January 30, 2013

INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE ...


Dear readers, I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday where *K* is for *K*nockout images inside the White House - and other private moments during Barack Obama's 2012 re-election year (by Pete Souza, official White House photographer).

My dear US readers are doubtless familiar with some of these images but they’re worth revisiting, don’t you agree?!













ANY FAVORITE IMAGE(S) HERE?
Do check out other Alphabe-Thursday posts  @ Jenny Matlock, Ruby Tuesday & Rednesday!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented.
Enjoy,
XOXO LOLA:)

January 23, 2013

SKYSCAPES ...


Dear readers, in this week’s Alphabe-Thursday post, J’ IS FOR *J*UST LOOK UP - *J*UST, AHEM, HEAVENLY SKYSCAPES 






ANY INTERESTING SKYSCAPES WHERE YOU LIVE OR JUST SNOW-LADEN, LEADEN CLOUDS?!


Above: a meerkat investigating a snowman at London zoo recently ...
Do check out other posts - Alphabe-Thursday  @ Jenny Matlock, Ruby Tuesday & Rednesday!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented.
Have a great weekend!
Enjoy and see you next time,
XOXO LOLA:)

January 16, 2013

ILLUSTRATIONS ...



Dear readers, I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday where ‘I’ is for ILLUSTRATIONS …

Ever been fascinated by illustrations of famous books? Here are just a few:

1. Arthur Rackham – Grimm’s Fairy Tales: Little Red Riding Hood (above)

 2. Beatrix Potter – Tale of Samuel Whiskers (below)
3. Walter Trier – Emil & The Detectives
4. John Tenniel – Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland

5. Robert White – John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress

6. Hogarth – Lawrence Sterne’s Tristram Shandy

And an original artwork pencil drawing from Walt Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' 
movie from 1937: 


And a self-illustration…!

ANY OTHERS YOU KNOW OF?
Do tell me! And do check out other posts - Alphabe-Thursday  @ Jenny Matlock, Ruby Tuesday & Rednesday!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented. 
Have a great weekend!
Enjoy and see you next time,
XOXO LOLA:)


January 9, 2013

LOS REYES MAGOS ...


Dear readers, this week ‘H’ is for *H*oliday here in Spain – Los Reyes Magos ...
Every year the Three Kings Parade is held on the eve of January 5 usually consisting of three wise men on horses or camels dispensing sweets amongst the crowds (above). It’s known as Twelfth Night, Epifania Del Señor or Reyes Magos (Three Kings/Wise Men), recounting of course the story of Melchior, Casper and Balthazar’s gifts for Jesus.

In celebration of this event, the Spanish traditionally give and receive gifts just like Santa on Christmas Eve. The Three Kings deliver gifts to all the children throughout Spain on the night of the 5th and some children leave food and drink for them (and their camels!).
On January 6, the children open their gifts and enjoy the traditional Roscón de Reyes (below).
Traditionally, the Roscón de Reyes ("Epiphany crown"), a sweet bread baked in the form of a crown, has always contained small toys or coins. A porcelain figure of a baby wrapped in foil and a dry bean (don’t ask!) are hidden in the dough together with other surprises. Apparently whoever finds the baby will have good luck and be the Rey of the party, but the one with the bean has to pay for the cake!

This national *h*oliday is one of the most important days of the year in Spain.

ANY SIMILAR CUSTOMS WHERE YOU LIVE?
Do check out other *H* posts - Alphabe-Thursday  @ Jenny Matlock, Ruby Tuesday & Rednesday! And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented. .
XOXO LOLA:)

January 2, 2013

GRANDMA'S OLD FAMILY RECIPES ...



Dear readers, back at last and firing on all cylinders to wish you all a very Happy New Year! Hopefully you had a lovely, peaceful Christmas break!  And now this week’s Alphabe-Thursday post where *G* IS FOR *G*RANDMA’S OLD FAMILY RECIPES ...

There are, of course, some dishes that are probably best left dead! Squeamishness finished off a number of ancient foods, for example the Roman garum and liquamen - pastes made from rotting fish guts and heads. Don’t despair though: fortunately you can now buy a jar of readymade anchovy sauce if you haven’t any rotting fish guts and heads handy!

And have you ever tasted roasted lambs’ eyeballs? No, me neither! They’re chewy yet soft at the same time. Try to envision marshmallow fluff and shoestring licorice perhaps (without the sugary taste, of course). That type of consistency. Think, on reflection, I’ll stick to marshmallow and licorice!

So, there’re some dishes you know you'll never want to eat again, and others, like the oft-repeated example of Proust's madeleine, which take you back into another time and place. Which dishes (Grandma’s or those of another family member) have entered your family's mythology, for either the right or wrong reasons? Maybe Thai red curry (below)?
WHICH OLD FAMILY RECIPES FILL YOU WITH NOSTALGIA?
Do check out other posts - Alphabe-Thursday  @ Jenny Matlock, Ruby Tuesday & Rednesday!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented.
Have a great weekend!
Enjoy and see you next time,
XOXO LOLA:)