After three weeks of bronchitis or something, I feel like I'm finally crawling out of a kind of cave and into the thick of the holiday season! I think there may still be time to complete my various projects of making Christmas cards and tamales, singing and playing music, decorating the house with greens, etc.! My concertina is back from the shop and sounds and feels really great! It works really well as an accompaniment for Christmas carols, too! If possible I'll dedicate a new post just to the instrument.
Another new development is that today I attended a planning meeting with a wonderful group of women about to start a writers' group; I'm very excited about it! They're a really interesting, talented, and supportive group.
Still thinking very much of the people of Puerto Rico as La Navidad approaches. I'm sure that with their resilience they'll manage to make it a Christmas to remember, even if electric lights have to be replaced by candles--which are prettier and more spiritually inspiring anyway! Please see a cool article in today's New York Times Food section about the making of Pasteles, which are somewhat similar to tamales and are traditional in Puerto Rico during the holiday. I say "somewhat similar" because the masa is made of a mix of bananas and plaintains--really cool and undoubtedly delicious; a labor of love for all the family and community! I will try to attach the link below.
Nov 30, 2017 · Credit Hilary Swift for The New York Times. ... For Puerto Ricans, a Taste of Normalcy This Season. ... takes on a special meaning during the holiday season.
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