And Everything Nice

"Magic Recipe"- borcanul minunat cu o reteta magica, din care luam o lingurita dimineata si ziua ne va fi superba. Dar cum nici macar oamenii de stiinta nu lucreaza la vreo formula de acest gen, se pare ca suntem singurii in masura sa ne facem zilele bune sau rele, lucrand la perspectiva, pur si simplu. Asa ca prin gesturi simple, putem sa ne umplem zilele cu bun si frumos. In ultimul timp fac un exercitiu, in care atunci cand ies din casa, incerc sa fac lucruri bune si pentru altii. Ideea este sa nu ma rezum la "ce tie nu-ti place, altuia nu-i face", ci sa ma implic activ in binele celuilalt. Si e surprinzator cat de usor se destind oamenii cand simt intentie buna si primesc un zambet. De exemplu, la magazin, nu tratez vanzatorii ca pe niste roboti care ma servesc, ci conversez cu ei, ca de la om la om. In autobuza ma ofer sa compostez biletul celuilalt sau cine stie ce mica atentie. E surprinzator cum se schimba energia!

Tot pentru a atrage binele, gatesc cate ceva bun,ca sa impart cu cei din jur, iar zilele trecute a fost randul "bomboanelor" din curmale. Sunt usor de gatit, ingredientele sunt putine si la un pret acceptabil si foarte child-friendly: am pus la inmuiat peste noapte curmale (cu samburii scosi)si nuci, iar dimineata am adaugat nuca de cocos, carob pudra si le-am pus in blender. Din pasta am format bilute pe care le-am tavalit prin nuca de cocos si gata! Carol este innebunit dupa ele, sunt dulci, moi si cu aroma de cocos, cum sa nu le adori:)

Intr-una dintre plimbarile duminicale la targul de vechituri, am dat peste o bijuterie de carte: "Uzina flora", scrisa de Tudor Opris, in care e explicata functionarea plantelor, cu niste ilustratii delicioase, Plina de inspiratie aceasta carte si, desi la prima vedere pare pentru copii, eu o recomand ca lectura utila si placuta pentru adulti, de asemenea.

Before Summer Ends

 Lunile de vara au trecut repede si pline de aventuri, asa ca inainte sa adie aerul de toamna am facut o excursie intr-unul din locurile noastre preferate, satul Gornet. Fiind sezonul recoltei, ne-am bucurat din plin de gradina de permacultura si am mancat nuci, pere, mere, struguri, iar ca bonus am strans o sacosa de gutui parfumate, din gutuii salbatici care cresc pe deal.

Ajunsi acasa am sarbatorit intoarcerea, dupa o calatorie lunga, cu un foc in gradina primitoare si plina de roade, punand deoparte soare pentru lunile ce urmeaza:)

Love the Road

Au trecut vreo 2 luni de cand casuta pe roti ne duce in locuri frumoase, ne adaposteste de ploaie si ne tine umbra cand soarele e puternic. Si o data cu ea visul nostru comun de a calatori a prins viata, iar fiecare zi e o aventura. Carol se distreaza si se pare ca variatia de locuri si oameni ii priesc, pentru ca zambeste oricui, creste vazand cu ochii si e tot mai activ cu fiecare zi, iar pentru ca avem casuta cu noi oriunde, ne e usor sa petrecem si noi timp cu alti oameni, sa socializam si nu simt ca sunt prinsa in casa pentru ca trebuie sa ii respect lui programul de somnuri dese.

EN: Almost 2 months have passed since our house on wheels takes us to beautiful places, shelters us from the rain and protects us from the hot sun. And with it our shared dream of travelling has come to life and each day is a blessed adventure. Baby Carol os having fun and it seems the variation of places and faces are good for him: he smiles to anybody, he grows very fast, is more active with each day and because we have the home with us everywhere it's easy to spend time with others, to socialize and I don't feel trapped beacuse I have to follow his sleeping schedule.

  Am ajuns pe Valea Putnei, in judetul Vrancea, o zona pe care n-am mai explorat-o pana acum. Cascada Putna si cheile Tisiteti sunt doua locuri putin frecventate de turisti, unde natura spectaculoasa, linistea padurii, apa perfecta pentru baie sunt ingredientele pentru o vacanta odihnitoare.

EN: We arrived on Putna's valley, in Vrancea county, an area we haven't exlpored so far. The Putna cascade and Tisita river keys are two wild  places where few turists go and the spectacular landscape, together with the quiet forest and the perfect water for bathing make for a great holiday.

 Am campat la Cabana Dorina, in Lepsa, un loc verde si plin de viata, chiar pe malul Putnei, cu o gazda vesela si primitoare. In spatele gradinii mari, unde se poate sta cu rulota sau cortul, un cot al raului creeaza o piscina naturala, adanca de pana la 3 m, unde am facut baie intr-o apa limpede si curata.

EN: We camped at Cabana Dorina, in Lepsa, a green and quiet place, on the shore of Putna, with a happy and welcoming host. Behind the green garden, where you can place your tent, a truning of the river creates a 3 m natural pool where we bathed in the crystal clear water.

Noi am petrecut 2 zile intr-una dintre camerele cabanei si am dormit leganati de sunetul raului si sumedenia de pasarele ciripitoare, dealtfel singurele zgomote care tulburau linistea adanca dintre munti. Caldura soarelui de amiaza incalzea camera tapetata cu scoarte de lana tesute de gazda, doamna Dorina, iar peretii de lemn raspandeau o aroma de pin si rasina, care se pastra pana seara cand mergeam la somn.Am facut o drumetie prin cheile Tisitei, o frumoasa si putin cunoscuta rezervatie naturala. Traseul e accesibil si pentru copii, iar cararea e marginita de panouri cu informatii interesante despre flora si fauna locala.
Un loc in care ne vom intoarce cu siguranta!

EN: We spent 2 days in one the cabin's rooms and our slept was troubled only by the sound of the river and the singing of birds. The rooms smelled of pine wood and the walls were decorated with traditional hand woven wool carpets, made by the host herself. We took a walk along the Tisita river, to discover the natural reserve Tistita's Keys. The track is suitable for children and the accessible paths have specially designed boards on the sides where you can find out lots of interesting information about the local flora and fauna.
A place where we'll definitley return!

The Sky Isn't Always Blue

Zilele trecute au fost presarate cu ploi, cer mohorat si o senzatie de leneveala greu de invins. Asa ca am luat totul incet, fara prea mult efort si am incercat sa respectam ritmul naturii: daca ploua, stam si noi linistiti, facem focul, dormim, citim, gatim mancaruri delicioase care sa ne tina de cald si ne bucuram de repaos.

EN: The last days were rainy, with grey sky and a heavy feeling of laziness. So we took it easy, as effortless as possible and trying to follow the rhythm of the nature: if it rains, we chill inside, we sleep, read, cook comfort foods and simply enjoy the pause.

Si ca o compensatie pentru ploaie (care am mai spus-o, pentru locul in care traim e de fapt o binecuvantare), excursia de saptamana aceasta ne-a bucurat cu o recolta bogata de palaria sarpelui (Macrolepiota procera), din care am mancat pe saturate si am si conservat sub forma de antipasti. Sunt unele dintre cele mai gustoase ciuperci, dar se pare ca in zona oamenii le ocolesc. Bafta noastra:)

EN: And as a bonus to all the rain (although in our village rain is a blessing), this week's trip brought us lots of Macrolepiota procera, which we enjoyed fried (it actually tastes so sweet and delicious) and preserved as antipasti. They are some of the most delicious mushrooms I ate, easy to pick, big and satisfying and it seems people in this area don't know them. Lucky us:)

Seasonal

Deja de vreo cateva saptamani (mai exact de cand am inceput sa facem focul in sobe), ceaiul e nelipsit de pe vechea plita incinsa. Cu aroma de menta si melisa (mai nou preferatul meu), cu muguri de brad, ciubotica cucului (care imi aduce aminte cu drag de primavara trecuta, cand livada era acoperita de covorul galben de floricele) si felii uscate de mar, ca sa punem si un pic de toamna, cu gherghine, coarne si tei, acrisor si fructat si tot soiul de combinatii de moment din plantele adunate toata vara de pe pajisti sau din padure.
Am avut si norocul sa gasim un producator de miere ale carui albinute harnice si cred eu tare fericite au muncit o bunatate de aur lichid, care e companionul perfect al ceaiurilor, pe care le bem nu doar la ora 5, dar cam toata ziua.
EN: It's already been weeks (actually since we started the fire in the stoves) since on the old iron stove we have a pot of tea. With mint and melisa flavor (this one is my favorite for the moment), with pine firs, primula officinalis (that reminds me of last spring's beautiful sight, with small yellow flowers covering the orchard) and dried apple slices, to add a bit of autumn or with gooseberries, cornelian cherries and lime flowers, sour and fruity and all sorts of mixtures, inspired by the abundance of wild medicinal plants we picked all summer long from the pastures and woods.
We were lucky to find a honey producer whose happy bees make the best liquid gold I've ever tasted, which is the perfect companion for the tee.

Si cum toamna e sezonul recoltei, fiecare drum la piata e o delectare pentru ochi, iar mintea invarte tot felul de ganduri perverse despre gusturi care mai de care si experimente culinare ce nu suporta amanare. De data aceasta sfecla mi-a "vorbit" cu glasul ei dulce si aroma de pamant si am gasit o reteta minunata de chiftele:
3 cartofi fierti in coaja, curatati si dati pe razatoare
4 sfecle, crude, date si ele pe razatoarea fina, presarate cu sare si lasate la scurs
1 ceapa tocata fin
chimion
pesmet
faina de grau
Sfecla se stoarce cu mana de suc si se pune intr-un castron impreuna cu ceapa, cartofii si chimionul, apoi se framanata pana se obtine o pasta omogena. Se formeaza chiftele de marimea dorita, iar din faina cu apa se face o coca fluida, prin care se trece fiecare chiftea, urmand apoi sa fie tavalita prin pesmet si prajita. In combinatie cu iaurt de casa sunt delicioase!
EN:  And because autumn is the crop season, each trip to the market is filled with excitement and the endless possibilities to cook so many delicious foods, with local and seasonal ingredients. This time, the sweet "voice" of the beetroot kept my attention and its earthly flavor was exactly what I wanted to eat. So, I found a simple yet amazing recipe for burgers.:
3 whole boiled potatoes, peeled and finely grated
4 raw beetroots, finely grated, powdered with salt and left to drain their juice
1 onion, finely chopped
salt
cumin powder
wheat flour
bread crumb
Take the beetroot and press the juice out with your hands, add it to the potatoes, pot the onion and the cumin and mix by hand until you get an even paste. Mix flour with some water, to make a fluid paste. Make the burgers the size you wish, put them through the flour paste, then through bread crumbs and fry them. Serve this with home made yogurt and enjoy!

Open Heart

 Ce bucurie sa pot ridica privirea si sa me intampine un azuriu adanc, presarat cu nori pufosi ce se transforma in miscarea lor in pasari, dragoni, cupe cu inghetata sau cine stie ce creaturi fantastice. Cerul senin e partea mea preferata din vara, asa ca am prins o bucatica din el intr-o inima de salcam, sa il pot purta mereu si sa imi aminteasca sa zambesc.

EN: What a joy I have when I can look up and see this beautiful deep blue, sprinkled with fluffy white clouds that in their movement, transform themselves into birds, dragons, icecream cups or who knows what other mystical creatures. The clear sky is my favorite part of the summer, so I captured a piece of it in an elder tree heart, so I can wear it all the time and remember to smile.

Weekendul acesta, pe langa cerul senin, am avut parte de o experienta unica: am partcipat la un festival de reenactment, intr-un fost castru roman din orasul Carnuntum, Austria.

EN: This weekend, besides the clear sky, we enjoyed a wonderful experience: we were part of a reenactment festival, that took place in a former roman fortress from the Austrian city of Carnuntum.

 Am fost parte din tabara dacilor "barbari" si pentru 2 zile am trait in aer liber, cu mancare la ceaun, umbland in opinci si desculti, cu lupte intre oastea romana si hoarda dacilor viteji:)

EN: We went there as the "barbarian" dacians and for 2 days we lived outdoor, dressed like the old time people, eating what we cooked and the brave men fought against the roman army:)

Ne-am distrat de minune, am interactionat cu multi vizitatori curiosi si dornici sa afle cate ceva despre felul de viata al dacilor, despre romani, a fost o cura de sanatate si bucurie si abia asteptam urmatorul festival, care va fi in tara, de data aceasta.
Si ca sa simtim ca a venit vara, maine vom pleca spre un alt soi de festival, cu muzica electronica de data aceasta, unde Primitiv Entertainment va tine ateliere de pirogravura, pictura pe lemn si tir cu arcul.

EN: We had a great time, we interacted with many curious visitors, who wanted to know more about the dacians, about Romania. It's been a weekend of joy and fun and we're looking forward for the next festival.

Springtime!

De fiecare data cand scriu o noua postare ma surprinde ca e deja vineri si s-a mai scurs o saptamana. Apoi arunc o privire peste fotografiile cu ce am pictat si sunt multe, multe si realizez ca timpul zboara atunci cand mesteresc:) Saptamanile care au trecut au adus multe comenzi si bineinteles ca vedete au fost martisoarele. Anul acesta am facut multe brose si cercei cu surub, iar ca noutate, Valentin a traforat feliile de lemn in forma de flori si a iesit ceva deosebit.
Ne-am bucurat de promovare pe un site foarte citit:
Printesa urbana
 si am cunoscut astfel oameni frumosi.
EN: Each time when I write a new post, I'm surprised it's Friday and the week has passed by. Then I take a look at the photos throughout the weekdays with what I've painted and realize  that time flies when I craft. The passing weeks brought many orders and the stars were the "martisoare". This year we made many brooches and small earrings and the novelty is that Valentin used the fretsaw to create some beautiful wood flowers.

Ne-am luat si o vacanta de cateva zile si am calatorit spre sudul insorit. Am ajuns la Buzau, in Parcul Crang (prima vizita pentru mine, desi am locuit in zona pentru o perioada:) si am avut parte de o plimbare linistita care ne-a incarcat cu entuziasmul pasarelelor, bucuroase si ele de cele cateva raze e soare.
EN: We took a short trip to the sunny south and arrived in Buzau. There, we visited the Crang park where we enjoyed a quiet walk accompanied by the restless birds' songs.

Ma gandeam ca locuind la tara, sesizam mult mai usor diferentele de temperatura si schimbarea anotimpurilor: pasarile incep sa se auda tot mai tare in livada, motanul Ivan vaneaza cu incantare muste si alte gaze care tocmai se dezmortesc, curtea e tranzitata de pisici galagioase care isi cheama partenerii, soarele a urcat pe cer si incalzeste pamantul, s-a dezghetat paraul din fata portii. Si simt tot mai mult nevoia de a iesi pe afara, pentru a urca dealul pana sus in padure si a respira aerul improspatat.
EN: I was thinking that living at the countryside we feel much easier the temperature differences and the season changing: the birds are more and more noisy in the orchard, Ivan, the cat, is delightfully hunting for flies and bugs that have just came to senses , the yard is meeting point for cats looking for a partner, the sun is upper on the sky and heats the land, the river outside the gate is now defrosted. And I feel more and more the urge to go up on the hill, in the forest and breath the fresh air.

Wild

Am profitat de soarele care saptamana aceasta ne-a mangaiat, chiar daca doar pentru cateva ore, in restul ascunzandu-se dupa dealul din fata casei si am fotografiat ce am mai metsterit. Un unicorn, printre altele, traforat in lemn de salcam si pirogravat. E un indemn la visare, la basme, la magie...

EN: I took advantage of the sun that was plenty this week, although only for a few hours, cause the rest was hiding behind the hill and took photos of the latest creations. An unicorn, among others, fret sawed in acacia wood and wood burned. It's a reminder for day dreaming, living in fairytales and magic...

Desi nu pare sa fii venit iarna la propriu, am avut chef sa degust din provizii si am mers la camara, unde m-am oprit la zacusca de ghebe. Am mancat jumatate pe paine proaspat scoasa din cuptor (in sfarsit am gasit o reteta pe care o pot repeta cu succes:), iar restul l-am folosit sa umplu niste tortellini. N-au iesit asa micuti cum as fi vrut, dar au mers de minune in supa de sfecla. Ne-am amintit cu placere si un strop de nostalgie, ca acum vreo 3 saptamani cutreieram padurea si adunam minunatele ciuperci!

EN: Although it doesn't seem like proper winter, I felt like tasting the supplies, so I picked from the pantry the mushrooms stew. We ate half of the jar on fresh baked bread (I finally found a tasty recipe that I can successfully repeat)  and the rest I put inside some tortellini. They didn't turn out as tiny as I pictured them, but were so tasty in the beetroot soup. While eating we remembered, with a bit of nostalgia, that only 3 weeks ago we were in the woods, picking mushrooms!