New Year's Dragons

 Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten. G.K. Chersterton

We have all dragons to beat, slay or tame. They are usually inside us, and we have spent yesterday thinking about them. They are all those "New Year's resolutions", those things we want to improve or achieve in the next 365 days. Learn a new language, start going to the gym, quit smoking, read more books, learn how to cook, go to church, watch less TV… say "I love you", "I'm sorry", "I forgive you", "can you help me?", "please", "thank you", "you're welcome"… smile, cry, hug, buy flowers, take care of your loved ones, try to see the glass half-full, keep a journal, write a book, start a blog…

I wish you all happiness, joy and wisdom, peaceful and beautiful days four all your loved ones. Love, and be loved. Beat and tame some dragons, and don't forget to live.

About turning 27 and growing-up

'P'rhaps. What do you think Ursula Monkton is scared of?'
'Dunno. What do you think she's scared of anything? She's a grown-up, isn't she? Grown-ups and monsters aren't scared of things.'
'Oh, monsters are scared,' said Lettie. 'And as for grown-ups…' She stopped talking, rubbed her freckled nose with a finger. Then, 'I'm going to tell you something important. Grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they're big and thoughtless and they always know what they're doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. The truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.' She  thought for a moment. Then she smiled. 'Except for Granny, of course.'

So even if I'm turning 27 today, I'm not really growing-up. Maybe thats why I feel so not-grown-up and adult yet. There are not grown-ups, we are all pretending. And I guess it's all right.

Pic comes from here (thanks!)

Happy birthday to me.

Christmas is timeless

Christmas is timeless. Enrique García-Máiquez writes a bit about that at the end of this article. We pass trhoug it, Christmas stays the same. Listening this morning to this galician Christmas carol, written for 1829's Christmas, and played by Carlos Núñez I realised that, too. A 19th century Christmas Carol for a 21st century Christmas, as my father said.

Merry Christmas to you all.

DIY Orange and clove aire freshner

Now that winter is really here, it's time for me to make a natural air freshener for my room. I like to let the window open all day, but with the december cold I cannot do it anymore if I don't want to freeze at night. So I took the oportunity to make this orange and clove natural freshner that smells delicious. 

It's really easy: you only need an orange and some clove. 

You just have to nail the clove into the orange. If you have any artistic talent, now it's the time to make an original creation. If –like me– you are a bit lazy and don't care about how does it look, just nail the clove all over the orange. You can also make an smiley (I got one like that last year from a friend, she had also written my name).

And when you are done, just put it somewhere in your room, on your table, your bookshelf, inside your wardrobe… Simple, quick and nice. And it provides your room with a fresh smell that'll last for several days.

Stepping onto the road

"It's a dangerous bussiness, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to"

Bilbo never knew about blogs, but his advice is a fair warning to bloggers like me, those who engage themselves into a path withut knowing where it will take them. So I'll keep his words in mind and try to survive in the Internet wilderness.