Stories Inspired by Life in Rural Brazil
Aren’t memories grand? Life is made of both the big milestones and the tiny pebbles under our feet.
By request, this post is a translation of a poem that appeared a few months ago. Susana, so sorry it has taken me so long! Also thanks to Sandra, who helped proofread my wilting Spanish. Junto ramas secas bajo un cielo de un gris color plomo. Buitres circulan sobre nuestras cabezas sobre el campo …
They ask: What do you do for a living these days? I answer: I’m a farmer. Yes, really! Me, the career professional. We’re milk farmers now. Really. No kidding. Yeah, huh? Isn’t life wild. But the real answer only works in Portuguese. If you raise cows you say, Mexo com leite. I mess around with milk. If you grow things, Mexo com roça. I mess around in the countryside. …
Blowing soap bubbles using a papaya stem: sheer brilliance. Seeing how many bubbles you can stack on Tia Malvina’s hand at one time: endless entertainment.
The dogs´reputation preceeds them. Every time we set up a delivery in this small town–from the influential female owner of three businesses in town to the burly, rugged stonemasons–they all say the same thing: “You’ve still got those dogs, right? They terrify me. You´re going to tie them up before we come?” Yes, we intimidate …
Geléia de Mocotó = Cow hoof jelly. Not so appetizing an image, stewed hooves. However, it’s fantastic for you–loaded with tons of vitamins for strong hair, skin, and bones. I was sure that no one was going to convince me to try this anytime soon. From the time that I wrote that I wasn’t …
Talk about learning the hard way: I have learned there are different grades of artisanal cachaça. All are made from sugar cane, but it seems that it makes a huge difference what type of sugar cane is used and how young (thus juicier) the cane is. How did I learn this? What bumps and bruises …
This little guy showed up to wish you a Happy Holiday season! Peace & love to you all!
Two weeks ago I started counting how many foods I had eaten on Onivoro’s list of 100 Brazilian Foods. It’s taken a bit of research on my part to figure out how many of them I’ve actually eaten, plus include “food-porn” photos for all my foodie friends. Here’s foods #51-100, with some of my all-time …
Don’t ask me which is my favorite Brazilian food. I’m useless at answering that question. I love many. I can’t pick one. Reportedly food from our state of Minas Gerias is reported to be some of the best in Brazil, so maybe it’s because I’m swamped with so many fine choices. In any case, what …
