Claire and her friends on their way to a Halloween party.
Now in their more usual attire for joining the nightlife in Madrid
We had to travel all the way to Scotland to join family for Thanksgiving. Here we are with Duncan and Fiona.
A picnic, Scottish-style, with cousin Lydia. 
Early December. Della and Ted came for a visit. We went to Paris. Here at dinner in Montparnasse
With a statue at the Louvre that reminded us of Della´s nephew, Andy.
For me, the best art is beautiful, sacred and humorous. This one from the Louvre has it all, with the feet of the saint aboaut to dissapear into the clouds.
At the Eiffel Tower
My mother visited at Christmas time. We headed south. Here at the Alcazar in Cordoba. (I think!)
I became obsessed with the Belens, extended nativity scenes, that appear all over Spain at Christmas time. This is a small corner of an enormous one with about a thousand figures. I think it was at city hall by Puerto del Sol.
A store window in Cordoba. Notice the Christ child by the feet of the bear on the left. And the bear on the right, looking like a fuzzy Madona, holding her fuzzy baby.
The Spanish love their jamon, and they love their Belens. So, what could be more natural than this, a nativity scene in and on a jamon (ham hock).
From the window of "Museo del Jamon", Gran Via, Madrid.
Just got to our house in Sanlucar. The girls are helping make Christmas eve dinner. Just before the fuse blew.
Desperate attempt to make Christmas biscuits in a microwave.
Granna describing the flight from the Congo during the uprising in 1960.
Archos de la Frontera
Metropol Parasol, modern version of a covered market. In Seville.
Where to find your teenagers in a foreign city.
The tomb of Christopher Columbus, in the Cathedral of Seville.
At the Alcazar in Cordoba. Columbus being sent on his journey by Isabel and Ferdinand.
Where did I see this painting? Cadiz, maybe. I love this image.
My drawing, inspired by the one above.
Currin visited shortly after Christmas break.
Eberle visited in March. We took an artist-spiritual retreat at Monestario de Santa Maria de Huertas. Like so many small pueblos in the countryside, many of the buildings are returning to the earth. Eberle thought she might like to make this one into an hermitage for herself.
Our favorite room at the Monestary. It was probably the "warming room". We were wishing it still had its cauldron of coals. It was cold!
With Michel and Gretchen at the INC Mardi Gras Party. 
And thank you, Orlando, for entertaining us as the Dutchess of Alba!
If you inspect this photo, you will see that there is diametrically opposed element from city life, close at hand.
In April. Cousin Joan and Mike got over for a visit from Minneapolis.
With Gretchen and Michel, at the INC Mardi Gras party at Hilda and Orlando´s.Thank you, Orlando, for entertaining us as the Dutchess of Alba!
Creative projects are endemic, you cound say rampant, in our household. 
Adele´s projects are often food related. Not always edible.
Iris´s sewing project. First, a custom made, duct tape seamstress´s model.
Removing the mold while leaving skin is an art in itself.
Matt´s apprehension at removal of duct tape mold.
Iris´s first dress!
Claire did a series of art projects on the theme of global warming.
She made the molds for these frozen continents out of modeling clay. Now left to melt on the roof of our building. |
| Matt´s montage of views from the window of the apartment. |
An image from my graphic novel. Gomar on her way to Granno´s house.
Family portrait of Keevil-Millers
Drawing with Dibujos Domicilio. Denis and Tabatha posing.
Heather and Tabatha
the other artists.
Adele and Tabatha, at the Puerto del Angel Saturday Market.
A summation of the year in Spain would not be complete without comment on the economy. This abandoned develolpment, in Murcia, is one of a gazillion scattered throughout the Spanish landscape.
During Nina´s visit (here you can see Justine) we came up from the metro on the evening of May 12th, as the anniversary of the big occupation of the previous year was being reenacted. Or, at least, attempted. The government was less tolerant this time.
A haunting image taken by Claire and Currin during a visit to Segovia. Above the portrait, drawn in the soaped window, is the name of the defunct store, "La Gloria". Kind of sums it up for Spain these days.
We made a contribution to the comfort of a few of the many gentlemen who make their home in the park. Our beautiful, antique couch was irreparably damaged in the move. We left it by the side of the street to be collected. And so it was.
This trip to Italy was in February, which is way out of order, but I cannot face moving these photos with Blogger´s lousy tools!
We visited the Terreris, who hosted Claire last year. They live in Grottaferatta, just outside of Rome.
They made us a wonderful Italian-style Sunday dinner. Thank you, Dante and Laura!
Other end of the table, with Susanna, Simone and Simone´s girlfriend.
Another favorite painting of mine. A portrait by Rafael that hangs in the Villa Borghese in Rome. I don´t care what anyone else says, I think it is of my neice, Caroline. 
Beach vacation in Murcia, near Cartegena.
View from the top of the hill behind the beach. Thanks to Matt, the ever intrepid hiker.
Also thanks to Matt, we did a bit of unauthorized, sociological tourism. This tunnel in the hillside appeared to be an abandoned civil war storage site for munitions.
Same tunnel fromt the inside.
Claire in a field of wheat
At a restaurant near Cartegena. It reminded us of the Cape.
Nina, Justine, Franny and Caroline came for a visit in May. This is from a trip to Salamanca.
Claire and I accompanied Nina and company to Barcelona. Can´t write up the year without paying our respects to Gaudi. We toured Casa Batlo`.
After sampling Mojitos over the course of two weeks in a variety of Spanish cities, they declared Marius Bar, below our apartment, to have the best anywhere. 
While Nina and Justine were with us, we held a Wine and Tapas party, through the International Newcomers Club.
Matt presenting a wine.
In Mallorca, celebrating the 20th anniversary of our blind date, with a very elaborate meal.
4 and a half hours later, when I find out how long we have been sitting there!
Recovering the next day, in the north of the island, at a restaurant with, surely, one of the most beautiful settings anywhere.
Getting ready for summer departure. Packing. Again.
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