Surprise Peanut Butter

More than once I have mentioned that the availability of some of my favorite foods here is, well, nil. One of those foods is peanut butter. While this is for the better of my waistline, I have to say that I really miss it.

About a month ago a friend (Hutch) sent an email asking what my address was, and saying that he wanted to send a package. It had my curiosity up to pretty high levels because he wasn't saying what he was sending.

Time passed, and I nearly forgot all about it. Then a big heavy box comes in the door with the mail. From the United States. Filled with several jars of extra crunchy peanut butter.

Friends are awesome. Thanks Hutch and family!

[composed and posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: friend, peanut butter

The Last Cookie

As I mentioned in the last post, I received ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies for my birthday. I whipped half of them up on Saturday, and they were a hit here.

After Nádya finished the last one of the batch she said, “So, when are you going to make the other ones?”

I love my wife.

An Age Passed

I am truly fortunate and privileged to be surrounded by such loving, and caring people--especially my wife. Their sacrificial love for me was humbling yesterday, as we celebrated my birthday.

My parents put a package in the mail before Christmas. Somehow, as I woke up yesterday, I had a premonition that it would arrive. It came in the afternoon, and was addressed as a birthday gift. I was very excited to open it, but decided that I would wait until Nádya got home to open it. I knew from certain clues that there would be peanut butter in there, but I had not dreamed of anything else.

I opened the bottom of the box because that is where customs opened it. “Whole wheat flour? Chocolate chips? Peanut butter (two jars!!!!)! Oatmeal?”

Once I looked at the card and letter, I understood: Chocolate chip cookies!!!!

Nádya's mom made me a huge cake, while she was making the second part of it, the electricity went out, so she had to mix it by hand. It turned out wonderfully. Nádya (I helped too) made a pizza.

I also got a Bible in Portuguese from my wife: She rocks. Nyna got me something too, but I will only tell you what it was if you twist my arm. Really hard.

Below are the pictures from the party. I think the only new people to you are Pastor Santana, his wife, and his son. It was an honor to have them here.

The things I miss the most:

Yesterday, I got an email from my pastor asking what three things I missed the most about home. It is rather strange how time and separation puts a magnifying glass on one's relationships with people, things, and culture. I had to think (for some time) about a third thing.

Nádya asks me this type of question from time to time as well. So I presume that some of the rest of you are curious too. Hence, I will come up with a list of at least 5 things in no particular order:

• My parents, and brothers.
• Friends.
• Peanut Butter!
• My guitars--I have one here, which is a blessing, but it just is not the same as my others. I frequently find my self longing to play the other ones when I play it.
• Cars, driving--basically the freedom of movement allowed by having ones own transportation.
• My desk--Sounds a bit strange, but I miss having my computer set up on my desk a certain way. Quite a bit more space.
• Variety in food. The food here is good, but seems to lack the variety to which I have become accustomed.

Well, there you have it. I am sure there are more, but these are the ones that popped out to me as I was writing. I even threw in two extra for you--just for you!

What do you think you would miss most about home if you left for over 6 months?

Technorati Tags: Brazil, Food, Life In Brazil, Music, Spouse, Travel

Strange Fruit

Just got done posting a primmer on some of the stranger fruits and vegetables I have seen here in Brazil. If you are interested (and I think you should be--:-D). God has put some pretty cool stuff here that you have probably not seen before.

[Editors note: The link may not work. It seems to be a problem with Blogger. If this is the case for you, click on the link in the sidebar that says “Karl's Blog” and look for the entry “ Things that grow in Brazil.” I will get it working as soon as I can.]

[Editors note: I think the link is working now. {12/29/2005}]

Technorati Tags: Brazil, Cooking, Food, Life In Brazil, Living Outside the US, Pictures, Travel

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!
Just thought I would put up a quick post with some pictures of what we did with all that fruit we bought yesterday.



I hope this finds you well, and enjoying the holiday--and the good food that is available!

Our salad (and the rest of the noon meal) was delicioso!

Technorati Tags: Brazil, Life In Brazil, Our Activities, Pictures, Cooking, Food

Our trip to the Ceasa Market

We decided to go shopping for fruits and vegetables today. Nádya wants to make a salad tomorrow, and she knew just the place to purchase most of what she needed for very good prices, the Ceasa Market.

Its kind of a farmers market, there were all kinds of fruits and vegetables (no-not the people!)--in fact, probably more variety than I have seen anywhere else. I took my camera, and got a few pictures, which are below, but you can view larger versions just by clicking on them. This will take you to a different site.


We went fairly early in the morning. I think we got there about 7 AM. The place was already bustling with people getting fruits and vegetables for their Christmas cooking. Its pretty expensive to own a car in Brazil, so this is a pretty packed parking lot.


This is a picture of part of the general market. It was pretty big, really. I was surprised by the size, as well as how many vendors were competing with each other. It was a very cool experience to look around, and see all the people in action. These are mostly tomatoes in the picture here.


There are many varieties, sizes, and shapes of bananas here. They are all better than anything I have had in the US. Generally speaking, a bit sweeter flavor, and sort of a creamy flavor as well. There are (literally) piles of them here. The man with the basket on his shoulder was shuttling them back and forth from somewhere. There were mangoes around here somewhere as well, but I think they are behind the man with the basket.


I think I finally have put to bed the question of how the chicken crossed the road with this photo. I could not help my self when I saw this--I actually almost burst out laughing, as I saw the humor right away. I am sure Brazilians would just see this as normal life, but I had my United States hat on when I took this picture.

Technorati Tags: Entertainment, Life In Brazil, Living Outside the US, Money, Observations On Life, Our Activities, Photography, Travel, Shopping