La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I began writing this post at 12:20, just after finishing breakfast and pouring my morning cup (mug/beaker) of tea. (Twinings English Breakfast with milk.) I woke up at 5:30, but that was too early. So I went back to sleep for an hour or two and woke up again at 10:19. I then lay there contemplating my sins. That took another half hour. I know; only?
Yesterday I was a slug. You may have noticed I once again didn’t get around to writing a blog post. (I sure hope you noticed.) Thursday I was out and about for a bit. I stopped at our nearby plant shop and brought home an orchid. It’s made me so happy but still didn’t help me with my attitude on Friday. Let’s see what I can do about that today.
The orchid has added some life to the kitchen and has me itching to get more live plants in the house. We have good natural light but no direct sun, so not our usual cactus and succulent collection, but so many choices and no need to worry about what’s toxic to cats. Sigh.
There’s a fairly new garden center north of us. We’ll have to taxi over and check it out. I supposed we could take the bus, but then we’d finally have to figure out how the buses work. Life is so complicated.
The nearby shop where I bought the orchid is sumptuous, and expensive. Our neighborhood has a few high-end shops like that. Unlike Fuengirola, we have no flower/plant kiosks in town. So not even a good place to get cheap fresh flowers for the dining room table.
I have a story to tell about my attempts to make appointments for us both to renew our national identity cards. But I’m not in the mood. Let’s just say, for now, I haven’t been completely successful. It’s now after 1 p.m. Time for my morning shower and then lunch. And then I’m going out. Somewhere. Anywhere.
Empecé a escribir esta entrada a las 12:20, justo después de terminar el desayuno y servirme mi taza (taza/vaso) de té matutino. (Twinings English Breakfast con leche). Me desperté a las 5:30, pero era demasiado temprano. Así que volví a dormir una o dos horas y me desperté de nuevo a las 10:19. Entonces me quedé allí tumbada contemplando mis pecados. Eso me llevó otra media hora. Lo sé; ¿Solo?
Ayer fui una babosa. Puede que hayas notado que una vez más no me puse a escribir una entrada en el blog. (Espero que lo hayas notado). El jueves salí un rato. Pasé por la tienda de plantas cercana y me traje a casa una orquídea. Me ha hecho muy feliz, pero aun así no me ayudó con mi actitud del viernes. A ver qué puedo hacer al respecto hoy.
La orquídea le ha dado vida a la cocina y me ha dado ganas de tener más plantas vivas en casa. Tenemos buena luz natural pero no sol directo, así que no es nuestra colección habitual de cactus y suculentas, pero hay tantas opciones y no hay que preocuparse por lo que sea tóxico para los gatos. Suspiro.
Hay un vivero bastante nuevo al norte de donde vivimos. Tendremos que ir en taxi a echar un vistazo. Supongo que podríamos ir en autobús, pero entonces tendríamos que averiguar cómo funcionan los autobuses. ¡Qué complicada es la vida!
La tienda cercana donde compré la orquídea es suntuosa y cara. En nuestro barrio hay algunas tiendas de lujo como esa. A diferencia de Fuengirola, aquí no hay quioscos de flores ni plantas. Así que ni siquiera es un buen sitio para comprar flores frescas baratas para la mesa del comedor.
Tengo una historia que contar sobre mis intentos de conseguir citas para renovar nuestros documentos de identidad. Pero no estoy de humor. Digamos que, por ahora, no he tenido mucho éxito. Ya es pasada la una de la tarde. Hora de mi ducha matutina y luego de comer. Y después salgo. A algún sitio. A cualquier sitio.
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I really like your apartment photos. The orchid is a nice touch. I think adding a few plants here and there would be a good thing! Take care.
Michael:
We have some nice pots sitting in the closet.
People say orchids are easy to care for, but I don’t know. I’ve never dared to buy one. Your kitchen looks great! I especially like your display of platters.
Debra She Who Seeks:
I’ve bought a lot of orchids over the years and, although they survive and leaf out beautifully, I’ve often had trouble getting them to bloom repeatedly. SG wanted to get that display cabinet just so we could get all the platters out from their hiding places.
It is your time to do as you want
David:
And it should always be.
I love the kitchen islands that wheel to where they’re wanted. I have a little butcher block thing that’s similar, so useful. Also low enough for this short lady to work on without having my shoulders up around my ears! Not a problem either of you encounters much, rather the opposite, I think. I hope you feel better today. Yes I do miss your posts when you take a day off. But you’re entitled to. Boud
Boud:
The wheels on the kitchen island were a great idea and brought the island to the height I wanted (level with the counters). But, despite the wheels having locks, they still skidding across the floor if we leaned on it. So I bought rubber feet that the wheels roll onto. They work great, but it’s now impossible to move the island! Our problem with other rolling kitchen islands were they were too low!
Very pretty orchid. And a very nice kitchen. The orchid brings a little color in. So would something green and leafy.
ellen abbott:
I am really enjoying seeing that orchid.
The orchids add a nice touch to an already pleasant kitchen with pops of color. I have those days when I just have to leave the house! Just GO. It is so much better when you can just walk out and keep walking. Driving can change the whole dynamic. Hope it was a pleasant day. Olivia
Olivia:
Walking keeps me sane and always has (well, maybe just less insane).
Go for it! It will be interesting to see and hear what types you get.
Plants and flowers soften a room IMHO.
Jim:
Except for Fuengirola where we had the huge terrace and entry filled with plants, we’ve always had lots of plants in the house.
Gorgeous color on the orchid and SG’s kitchen is a nice setup!
Bob:
Thanks. I love how the kitchen works now and I love cleaning it up.
Scrumptious orchid!!! Flowers in the house always help! But 5:30am!?!?!? Cripes on weekends I sometimes don’t get to bed much before that time! A trip into the shops is one way to brighten a mood, even if just window shopping. I love the peek into the kitchen. Thanks for the nose about. A comfy kitchen…I could sit and talk with you guys in there for house over a cup of….tea, or coffee…or gin!
Jerry’s spice rack looks about like mine! Full of spices!!!
Mistress Borghese:
I’ve been getting to bed around 1 and only got up at 5:30 to pee! When I lived on my own, my spice “rack” consisted of salt and pepper.
Nice orchid! I wonder how orchid growers get them to bloom with multiple simultaneous flower stalks? None of mine ever do that. They bloom again, but with only one stalk at a time.
Your encounters with Spanish bureaucracy make me cringe!
Steve:
I chose that orchid because of the two flower stalks. I hope I have your success with reblooming. The Córdoba identity card renewal may be the worst bureaucracy I’ve ever experienced here… and that says A LOT.
Ever since we got a different internet system, I am having a hard time accessing your blog and this makes me crazy! I wrote a comment earlier this morning on this post but the internet gods were not having it.
What I said was that I am obviously channeling whoever made that fish platter in your kitchen. I mean…WHOA! Also, that your kitchen is charming, cozy, and looks very utilitarian. Which is the perfect kitchen.
Nice orchid. I think you should name her “Miss Freckles.”
Ms. Moon Who Has No Freckles
Ms. Moon Who Has No Freckles:
I have no freckles either. I do love this kitchen. Our previous Spanish kitchens have been one-butts. Too bad about your problems with my blog. Have you tried switching browsers? Thanks to a software upgrade, I think, I was having problems posting comments. I figured out that commenting worked better on Chrome for some and Safari for others. After weeks of that, it’s back to normal.
I did notice you hadn’t posted, Scoot, but I assumed you were out shopping for affordable accent pillows, LOL!
Your new orchid is gorgeous. I marvel at your green thumb, as mine could kill artificial plants! Your kitchen is my favourite room in your home: it’s compact, yet so functional, and wonderfully decorated.
My annual eye exam went well. No change in eyesight, perfect retinal scans and no need for bifocals, YAY! Other things went right this week too for a change — what I call a “green light week” (i.e., at every intersection you approach, the traffic light turns green).
May you have a green light week too, Scoot!
Tundra Bunny:
I’ve even been online looking for pillows. I’m on hold now. I only just bought the orchid; let’s see how I do before you marvel. I do love this kitchen. Congratulations on the eye exam. That’s great news. A green light week would be nice.
Such a pretty flower! I do love Phalaenopsis.
Everything looks tickety-boo in the kitchen – very neat… Jx
Jon:
I love our kitchen and enjoy cleaning it up.
I like your kitchen and the orchid is a lovely addition. You need some magnets on your refrigerator. 😉
Kelly:
Magnets. Yikes! Just the thought of that and I begin to panic.
You do seem a little weary.
Kirk:
Just think of Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles, I’m tired!
Lovely orchid, it will really brighten up your kitchen. I was given one for Xmas, and it still has the same flowers it had then! It thrives on neglect! I hold it under the tap and let it drain about every few weeks!
Frances.
Frances:
The instructions that came with this orchid say to put it in a bowl of water every 5-7 days for 10 minutes. I’m going to try it that way this time. It’s amazing how long the flowers last.
My favorite thing about orchids is knowing their etymology is the Greek word for testicle
Adam
Nekorandom.com
Adam:
And when you look at them you can understand how they got that name.
It all looks so pretty, just a joy to look at 🙂
What words are on that plate that has you and Jerry on it, in the center?
Judy C:
“And they lived happily ever after.” A friend in San Diego had the plate made for us when we moved from there to San Francisco.
That’s a beauty!
Rade:
It makes me happy.
That’s a lovely orchid and you are a lovely person and you and SG have a lovely kitchen. I will go out soon myself. Princess and I have to take the garbage bin to the curb for pick-up tomorrow.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
I went out Saturday with the trash and recycling, too. So exciting. We’re not feeling very lovely lately. But thanks.
English breakfast with milk is my morning brew of choice; next time I make some I will think of you.
Urspo:
I’m sitting and sipping mine right now. Thinking of you.
Stunning!
Walt the Fourth:
And so wonderful to wake up to.