Spanish and Protein cookies

More latina locals came today to buy live chickens today! It's such an easy way to sell chickens! Some of them are really sweet, and some of them so obviously think I'm an idiot which is a bit frustrating. I realize that my Spanish sucks, but some Spanish speakers seem far more offended that I'm not fluent than appreciative that I'm trying really hard. I did learn how to tie their feet together better today. I had just been double knotting twine around their ankles, but those sneaky gallinas are really good at wiggling out while your back is turned. These experienced ladies have a technique of tying in between the feet that somehow holds it better.

We started Spanish classes this Monday, which should help with my chicken selling issues. Ex-educator Alli is teaching and is rocking it! She planned a fantastic lesson that was super basic but somehow still really interesting and helpful at my rusty intermediate level. I also got a few children's books in Spanish at the library yesterday. I was considering some teen fiction (crepusculo maybe?), but decided that was way too ambitious and picked a few picture books instead. Right now I'm working my way through "Cuidado con las Mujeres Astutas!," Watch out for Clever Women!, which has full page pictures every other page. With that hilarious title I was surprised to see it was published in 1994, long after the feminist movement taught most people not to openly declare that intelligent women are dangerous.

The first story was about an impovrished viejita who saves all her pennies to buy a special ham. She then welcomes some lost travelers into her home and cooks them dinner (with ham!) from her meager supplies. After dinner, the rascals plot to steal the ham and hide it in their traveling bag thinking she somehow won't notice. But she is clever, and steals it back before the morning, replacing it with a big brick. The scoundrels then hike into the wilderness carrying a brick, and go hungry for days. So there! I'm pretty excited to see what the next chapter has in store :)

I also found a pretty good cookie recipe from dietdessertndogs.com! Considering the ingredients, it's more of a delicious chocolate protein bar recipe:

1+ Tbs olive oil

3 Tbs water

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 c xylitol

1/4 c stevia

1 c almonds

1/4 c hemp prot powder

2+ Tbs cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 c GF flour