La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I never did get started yesterday on my de-Christmas plans. Maybe today. Notice I’m not as self-assured this time? Still, it’s cold, gray, dreary, and drizzly. A perfect day to stay in and do the work. Besides, I want the house back. Wednesday afternoon, a good and wise friend suggested I take the boxes out of the closet in advance. I should have taken her advice. Seeing the boxes sitting out would make me crazy and I’d be more likely to pack things up. I’m going to the closet to get the boxes now. I will not spend any time in the closet.
Today’s photo comparisons are from my walk Wednesday afternoon (plus tree shadows on the palace walls). I just found them all interesting. But I couldn’t stop there because the Christmas cactus continues to share its joy.
San Geraldo did a big online grocery shop that was delivered yesterday. Neither of us knows quite what he was thinking, but we have enough toothpaste and canned peaches to last several months and we’re once again up to our eyeballs in apples. I exaggerate; we’re only up to our waists. Last night we finished off the apple sauce he had made. I’ve ordered apple cake this time around.
Ayer no empecé con mis planes de Navidad. Quizás hoy. ¿Se dan cuenta de que no estoy tan segura esta vez? Aun así, hace frío, está gris, lúgubre y llueve. Un día perfecto para quedarse en casa y trabajar. Además, quiero recuperar la casa. El miércoles por la tarde, una buena y sabia amiga me sugirió sacar las cajas del armario con antelación. Debería haber seguido su consejo. Ver las cajas fuera me volvería loca y habría sido más probable que guardara las cosas. Voy al armario a buscar las cajas ahora. No pasaré tiempo allí.
Las comparaciones de fotos de hoy son de mi paseo del miércoles por la tarde (con las sombras de los árboles en las paredes del palacio). Me parecieron todas interesantes. Pero no podía parar ahí porque el cactus de Navidad sigue compartiendo su alegría.
San Geraldo hizo una gran compra online que nos entregaron ayer. Ninguno de los dos sabe muy bien qué estaba pensando, pero tenemos suficiente pasta de dientes y melocotones enlatados para varios meses y, una vez más, estamos hasta las cejas de manzanas. Exagero; solo nos llega la cintura. Anoche nos acabamos la compota de manzana que había hecho. Esta vez pedí tarta de manzana.
All those photos look better with the glow of Spanish sunshine, in my opinion. That cactus! If that doesn’t raise your spirits and gird your loins for the impending “it’s all over now, let the decluttering commence” task ahead, nothing will!
Evidently the superstition about it being bad luck not to have taken your decorations down by Twelfth Night is not the same in Spain, or maybe you’re just not superstitious… Jx
Jon:
Some photos make me want to try them in black & white, but I often end up preferring the originals (or at least unsure). I don’t know of a 12th night superstition here, but given the huge event of Three Kings Day Eve and then the big holiday, I have a feeling it wouldn’t be the case.
Some images work better in monotone, others in color. I love the soft sunlit tones.
David:
I often waffle between the originals and the black & whites.
I LOVE all of your photos! How did you do the slider where things went to black and white? Very impressive!
Michael:
It’s an enhanced feature of WordPress available with WordPress Pro. It’s called Before-After Image Comparison Block and is a breeze to create.
The last picture is amazing! And after seeing that first opening picture, I do believe I’d stay in bed all day too. The perfect days to give the body rest.
Mistress Borghese:
Sometimes it just sounds perfect to spend the day in bed. The weather lately has made me want just that.
That last photo is an amazing shot! Love your perspective!
Debra:
Thanks. I don’t want to move the plant and shake anything off, so I have to find creative ways to get the shots. Besides, the flowers are so beautiful from below.
Normally when you do those split-slide photos I tend to gravitate toward the black-and-white, but these, with the sunlight and blue skies and the orange-ish dirt ,make me really love the color ones.
Now, a self-portrait waist deep in apples is needed!
Bob:
I, too, lean towards the originals this time.
That would be a great self-portrait, wouldn’t it. Photoshop?
I too wonder about sg and his grocery shopping. It sounds aspirational! If I had a barrel of apples, maybe cider, etc.
The weather looks better with the lights there. And I’m refraining from turning my cactus as per your findings. Boud.
Boud:
My photo from below was inspired by my fear of moving the Christmas cactus. I even told Merchi not to touch it when she cleans. We haven’t yet touched the apples and we’re both having an orange and a banana with breakfast every day. I didn’t mention the 9 packages of Inés Rosales tortas, now down to six.
Currently in Torremolinos. 17 deg C, sun ☀️ with a bit of cloud. Went to Molinos de Incos today. Happy memories. Looking out of the hotel window now towards Malaga. 👍
Karen:
You are so fortunate. It might get up to 12 here today. But at least the sun has finally burned through the fog. Were you there for the awful rain and winds or did it all stop for you?
I was on yesterday’s post again, for a moment, and WOW, the top photo, of the water coming down off of each of the water poles, is mesmerizing!
Judy C:
Yes! I can stand there indefinitely. The sound is so powerful and drowns out any traffic noise. It would be a nice spot for seating.
Black and white photos can be dramatic but I do like that golden light.
ellen abbott:
I’m leaning that way, as well.
I like the B&W, but what I really like is that top photo.
Kelly:
That fountain is wonderful any time of day.
You must have laid on your back to get that last picture.
Kirk:
I placed the camera on the tabletop and set it to selfie.
I can’t get over how beautiful your Xmas cactus flowers are! LOVE the fuchsia… for some reason, I thought they only produced red or white blooms. And there’s nothing wrong with having a restful, do-nothing-kinda-day, Scoot: unplug and enjoy!
Tundra Bunny:
I’ve gotten good at having do-nothing days, but I don’t find them truly restful. I find myself thinking “You should be DOING something.”
I’m with Bob — I really enjoy the colors in those shots!
Steve:
I’m with Bob, too.
I am partial to the B/W’s…..must be a phase I’m going through.
Good idea not to spend too much time in the ‘closet’…..god knows we spent far too much there in the early days, eh?
Jim:
I’m done with closets.
I think we are all feeling the need for light and the golden light of those photos is exactly the right kind.
Peach cobbler? Apple cobbler? Those things use up a lot of fruit.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
Cooking question: Can you make peach cobbler with apples?