Sunday, October 28, 2007

Whats Happening in the Garden

The garden is beginning to hibernate for fall and winter. Leaves are falling but there is ALWAYS something blooming in this garden. In the last two weeks the poinsettas have gone from green bushes to red tipped which are now poinsetta blooms. These are so prolific in Mexico and women will be selling them by the armloads at Christmas time. The butterflies love the blooms and literally swarm the tree all day long. Now the picture below is of a HUGE plant with spiky orange blooms. The orange stalks are actually tiny, tiny individual orange blossoms
and the hummingbirds swarm this poking their nose into each and every flower. The "leaves" look like aloe verde but I'm not sure. Anyone have any idea what this plant is called?
I can see both the poinsetta and the orange spiked plant from the living room windows as I sit on the chaise to read in the afternoon. With all the movement from the hummingbirds and butterflies, it is a sight to behold!


"Gringos" in the jardine

This is where many people are in the winter - warming their back sides in the sun! Thanks to my friend Kay Cox for this shot...........Typically those that mosey to the jardine around lunchtime are sitting facing the beautiful Parroquia (our landmark church) and all the activity that is going on in the plaza in front of the church. BUT when it is winter and cold in our houses

thre is a migration to the wall to stay warm or to warm up. I LOVE sitting in the jardine - meeting new people, watching the Mexicans and their daily lives - to me it is like turning on the Discovery channel.
For those of you who love San Miguel but live elsewhere enjoy the view!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Dia de los Muertos

There is a scurry of activity going on in town in preparation for the time of Dia de los Muertos. The tents have been assembled and an array of sugar skulls, lambs, pigs, sugar food and more then I could begin to mention are for sale for use in decorating the altars for the returning spirits on Dia de los Muertos. Think of it as "Thanksgiving for the spirits".......The belief is that the spirits of the departed come home once a year for their favorite foods and to see their families. Many, many living Mexicans travel back home also to be with their families for this incredible tradition. The orange marigolds and red flowers have started showing up in street vendors' booths which are some of the traditional flowers of this season. And, one of the things I love are the papel picado (cut paper) decorations that are hand cut out of tissue paper. They are usually very colorful in oranges, turquoise, fuscia, and yellow. The one illustrated above is by Margarita Fick and she is renown for her work. If you look closely (you can click on the image to enlarge it) you will see not only butterflies but scorpions, crickets, monkeys, mice, cats, lizards and other assorted creatures. It is hard to believe that something this delicate is cut out of tissue paper! Margarita's pieces are expensive, in the $150US to $300 US range. When hung in strings from the ceiling, the least little breeze causes them to flutter like the prayer flags in Nepal. Perhaps there is a connection, I don't know.
I have traveled to Patzcauro to the villages around the lake for Dia de los Muertos (a life altering experience); to Puebla and the villages around like Huaquechula to see the satin altars for children; of course here in San Miguel and now I'm off to a region that has almost no tourism to see what an area not colored by tourism does for its celebration. I promise I'll take lots of photos! So, I've got my "travelin' shoes on" and I'm ready to hit the road next week!.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Holy Moly!

Part of my morning routine is to read the newspapers online in the morning (my answer to NOT having a daily newspaper in San Miguel). So yesterday I chuckled when I saw that a "cold front" had hit Houston and it was going to be in the 50's! I remember how we used to look forward to that so we could wear our "winter" clothes and maybe a coat....which seldom happened more then ten times a season......

Well, I'm NOT chuckling today, because THAT cold front hit here with high winds that started about 5:30AM, and add to that rain. YUK! It's down to 54 INSIDE the house. So I've been scurrying around like a squirrel storing nuts - moving the loveseat from in front of the fireplace and replacing it with the chaise next to the fireplace; gathering firewood from outside; checking to make sure there are NO bird's nests in the chimney (ah, I learned THAT lesson the hard way); hooking up the electric blanket and getting the space heaters out of the bodega. Yup, that's what we use. Fireplace, electric blanket and space heaters. Trust me it does NOT equal central heating.

You can imagine if it is 54 inside the house now that it might be a little colder tonight - so NOW I'm ready...........

Something weird happens to me the first cold day - I always want to cook! Is it some inherited trait? So far this morning, amidst everything else, I made a meatloaf, rice, purple hull peas, corn bread and homemade vanilla pudding - ah, I see "comfort food".........who the heck is going to eat all this I have no idea! Guess I'll have to call my son and new daughter-in-law to come over ...........

Wish we had the "turning of the leaves" but what I have is the 10 ft high poinsetta bush turning red on the tips and some unknown plant that has orange poker things turns orange which the butterflies LOVE......oh yes, forgot to mention the butterflies are coming through in goodly numbers heading to the fir forests three hours south of here. I wonder how many will get there this year? They'll hibernate til March............

What are you doing to get ready for fall and cold weather?

Sunday, October 21, 2007

The "Guest House"

I wanted to share with you the Guest House that I rent out here in San Miguel. Renting this house allows me to live here on Social Security - yes, it can really be done - but carefully! I have never had a problem renting it until now. There has been a slew of "rental" houses built in the last few years - on speculation and hence, a "glut" in the market. Add to that that our US tourism is down approximately 70% according to shop owners and you get the picture. SO I'm posting this on the blog in hopes that some of you want to come visit and need a place to stay.
The first group of pictures are the first floor of the house which is made up of a combination living/dining and kitchen area. LOTS of natural light and nice furnishings.
The second group of photos show the second floor bedroom which also has a bath on this floor. You can't see that there are French doors that open to a small balcony with incredible views as seen below. The bedroom is 16 x 20!

Here is the exterior of the house - built about 25 years ago with the native stone from this region.
I'm an "avid" gardener and have redone all of the flower beds which include avocado, pomegranate, lemon and loquat trees! Every view is beautiful in the interior courtyards. Well, the view isn't so bad from the outside too as seen below in the views of the canyon and the presa. If you look closely you can see the small ruins and aqueduct from the 1700's when this was a tannery area!
The view below from the house is of the mountains and the bluffs that are part of this canyon.
I live on the same piece of property and I must say I'm awed every day by the beauty - not to mention the birds and butterflies that traverse this property. Aren't I lucky?

So, if you know of anyone who wants to come to San Miguel, please pass on this blog! The house rents short-term for $560US a week or on a long term lease of 6 months or more $750US a month. That includes all utilities, Dish Network TV from the USA and maid service once a week.
When are you coming to visit paradise?






Saturday, October 20, 2007

Frustration

"No" is not part of the Mexican culture! It can be frustrating because often you would like for someone to just tell you, "No I can't come at that time" or "No, I can't fix your street light" or "No, we don't have a room at our hotel for you"..............etc. etc. etc. So I'm going to vent!

I've been trying now for six weeks to get the two street lights repaired on my street. To say that it is darker then a 50 ft well would not be an exaggeration! The saga is that when I moved here they had lights with exposed bulbs which lasted about 48 hours after they changed them - so I paid to have new lights with covers put in.............it has been well worth it. Suffice to say, I have tried everything to get the city to repair the lights. They swear they have (no light) and I know, and they should, that it must be the sensor, but alas, I must be patient, I guess. NOW the whole fixture is gone mid-way down the hill.....is that progress?

Secondly, I have emailed the hotel in Oaxaca that I want to stay at for the "Night of The Radishes" festival in Oaxaca.........I had a reservation last year and due to the unrest I opted not to go. They were so gracious last year and it took less then 24 hours to get a reservation. So now it has been 5 days.........finally I called and the reservation clerk said I must wait for an email and she couldn't tell me if they had a room or not! I absolutely HAD to laugh. So, I must be patient or find another hotel BUT my friends I'm meeting there already have a room at that hotel and I would prefer to stay there. I think they are not responding because they don't have a room but don't want to tell me..............because they don't want to disappoint me.

I DO understand the Mexican culture and they do not want to disappoint or upset people. So, they avoid but it sure can be FRUSTRATING at times.........

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Traditions of Mexico

I don't remember how I found the tour company owned by Eric Mindling but it has been a while ago, maybe two years. We have corresponded about the difficulties of surviving in Oaxaca due to the downturn in tourism after the episodes there last year and other things. He has some fascinating ititneraries that are different from any other tour companies that I have found in Mexico. I so wanted to go to one in Chiapas last year, just didn't have the money for it.

So, from time to time, I get emails from Eric and I MUST share this one with all of you! It is a slide show of the indigenous people and the process of dying wool for the magnificent Zapotec rugs of Oaxaca. It is so beautiful and poignant it took my breath away. Go to http://traditionsmexico.phanfare.com/album/441320/613108#imageD=28654229 Enjoy and I hope some of you will find a tour that interests you. Let me know.........

Smithsonian Magazine - Special Issue - FALL 2007

This has to be one of the best issues of a magazine that I have ever experienced. It is about 37 people under 36 years of age who are creating, researching, building, designing, helping and all kinds of other things to make life, people, the world and our environment - just to name a few - a better place.
It is so inspiring to see the areas of expertise of these men and women and to read about their accomplishments. For instance, Christina Galitsky, an engineer who invented a cook stove for the refugee women in Darfur to use to cook meals. It costs $2.50 to manufacture. The country is mainly deforested (as it is in the rural areas of Mexico) and too expensive to get fuel to cook. Her parting comment is that she hopes the answer for her generation is "to think about what is really important in work". She hopes it is less often "make money" and more often about contributing to society in some way.
Some of the profiles are about scientific or technological research of things I have never even heard of........fascinating.
Read it - it will uplift you to know about these incredible men and women!

The "SUNSHINE" Kid

Hi Julie - Happy Birth day! I remember when I went to the store to buy these birth announcements. We were living at LSU in the married student apartments and wondered how we were going to be able to feed and take care of a growing family of three children while your Dad went to school. We were surprised when we found out you were coming and you have continued to be a surprise for 42 years! I love the innocence of these announcements - not anything like the fancy, printed ones of today but just sweet illustrations.

I said earlier that you were a surprise and continue to be so even to this day - all in a good way! Here is a picture of you that I keep next to my bed because I love the expression on your face and it reminds me of how you always had a creature in your arms or a frog in your pocket! You have always been a nurturer. I remember when you were very little you told me you wanted to grow up and be a mother and by golly you've done it. You are a fabulous mother, wife, sister, daughter, Girl Scout leader, Room mother, Band mother and heaven knows what else. I know you are always there for everyone just like you always have been in the past! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!


Below is another picture that I keep by my bed and I love it because it shows you and that joy and beautiful smile that you have. You're always ready to experience new things - even if it means putting a worm on a hook. YOU'RE THE BEST!


Well my dear, "thanks for the memories" and I look forward to seeing you enjoy all the rest of your wonderful life...................you deserve it!!


Love you lots,

MOM







Sunday, October 07, 2007

"Landlocked"

Sometimes it bothers me that I can't walk to the water or jump on a sailboat and tack up and down the lake or bay! Living here in the mountains of Mexico is an unlikely place for someone who lived most of her life near the water............and wearing shoes, it hardly happens. I try to make it through most of the year in sandals!

So, I content myself with the visual beauty of this town and the gardens that I have created since moving to San Miguel de Allende. This view is from my bedroom which has an entire wall of windows that allows me to feel as though I'm living in the garden. Upstairs in the living room is another wall of windows with views of the mountains and also you can look down on the town.
I guess the next time I go to Houston (4th largest boating area in the USA) or to the Pacific coast I'll need to make sure that I sail a bit.
I laugh when I look out at this two story bourganvilla (which I can see right now as I write this blog). I laugh because when I was in Houston I babied and prodded the bourganvilla and NEVER did it do well. I have now discovered that a drier climate is ideal and absolute neglect is what they like..............live and learn!

Saturday, October 06, 2007

The Feast of St. Michael the Archangel

I mentioned last week that this was the culmination of the Fiestas Patrias in San Miguel and it was a wild weekend of parades, fireworks, horse and taxi blessings and more fireworks! On Saturday I started my walk down to the jardine to see all the activities. This "creature" was greeting people in the middle of the street. I'm not sure if he was a reference to the "unheld" Running of the Bulls this year which caused controversy or that his costume was a coincidence. As I turned the corner, this group of indigenous people, either from Tlaxcala or Malinalco were dancing in their incredibly beautiful costumes.

One of the "big" events of this day is when they "blow up" these paper mache figures and after they blow up the toys, food and clothing that is attached is grabbed by children running around in the melee.

These two little children were watching all of this next to me - none to happy!

Here is the aftermath as they were coming to the end of the explosions of the paper mache toys. Notice the green metal structures? Later that night these are lit and swirl and tilt and blow apart while there is a fireworks show overhead. They are called castillos. Mexicans DO love their fireworks. Believe it or not, this mess of stuff on the ground in this photo is cleaned up within an hour of the finish of this event!
There is NEVER a dull moment in Mexico!





Happy Birthday Bill!

My Baby Brother Bill turns 60 today! How can that be? It seems like yesterday that my Dad called to tell me that my Mom had a baby brother for me and would be home in a few days! He changed my life forever. You see, for 5 1/2 years I had been the baby of the family and now he was IT! Oh my gosh, he says I traumatized him for life.........cause my Mom would let me take him for walks in the buggy and when I would get around the corner where no one could see us I would run like hell with him..........could you tell I was jealous? Ha.
We were inseparable as kids. We have an older brother and sister - 10 and 11 years older then me and 15 1/2 and 16 1/2 older then Bill so it was like there were only the two of us. Here we are at McHenry, Ill. on the pier at the Fox River house where we used to spend summers. It was a fun place. It is still there. We used to go over to the dairy behind the house and watch them milk cows. Us city kids thought that was amazing. The other fun thing was that our mail was delivered by motor boat and it was way cooooool. Remember Bill?
I HAD to put this picture in cause it just shows that no matter what I was doing, my "baby brother Bill" was there. All my friends loved him and he was such a "clown" - still is............This picture was in 1955 in Shreveport, La.
And, I just HAD to add this picture too because you MUST notice this little smirk on my brother's face..................This was New Year's Day, 1956. Bill and I were with my Dad and our new puppy Dandy. THAT SMIRK is something my brother still does to this day!
Bill has grown up to be a wonderful husband, father, lawyer, golfer, aggravater (just kidding) and a great brother. I just can't believe the years have passed so quickly and thankfully he and I have mellowed and are good friends besides being related. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL, I LOVE YOU.



Monday, October 01, 2007

"My Symphony"

This is written by 19th century clergyman William Henry Channing. I have had this for about 15 years. I try to live by it, but rarely succeed to the fullest......

To live content with small means;
To seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
To be worthy, not respectable;
and wealthy, not rich;
To study hard,
Think quietly,
talk gently,
act frankly;
To listen to stars and birds,
To babes and sages, with open heart,
to bear all cheerfully,
do all bravely;
await occasions,
hurry never.
......To let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.