I agree that one needs to be very careful about what one brings to a potluck or contributes to the church supper but I've found that even the non-adventurous will accept certain new recipes. They might not ask you for the recipe but you will get a few honest compliments. My husband would be willing to eat the same thing every day but I just seem to crave new tastes. Here are some examples that people have liked: - parsnip cookies - garlic scape hummus - zucchini and raisin pancakes (almost like carrot bread) There's always the chance that a new flavor will hit the big time. First the recipe gets shared and then some regional manufacturer will put it into production. I'm thinking something like red pepper jelly. I think I first tasted it in the 80s but now it's in every "country" shop. For years, I've been buying corn rather than growing it (the racoons won) at a local dairy farm. One of the young relatives grows it to earn money but the relatives have changed over the years. At first, there was a variety of corn, usually 2 different varieties each week, sometimes a third as a new one was ready for picking. Signs would be posted so you knew what kind. I loved that although I didn't always love all the varieties. About two years ago, they switched to a supersweet variety probably succession planted. At the beginning of the season, the corn is a little on the too young side and by the end of the season, well, it's almost not worth buying except it's going to be the last corn until next year. I'm going to start trying other farmstands. I don't think I've had any silver queen corn in two years and I miss it. The price of berries is a good example. I've been making blueberry muffins from berries we picked last summer and next year we better pick more. I used the last ones last weekend and it's only February. I don't buy fresh blueberries at the supermarket. The berries are available but the price is too high for my pocketbook.

Thanks Teresa.... Well by looking again at the leaves of the plant I photographed and comparing them with those that show up on a Google image search of Ageratum, I see that they are both very similar.....roughly heart-shaped and serrated, whereas the spirea leaves are narrow and lance-shaped. I noticed there are also quite a few different hybrid cultivars of ageratum so this one probably belongs to that family. Closeup of the bush I'm questioning: I guess I can always go back there and ask those gardeners lol. SharonCb

Gina as far as I know there aren't many American living here on a permanent basis. Problem is the residence permits for non-Spanish people. If one is not a European national whose country is a member of the European Union, it's difficult to get a fulltime residence permit. If one has a work permit or is married to a European then a residence is easier to acquire. Otherwise non Europeans are allowed to stay in the country for only 6 months at a time. I love the idea of posting pictures of our local scenery and daily activities! Of course I will contribute and will try to add some travel pics of airport, hotel, food along the way. Good idea. SharonCb

Linda, I used to quilt all my quilts by hand, but now I machine quilt almost exclusively. This quilt I sent out to be longarm quilted by a member of my quilt guild. She did a wonderful job! I was thrilled with her work and I love my quilt. The fabrics used were 1930's reproduction prints, some authentic vintage 30's fabrics, and some plaids, checks and polka dots thrown in for a good mix. The 30's prints are what I call brighter pastels - very happy fabrics. I'm glad you like the quilt. It gives me such pleasure twice a day - when I make the bed in the morning and when I pull back the covers to go to bed at night. Teresa