Grandmother Dragon Forever

It feels like centuries since the last time I wrote something for the Dragon Cave. Only something of great importance would drag me out of my retirement and this is it; the passing of a kind, loving, caring lady like Jo Wake from Jo on Food, Life and a Scent of Chocolate. 

It was me who first gave her the title of "Grandmother Dragon". I met her during an A to Z Challenge, back in 2013, when I was a frequent blogger. She became a frequent visitor of the Dragon Cave and quickly grew into my heart. On 2014, she accepted my invitation to join a Goal Partner Group, along with Alex J. Cavanaugh, David Powers King, Elizabeth Seckman, Lisa Buie-Collard, Melissa Maygrove, Carrie Buttler, Mark Koopmans, Tina Downey, and Eva Solar, who joined us after Tina passed away. I never imagined this group would grow to become a family who shared a lot more than personal and professional goals. We became the Fellowship of the Dragon.

I remember I often argued with Captain Ninja about who of us was older (me, of course, for several centuries). Jo was the one who always remembered (and reminded us) of everybody's birthdays, special occasions, she encouraged us and put a smile on our faces with her comments. She was fun and loving but also firm and truthful. One day I asked her if I could adopt her as my grandmother, because she reminded me to my mother's mother. First time I told her she could be my grandmother she wasn't flattered. She said she wasn't THAT old, hahaha. I still laugh at the memory. I told her she wasn't as old as a dragon but she had the heart of one, and so she became my Grandmother Dragon. It didn't take too long for her to adopt everyone in the group under her "wing". We went through a lot of stuff together.  Along the years we shared thoughts, hearts and a bit of our souls. I never met her in the flesh but I knew her and she really knew me. The day her voice went silent was the day our Fellowship lost also a huge part of its essence. I feel very lucky and grateful for all the things she did and said that enriched my life and the life of all those in our group. My dragon heart will always treasure her memory for as long as I live. She had a heart of gold.

 She loved good recipes and in her honor, we are sharing a recipe that brings us memories of love, family and friendship. My recipe is for Molletes, as we know them in Mexico. In Spain they have something similar they call Tapas. Jo loved Tapas and my real grandmother loved Molletes. They are very easy to do.

Ingredients

Photo: Vvsupremo

1 bolillo (it's like a baguette but smaller)

1 cup of fried beans

1 cup of white onion

4 large red tomatoes

1/2 cup fresh coriander

1 jalapeño or serrano pepper (if you like hot)

1/4 cup lime juice

3/4 teaspoon sea salt

Manchego cheese in slices

Instructions

First chop the tomatoes, onion, coriander and  jalapeño finely. Add the salt and lime juice, to your taste. Mix everything and let it rest for 15 minutes. In Mexico this is known as salsa "Pico de Gallo".

Cut the bolillo in half horizontally. Spread two spoons of fried beans all over the surface. Put the slices of cheese over that and bake it until the cheese melts.  Decorate with the Pico de Gallo at will. 

You may also add chopped chorizo, ham, or meat on top. It's a very versatile dish.

The Big Reveal Bloghop /Enter the Dragon...Cave

Mina Lobo from Some Dark Romantic and David Macaulay are hosting the Big Reveal Bloghop. This is for bloggers who have signed up for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge and who will have a theme for their posts.

Whether you have a theme or not, if you have not signed up for the challenge yet, you have about ten days to make up your mind and join us in this promising one-month-party of the blogsphere.

My theme for the challenge is Chronicles of the Dragon Cave from A to Z. 

How does the dragon cave looks like? Who are my minions? Where is my treasure? What happens in the Cave when my crown jewel arrives? What's the story behind the Ninja Muse? Who did open the magic portal between this dimension and the dragon dimension? Who was the first knight that made deals with the first Father Dragon of my family? What's the new drill of Father Dragon's Dwarf Cheering Squad? How does Father Dragon look like from top to toe? Where does the name Al come from?

Probably you don't know we dragons believe in the power hidden in our true names. That's why it is our best kept secret. However, the name we choose for public knowledge also has a meaning and a power of its own.

These and other details will be revealed next month. However, my dwarves accepted a second minion job for Captain Ninja during April and that will leave me without staff. (Don't know why I didn't think on that.) For strategic reasons, we decided to register the life in the Cave during the preparations for Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. In any case, you'll get a whole tour around the cave and be where no other human has been before...well, probably just one. Anyway, my one hundred and fifty dwarves, my two muses and this dragon are making their best efforts for you to enjoy Chronicles of the Dragon Cave.

I give you my word of honor I'll be in my best behavior and won't roast any visitor.

So, are you ready for the challenge? Have you experienced it? Is it your first time, like us? Are you as nervous as we are? (Nervous? Who said that? Confidence is what we all breathe, eat and live here. This IS the Dragon Cave. Dwarves! what is your profession? Dra-gon! Dra-gon! Dra-gon!)

Combo Party: Imaginary Friends and Celebrations

This first half is part of Annalisa Crawford's Imaginary Friend Bloghop. Kyra Lennon is the co-host and they invited us to talk about our imaginary friends. So today I am sharing my experience with you.

Carl Sagan said people is made of stardust. Dragons are made of stardust too, but in different amounts. I believe stardust levels vary depending on the inner magic of a creature rather than its race. Although I was born among dragons, I was still different. A conversation with the moon or with Orion in the sky was easier for me than a chat with folks. My Grandfather, Father Dragon "The Great", fed my imagination and unleashed my creativity with extraordinary stories about humans.

Mother Dragon used to say "The fact something lives in your imagination doesn't mean it does not exist. You have created it, therefore it exist. Whether your creations have power on you or not depends on what you decide to do with them."

Mother Dragon didn't intend for me to go all crazy but it happened. Orion was not seven bright points in the sky but a human warrior. Royalty needed an escort and Orion was happy to serve me. Not sure when I decided I was dragon royalty. Blame my flamboyant tendencies.

Sir Orion was only the beginning. My dragon princedom needed hosts to command. I started with those that look well in a coat of arms; tigers, hawks, lions, eagles, cougars, and a bear (to hug of course). I also kept a couple ducks and five dogs of different sizes. I came to count up to 23 friendly subjects. I named them all and as a good sire, took care of them and had their loyalty.

One day my dearest playmate, my cousin, got suddenly ill. For what I knew, she had stomach ache but her parents took her to the hospital. I had to go to school so I didn't get to know what had happened with her. First chance I got, I hid in the restrooms and called one of my brave eagles. I commanded my imaginary friend to fly fast and swift and find my cousin wherever she was, then bring me the news. My gaze followed the route of my eagle through the window and I waited. It came back by recess and informed me my cousin stayed in the hospital and her condition was pretty bad, most likely she was going to stay several days. When I came home, Mother Dragon repeated my eagle's report almost word by word. I was dumbfounded.

That was centuries ago and it may have endless explanations but to this day, Mother Dragon's words still echo in my heart:

"The fact something lives in your imagination doesn't mean it does not exist. You have created it, therefore, it exist. Whether your creations have power on you or not depends on what you decide to do with them."

Friday of Celebrations is here and this meme has come out to be such a significant activity in my life that I want to start by celebrating VikLit from Sribblings of an Aspiring Author, who came up with this wonderful idea of a bloghop.  People is always waiting for big things to happen to give them a reason to celebrate, but hey! several small things can really make one big joy, or many.

Besides celebrating VikLit's idea, I am celebrating:

1. I set my goal this week to 1000 words on my WiP. I hit 1,517!
2. I celebrate I was blessed to live in the same time frame than my granddad, Father Dragon "The Great", and that I got the chance to learn from the best the meaning of hard core courage and fortitude. I am celebrating his legacy and the invaluable treasure he left me.
3. Last week I ran 3 miles on Monday and Wednesday. This week I got on that treadmill daily.
4. Yesterday I got on the treadmill in spite of feeling pretty bad. I set myself for one hour, whether I would reach the 3 miles goal or not. I felt sick and thought I wouldn't make it, but then thought on my grandfather, who always resisted to give up to ailments. I remembered the promise I did to him and my determination boosted over the ailment. Sweat ended up mixing with tears but I managed 3.5 miles. This is huge because there was a day I crawled my way over a simple flap of stairs.
5. I celebrate my dragon pride, or stubbornness to never give up. I didn't use to acknowledge my own achievements but this time I am allowing me a pat in the back. Dragon Ancestors know I deserve it.

What are you celebrating this week? The miracle of breathing is worth celebrating too! Join us in the party.