Cookies and Milk

milk is not refrigerated here until
it's in your own fridge

   I have wanted to try and make chocolate chip cookies ever

   since we arrived in Spain. Anyone who knows me, knows

   that chocolate chip cookies are a staple in our house--just the

   smell of them baking makes everything seem better; we all

   eat them as soon as they are out of the oven and the whole

   world seems right, at least until all the cookies are gone:)  So,

   today was the day. After a call to the elders, we found

   chocolate chips and I attempted to make them. 

 Here's what I learned:

ingredients--need to work on getting
the brown sugar to dissolve

I miss my Kitchenaid mixer--the hand beaters do not have a slow speed and flour went everywhere!

I need to buy a big bowl--it is hard to mix cookie dough in a big stockpot.

The oven is a little tricky--finally, on the last batch, I think I got the time and temp right!

Even eating the slightly crispy ones with a glass of cold milk, was good for my soul--it's been a rough week and I am ready to try again.

Comedy of Errors

unpopped:popped  10:1

plenty to drink--steve forgot the cups

We had Noche de Hogar last night with the Centro para Jovenes Adultos--CJA--and our plan was to show a movie and have popcorn and soda afterwards. Problem number 1: the movie was only in English, so we found a Spanish copy, solved. Problem 2: we had to borrow a projector from the district president and it needed a computer/laptop to go with it to play the movie; quick drive to Bejarano's to get their laptop since our MacBook had the wrong connectors, solved. Problem 3: we get things set up and can't get the sound to play; tried many things, never solved, No Movie. Meanwhile, I'm in the kitchen with a couple of our CJA's attempting to make microwave popcorn, something has to go right! Not so, it took 10 minutes per bag!!! Then we realize there are no cups for the soda; by this time it was comical. Those of us that were still around had fun laughing, waiting for popcorn, and eating the pathetic kernels that did pop! Thanks, Irene, for the cups; this post is for you:). On a lighter note, I was able to explain my game to the group using what little Spanish I've learned, and they actually understood me. There is hope for me after all!

Oops!

Well, I said my first swear word in Spanish today.  We have been celebrating Semana Santa (Holy Week) this past week and we had a big Young Adult activity at the church today since everyone had the day off. We were playing ball--Volley, Soccer, Basket (basketball), and American Football--and it was a great success!  Anyway, a group of us were eating lunch watching a couple guys kick the soccer ball around and I noticed one of them had some words on the back of his sweatshirt so I read them out loud--mistake!  The whole table started laughing, uncomfortably, I might add, told me I said something I shouldn't have, but that my pronunciation was perfect:)  Go figure.

Birthdays and General Conference

happy 50th birthday! (51 for Steve)

We were spoiled rotten for our birthday this year--we were sang to multiple times, received videos and photos from grandkids, and Vanessa, one of our new young adults, made this beautiful cake for us!  She surprised us with it at our activity friday night--it was filled with cream and strawberries--and was delicious.  Conference was a treat for me--I watched in English:)--and also invited all the missionaries over for lunch/dinner between sessions.  Since our piso is about a 10 minute walk from the church, it was perfect.  It was really nice to feed someone else since I was missing our family so much.

all the missionaries serving on Mallorca together for food!

Home Sweet Home

lots of light and a great view of our surroundings

the master bedroom--yes, the bed is made!

bedroom 2

bedroom 3--the ironing room

the laundry room with the coveted dryer

the kitchen--lots of light and just enough space

We are all moved in and settled into our new piso/apartment here in Palma.  We are on the 6th floor of our building and have 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living room, kitchen, and even a laundry room.  Steve is most excited about the flat panel in the living room, as well as the dryer in the laundry room--most pisos do not have a dryer; clothes are hung out to dry and towels can be a little stiff!  Since he has taken over laundry duty, the dryer makes him very happy.  I guess me ironing his shirts everyday has made him a softie:)

La Capilla de Palma

dancing at the church--does this room look familiar?

We are in our piso/apartment!  More on that later.  This is the church in Palma where we are living.  It is a beautiful building with just enough space for all that a branch needs.  Two branches meet here, Poniente and Levante.  The chapel has many functions, Sacrament Meeting, Sunday School, Institute for the Young Adults, and when all the chairs are stacked against the wall, it becomes a cultural hall with all the activities of the branch.  There is an outdoor sport court as well.  We went to both branches Sunday and the branch members were so kind and friendly--I think they are excited to have us here!  We met so many people and  I was kissed many times--once on each cheek from all the women/young women.  We feel so lucky to be here:)

almost all the missionaries on Mallorca were together for a baptism on Saturday!
we're missing the elders from Manacor
Bejarano's, on the left, are the couple we are working with in the Center for Young Adults

Homeless

breakfast, anyone?

notice how the bed slopes to the center. . .

 In Barcelona, we stayed with another senior couple, the Browns, while we met the mission president and his lovely wife, and waited for our car and ferry to Mallorca.  Now that we are on Mallorca, we are staying at a bed and breakfast in Inca, a little town about 30 minutes east of Palma.  Palma is where our new piso is--and we think we can move in on Friday.  We are tired of being homeless but the places we've stayed have been very interesting and this house is no different.  It was built around 1700, and a judge used to live here.  In the courtyard people were beheaded or hung according to their crimes.  Creepy, huh?!