Sonidos Serranos

Sonidos Serranos: Sounds of the Sierras...
Reflecting some of my family's interests: God's wonderful creation (especially mountains and hills!), music, and language...

Psalm 121:1-2 (NASB)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

30 December 2018

“Portones”

We stopped by another shopping mall on the way back from our earlier church service (and shared lunch).

The frosty decor belies the summer weather outside!

E and I loved the colors!


While there, we splurged on our favorite ice-cream!


DJ got an extra special treat for his solo part in the Christmas program last week – and for cooperating with the recording yesterday. J

(Post on that finished product pending...)

28 December 2018

“Punta Carretas”

During the Christmas Season, we enjoy visiting various shopping malls throughout the city to see the holiday decorations. Although the decor seems to go up earlier each year, we usually don’t get to break away from teaching and administrative demands until later in December. This year’s visits to shopping malls started with an afternoon outing to a new (to us!) mall – in Las Piedras.

Yesterday we visited one of our favorites – Punta Carretas – near Montevideo’s southernmost tip. Part of the fun for our family is noting how much the decor theme varies from year to year...

Can you guess this year’s theme from the pictures?!

Although December marks the beginning of summer here in this part of the southern hemisphere, snow is a favorite holiday theme – most likely rooted in Uruguay’s Spanish and Italian heritage.

Hourly “snowfalls” in this shopping mall consistently draw crowds!


The three “Reyes Magos” have been another traditional aspect of Uruguay’s celebration of Christmas.



E and DJ enjoyed talking to them – in both Spanish and English! They also found out that “Baltasar” speaks French! J


Rain showers were in the afternoon forecast but, seeing a patch of blue sky, we decided to walk the couple of blocks down to the coast to try to catch glimpses of the sunset. We were not disappointed!







We even saw rainbows!




I 💙 my family!


We ended the evening of the Third Day of Christmas (or should I be saying Second?!) with Hot Chocolate and Candy Canes – which E had discovered in with our own Christmas decorations in the closet!

“¡Feliz Navidad!”

26 December 2018

Christmas Memories...

What a blessing to share Christmas Day with my siblings! The last time we were all together for Christmas was five years ago here in Uruguay.



Lots and lots of photo opps!


Other highlights included calling “Los Abu” in Florida – and singing Christmas Carols together.


Thankful for technology!


Marcos gave a mini concert on his ukulele. (His original hit featuring “Cheetos” is probably copyrighted, so I’d have to obtain permission before sharing it publicly!) J

DJ is a fan! J


The cousins enjoyed several rounds of UNO and Phase 10.




And we shared many laughs...

Esteban’s rendition of the iconic Gringo Smile!


Thankful for abundant blessings!

Thankful, most of all, for Eternal Joy, accessible to us through the One whose birth, life, and death in our place we pause to especially remember once again.

🎶🎵 JOY to the world! The LORD is come! 🎵🎶

HE comes to make His blessings known
Far as the curse is found!

19 December 2018

“Las Piedras”

We rode out to the city of Las Piedras, due north of the greater Montevideo area and right on the departmental line that divides Montevideo from Canelones, this afternoon. We stopped at the big (and relatively new) shopping mall there to enjoy the holiday decorations.

“¡Feliz Navidad!”



We also walked around the park right outside the shopping mall.

Love ‘em!

The park is located on the site of a famous, decisive battle in Uruguay’s history (“Batalla de Las Piedras”) and is part park, part memorial. We’d like to go back with more time to learn more...

18 December 2018

15 December 2018

(More) Birdwatching!

This beautiful red bird, a new one for us, visited our backyard about ten days ago.



Best we can tell, it’s a male “Fueguero” (Piranga flava); the female of the species has a bright yellow breast with dull brown tones mixed into the coloring on her wings and back.

As a family, we’re enjoying E’s and DJ’s interest in birdwatching!

22 November 2018

Thankful Lists + Ice-Cream! (Again!)

We may very well be starting a tradition. We went back to the family-owned-and-operated ice-cream shop, several blocks away from where we live.

But we switched places at the tables this year! J


We enjoyed the same almost-summer flowers on the walk there, too.

Jacarandá

These are in bloom all over Montevideo right now.


We also made our traditional “Thankful Lists!”



It’s fun to look back at lists from previous years, too. And, as both E and DJ pointed out today, it’s fun to notice how much the hand prints have grown!

We do have so much to be thankful for!

31 October 2018

Birthday Drive!

“Birthday Drives” – as we like to call them – have become somewhat of a family tradition (at least for JM and me) since our move to Uruguay almost exactly five years ago.

This year we took advantage of the fact that we already had business on the Canelones Coast (last Monday) and made the day into a family outing (and early birthday celebration for JM).

Birdwatching (and photographing!) – on two continents – is becoming another favorite family hobby.

E is our resident expert on birds of Uruguay!

Wildflowers in bloom in Bello Horizonte


“¡Helados en Atlántida!”

Photo credit: Our very own E!

My Favorite People!

Sunset in Atlántida

SO thankful!

28 October 2018

October Birthday Boys!


One is obviously more rested than the other! 😉

21 October 2018