Wednesday, February 26, 2014

guineapigs and llama meals/orno!

I am still weaving, mostly on my big looms but in my head and heart I am also practicing the weaving skills I learned in Calca. Soon two years will have passed since I spent 10 weeks in Peru studying and learning with the kind and knowledgeable people at Apulaya. These photos are from a meal we had just a few days before my stay was over.

The food is going into the 'orno', an outdoor clay oven which is filled with wood and left to burn until there are only large embers left.
Then the potatoes that grew behind the studio
and the sweet potatoes from the market (i think) went into the orno and the front opening and the side air hole was closed off with rocks and clay. The two roasting pans shared space with ...........
The guinea pigs which had been butchered and prepared that same morning,
The salad which came from the garden, with a fresh green taste and a smooth vinaigrette.
And finally my plate.... I did not get a full guineapig, but about half of one on my plate. It tasted deliciously - the 6 year old daughter of the house finished her guinea pig off in minutes and was she ever happy and hungry! I had seconds and ....... as it is I am looking forward to going back to Peru in the fall, again to spend time at Apulaya, and will bring my spouse this time.... he won't be weaving but I will, and he will be learning language (quechua with me) and looking at agricultural practices, music and enveloping himself in this new to us culture of food, language, laughter and people.