Category Archives: home

kalé is back!

21 Thursday Feb 2019

Posted by in casa azahar, cats, friends, home

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So about umpty years ago Kalé came to stay with me when I was living in my “too big, too expensive” apartment in Barrio Santa Cruz, and had to take in lodgers. This came about because the person I was going to share the apartment with bailed last minute due to health problems, and with deposit paid and contract signed, I ended up stuck with a place I couldn’t afford. At first I tried looking for another flatmate, but then I discovered it worked out better to take in short-term lodgers. I did this for eight years until I moved across the hall to a somewhat smaller place that I could afford on my own.

Anyhoo… Kalé is a historian from the US. I always loved hosting historians who were here to do research at the Archivos de Indias, because, unlike the young studenty types, they were “grown ups” and I never had to worry about having to explain anything. Personal space was respected, rooms were kept clean, etc, etc.

The very unique thing about Kalé is that she has known ALL of my cats, from Lua, Sunny and Azar to Loki and Luna… well she still has to meet Morcilla. But it’s nice being able to talk to someone about my first cat family who actually lived with them. Kalé has been back in Sevilla since she lived with us, and this time she will be here until mid-April. It’ll be very nice having her around.

siesta time

05 Tuesday Feb 2019

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Morcilla has turned into a serious snuggler, which makes me very happy. She especially likes cuddling when I am in my “comfy chair” watching TV, and also when I am working at my desk. Her favourite thing is to jump onto my shoulder, then curl around and make herself comfortable, using my “rack” as a shelf, and then commence to purring and nudging her little nose against my cheek.

This photo of Morcilla I took today reminded my of one of my favourite photos ever, taken back in 2010, of me and Azar all cosy in bed – Azar was definitely a bed snuggler. I can still feel how I felt in that photo, and how he felt in my arms, remembering everything and bringing up a whole tangle of emotions. I’ve never got over losing that lovely little guy, nor do I want to. But I feel very lucky that Morcilla came into my life.

if at first you don’t succeed…

12 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by in casa azahar, food & drink, home, homecooking, sevilla

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… improvise! Last week I tried some nice spinach and garbanzo albóndigas at my friend Ana’s new bar Lama La Uva al Sol, and so the other day I decided I wanted to try making some. I looked up a few recipes for inspiration and then came up with my own. Everything was going fine until I made the fatal flaw of adding an egg to the spinach and garbanzo mixture. I thought it would help it bind, but it had the opposite effect, as you can see below…

I tried a few as “albóndigas”, dipping them in a mayo-greek-yoghurt coriander sauce, and they just kept falling apart. But they were very tasty! So undaunted, the next day I decided to try them in a different way. After reheating I crumbled them over some basmati rice and had them with the sauce on the side and … delicious!

I’ve always been a bit of a reckless cook, basically self-taught since I left home at age 15 and discovered a whole new world of fresh vegetables and other food items that hadn’t been a part of my growing up. And I have always been keen to try making new dishes, without worrying too much about the outcome. I guess that’s what I mean by reckless. I reckon that if you start with great ingredients, and as long as you don’t, say, burn the shit out of something, then the dish will probably turn out just fine, if not perhaps what you’d first envisioned. Anyhow, this new breaded spinach and garbanzo crumble is going into my repertoire. But I still want to ace the albóndigas.  😉

mother’s little helper

08 Saturday Dec 2018

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Morcilla has been turning into quite the unstoppable force. Mostly she uses her kitteh super powers for good, by which I mean making me feel like the most special person on the planet, but other times she demands payment. Above you can see her in her role as my Personal Assistant, and having her attached to my shoulder (seriously attached, with claws) is actually welcome company as I spend several hours each day at the computer and her cuddling and nuzzling and purring somehow makes everything feel fabulous.

More recently she has become “helpful in the kitchen” (please ignore spattered windows – it’s been raining and I have yet to wash them). Here Morcilla is extremely happy – you can tell by her puffed out tail – as she has just climbed up my back (ouch!) and after a short while perched on my shoulder she jumped over to the little storage shelf and had a good sniff around. Potatoes and onions and garlic – oh my!

But it seems I can’t turn my back for TWO MINUTES. After finishing with some washing up in the kitchen I suddenly found myself Morcilla-less. Where could she be? Didn’t have to look far to find her at another of her favourite activities… dragging stuff out of drawers under my bed through the small opening that is supposed to act as a handle. She will often get the drawer open eventually and pull everything out, and then climb inside.

To be honest…. I love this shit! Yes, it’s a bit annoying at times, but it is mostly adorable. And, being a house cat, there isn’t really a lot going on for these guys. Loki and Luna mostly just do the eat, sleep, lounge around thing… but Morcilla is much more about having FUN. Once again she reminds me so much of Azar. And just like Azar, she has become much more affectionate and demanding as she gets older. What can I say? I’m all hers.