esta vez, sin embargo, fue excepcionalmente inventivo. Me hubiera impresionado si no me hubiera recordado un poco a El Coyote con su último artilugio de la Corporación de Acme. Aún así, Dudo es un genio, ¿no crees?
Más tarde, en mi paseo por la playa, vi pájaros que habrían hecho a Dudo tan feliz. Los avistamientos más agradables para mí fueron una garceta pequeña (así es como se llama) y muchas gaviotas de cabeza negra (les salen puntos negros durante la época de reproducción). Me encanta ver a las gaviotas de cabeza negra zambullirse en busca de peces. A diferencia de las gaviotas más grandes, lanzan torpedos al agua y se sumergen por completo. Intenté atraparlos en acción, pero no es fácil.
Por la noche, San Geraldo tenía la calefacción encendida en su oficina. Ambos gatos decidieron unirse a él. Moose llegó primero y eligió el lugar habitual de Dudo en la cima de su árbol. Es una plataforma pequeña (para dos gatos tan grandes) y no les gusta compartirla. Moose rara vez sube allí, y cuando lo hace, Dudo se deforma seriamente. San Geraldo tranquilizó y sermoneó, y Dudo se tranquilizó. Por poco. Era obvio que ninguno de los gatos estaba feliz por eso, pero eran tolerantes.
En cuanto a esta noche, pensé que simplemente ignoraríamos la salida de 2020, pero San Geraldo regresó ayer por la tarde con uvas y tres bottelitas de champán. La tradición española es, a la medianoche, comer una uva por cada campanada del reloj. Llamado “las doce uvas de la suerte” o simplemente “uvas de la suerte”, se supone que traerá buena suerte, prosperidad, y felicidad el próximo año. Supongo que San Geraldo no quiere arriesgarse. Y yo tampoco.
Como solía decir El Hermanito en lugar de Happy New Year [Feliz Año Nuevo], Happy You Year [¡Feliz Año de Ti]!
Después de la terraza, disfrutando del sol en el salón. Él es mucho más lindo que El Coyote.
Esto es cuanto espacio tienen.
I think I have seen a egert at the lake here once. There beautiful. And how nice the boys are getting along to close the year out. Ill have some nice champagne and a surf and turf dinner with my two close friends tonight they are preparing. I’ll stay overnight since i have my own room…and come home tomorrow to cook a pork and sauerkraut dinner for mother and I for our good luck with all the fixins’
A Happy New Year to you and SanGerldo…and a good dose of peace, health and happiness to you in the New Year 🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇
Mistress Maddie:
I think you have snowy egrets and great egrets, but not little egrets. Great egrets are more than a foot taller than snowy egrets. But the easy way to tell them apart is that snowy egrets have bright yellow feet. Also great egrets have a partially yellow bill, while a snowy egret’s bill is black. Little egrets are the ones that are common around here and they’re the same size as snowy egrets.
I hope your New Year’s Eve was happy, in good company, and that the dinner was delicious.
Take the blowtorch away from the cat and have a Happy New Year!
Kenosha:
Next comes the anvil.
pretty birdies! HNY to you and SG and the cat boyz. I like SG’s idea for tonight. FUCK 2020 WITH A CACTUS!
anne marie:
Hope your even was good! Ours was quiet and pleasant… and delicious.
Hahahahaha, Dudo DOES look like Wile E. Coyote! I’m wishing him much more success, though. Happy New Year to you all!
Debra:
Oh, please don’t wish Dudo success… just no injuries to himself! I can’t bear the thought of having him drop another dead bird into my hand!
I like that: Happy YOU Year!!!
Cheers to a happy, safe, healthy, loved, loving, 2021, for you and SG and The Boys.
Bob:
Wishing you and the family all the same! Happy You Year!
D & M, the Dynamic Duo, joined at the hip, ever reliably eye-catching, entertaining and ever so cute – and all achieved just by living their little lives Don’t ever stop!
Raybeard:
Do you remember when they first moved in with us? 8-1/2 years ago! I can’t imagine life without them.
Yikes! I’m a few days behind, and I missed the arrival of the new version of the pub table. Oh my heavens! What beauty! I love it. Thank you so much for sharing the photos, and treating us to another look at the colorful beauty in your home.
Plus… Dudo and Moose up there together on their cat tree! What a set of photos!
Enjoy those 12 grapes!
Judy C:
The grapes were delicious, although SG always chooses the largest and plumpest, which makes them even more challenging to consume one gong at a time. At least he gets seedless!
Great bird pictures! And I LOVE the pictures of the cats on the scratching post. Adorable. If Dudo were Wile E. Coyote, he would run headlong into that hole and get himself stuck.
I can’t believe you’re staying up until midnight to eat grapes! Are you crazy?! LOL
Steve:
We were up until after 2! Such grown-ups. Of course, given that we usually eat dinner at 10 or after, we also usually stay up a lot later.
A very happy new year to both of you and all best wishes from PEI.
Laurent:
Wishing you and Will the same from Málaga Province.
Dudo is terribly inventive with his schemes, if not a little optimistic.
Meanwhile, the dynamic duo, Dudo and Moose, know that together is better. Shared heat and all that.
Happy New Year to you and SG (and KB). May 2021 bring us all more hope…and safety.
Mary:
The boys DO understand shared heat. However, neither was thrilled. SG’s office is like a sauna and they need some air around them. May your wish for 2021 come true!
it is always scary when cats have a plan. we have no grapes, so please eat some for us! See you in the new year!
Wilma:
Well, our grapes were each big enough for two. But we did it!
Someday, the bird will come far enough inside, and then what? So nice of them to snuggle and share. Happy New You Year!
David:
I’ve had Dudo drop one dead bird from his mouth into my hand. Two others we’ve saved when he had them cornered. I’d rather not have to deal with either option again. Happy You Year!
Happy New Year. The 12 grapes tradition sounds interesting. Your cats are quite handsome.
mcpersonalspace54:
The 12 grapes tradition is wonderful and something we immediately took to. The cats are handsome, if I do say so myself, and very photogenic.
I am thinking from the look on the cats faces that Moose got away with it…..this time!!
That egret is one beautiful bird! Nice shots!
Happy New Year to you both!!
Jim:
Moose DID get away with it. They settled down for a bit until they both got too hot. Moose couldn’t jump over Dudo and down at the same time, so he wriggled until Dudo took the hint.
Happy new year to you, SG, Dudo, and Moose! Also the Kid Brother! I 🎉🎊🍾🥂🍇
Jennifer:
Thanks for making this a better year. Wishing you and Gregg happiness, prosperity, love, GOOD HEALTH, and less aggravation in 2021!
Happy you year to you too xx
John:
Happy You Year to YOU and to Andrea! Thanks for everything!!!
As I read this, I remembered that the first time I read your blog years ago, it was a New Year post and you wrote about the grape tradition. I can’t remember what brought me to your space, but I’m surely glad I found you! You and SG are a few of those people who I sometimes forget I’ve never met in person.
I do hope you two and the cats have a very happy 2021. Oh, and that Kid Brother, too!
Michelle D:
It always warms my heart to see a comment from you and to be reminded that you’re reading even when you don’t comment. I wonder if the 12 grapes post from our very first year in Spain. We’ve known each other that long!
Unlike coyotes, cats are said to land on their feet, so that bodes well for Dudo. Happy New Year, Mitchell.
Kirk:
I hadn’t thought of that. Gravity isn’t as much of an issue for Dudo as it is for Wyle E. Coyote. Still, I hope he stays away from the heavy machinery.
All I can picture is Wile E. Coyote, having just run off the edge of a cliff, suspended momentarily in mid-air, holding a sign that says, “Uh-oh.” Let’s hope the grapes have their desired effect. We’re eating black-eyed peas today, so we’re covered.
Walt the Fourth:
I’m so glad Spain’s tradition is grapes and not black-eyed peas! However, wishing you a year of good things.
The egret is probably the most serious looking bird I’ve ever seen. Wouldn’t want to get in its way. The grape custom is new to me. The Germans use pigs for New Year’s luck. Be happy you don’t live in some sort of culturally confused Munich with SG bringing home 12 porkers for you. It would take most of the year just to consume the bacon, and the cats would loathe the competition. {oink}
wickedhamster:
Egrets are fascinating to watch. So intense when they’re stalking fish. But, nothing scary about them. Somebody approached from the other direction and the egret took off immediately. Ooh, bacon. I’ve been craving bacon for a week now and you just reminded me again!
I know Laurent has already wished you happiness and blessings in the new year on behalf of our household but a double dose of blessings and happiness is appropriate these days!
Willym:
Thanks! Wishing you a double dose of the same!
I like the notion of Happy You Year
Oh those crazy cats! What would we do without them?
Urspo:
My brother had a number of misspeaks for many years and some of them have stuck with me. Happy You Year was always a favourite. He also didn’t take the elevator; he took the nellabaytah.