the year is zipping by faster than ever! I can't believe that in just two months I will have been living in lima for 3 whole years. lots has been going on, and lots will happen in the next six months. our coffee is being sold in a growing number of quality restaurants, and we're rapidly outgrowing our roaster capacity. next step: get bigger ( Read more... )

life has been full. I recently accompanied my dear friend through her homebirth (attended by a lay midwife) which was a truly amazing experience. I can't believe how time has flown these past few years! the earthquake stuff is scary -- no one forgets that lima could be next. but you can never really anticipate these things ( Read more... )

A new year, summertime, and a fresh start in many ways -- a new & improved work protocol for our employees, replacing the coffeeshop's roof, scheming to get a new car, finalizing a big new business deal, a fresh hair cut. I'm finding time for cooking once again, which allows me to make more of the kind of foodstuff that I have been sorely missing ( Read more... )

after a week sans computer, i'm back! my computer was effectively held hostage from me by the jerk of a guy who found it in the taxi where i accidentally left it. (learn from me and don't be an idiot who leaves her computer places.) i am thanking my lucky stars for having been able to track the douchebag who took it and manage to get him to give ( Read more... )

recent stuff ( Read more... )

Marissa came and went, it was WONDERFUL to have her here! we didn't do anything particularly exciting in terms of tourism, rather just hung out at the shop and in our neighborhood. it felt completely natural to have her by my side here. She already speaks spanish beautifully, which made it even easier. she was the most easy-going guest, and she ( Read more... )

two weeks ago I was preparing lunch, and being the cooking whiz that i am (note my sarcasm), i was simultaneously cooking spaghetti, heating up soup, and frying a steak. i must not have known my own super strength because when I put the steak in the smoking hot oil (the goal was to flambé it), the oil splattered like crazy and practically flambéd ( Read more... )

i think i'm really growing obsessed with food. what can i say? it runs my life. i spend most of my time in the kitchen, and when i'm not cooking or baking, i'm eating or thinking about what to make or eat next.

In gym class as a child, I could never do a cartwheel. Somersault, sure! but cartwheel? Nahhh. I couldn't be bothered. I did my little "round-offs" and that was that, I never pushed myself to try. and once i got to be a teenager/adult, I assumed I missed the cartwheel boat and was therefore too old to train myself to do that sort of thing ( Read more... )

in comes the fog, the harbinger of winter. thick velvety white clouds that roll and curl over and around buildings, pouring into the streets, creeping past windows. with it comes a damp chill, a desire for hot tea and sweaters and hunkering. goodbye to the scent of jasmine lingering in the air on warm summer nights.