Hawk Walk — Cuban-American Lifestyle & Food Blog — My Big Fat Cuban Family: A Cuban-American Blog

It's that time of year when I look back and see what has transpired in my life this past year. And it's moments like this when I realize how grateful I am that I started blogging.

Here's a time capsule look back at 2011 - MBFCF style. I also did this for 2010 and 2009 and I'm so glad I did. It's quite a compilation of stories I've got going on here. Do I sound surprised? The truth is, I sort of am.

If you're a regular reader, I thank you for hanging out here and keeping up with the "relajo" that is my online life here at MBFCF.

If you just recently joined the party, the following posts will give you a glimpse of what life is like here in my cyber-world as I walk you through my favorite posts over the last year. Welcome!

And if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook, please go "like" My Big, Fat, Cuban Family there.

Without further ado....here's the best of MBFCF for 2011. (NOT 2012! Not yet, anyway...)

1. An Historical Day - In which I celebrate my sweet Desi Arnaz Jr.'s birthday. *sigh*

2. On a clear day, you can see Havana - In which I tell about my Dad's amazingness as a storyteller on what would have been his 100th birthday.

3. El Bix - A Cuban cure for all that ails you - In which I celebrate the magical properties of Vicks VapoRub.

4. For the love of guava.... - In which I discover (thanks to a dozen or so online friends) the amazingness of Conchita GuavaBites!

5. The Hawk Walk - in which my three men have a wonderful adventure together involving a hawk named Mariposa.

6. Always Right - in which my kids hijack my blog on Mother's Day which leaves me in a puddle of tears.

7. N-E-S-T-L-E-S ... A Giveaway - in which I get to bake in the Nestlé Kitchens and was out-of-my-mind excited to be making REAL Nestlé Tollhouse Cookies in the Nestlé Kitchens. I know. Shut up.

8. It's a Small (Cuban) World, After All - in which my daughter, Amy Kikita and I inadvertently meet up with some long lost relatives.

9. How to make Cuban coffee with KILLER espuma. You're welcome. - In which my daughter, Amy Kikita reveals her secrets to making espresso.

10. Cooking with the Troops or Meet Team Cubanaso - the absolute highlight of my year, in which my big, fat, Cuban family and I fly to Texas and get to make a Cuban Nochebuena-style lunch for 300 wounded warriors and their families.

11. Fricase de Pollo - a lo Cubano - in which I continue my quest to share my love of all Cuban food.

12. Cuando Sali de Cuba - stories of courage and hope - A series I began for Hispanic Heritage Month (Cuban Style) in which ordinary people show extraordinary courage as they began new lives here in the U.S. I'm quite proud of this. And by the way, if you have a "coming to America from Cuba" story to share, please email me.

It's funny, but I sometimes wonder if anyone is reading my blog (statistics tell me you are, but that's not important right now) and if anyone cares about the silly things I write about. But there is one thing I know for sure and that is that I'm so happy that I've documented all of these stories, both mine and yours, and all of the happenings of this past year (technically, years - I've been blogging for 5 - count 'em!- years now).

MBFCF has become my personal legacy, and of that I'm quite proud. (Get the sandpaper! Pa' darme lija!)

Happy New Year!

Last Sunday was Eric's birthday. And rather than add more stuff that-he-doesn't-need-or-want to his life, I had asked him if there was anything that he had always wanted to do, but had not taken the time.

"I've always wanted to see how hawks are trained," he said.

*quickly Googles hawk training*

There's a place in Marysville called West Coast Falconry that does just that. Marysville, however, is almost 500 miles away from us, somewhere up near Sacramento.

Coincidentally, Adam lives up near there...

ROAD TRIP!

Adam (25), Eric (umm...older), Jonathan (15).

We quickly decided that Jonathan would accompany Eric and the three of them would enjoy a Manly-Man Weekend.

I can't even begin to tell you how great it was for me to know that the three of them were together and playing and enjoying each other's company.

Eric and Jonathan got to spend time seeing where Adam lives and works and reported back that he's doing very well. I love how they all love each other and get a kick out of being together.

Road Trip from Marta Darby on Vimeo.

And yes, they did go on the Hawk Walk, too.

They got to wear that Really Cool Heavy Leather Bird Glove Thing (it probably has a special name, but I'm sure I don't know what that is, but that's not important right now). The hawk they got to play with was Mariposa and she would come when called and eat food out of their hands. As Jon would say, "Epic!"

In Eric's words, "It was like walking a dog, but way cooler."