Carnicería

I have an ongoing joke at the local carnicería (butcher shop). They ask me how much I want, and I reply 454 grams, una libra (one pound). Like every other country in the world except for Liberia, Myanmar, and one other, Uruguay uses the metric system—mostly).

Butcher, Carnicería Progresso, Atlántida, Canelones, Uruguay
Alvero reacts with dismay at widely missing the mark with bacon (though one time he hit 500 exactly)

We then asked if they had lamb. Siempre. Always. Who knew?

Sawing half a lamb, Carnicría Progresso, Estación Atlántida, Canelones, Uruguay
He brought out an entire frozen lamb carcass, cut the length in half with the band saw, then cut off the hindquarter we wanted. The band saw blade is within easy reach of the customer.

I grew up using, and still use, dangerous power tools. But band saws terrify me a little bit, ever since 8th grade (age 13) shop class, when the teacher demonstrated the capabilities of a band saw by cutting through a piece of 2×4 like it was butter, and probably at the same time encouraging us to imagine that 2×4 was some part of our body.

But hey, that was in the United States. It’s probably not too late to sue for psychological trauma, mental distress ….

Balloons

In the corner of my eye I spotted a couple of balloons blowing through our unobstructed front yard.

Damn, I thought, that would have made a perfect random blog image. Too late!

Later that day:

balloon-1

I spot a balloon in the back yard. Behind one of our two maybe-next-year-yielding avocado trees, snuggled next to an aloe vera plant, on the other side of which a bedraggled horseradish plant from Syd and Gundy, and comfrey, with its amazing healing properties.

balloon-2

The next day, I spot two more, tied together, in the corner. And one inside the barbacoa. Its door had been open all day.

All went back over the wall to the neighbor’s girls.

The strangest volunteer

It has been a strange summer, and horrible for gardening.Nonetheless, things I didn’t plant emerge, like this tomato plant

growing out of a hole in the lid to a plumbing junction box.

It’s right below an outdoor shower, so I watered it for a few minutes today. I put the fireplace tool holder to support it several weeks ago,  since it had grown beyond its ability to support itself.

Easter lunch

mellis

The mellis (mellizos, fraternal twins)

Rodrigo and Mauro came to visit today. I’ve mentioned Mauro’s departure for New Zealand, and Rodrigo’s return, and hanging out at our place. We went to a restaurant near the beach that used to be a night club, now a restaurant with such interesting things as a “breakfast pizza.” Yes, that’s literally what it’s called, based on an American breakfast, even though that’s practically impossible to find in Uruguay.

breakfast pizza in Uruguay

Doesn’t show real well, bit it’s got bacon and an egg.

Mauro’s off to Buenos Aires in a week to join his Argentinian girlfriend he met in New Zealand and two Paraguayans they met at the restaurant they worked in this summer in Punta del Este, and will be taking off for northern Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and ending in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where they will work in a restaurant through another contact they made this summer.

Rodrigo is working locally, finishing his studies, and taking a course to become an airline steward.

Become an…? Methinks the travel bug has bit.

Oh, and almost forgot: after lunch we went to Baipa and brought back treats to have with tea. I didn’t last a year this time between visits, but since the previous interval was 22 months I’m doing OK overall 😉

The premiere national obsession, rendered locally in waning autumn light

A small park a few blocks from our home springs to life with warm weather: anticipation of the World Cup? In 2010 they worshiped Diego Forlán (amusing to see pudgy little kids with #10 Celeste jerseys). Some time back I checked and Luis Suárez, from Uruguay, playing for Liverpool, had individually scored more goals than the next ten TEAMS in the league.

Uruguay takes on Costa Rica on Saturday, June 14. I’m anticipating as much the next episode of Game of Thrones (so thrilled that little puke is finally dead!).