Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Reflecting on 2013............Anticipating 2014!



Reflection for me is always a good thing.  I like to look back and remember poignant moments, surprising ones and those that were moments of new experiences.

All of those happened in 2013, in spades.

Poignant moments for me always tend to be things that happen with the grandchildren.  Even with the teenagers now who reminisce about things we've done in the past or the fun things we were doing this year.  Their perspective is always interesting and touching.

Surprising ones can be things that I didn't know were going to happen or something I dreaded doing that turns out to be a delight.  This happened this year as well.

New Experiences happened over and over this past year.  New friends, new music, new travels, new restaurants.All of it colored 2013 as a very, very busy year with LOTS of travel.

In fact, in looking back I realize that I was gone from San Miguel almost seven months.

My goal for 2014 is to still travel, if and when possible although not as much, but to also enjoy being home doing things that I've wanted to do but not been here to do.  Things like sewing, doing fiber art with the sewing machine, making nichos and assemblages.  In other words, I'm ready to create again.
Whew, its been a long dry spell since I've done that for an extended period of time.

It will be ten years in 2014 since my brother Bob died in January 2004.  My daughter died in May 2004 and  my dog Flash, who I had for sixteen years, died in November 2004.  Ten years doesn't seem possible.  The good thing is I can write that without choking up anymore.  Time does heal.

I'm approaching 2014 with something akin to quiet excitement and a positive attitude. I'm ready for all the good things the year will bring. Something I don't remember feeling ever before at the beginning of a new year.  I typically have had the attitude in the past that it is just another day.

Not this year.  I think it will be the ending of a sad saga in our family's life and the beginning of many new beginnings.

My hope for all of you is that 2014 brings to you all the happiness, love and blessings that you want for you.

Thanks for sticking around as we all head into this new year together!
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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Unexpected Pleasures


I have to admit that I DID NOT want to get up, get dressed, put on makeup, and, go out in the cold! It was humbling to go out in public knowing that I looked like an 18 wheeler and I had tangled since my eye is now shades of green, yellow, purple, deep purple and yuk.

However, I layered up, stopped and got some money.  I even found a parking place near Cafe Monet where I hooked up with two blogger extraordinaire.

Jennifer and Billie.

Billie writes Reservations for One and is the person who got me going in this blog thing.
Jennifer writes Red Shoes are Better than Bacon.  

I've known Billie for eleven or twelve years but I've been aware of Jennifer's writing for at least twenty years.  Long, long before we actually met.  We actually met in person just this year.  She is, without a doubt, one of the most knowledgeable people about Mexico that I have ever read.  In fact, I saved all the articles she wrote lo those many years ago prior to my moving to Mexico.

Billie and I have become very close friends.  She is a delightful and gutsy woman.

If I told you all the subjects that we covered today, you would double over either in amazement or laughter.
Both Billie and Jennifer have a wicked sense of humor.

We discussed mole and men.  We discussed Morelia and San Miguel. Cuba and Columbia.  Another topic was...........oh well, you get the idea.  We went on and on.  One topic leading to another.  Of course fellow bloggers were included in that discussion as well.  We all agreed that our lives have been enriched from writing.

I didn't want the meal or the conversations to end.  Since Jennifer lives in Morelia, we don't see her enough.

The gathering didn't end without us making plans to go visit her where we could get together and talk for as long as we could possibly want to talk.

In fact we talked so long today, that they finally asked us for the table!  I don't think that has ever happened to me in Mexico in the past.

I left them to go to another appointment with a lilt in my step and thoughts in my mind of a future trip to Morelia.

Can't wait.
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Saturday, December 28, 2013

Afraid of Color?


My friend Suz just moved into a house and this is the guest bathroom!
It is OVER the top.  Of course, I love it.

It has wit, whimsey and last but not least COLOR!

A small space, but it's so delightful that you don't even notice that.

When space is small, use vertical space as this glass shelf provides towels.

Using small items, such as inexpensive nichos and grouping them creates a lovely assemblage.

I tried to photograph the contrast of the white flowers with the Virgen of Guadalupe.  But failed.
It is a nice touch however.

The second restaurant I designed in Houston was Cuellar's.  The number of paint colors used, 52.  The paint crew, from Mexico, were not even perplexed.  They loved it the most when I was finished.

The exterior of the building was fuscia and turquoise.  It was intentionally done to create a buzz and to be noticed.  There was so much press on that restaurant that the cost of the remodel was paid for in 90 days due to increased food and liquor sales.

I love color.  After all, what's the worst thing that can happen?  You don't like it, repaint.  It's the least expensive way to redecorate, for sure.

Suz' purple bathroom was a delightful surprise.
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Friday, December 27, 2013

SNOW boots...........Yes or NO?


This time of the year when I'm putting away the fifty-two years of acquired Christmas decorations, it is always a nice feeling to have the house feel slightly empty.  (My house will NEVER be completely empty).
 
As I do this, it seems I find things I forgot I had as they haven't been used in quite a while.

I opened a drawer in the sideboard in the dining room to put away candles.  That little drawer had not been cleaned out in well, YEARS, if ever.  I didn't even count the number of long candles that are in there but it appears rather then looking for candles, I've just gone out and bought more.  There were flamingo straws, Tiki umbrellas for drinks and teeny tiny crepe paper flowers to use on gifts.

Some of those things, especially the tiki umbrellas, I don't even remember buying so obviously they have been around for quite a while.  Perhaps I brought them from Texas thirteen years ago!  Now I'll remember them this spring and have a luncheon or party where flamingoes and tiki umbrellas will reign.

As I was getting something out of my closet that I had stashed there in order to have all the Christmas stuff out, I spied the snow boots.

I have an emotional attachment to them.  Even though I haven't worn them since 2009 during my romantic interlude in West Virginia at Christmas.  They were purchased for me since I had arrived in West Va with flipflops and tennis shoes.  The snow on the 20th of December reached knee high levels and stayed that way until after Christmas.  In order to leave the house, I needed snow boots!  I remember laughing out loud at all the clothes I had on along with what I called lumberjack boots.
 
In retrospect, and even at the time, it was great fun!   I loved creating an angel in the snow there in the country where the only other living creatures were the deer that were nestled near the house.

It's time to not have so many candles..........and snow boots, don't you think?  I think its time to clear out and make room for nothing else.

I think I can do without that many candles, but, I'm not sure there won't be one more time in the snow, some day, some how............so, back in the closet they go.  To rest, with the memories that I have attached to them.
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Thursday, December 26, 2013

Kids Say the Darnest Things!


I have chuckled about this since Tuesday evening shortly after my four point landing.

As I started to get chills, I headed down to bed and just crawled under the covers completely dressed.

Shortly thereafter I heard the bedroom door quietly opening.  Matilda asked very quietly if I was sleeping to which I answered, "No".  Then she wanted to know if she could get up on the bed with me.
"Of course", I responded.

She wanted to know if I was okay and I responded affirmatively.  Then, in her big girl voice, she said,
"You know Grammy, old woman fall all the time.  Even Nonie (her other grandmother) falls sometimes too."  I wanted to start laughing but she was so serious and concerned that I agreed with her.

After she left, I just had the a smile on my sore face. 

I can hardly wait to see what she or Sebastian will say when they see this black and blue eye, cheek and face.

Kids do say the darnest things.  I am still smiling about her comment.
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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Celebrating on Christmas Eve!


The plans were made!  The house was set and ready for Matilda and Sebastian to come to Grammy's house for their Christmas gifts!  Here they are sitting on the old quilt waiting patiently for Daddy to be "Santa" handing out the gifts........

THEN the fun began!

Faster then you can imagine........gifts were opened.  Sebastian's favorite thing to say was, "Wow, way cool" in his three year old voice!  I agreed.

Matilda said her favorite gift was the pop-up book about the Wizard of Oz that Grammy found in Seattle at the Chihuly Gardens gift shop.  It IS way cool.

Here she is in the special glasses that came in the book! 

Sebastian got a Bob the Builder set.  More then the tool set, the goggles were the hit!

I then sat back and watched John and Sebastian putting the Hot Wheels race track together.

So many memories of years of putting stuff together for my kids flooded my mind.  I had as much fun watching them find part 6 and where to put it into 7, etc. etc. etc.  Hilarious.  Don't you remember those kind of experiences?

The goggles moved to Matilda's forehead where they stayed most of the afternoon as she explored, among other things, Lincoln Logs.  Remember those?

Sebastian wanted a little break at one point.  Especially after he discovered that the little cactus sitting on the floor next to him sang, "Feliz Navidad".  Here he's eating grapes and cashews along with other stuff.

John was just enjoying every single minute of everything!

And, Sebastian was showing me his dance moves again to Feliz Navidad.

About this time, three hours into the fun, it occurred to me that I should get the food on the table that I had prepared earlier in the day.  Pork roast, au gratin potatoes, field peas with snaps, crescent rolls and Christmas cookies for dessert.

I never got a bite of any of it, because.........

 I had a gift to give to myself first!

A black eye!  Yup, I spun around and did a four point landing with my head hitting the corner of one of those little Mexican chairs.  The other points injured were my two knees and my left breast.

I didn't know what hurt worse.  I had a knot on the side of my eye that was the size of a golf ball.
I knew before it even started happening that I was probably going to have a black eye. 

Woo hoo, with an ice pack on my head I went to bed.  This is what I saw when I got up this morning.
My gift to myself.  One I would have liked to refuse.

By the way, this is my first "selfie" photo.  In my opinion, "awful looking".
Interestingly that hurts the least.

I'm moving slow today and have no plans to do anything other then to watch movies and possibly eat later.  No one here.  In fact, at 11:30AM, I'm still in my flannels.

Hope you got many wonderful gifts and have had a wonderful day so far.
I bet, of all of us, I'm the only one to get a black eye as a Christmas gift!

Oy vey!
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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

New Friends at Casa Tranquilo - Rick, Gilberto and Griffin


I am so blessed.  Two of the nicest men have moved into the guest house.........for two years!
Rick, Gilberto and Griffin, the dog moved in the first of October.

It was "like" at first sight.  Their calmness and drama free personalities were the first indication that I wanted them to live here.  Add to that Griffin, who is the cutest dog, and it is a "Win, Win".

Rick is originally from Pennsylvania and Gilberto is from Zacatecas.  Well matched, they are delightful to sit at a dinner table and have an interesting conversation with.  Or there is coffee time in the garden.  I always look forward to seeing them.

Griffin just melts my heart.  He sees me through the glass front door of my house and his tail immediately starts wagging.  I brought him chewy bones back from Texas.  He really enjoyed those along with chasing them as I threw them around the garden.  I think we have bonded.

Velcro on the other hand is in minimal tolerance mode.  As far as I know
there has not been a confrontation.  So far so good.  It wouldn't be that Griffin would have a confrontation with her - just the opposite, I'm afraid.

However, it's been three months so by now they should be used to each other.

I'm just loving looking out and seeing Rick, Gilberto, and Griffin when I'm in the kitchen doing something.  From other parts of my house, I can't see the guest house or the residents.

The best of ALL worlds.

A dog that I don't have to be home to feed or walk.  Great neighbors who are so thoughtful and fun to know.

Happy Days!
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Monday, December 23, 2013

Feliz Navidad from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico!


To all my family, friends, readers and anyone else who happens to see this, I wish you a Happy Holiday Season of joy, laughter, and some good egg nog!

May all your wishes come true - along with Santa bringing you whatever you asked for on your Christmas list.  Including Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Everyone!

I'll be celebrating Christmas tomorrow on Christmas Eve with Matilda, Sebastian and my son John.
It will be a spectacular day, I'm sure.

I hope that you too have a spectacular day whenever or wherever you celebrate the holidays!

Feliz Navidad
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Saturday, December 21, 2013

As Much Fun as a Barrel of Monkeys!


Thursday was my son John's 50th Birthday.  A huge milestone for everyone.  He wanted to wait to celebrate with the kids on Friday.........at Pollo Feliz, the Happy Chicken. 

No fancy restaurant for him, he wanted to go where the kids like to go because of the fun "kid's playroom".  This from the man who has dined all over the world and is a wine and food aficionado.

The photo above says it all.  Pure happiness.

The cake was purchased at Mega and selected by the kids.  Note the cookies on top of the cake. The deciding factor for them.  John wanted one candle.  Matilda wanted 50 or the whole box.

John and I were afraid that the whole cake would catch on fire, but it didn't and he successfully blew out however many candles were on the cake.

Next came his present bag.  It was hard to get to it for all the kids digging in the bag first.

Music blares, kids scream, but Sebastian was showing us his dance moves on his way to go down the big slide.  He has his Dad's dry sense of humor.

On the way out Matilda had to give Santa a hug.

I have to think back to all the birthdays over the 50 years.  Of course I wasn't around for all of them.  There was one when he turned 30 in Malaysia on an island somewhere.  There have been birthdays in Colorado and Alaska, I think and of course Texas.  Probably I'm forgetting some exotic places.

I think if today I asked John which has been the most memorable, last night with the kids, would be his choice.
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Friday, December 20, 2013

My Christmas List



Dear Santa:  I've been a good, oops, scratch that, a happy girl this year.  I've been kind, most of the time.  I've tried to help others, most of the time.  I hope you can find something on this list that you can bring to me.  I'll leave the light on.  Don't try to come down the fireplace.  It is WAAAAY too narrow.  Only coatamundis fit down that fireplace.  (There was a blog about that).  I'd leave the door unlocked, but my friend Jennifer in Morelia says NOT to do that.  So knock, say who you are, shove a package under the gate and THEN I'll let you in.

Here it is:

1.  Peace on Earth.  Good will to men.  (Kinda hard to wrap)

2. A little travel trailer, silver, tricked out with a stove AND oven along with a shower.
Heck, if I'm going to ask why not ask BIG?

3.A man to travel with who is as much  a gypsy as I and who is fearless when it comes to overlooking canyons or Federales.

4. Enough gasoline to be able to travel for at least three years.

5.  A pair of red cowboy boots.  I gave mine away thirteen years ago and have regretted it every day since then.  You know Santa, you can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the girl.

6.  A NEW camera.  The one I have takes double photos as you can see above.  Actually, I love this photo because I didn't even realize the camera was catching the reflection of the street and decorations but I really need a new one.  They are $ 128 at B&H.

7.  Some better luggage.  The one big suitcase I have now, Santa, is missing the thingys that you open the compartments with.  I now have ribbon tied through each one to open each compartment.  Not a good look.  Besides, its a pain in the.........

That's it, Santa.  I guess if I can only have one or two of those, could it be the Peace thing and maybe the red cowboy boots?  If not, I understand.

By the way Santa, I'll still have cookies and milk for you along with some really bad looking pralines.
Oh and food for the reindeers too.

See you soon.
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Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Stockings are Hung by the Chimney with Care......oops.


The packages are wrapped and sitting under the smallest tree ever.

The Christmas plates are ready to give to those who don't expect them!
The baking is DONE.

The house is decorated as much as it's going to be.

Ooops, the stockings have not been hung by the chimney with care.
That's because I haven't finished them.  Along with the fact that I can't figure out how
to hang them from this cantera mantle.  Any ideas?  Duct tape is all that comes to mind.

As an alternative, I have one stocking hanging from a chair.

Aprons are draped over others.  The one with the reindeers was made by my daughter in 2001 and the head of the reindeer is the grandchildrens' footprints along with their handprints for the antlers.  Isn't she so clever?  The red and white apron is so old that I don't even remember where I got it.  I wear it every year while I'm baking.  Good karma.

Yesterday something got into me and I decided to make pralines.  One of my favorites.  The recipe originally came to me in Louisiana when I lived there almost 45 years ago.  I have made it and made it always to perfection.  NOT yesterday.  The praline mixture hardened before I could even get it out of the pan.  No shiny smooth pralines but a slight mess.  I then realized that I don't think I've made them here in Mexico.  The humidity yesterday was about 20%.  Maybe pralines need humidity in order to be made smoothly?  That's all I can figure out.

Oh well, one flop and the rest is just fine.

I'm ready to enjoy the next week prior to Christmas


Anyone wanna party?
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