Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Making a Mistake!

My favorite "mistakes" happened often when I first moved to Mexico.  It seemed at the time that I didn't go anywhere that I didn't end up on the wrong road and get lost.  Wonderful times!  Villages that I had never heard of.  Vistas that I could not have imagined.  Along with finding my way to the right way was always an adventure and FUN.

I remember once leaving Patzcuaro heading toward Morelia to make the turn to head toward San Miguel.
The sign at the time was one of those that you HAD to know where it was or you would miss it in a blink of an eye.  It might still be the same!

As I discovered I was somewhere in the midst of many streets in Morelia, I pulled over next to a man at a light and asked in Spanish "Donde esta San Miguel de Allende?"  He pulled out of the traffic and I followed.
He spoke to me in English and told me how to get back to where I needed to be to get on the bypass around the city.  But, in the meantime, we had a lovely conversation and I saw parts of Morelia that were not on a tourist map.

I've also driven straight through Leon, a big city, with a big centro, but I made it.  I've gotten out and asked a group of businessmen in Guadalajara where the heck the road to Leon WAS?  (You have to watch for the sign that says Mexico!) etc. etc. etc.  Honestly though, everyone has always been so polite.  One person even led me all the way to the bypass in Guadalajara, thankfully.  Oh once, I even missed the turn toward Saltillo because I was busy listening to my books on tape.  However, the minute I realized I was headed into Monterrey, I did a U-turn across the esplanade and headed out of town as fast as humanly possible!

Making mistakes, to me is always a learning experience.  When I would return from trips back in those days, people would ask me where I had gotten lost at and where did I end up.  Glad I could bring humor to their lives, ha. 

I 've made "doozies" in all avenues of my life!  Some are downright funny now.  Not so much when they happened.  One that also comes to mind was when I was in charge of the building of a multi-story headquarters for a company in Houston.  Walking the property with the owner, he asked what was going on a certain wall.  Wall paper? Glass? What?  I answered, with a straight face, "Where did that wall come from?"  Luckily the man had a sense of humor, not realizing I was serious, and he cracked up laughing.
I have a million stories like that about my life of absurdities.

My bottom line on thoughts of mistakes is,"If you  live life to the fullest, how can you possibly NOT make mistakes?"

It would be fun to hear about some of your favorite mistakes and learning experience.  After all, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."  Helen Keller.



Saturday, May 24, 2014

Orchid Lovers Unite in San Miguel de Allende

 It wasn't a night of a beautiful sky.  It didn't matter.  The gardens of this beautiful home up, up on a hillside overlooking the valley and San Miguel provided all the beauty that anyone could desire. 
 The occasion was my first meeting with the Orchid lovers of San Miguel.  Oh my, for a first meeting it was in a spectacular environment at the home of two members of the group.
 Orchids and flowers to enjoy and admire in all directions.  I was like a kid in a candy shop.
 I've raised just about everything.  Plumerias, bromeliads, succulents, roses and just about everything else over my life of gardening for the last fifty years.  My source of meditation and peace, always.  Now I'm ready to jump into the world of exotic orchids with gusto.
 While traveling in the past in jungle areas of Mexico, I've seen orchids growing and blooming in the wild in mass profusion.  So, it can't be that hard!  Environment must be the most important factor.  At least that is what I"m telling myself at the beginning of this journey.
On a trip to the Xilitla area several years ago during Dia de los Muertos, ALL the altars were adorned in mass profusion with orchids.  Hundreds and hundreds of orchids that are indigenous to that area.  Somewhere I have those photos!  So exquisite.
 I noted with interest how these homeowners hang there orchids until they bloom and they can move to wherever they want them to be.  I have plenty of places like this (not the pole or hangers, but the space) so this is another project!
 There was not a place that one turned at this home that the scene wasn't breathtakingly beautiful. 
Members brought starts of plants  to share, talked about the recent orchid show in Mexico City and just got to visit with each other.  I knew quite a few of the current group and I look forward, with great anticipation, to getting to know the rest.

A NEW ADVENTURE!

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A Swift Kick in the Seat of the Pants!

The swift kick has been the gripping reality that two close friends and two acquaintances have died in the last three weeks.  Two were sudden and two were expected. It does make one stop and pause for reflection along with facing reality while being sad for the loss of these wonderful people.

Somehow since I retired and in the last few years, I've become a "manana" person.  Now there is nothing wrong with that except that in matters such as these, procrastinating can be disastrous and a big pain in the rear  for those left behind.

When I was in the hospital in Houston for that eight hour spell in February, it seemed that at least five or six people asked if I had a medical directive.  I didn't.  I have now printed one out and will complete it and put it in the "death and medical file" along with sending copies of all of this to my grown adult children.

Then there is the matter of the 24 Hour Association.  An organization started in the 1930's for those who needed some way to negotiate the perils of the Mexican laws and requirements upon death.  It used to be that you had to be buried within 24 hours.  Back then the bodies had to go to Celaya for embalming and then to Mexico City for everything else!  Can you imagine how complicated that would be?  A very competent and good intentioned expat started this association to handle all that is required from death to burial on behalf of the deceased.

When I moved here it cost $350 for all the documentation and cremation or burial.  Now it is $900, which is refundable if you move away and don't need the services.  If you DON'T have this in advance, it is a nightmare, which the daughter of a friend went through last month.  Hence, the kick in the seat of the pants on this issue.

In addition, while laying on the bed in January when passing the gallstone and thinking I was having a heart attack or some horrible form of death, I realized that I wanted an efficient way to get myself back to the states if need be.  There are three med evac programs that are internationally available here in San Miguel!
I've talked to all three today.  For heaven's sakes the total cost to be medevaced to Houston with this service is a mere $260USD per year as a fee and they guarantee that the fee will not increase annually!  A mere pittance to what the actual cost is for a private medevac service.  Needless to say, this is a no brainer and has now been taken care of, today.  I'm so blessed that I haven't had a reason to have wanted this service.  Not that I think I am in the future going to need it, but it sure will give me peace of mind to know I have this available.  And yes, I know several people who have been medevaced and were pleasantly surprised at the professionalism and efficiency.

The only thing I haven't done today is contact the Met Life agent or the AXA agent here in San Miguel to find out what health insurance would cost if I had something so bad that I couldn't be transferred back to the USA.  My next door neighbor pays a little over $100 a month for coverage with a $2000 deductible.  When he fell down the stairs and had two bad breaks, the bills were about $18,000 USD here in San Miguel!  AXA paid all but $2,000 of the bills.  It took a few months to get reimbursed, but at least he had the insurance and yes he was reimbursed.  Mexican doctors and hospitals, that I know of, do NOT file any kind of insurance papers on your behalf.  You must pay and then get reimbursed personally  by your insurance!

That's it for today.  What I have put off for fourteen years is now being taken care of.  It is more then a shame that I had to get a swift kick in the seat of the pants to take care of these matters.

(On another note, the photo above of the orange trees in a friend's garden is, besides being lovely, a story of the amount of oranges that used to be the major crop here.  It is unusual to see that many oranges in a garden but this is a house on Hernandez Macias that I imagine is a couple of hundred years old.  It is wonderful to see the mature trees and plants.  AND grass, which is highly unusual since we live in an area where water is precious!)

Monday, May 19, 2014

Jennifer Lynn Eckrote - Ten Years

Believe it or not, when it turned 2014, I began to think about the fact that it was almost ten years since my first born daughter, Jennifer, had passed.  It was startling and sobering.  The thought that  that much time had passed seemed almost unbelievable to accept.

However, when I see her precious son now and realize he is fifteen whereas in this photo he was five, I have to accept that reality.

I've wondered what I would say or what I would do, if anything, on this day.  Initially I thought I would pass it alone in reflection.  However I realize that I do that daily when I meditate.

I discussed my feelings with my son and a friend.  It gave me direction to go on today and know that Jen is here in spirit with me and would want that I have a good day.  She was always that way.

So, John, my son and Julie, my daughter will handle their remembrances in their own way.  I, by writing this.

Yesterday I got down the big basket with all Jennifer's mementos in it to look at and reminisce.  Literally, right on top of the things was something that I don't remember ever seeing before.  It is a page from a calendar.  Jennifer had torn the page out and so help me, the page was yesterday's date!  Whoa.   It sums up her philosophy of life in many ways.

She was always out feeding the homeless under the bridges or rescuing feral cats and taming them.  In her last few years of life, she was raising butterflies with Christopher. She always had this aura about her - even as a child.  Just like her brother and her sister, she was always giving and doing for others.  Of course, I could go on and on.  Suffice to say, that she is missed.

Here's what was on the top of the things yesterday.  I sense that Jennifer wanted it to be shared.

                                                             JOY BEYOND FUN

I don't think any sensitive person can be satisfied with having fun, no matter how much of it we may cram into our lives.  Our need is not for pleasure but for joy - a deep sense of fulfillment that not only never leaves us but actually increases with the passage of time.  Fun is living for ourselves; joy comes from living for others, giving our time and love to a purpose greater then ourselves.
                                                                                                          EKNATH EASWARAN
                                                                                                   Thousand Names of Vishnu, p. 135

Thanks for all the memories.  
Love, MOM

Sunday, May 18, 2014

The NEW Screen Door and Velcro

Now, you might say WHAT could a screen door have to do with a cat?  What's the big deal?  Well, let me tell you it is a BIG deal.  I didn't realize how big until this morning.
This door when it had the old screen looked horrible.  I had it made fourteen years ago and the screen, which wasn't aluminum, was sagging and torn and so dark and discolored I could hardly see out it anymore.

Of course I didn't realize how horrible it looked until Sr. Luna put in the same door with new screening and a new paint job yesterday afternoon.  First, I could see out, perfectly.  Second, the paint job fourteen years ago of the door was not nearly as nice. And third, and most important there is no torn or hanging screen!

The hanging screen came about because Velcro, the wonder cat, had learned to jump up, stick her claws in the bigger holes in the old screen and then shake the door when she wanted to come in.  Often at 6:30AM after having gone out sometime during the night.

This morning I awakened later then usual.  Why?  I realized it was because Velcro didn't shake the door but patiently sat outside and waited for me to open the curtains.  Amazing!

If I had only known how wonderful and life changing this would be, I would have had Sr. Luna come and get the doors sooner.

Please don't suggest a cat door.  I have too many wild critters that traverse the gardens here.  To name a few, skunk.  Muy importante, #1.  Then add the coatamundis along with feral cats.  You get the idea.  I had toyed with the idea long ago.  That was before the coatamundi climbed the tree and fell in the fireplace.  More then once.

Nope, I'd rather get up and let her out or in, thank you very much.  I'm just thrilled though to have this new experience of not having Velcro swinging the door at dawn to awaken me.

If you're interested in the cost to have the doors (2) taken down, painted, new screen added and reinstalled, 900 pesos.  About $72USD.  Priceless in my opinion now.

Life is good.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Traveling via High Speed Train from Mexico City to Queretaro, Mexico

The above article was in The News last week.  This newspaper is in English and has information from all over the country.  I read the article with great interest.

The gist of it is that the government needs to find funding;  it needs to find a manufacturer for the train itself; and then all kinds of permits and licensing would take place in order to reach completion.  Who knows how many years all of this would take?  I can't imagine that it could be ready in less then three years, if not more.

The interesting information is that it would take approximately one hour from DF to Queretaro at a cost of 300 pesos or so.  That is comparable to taking the three and a half hour  executive bus at about the same cost!

With a city of over two million, along with a growing airport that is serviced by many airlines, I could see a great usage of this train. 

Queretaro is about a 45 minute drive from here with easy bus or taxi service to San Miguel.  The train could not service San Miguel as our tracks are under contract to CSX on a multi year contract for movement of freight.

Add to this new wrinkle in making it easier to get around, a new airline started service from Queretaro in March.  The name is TAR (that is the abbreviation).  Service to Cancun is only about $77USD!   Plus it has service to the South that used to only be accessible by taking a bus to Mexico City and then a bus to your final destination or paying a fortune to fly from DF to Hualtuco, or other destinations.

The times are a'changin'!  Amazingly so.  It was only about 15 years ago that in order to get to San Miguel you HAD to go through Mexico City and then take a bus from there.  Now you still can go that route, but its easier and not necessarily more expensive, to fly in and out of Leon or Queretaro......equidistance from San Miguel - about a 45 minute shuttle ride.

Yes indeed, the infrastructure upgrades to the roads and airports begun by former President Calderone has begun to come to fruition in terms of tourism.  I read just the other day that the tourism figures for the first quarter of this year are already up 10% of people coming into Mexico.  Even more surprising was the number of tourists within country traveling to see places they have not experienced before.  As I've said in the past,  80% of the tourism in San Miguel is Mexican nationals and only about 20% is international.  A surprising statistic to many, but a valid number.

It's exciting, interesting and sometimes dismaying to see things change so rapidly!  Then again, some things don't change fast enough.  Life is interesting.



Thursday, May 15, 2014

Under the Quilt

 One of my favorite, if not my most favorite place in the whole house, is this corner of the sectional sofa in the living room.  Especially if the weather is chilly, as it is today, and I can snuggle under the quilt as I read a good book.

What is it about a quilt that has that "safe harbor" feeling?  It's such a place of comfort and contentment whether I'm reading a book, listening to music or...........looking out the window at nature.
I find as I read,  from time to time, I look up at the view out these windows.  At the leaves shining or the trees swaying or the birds on the limbs of the trees.  Sometimes all of that.  It is such a restful and contemplative view.  What I love is that all I see is green which is such a restful color.  Another thing that I treasure is I"m not looking out at another house or people.  It's as though I'm in my own little natural world.
A tree house of sorts.

Where is your favorite place in your home?   It would be interesting to know.


Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Benzene

Most people that I have mentioned this word to have never heard of it.  That was my experience in 1998.

I was told that the acute leukemia that my daughter had was caused either by being at the bombing of Hiroshima or benzene.  My first thought was, "What the heck is benzene"?  I knew she had not been at Hiroshima.

I was not on the internet at the time, but immediately went out, bought a new computer and got on the internet so I could find out what benzene was and to hopefully figure out what to do to help my daughter.

There was not much information about benzene sixteen years ago.  It said that it was an aromatic hydrocarbon but there was no information to the effect that it was a carcinogen.  None. No mention of leukemia as at that point, other then what the oncologists at MD Anderson were telling us, it was unknown..  They were and are the leading researchers on cancer.

Every time I have ever mentioned that leukemia, a blood cancer, is an "environmental cancer" people almost always look skeptical.  Then the conversation would move to benzene. Ninety-nine percent of the people had never heard of it.  Most people do not know how many forms of blood cancer there is either.

It's killing lots of people!  Let me tell you more.  Benzene is an organic chemical compound that is a by product of crude oil.  It is defined as an aromatic hydrocarbon and used in the manufacture of gasoline.

When you go to the service station to put gasoline into your car, you are smelling and breathing benzene fumes.  It is highly dangerous.  Turn away from the fumes to pump your gasoline.  Please

The service stations used to have attendants in the USA to pump gas.  The incidence of blood cancer in these men is shocking.  Do some reading.  The increase of blood cancer in the USA and world is astonishing.

When I went online yesterday to do some research before writing this post, I was astonished to see all the information about how benzene is the cause of leukemia and other cancers!  It says it out right.  Also shocking is the fact the benzene is traded on the stock exchanges!

I've known this now for all these years.  I know that is what lead to my daughter's death at the young age of 42.  It has been frustrating to know and not have any way to take action.  Houston is a HUGE refinery city and that is probably why the eight story parking garage at MD Anderson does not have enough room for the increasing number of cancer patients, sadly.

This article was prompted by the fact that two days ago I read a medical journal report that was just published that says that benzene has NOW been proven to be the leading factor in breast cancer.  We've all seen the huge amount of people, mostly women, with breast cancer over the last twenty years.  It was hard to pinpoint what could be causing such a drastic increase.  Initially they said hormones.  But now, this.

Remember that plastics are made of byproducts of oil also and I wouldn't be the least surprised if someone writes to me and tells me benzene is used in that process.  I haven't done enough reading to know if that is possible.

But, logically, if you think about the fact that we have only had plastics for the last 50 years or so and the massive increase of cancers, doesn't it make you wonder what is causing such an increase?  I wonder.

I do have to tell you that when I read the shocking information in this newly published medical journal article about breast cancer, I wanted to cry.  I wanted to cry for all the friends I have lost and for all of those who have been impacted with loss.  Unnecessarily.

My purpose in writing this article, since I'm a small voice in a little pond, is to hope that ONE person is saved from death by reading this post, doing their own research and avoiding, if possible, any exposure to benzene.

I also hope that the chemicals being injected into the earth for the extraction of natural gas that is being found in water supplies does not have benzene as one of the chemicals.  I so hope.

The motorcycle shop down the hill from me continues to pour the used gasoline and chemicals into the soil above the presa (reservoir) that when full flows through town to the larger reservoir on the other side of town.  That water is used for irrigation, boating, and who knows what else - possibly drinking.  I cringe every time I think of it.  I've tried to get some action but no one has paid attention.

If anyone is reading this post and has the authority to prevent, what could at some point become a catastrophic number of cancer cases, either here in San Miguel de Allende or anywhere else, please take action.  Please alert whoever can make a difference in the future lives of innocent and unknowing people.

Thanks.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Retirement is Paying Ourselves to do What We LOVE

I heard this quote on some commercial several days ago on the TV. It obviously resonated with me as I quickly went and wrote it down.  It definitely underlines my attitude about life and not having to work anymore.
When I first retired at the age of 59, I scurried around doing all those things I had not had the chance to do in the forty years that I worked and raised a family.  Then I went through a hermit stage for a few years.  
Now I'm at the most contented stage of my life!  And, it's all because I have time to do as little or as much as I want.
Last night I went upstairs to close windows and lock the door.  As I looked out the living room window to the North, I saw the amazing cloud in the first photo and hightailed it downstairs to get my camera.  Up I sailed to the roof terrace to photograph for about the next thirty minutes all the magnificent colors in the sky from the sunset.  AND, the full moon.  Time was irrelevant.  I had no where I needed to be and I just reveled
in the moments of beauty.
Life in those moments was complete.  Such a sense of serenity engulfed me that I went back downstairs and felt like I had been on a magic carpet ride for who knows how long.

In the hustle and bustle of my previous life, lo those many years ago, I would not have even noticed, or if I had, I would have had another thing I had to do and would not have had time to enjoy nature's splendor.

I SO LOVED having the time to do something that I love and so enjoyed because I'm retired!  Life is good.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Hacienda las Trancas

Located in the State of Guanajuato and approximately thirty minutes or so from Delores Hidalgo is a step back in time to the days of haciendas.

Hacienda las Trancas is 450 years old.  It was built on the Camino Real which was the Royal Road for the transfer of gold and silver from Zacatecas, Guanajuato and other producing towns and villages that needed to send these precious metals to Mexico City for assaying and then on to ship to Europe via Veracruz.

My involvement with this hacienda goes back to when I first moved to San Miguel.  A group of new friends wanted to drive out to see the property since a mutual friend had purchased it for a pittance and was living on the grounds.

One of my passions in life is architectural restoration.  I hopped on the chance to go to see the hacienda.

Somewhere, and who knows where, I have a ton of photos of the hacienda as it appeared that day and on subsequent visits prior to its restoration.

I spent a couple of hours yesterday looking for those photos and gave up.  Darn, I know they'll show up when I least expect it.  Our friend was living in one of the rooms of this huge property with no proper bathroom facilities at the time.  He wasn't quite sure what his intentions were now that he owned it.

It made my heart beat fast.  I had clients in Arizona that, if I could convince them to invest in Mexico, could have a fabulous destination resort.  I had just a few years before finished a historical upgrade of their property in Tucson called Hacienda del Sol to rousing accolades.

However, the Hacienda, in my mind and my client's mind due to the location and their desire to have an extremely exclusive resort similar to Cibola Creek Ranch in Texas, felt that a private landing strip would be necessary.  They were hesitant to invest the millions necessary to restore and upgrade the property plus the landing strip.

Then I heard that there was a buyer.  I had tons of design books on historic restoration and the new owner came to borrow some from me.  One couple restoring a hacienda.  A herculean task, to put it mildly.

I've been back to visit the hacienda in the intervening years.  One evening I was lucky enough to be present for a wine tasting along with a sit down meal prepared by the vineyard owners and their chefs from Baja.  What a memorable evening!

I noted at the time the progress the couple were making in transforming the hacienda into a wedding and events destination as a historic B&B.  A little bit at a time.

The village that surrounds the hacienda provided the labor.  The owners provided much of the training for the village people to become the staff at the B&B for the events.  It was truly a lovely thing to see.

Fast forward to last week when I saw that Hacienda las Trancas is for sale.  The property now has eleven guest rooms and an equal if not more bathrooms.  Also stables, a spa and a state of the art workout facility.
Oh did I mention the lovely pool that looks out over the countryside......or the magnificent meals that have been touted by several publications?  The owners are to be commended for their perseverance and dedication to returning this hacienda to its former glory........and then some.

If you internet search using the words Hacienda las Trancas, you will see many articles.  The site I liked the most was the one showing the hacienda and the village.  The site is www.haciendalastrancas.com/Trancas_Community.html    In addition, TripAdvisor has glowing comments about the weddings and accommodations there.

The property is ready for someone to step in and utilize all the work of the current owners to move forward and maintain the glory as a destination resort, wedding and events location.  If you have $3.8 million dollars, it's yours.

If you ARE interested in this property, contact me and I'll connect you with the realtor who is handling this.
He is someone I've known for many years.


Saturday, May 10, 2014

HIghtailing It for Hugs

The morning started out unusually early.  Velcro decided to rock the screen door to wake me up to let her in at 6AM this morning.  Typically she let's me sleep until 7AM.  NOT this morning, on one of the few days I can sleep in if I choose to do so.........aaargh.
So, I gave up and got up.  Had my usual 1 1/2 cups of coffee, a cinnamon roll from the Blue Door Bakery, and a tour of the roof terrace..........all by 7:30AM!  Sheesh.

All the time I was wondering if son John had returned from the big Turismo Convention in Cancun and if Matilda and Sebastian were with him at his house.  By 9AM I couldn't stand it another minute and called.
Yup, the kids were there and yes they were up and yes I could go over.

I was on my side of town but I hightailed it, within reason, to their house.  I hadn't seen Matilda and Sebastian in three weeks.  I was sorely missing hugs and kisses along with whatever else they wanted to share with me.

Of course I wasn't disappointed.  I think they had missed me too because I got TWO hugs and kisses from each.  Along with that they wanted to show me all the things their Dad had brought them from the convention.  New backpacks along with toys and of course clothes.  Matilda got a new Cancun sundress and Sebastian got a shark T-shirt with it's mouth that opened to show a dead fish.  He loved it!

Saturday mornings are "discovery time" with their Dad.  I didn't want to interrupt that so I dropped them off at Parque Juarez so they can be jungle adventurers.........More hugs and kisses!

Then, on the way home, I stopped at my favorite nursery.  The owner was there.  I usually only buy a few little plants.  He remembered me admiring a petunia basket last time that I didn't buy.  So, when I went to pay for the four alyssum I had picked, he brought the basket to me and said, "Feliz dia de Madre".  I was so choked up I could only give him a big smile.

What a day!  And, it's not even noon yet! 

Thursday, May 08, 2014

Mother's Day

The retail world wants us to know that Mother's Day is this coming Sunday.  For me, it is every day.  It's something I never forget.  It doesn't require flowers, gifts or cards, my reward has been the love and caring of my children all their lives.

It's those little things they do and have done, like Julie helping the kids to make Happy Birthday Grammy signs in April.  Or John bringing the kids by to see me  frequently or including me in their activities.  Those are the gifts that keep on giving.

It's the fact that they are compassionate, kind, loving people who give to others and of course love their families above all else.

I can remember when I was younger and still living in the USA.  The marketing of each holiday made one feel that THAT was the day you had to receive accolades and gifts.  I remember once seeing that a refrigerator or new car were being advertised. Good grief.

Now I get it.  It's those daily things that happen throughout the year that remind us of how blessed we are to have the title of "Mother".

Even though I was successful in the business world, I certainly think my greatest accomplishment was raising Jennifer, John and Julie.  I wouldn't take anything for the memories..........even, the difficult ones.

Here in Mexico this year, Mother's Day is on Saturday.  Usually fresh flowers are taken to the mother and grandmother.  Josefina always brings me flowers as well!  I was so surprised the first year that happened.  It really touched my heart.

So, when I decided to write this post, I looked on Picasa at all the photos I have from the last 5 years.  Guess what, I have photos of the grandchildren.  I have photos of Julie with her children.  I have photos of John with his children.  I have not ONE photo of me with my children and grandchildren altogether.

I intend to remedy that soon.  I'll have someone take a photo of John, Matilda, Sebastian and me!  Then the next time I'm in Houston, I"ll have someone take a photo of Julie, Rich, Jessica, Andrew, Hannah, Emma and me.  Add to that that I'll have someone take a photo of Christopher, Jennifer's son, with me.  How can it be that the most precious people in my life are not photographed with me?  Probably because I usually have the camera.

As this day approaches, I avoid reading the few ads that I see on the internet.  I can imagine that in the newspapers there are many, many ads for all the things to buy to show your Mom that you love her.  None of that is necessary, in my humble opinion, if you either go see her or call her on that special day.  Take a little time to reminisce about funny or good memories.

I wish I had my mother here to call.  There are many of you that feel the same way, I'm sure.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there............and Grandmothers!

Friday, May 02, 2014

Two Mexican Holidays This Week!

Bet most of you didn't know that there were two holidays this week in Mexico!  One was not a "legal" holiday, but still a day celebrated by many.  Dia de Ninos is a day to celebrate children.  Kinda like we celebrate Mother and Father's Day in the USA.  Here we celebrate Children's Day as well. 

Now I have to confess, I didn't know that morning when I pulled into the Pemex station that it was a holiday.
The service station man who put gas in the car told me.  He is such a great guy and we always have some kind of a language lesson when I pull in, which isn't very often.  He certainly doesn't make much money off of me nor does Pemex.  I use less then $16USD worth of gas a month here! 

Anyway, he was beaming when he told me it was the day of children.  I was on my way to Celaya and promptly forgot about it until I saw families with children after school having treats at various places.

Then the very next day, yesterday, was May 1st.  Labor Day, a LEGAL holiday.  Many things were closed here but other then that and fireworks at 6AM, it was a very quiet day.  No big parades.  Not many tourists.  Where were all the people?

At Mega.  I had to go there for some things that I can only get there.  Heavens, the lines at the checkout counters were longer then anything I've seen since Christmas time. Obviously people were using a day off
to shop. 

As I drove home and passed the mall where Liverpool is located, I noticed that the parking lot was full.
Hmmm, either lots of tourists in town shopping or big sales.  I did not stop to find out.

Things will be pretty quiet here for the month of May.   The Feast of Santa Cruz happens tomorrow, Mother's Day happens on the 10th here and Colonia Valle de Maiz has their annual noisy celebration that can be heard all over town.

After surviving Semana Santa and the hordes of tourists in town, a little break from celebrating is greatly embraced.  At least by me and many others.  Usually I say, "Never a dull moment", but a lot of dull moments are coming.  WOO HOO.

Thursday, May 01, 2014

"Sourcing" for a Design Project!

I took a trip a week ago today to Delores Hidalgo where a huge amount of the tile that you see in the USA is made.  Add to that talavera dishes, bowls, huge urns, etc. and you can bet there are many eighteen wheelers rolling out, heading north, on a daily basis.  Thanks to NAFTA. Just about everything made in Delores now is for export, amazing.  And, not just to the USA or Canada.

It was fun to go and source for a master suite redo for a "client". She and I had an enjoyable day. I had not done design work in at least fifteen years.  Maybe longer since this is residential. I am very rusty.  It would be an understatement to say how interesting it was to see new designs and styles at various manufacturers.  All of these photos were in one showroom at Cortez Tile.
 I still go over to Delores from time to time to find something, but with no real agenda.  This trip was different.  We were on a mission to find a certain color of tile and also, at the request of the homeowner, to go to Cortez Tile.  Now, when sourcing, I never knew the names of the streets.  Half the time I didn't know the name of the showroom, shop or workshop.  I just knew how to get there.  This time it was interesting, in that, without knowing where or how we were going, we still got there!  I chuckled about it multiple times.
 The above series of tiles are really fun on the theme of skeletons in every day jobs.  I think they would be so delightful  if I were working on a Tex-Mex or Mexican restaurant.  That's always my first thought when I see something that is unique.  I could imagine that that could have been the beginning of a concept.  It has happened before.
 Something new to me, are the tiles made to look like a fine Persian rug.  Very clever!
One of my favorite things were these tiles to be used to designate the female and male restrooms, usually in bars and restaurants.  It brought back many memories of all the times we tried to come up with a defining way to establish the restroom designations.  Mexicans have such a dry sense of humor.  These did not disappoint.

One of the most enjoyable parts of a complete project for me was the sourcing.....especially when it was on the back roads of Mexico.  I've had many funny stories.  And poignant ones.  I remember the first time I went to Tonala in the early 80's.  There was NOT one shop to buy anything but there were LOTS of homes that people were painting and making all kinds of things.  As the door opened on one home, there were about ten boys around 12 years old, delicately painting Nativity scenes and other very detailed items.  It's still that way in many places.  We have many workshops down the streets by my house that no one would ever know about unless you could see behind the doors.

Ahh, and when you do see behind the doors, at least in my case, the adrenaline starts running along with the desire to figure out a way to use the beautiful items in some way in a project.  Unfortunately, well, not really, my project days are over.

By the way, Tonala is now crammed with stores, kilns to make large pots, markets. It has a huge market on Tuesdays and Saturdays to sell everything and anything you can imagine.   A lot of the glass blowing that originated in Guadalajara is now in Tonala.  Tlaquepaque and Tonala are now all one big source for unique and beautiful items.  Guadalajara is now home to manufacturing fine furniture for Century, Henredon and other manufacturers of that price point.  That began about twenty-five years ago and is in full swing now.

Did we find the right tile, in the right color?  Of course.  Well, I think so and so does the homeowner.  We'll see how this progresses as time moves on..........residential is never cut and dry.  It always has some changes.  Stay tuned.