Rambling with Ruth

February 10, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. An Overcast Day.

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It is unusual, but today the sun did not shine. In fact, it sprinkled rain for a bit. The sun lovers will not be pleased, but the four of us spent the day reading and were perfectly happy with our day. Don read all day sitting outside on the balcony and was comfortable with the weather, even wearing long pants for the first time. Doreen stretched out on the couch. Ken bounced from computer to chair to bed while I stayed in my chair reading my magazines that arrived from our mailing service this week.

For lunch we walked up to the tiny taco shop where the tacos cost one dollar each. Grace has expanded her menu so today we ate chicken soup and casadillas, which were both excellent. And the price was right. We intended to eat lunch but ended up with a full meal, costing $25. total. Don paid. Tonight we will dine on pizza from our freezer.

There will be no sunset tonight, thus no sunset food. Ken tells us that tomorrow we might even have a storm. Now one day without the sun is pleasant but two in a row is unheard of. Here in Paradise the sun should shines. It says so in all the advertisements!!

Walking Bucerias

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Shopping in Bucerias

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February 9, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Bucerias.

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It is quite a charming village, right along the shore from Nuevo Vallarta, where we live. We like to go there several times every year. The restaurants are excellent and plentiful, all along the shore. Today we dined at Mezzobuerno, a new Italian restaurant, so of course, we dined overlooking the Pacific.

But first, we shopped at the open market right beside the town square. It is a so called straw market, with lots of little shops all pushed in together, selling everything in sight at prices you can negotiate. They sell silver jewelry and pottery, and clothes galore, also art and glass wear. In Mexico they make wonderful silver objects, also glass products of every size. This place is a very typical Mexican market. It was crowded and fun. The interesting thing is that I never buy anything. I wonder why?

We walked right to the end of the town, ate a wonderful lunch at Mezzobuerno, and walked back through the market and across the river to the newer part of town. There we wandered the art galleries, again buying nothing. A quick drink at Karen's, again sitting just by the beach, and soon we were in the taxi home. it was a lovely day. We left at 10:45 and were home by 4:00. Next stop was the pool!!

February 8, 2012, Playa Royale, Mexico. Caleb's Crossing: A Novel.

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Geraldine Brooks wrote this novel, the same person who wrote People of the Book. It is a book that takes place in the seventeenth century, in Massachusetts. Susan K. recommended the book to me. It is a well written and powerful book with two major themes: one the treatment of the Indians and second the position of women in The Bay Colony. I had just read King Philip's War, which was all about Indians and Settlers in the 17th Century, so much was familiar to me. But it is a good book with interesting characters.

Once again, I am fortunate to be born in 1937. Life in the early 17th century was very difficult, especially for a woman. And the early Settlers were hateful and nasty and very rigid in their religious customs. Modern sensibilities creep into the book but all in all, it is a true story, told as a novel and is well worth reading.

February 7, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Late Swim.

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It is unusual for me to go down to the swimming pool at 5:00, but it turned out to be the best part of the day. The sun was bright and the sky was blue, so I joined Don and Doreen by the pool.

I was late because I was opening Christmas cards. A second batch of mail arrived this afternoon, so while Dan and Doreen headed to the pool, I sorted the mail, then opened and read the Christmas cards. Several friends asked me questions in the cards, such as when it would be convenient to visit us in Texas, or do we want a painting, or a suggestion for me to e mail them. Oops. I am sure they just assume a senior moment for me with my lack of responsiveness.

We were late to the pool today because we dined at a new restaurant, and took the trolley. The day was cloudy this morning, so we walked to the Mall while I shopped a bit before going for lunch. We all agreed that it was not a good day for swimming but we were wrong.

The pool was beautiful with the water 86 degrees F. and the hot tub 102. By 5:30, we had the pool to ourselves, then soon I was all by myself for one more swim. The air was warm and the sun stayed bright. It was the best time for a swim.

February 6, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The evening.

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We had front row seats, just ten feet from this new large thin television set, brought especially for the Super Bowl. Our seats, although the best in the restaurant, were not very comfortable because the chairs were actually sofas with cushions on top and back and these couches were very low. Getting up was difficult and as we drank wine and beer all evening and made frequent trips to the restrooms, we got up and down a lot. Also, our frequent trips to the Pizza table required us to get up often too. It was not easy getting up.

We had a lovely evening, sitting outdoors watching the Super Bowl, cheering for the Giants. Other folks in the restaurant were cheering for the Giants so we did too. Who cares.

I did recall, that about fifteen years ago, we watched the Super Bowl at a restaurant and Marina in Costa Rico, along with my friend Sara Lou. I had forgotten until Ken reminded me.

It was interesting. All the seats were full, watching the game, but by half time, many people had left. And the outdoor section was full of customers eating dinner, with no televisions in sight. Not everyone cares about the Super Bowl, here in Mexico.

February 5, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Super Bowl.

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Today will be a first for us. We have made a reservation at the Porto Bello restaurant to watch the Super Bowl and eat Pizza. Yesterday we ate lunch there and after talking with the manager decided to join them for the Super Bowl. They will provide the pizza and we will order the drinks and we will sit in their comfortable chairs and watch on their big screen TV, brought in especially for the big event. Of course, I am sure they hope we will stay for dinner too but we will come home, either after the game is ended or sooner if it is boring, or if the TV malfunctions. It will be a first for us, to watch the Super Bowl in a commercial environment.

Ken and I watched the first Super Bowl with Lenore and Bev. Ittmann, sitting in their home in Galveston, Texas. We owned no television set so they invited us to watch the game, together with their three children. Ever since then, we have watched every game, but always either at home or in some other peoples home. We have learned not to enjoy Super Bowl Parties, as we eat too much and drink too much and don't really get to see the game too closely.

Today will be the first. We will sit outdoors beside the canal alongside other people and eat pizza and drink beer and cheer for neither team, just hope for a good tight game. And if we don't enjoy the experience, we will come home and watch the game on our own TV!!

Lunch

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February 4, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Splendid Lunch.

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It was the best meal since our arrival in Mexico, certainly the best lunch since Don and Doreen have been here.

We walked across the road to await the trolley and lo and behold, the trolley arrived immediately, so we four jumped on and headed for the other side of the canal. We could not believe our good luck. We walked along the renovated marina and took in an outdoor art show. Four artists work was on display but we did not buy a thing, except three loaves of home made bread.

When we got as far as the end of the canal, I made the decision to dine at the Porto Bello Italian restaurant. With a bottle of wine and bruchette as an appetizer, we were ready to dine like kings and we did. We even ate dessert. Ken said that as he ate the largest meal, his dessert he ordered would have no chocolate and not many calories. When his dessert arrived, we all roared. His dessert turned out to be a large three scoops of ice-cream, loaded with caramel sauce and covered with sliced strawberries and whipped cream. Apparently, it was the strawberries that made it low calorie.

We waited and waited for the trolley home but it never came so eventually we took the bus home which took us 70 cents each. It was a wonderful meal. Good food and good company. We are returning tomorrow to watch the Super Bowl there too.

February 3, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Modern Ordering.

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It is a wonderful system. On Wednesday, I decided to read a book written by John Houseman, but was unable to find it on Amazon to down load it onto my I Pad. Ken searched the Internet and found a used but good copy, and ordered it sent to Andrew and Christina's house, where we will find it when we arrive. Just a minute ago, Ken was alerted by his phone to tell him that the package has arrived. Now that is good service. Order on Wednesday, delivered on Friday. Pretty good. Ken gets the bill.

My friend Susan K. was sending me a book with her friend Suzanne here in Mexico, but Susan was late, so Susan gave me the name and author. I promptly ordered the book on Amazon. It was immediately down loaded onto my I Pad and now I am reading the book now. Service is even better because I can read the book immediately. Ken gets the bill.

Tonight, my brother phoned and we had a chat. My sister is not reading her e mails so Dave and Irene and Ken and I are going to give Carol and Ken a Christmas gift for Christmas 2012 so Carol will not need to use dial up any more. We will not even keep it a secret. It will be yet more ordering.

February 2, 2012. Playa Royal, Mexico. The Palace.

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Denied due to age!! Can you believe it? Every so often, being old is not a good thing.

Right next to us at Playa Royale is a Palace Resort. Ken and I are members. Friends spent the day there, eating three meals and enjoying the pools and the entertainment and the liquor. They are also members so paid $75. each for the day of eating and drinking. Ken and I knew that if you listen to their information about becoming a member, they give you a free one day pass, so we suggested that Don and Doreen listen to their presentation, and get the free day pass. We coached them on how to say NO, and get their pass and leave. They were all geared up.

This morning after breakfast, Ken and I and Don and Doreen walked over to arrange the appointment for the presentation. As usual, everyone was polite and enthusiastic, right until they saw the age on the information sheet. Don and Doreen would be more than welcome to listen to the presentation but the Palace organization gives no free one day passes to anyone over 75. We were incensed.

Of course, we are able to use the member charge for the four of us for a day, but being cheap and having a refrigerator full of food, we declined and left. We did have a chuckle, but what a let down for Don and Doreen. Denied by age. What a thing.

February 1, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Yard.

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Ken takes all the pictures and puts them on my little blog. This time, all the pictures were taken in the area between our condominium building and the beach. The area is well tended by the garden staff and is beautiful, not only from our seventh floor balcony but also walking the two hundred yards to the pool and beach. As you can see, we see massive numbers of flowers and fruit. Ken especially appreciates the fact that he is not required to trim the hedges or bushes. We call this large area our yard, as if the whole area belongs to us.

Our life here is one extended R&R and is the longest time we have ever experienced such a long holiday. Our life is pleasant but especially we enjoy the lack of ice and snow. It must be the aging thing but we are actually thriving during our long vacation. Neither Ken or I are bored. We have computers and I Pads and Kindles, with good friends and relatives who e mail me regularly to chat. We have stayed sane and energetic, which is a good thing.

The Yard 2

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The Beach

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The Yard/Bananas

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The Yard

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January 31, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Arthur Koestler.

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Michael Scummell wrote the latest biography of Arthur Koestler. It is a tour de force of a book. Arthur Koestler was famous in his life time but after his death in 1983, his reputation sunk like a stone, even though he wrote over 30 books, at least 5 considered to be superb. Now I think people are beginning to re-think his works. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the life of this man, even though I did not like Mr. Koestler.

The question is always about productivity and creativity and this book tells a lot about the process. Koestler was born Hungarian, published first in German, and finally wrote and lectured in English, the only author to have done such a feat. He was clearly very very smart but he was also very very difficult. I have never agreed that clever productive people have a free ride on decency but I enjoyed the whole story of how all those works were written. Creativity is a mystery to me. Reading this biography gave me a bit of insight into how things get done. "Koestler: The Literary and Political Odyssey of a 20th Century..." by Michael Scummell is worth reading.

January 30, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Pharmacy.

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It is right on the corner, just one block away from the Malecon. The sign says that it is a Pharmacy. Every time we are in Puerto Vallarta, we visit that store, so we have gotten friendly with the owner. He is a pleasant and helpful man. Ken always buys antibiotics from him. He heard Ken cough and quickly opened a package of cough drops and gave two to Ken, saying, "This will ease your cough". Ken just said thanks, but in truth, nothing will ease his cough as he has had it his whole life. But this nice man tried to help.

The Pharmacy is in one small part of the store. The rest is full of objects for sale, mainly pewter and pottery. Their pewter prices are the best in town. Mexican pewter is beautiful so I often wish I would buy objects to take home as gifts. We always take friends there, and normally something is purchased, but for many reasons I do not buy anything. That is, until Saturday, when I purchased the Nativity set for Molly. Normally I just admire the objects for sale, so the nice man was surprised and pleased when he actually made money.

It is marked as a pharmacy but actually is a pewter and pottery store, something that is typically Mexican. It is somewhat endearing that the best prices in town can be found in the Pharmacy. Who would have thought it?

Malecon

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Sand

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January 29, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Puerto Vallarta.

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A visit to this old town always provides opportunities to see Mexican culture. We four visited on a Saturday, where no cruise ships were docked, so the town was not crowded. Walking on the Malecon and around the narrow streets you had ample space to wander at your hearts content without losing your friends and family.

The Malecon is beautiful, with even more statues and sand sculptures than before. And the first street is now a pedestrian walk so you was look and stand and walk without being run down by the cars. It is a huge addition to the town. The Indians have installed a permanent pole to do their flying, so on a fixed schedule you can come and see them fly through the air, finally landing on the ground. It is fantastic.

Lunch was lovely at The Island Cafe and we ambled up along the island to see all the shops. Ken remembered the store selling pewter and he actually found it. The store is really a pharmacy with lots of pewter and pottery for sale as well. Ken bought medications while I bought a pewter nativity set for Molly. We were both happy.

Puerto Vallarta is an old crowded town but is always interesting, but we are always happy to be back at our home.

Flying

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January 28, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Bus Ride.

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It was the highlight of the day. The first bus was comfortable and quick. We four walked down to the Mall to catch the bus and soon got onto the bus marked Wall Mart. The driver was steady. After getting off opposite Wall Mart we headed right up to our next bus marked Centro, which would take us right along to the Malecon.

Now this second bus was not luxurious or even comfortable. The seats were hard plastic and the bus driver was far from steady. In fact he drove like a bat out of hell. We passed all the other vehicles and screeched to a stop and rode very quickly over every bump. You had to hold on tight with both hands in order to stay in your seat. I sat forward the whole time to keep from bouncing my back on the hard plastic seat.

Fortunately, that bus was very cheap and it got us where we wanted to go. That bus trip was memorable and a fitting start for our day in Puerto Vallarta. We all four thought the whole thing a big lark.

January 27, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Busy Life.

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One reason I so enjoy and appreciate our quiet life in Mexico is that Ken and I have spent a life striving and working to achieve our goals. To do that we were required to be busy. First we had to acquire the education to earn the funds to provide the life we wanted to live. That sound easy but is not. Next comes the professional development along with taking care of the family. Both Ken and I were busy hard working people and have been our whole life.

It is always difficult to balance the need to spend for enhance life now or save for the future, so we spent to keep from being bored and saved as well for our retirement. But it was not an easy balance to make.

My parents were busy people. Salvation Army Officers such as my parents are always organizing or managing something important. I observed their behavior of accepting responsibilities without feeling obliged. They did their duty and so did we.

I would not want to live my whole life here with no responsibilities but for a few months, it is a welcome respite from our busy life.

January 26, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. My Typical Day.

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And old friend and retired manager has asked me how I manage my time. It is a good question because many retired people are so busy they barely have time to breathe. I am not in that camp. I don't sew and I don't knit. Perhaps I will, but for the moment, I am content with my routine.

Obviously, every place we live has it's own pattern. Here in Mexico, our life is quiet, whether or not we have house guests. My life would not work if I was alone but with Ken as my companion, we enjoy our routine.

Every day I read, sometimes all day and always all morning, while Ken works on the computer. Every day we walk or I swim. And every evening we watch the sunset. Often we take the trolley to walk across the canal, or we walk to the Hotel to Happy Hour at the bar. Every so often we watch a part of a hockey game. Or we read some more.

Late this morning we four walked down to the Hotel, stopping to see the shopping mall and the marina. Then we took the shuttle to the golf club for lunch. It is a lovely spot for lunch, watching the 18th green and enjoying the warm outside air.

Our life here is not dramatic or fancy. Some folks would say our life is boring, but with books and computers and I Pads we are busy and happy. Who could ask for anything more?

January 25, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Nosebleed.

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It always happens in the middle of the night. Out of the blue, Ken's nose starts bleeding. I awake at 2:00 am to find Ken with ice wrapped in a face cloth holding his nose. With the other hand he is pressing a tissue on his nose to try to stop the bleeding. Neither actions are working. The ice was not in a plastic bag so the melting ice was making everything wet, and clearly, the held tissue was not stopping the bleeding. He was in a mass.

I did think about waking Doreen, who is a nurse.

Instead, I threw away all the bloody dirty tissues from the table beside the bed. Then I put new ice in a small plastic bag and wrapped a new dry face cloth around the ice. I next gave Ken new clean tissues. With the clean dry cloth over his forehead and clean tissues holding his nose, Ken lay quietly, waiting for the bleeding to stop.

I, on the other hand, fell asleep!!

January 24, 2012, Playa Royale, Mexico. Don and Doreen.

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They arrived today to visit us in Mexico. It is an unusual event, because most folks are fearful of coming to Mexico due to the violence. Truth be told, most of the violence is associated with the drug business so in our part of Mexico, we feel safe. We are delighted they are here as they are friends of long standing.

Since they arrived this afternoon we have been talking non stop catching up on children and siblings and cousins and aunts, to say nothing of all our mutual friends. We walked to the pool and beach so they could get the lay of the land, talking all the way. And we ate pasta for dinner, made by me, sitting at our dining table. It is always a pleasure being with old friends.

We were young together. We started dating about the same time. After Sunday night meeting we often ordered chinese food to Doreen's parents home for the four of us. We married the same year. And we have always been friends. We are fortunate indeed.

January 23, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. People Watching.

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She was dressed for winter, wearing heavy jeans, boots and a long sleeved shirt. In addition, she had a sweater over her arm. Ken and I were sitting at the Market waiting for the trolley, wearing shorts and shirt and sandals. She walked up and sat beside me. We must have looked very odd, if anyone cared to look. Obviously, she is native to Mexico and felt cold.

An older man held a conversation behind me, discussing the temperature with a couple. They just met on the trolley. The 80 degrees came up and the man gave a short course on the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit, although there was no request for the lecture. He was a Canadian and pompously described the differences, as if the folks he was speaking to did not know already. It was fascinating to hear the lecture go through temperature and distances and weights. He never stopped to ask a question. It was very unCanadian of him. I kept silent but could have laughed out loud. Before her finished his talk, the poor couple had to get off as they had reached their destination.

On the trolley ride home the sun was shining brightly, but it is winter here, so our favorite bus driver was wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt and of course, boots. Half way home, he pulled his woolen vest out of his pack and put it on, all while driving the trolley. He was cold while I was going home to sit on the balcony and eat sunset food, wearing my shorts. People are funny.

January 21, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Gambling.

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I have often been asked how my youth impacted my present life. In other words, how did being brought up in a Salvation Army family made a difference in my present life? It is a good question but difficult to answer accurately. But several aspects of my life are with me now. One is gambling. I don't gamble. I don't think anyone should gamble. Of course, I am in the minority. A new Casino is being opened just across the street from us here at Playa Royale and everyone here pleased it will be there. But not me.

Ken and I gamble with real things like real estate and the stock market and we have been known to pull a handle in Las Vegas or Reno. Both boys are comfortable playing poker or blackjack. And my friend Sara Lou takes twenty dollars into the Casino and enjoys herself being entertained for several hours. When her money runs out, she quits. It is OK for her and the boys, but the attitude to gambling established in my family for gambling has stuck with me.

Now in my family we did not drink alcohol or smoked cigarettes or cigars. I am not sure exactly why some parts stick with me and some parts I ignore. It is a puzzle and is not simple. One thing I know full well, is that I do not gamble. Maybe I am just cheap.

January 20, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Australian Open.

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I have a perfect set up. If I chose, I can watch tennis on TV all day and evening, all the way from Melbourne, Australia. We have a TV set in every bedroom, so I can watch the early games when I first wake up on one channel and other games on two other stations the rest of the day. Last night I could watch two games by switching back and forth from one channel to the other. I am in hog heaven. Ken can watch TV in the living room if he wishes, but today, I watched tennis at breakfast and dinner, sitting in my own bed. I loved it.

Of course, two channels are in Spanish but I always turn the sound down when the ladies play. I hate to hear that Sharipova grunt so I push the mute button. Ken does not really enjoy tennis on TV, so I have the clicker all to myself. Of course, I can not sit and watch that much tennis but I enjoy an hour at a time throughout the day and evening.

I am looking forward to living in Canada in August when the London Olympics will be held. I will be able to watch the Canadian coverage plus the American feed, so perhaps I will be satisfied for once. But right now in Mexico, with two Spanish stations and one American channel broadcasting the Australian Open several hours a day, I am able to watch as much tennis as I can stomach in a day. I am living the high life for sure.

January 19, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. An Afternoon.

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The house seems very empty when a friend has left for home, so rather than sit around in the quiet condo, Ken and I took a walk. We ambled down to the Hotel/Timeshare. First we sat outside the Market and watched the people walk by, then went to see the boats coming into port after a day of fishing. It always comes as a surprise at how many boats come in and out of the marina and today was no exception. We only watched for fifteen minutes and I counted thirty boats come back to the dock Our walk took us right along the water and the pools. Before we headed home we again sat and watched the people.

On the road back home we spotted the trolley and hopped on for a ride around the whole complex, which is always a pleasant drive. We got off right in front of our apartment. Even the unfriendly driver knows where we live. By the time we got home, it was sunset.

We enjoyed our little jaunt around the neighborhood while Suzanne was flying home. And we will be relieved when she is safely home.

January 18, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Sunset.

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We three were all set to watch the last sunset. Suzanne must leave for home tomorrow, so this afternoon after eating a leisurely lunch at the golf course and walking on the beach for an hour, we all assembled in our respective places on the balcony with our beer and wine. Everything was set in place. The sunset food consisted of cheese and fresh Mexican bread. The weather was warm and not breezy. We three were primed to enjoy another beautiful sunset looking over the Pacific Ocean.

The only difficult was that the sunset never appeared. Not a sign of pink or orange could be seen in the sky or on the horizon. The sun went down behind a very large cloud, then nothing happened. The clouds in the sky did not brighter into pinks and purples. Everything just got dark. It was very anticlimactic. All this fuss and palaver and then nothing to see, except the bread and cheese. We can never again tell people about the guaranteed sunsets. Sometimes, the sun just goes away.

January 17, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Riviera Grill.

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It is our closest good restaurant, The Riviera Grill. Tonight Suzanne took us there for dinner. The food is always good and the service pleasant. Ken and I chose the restaurant because it is so easy. We walk for five minutes, cross the street, and you are there. The older I get the less I like complications, so easy is good.

Tonight they had a musician, singing and playing Mexican music. Even when he was singing American tunes he sang in Spanish, which I thought was interesting. Most of the customers were Canadian or American. The place was full so the restaurant must be doing well. Next time we probably won't get seated unless we have made a reservation, which will be irritating because we knew them when we were the only diners. But we enjoy watching success bloom so we are pleased for their progress.

We three enjoyed our dinner at The Riviera Grill. Wonderful food and excellent music makes for a lovely evening.

January 16, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Punta Mita.

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it is the most expensive real estate in the state of Nayarit, which is impressive all by itself. It all stated with the construction of The Four Seasons Resort and Golf Club. At on time, Punta Mita was a sleepy little fishing village right at the end of Bandares Bay, but after the announcement that The Four Seasons was coming to town, the purchasers flocked in and built condominiums and resorts and restaurants. Now you still have the fishing village along with the surfers and the millionaires. It is quite charming.

Ken and Suzanne and I took the bus to Punta Mita along with the students and the workers. The bus stopped right across from our condominium and took us to the highway, when we were required to cross the highway and take second bus. The bus was jammed with people which makes life more interesting for us who never take the bus at home. This bus driver drove very fast. I wanted him to slow down but finally a car driving modestly fast stayed in front of us so our driver was required to slow down, which was a great blessing to me.

We wandered around town and finally settled on lunch on the beach. Then back home on another bus and another bus and finally, home by 5:00. Suzanne and I loved the bus journeys and Ken survived. Punta Mita is an interesting town, but I would not want to live there.

January 15, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. An Easy Day.

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Suzanne went by herself to downtown Puerto Vallarta and walked along the Malecon and wandered around the shops. In addition, she took the bus both there and back. Ken and I stayed at home and watched part of the football games. It was very nice to be lazy while your guest is off exploring on her own, especially when the guest is perfectly happy to do things by yourself .

When she came home, we took a trolley ride all around the resort, followed by a walk down to the Hotel to change dollars into pesos. It would not do to by pass the Happy Hour at the bar, so we three stopped for a drink or two. After a leisurely walk around the hotel we asked the shuttle driver to take us home, which he did. It took us five minutes to prepare our dinner of left over chicken and left over steak, served with good Mexican bread and tomatoes and cucumber. All three put out the food and all three enjoyed eating this simple meal.

It was an interesting but easy day, enjoyed by all.

The Hopeful Hunters

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January 14, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Suzanne.

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It is the same Suzanne who accompanied us to Mexico after Ken's heart surgery, although a four years older edition, according to Ken. Suzanne was a nurse and as Ken had the the operation two weeks prior and needed stitches removed, Suzanne offered to play nurse. I especially appreciated her presence with me on the trip. Between the two of us, we pushed Ken through all the lines, in fact we went to the head of the line most times. Disability has rewards, as we discovered on that trip. She was a good sport back then and she is a good sport now, at the moment cleaning up the kitchen after dinner.

This afternoon Suzanne went for a walk on the beach. She left at 2:00. I ambled down to the pool at 3:00 expecting Suzanne to appear at any time, thinking that an hour walk is sufficient. Ken came down at 4:00 bringing three cans of beer but Suzanne still did not appear. By then I had been swimming and had graduated to the hot tub when finally she appeared at 5:00. She walked almost to Bucerias, looking at everything on the way and back. I was not looking forward to that phone call to Bethesda saying that Suzanne had not returned. But I had forgotten that once Suzanne heads north along the beach she stays away a long time, but she always returns!!

Sunset Food

2012-01-14T11:47:00.002-06:00

Pat, Tom, Ruth and Ken

2012-01-14T11:46:00.000-06:00

January 13 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Lucky Day.

2012-01-13T22:11:00.000-06:00

Friday the thirteenth is a lucky day indeed. Today at noon, at the appointed time and place, Pat and Tom met up with Ken and me. And we all recognized each other. The luncheon was delightful, sharing ideas of places and birds and people. We arranged another date for next Friday when they will come and check out Nuevo Vallarta.

Pat and Tom are putting us to shame. They have already visited the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, a lovely spot south of Puerto Vallarta, that we have talked about visiting for years. But here they go and stay a month and have already visited the hot spot while we just think about it. We must be getting old.

This afternoon, my friend Suzanne arrived to stay with us a week. She has been here before and we enjoy her company. So the lucky thirteen was indeed lucky today. Everything worked according to plan!!

January 12, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Date.

2012-01-12T17:58:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow at lunch Ken and I have a date with Pat and Tom. They are from Toronto and will be in Puerto Vallarta, renting a condo for a month. They are good friends of Gill, and at one time were neighbors. Years ago, we would meet Tom and Pat when we visited Gill and the boys in Toronto but it wasn't until Alan died that I saw Pat every day, when Mary and I flew up from Bethesda to help. But that was over thirty years ago.

After they were organized in their condo, Pat and I e mailed back and forth and decided to have lunch tomorrow at noon. The plan is to meet at the lighthouse at Vallarta Marina, then find a place for lunch. The problem with the plan is that we don't really know if there are two lighthouses so we have given them our cell phone numbers although they have no phones themselves. So we will start out tomorrow, hoping we will meet some folks that we will probably not recognize. Such fun. I figure out that the worst thing that will happen is to have lunch, together Ken and me, without Pat and Tom who will still be looking for us. The best thing will be to have a lovely lunch with delightful people, who are good friends with our friend Gill.

January 11, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Getting Old.

2012-01-11T17:59:00.000-06:00

She walked into the Mall and from a distance she looked quite young, except for the limp and the cane. Her dress was sleeveless and in a bright orange color, ending mid thigh. Her hair style was designed for someone in her mid twenties and was some color of red. I watched her as she approached the tables and sat down. With every step she made, coming across the floor of the shopping mall, it was apparent that this old lady just wanted to look young, but it reality, she merely looked totally ridiculous.

Now I am sure she is a nice lady. She smiled pleasantly to several people while she was sitting waiting. But why does she not want to look her age? Pretending she is young when she is not young accentuates the fact that she was old, and probably looked older than she actually was. It is a mystery to me. Perhaps she looks good in pictures!!

January 10, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Brown Pelicans.

2012-01-10T17:52:00.000-06:00

Today I spotted fifty pelicans cruising along the water, just close to the lip of the waves. They fly in a row. From a distance, they appear to touch the water but when we went walking along the beach this morning you could see space between the birds and the water. Last evening I saw twenty five pelicans floating and gliding high over our heads. They are just wonderful birds to watch because it seems effortless even though you know the birds are big.

Up until now, I have seen only one or two pelicans but not any more. They have arrived. Now we will watch for their flypast, when they start well north along the shore and very high up in the sky, and fly all along to the south. It is an impressive sight. These are brown pelicans. As far as I know, we do not have white pelicans here, but I am not sure. I do know I love to watch these brown pelicans fly especially when they fly right along the tip of the waves. As they would say in Nova Scotia, "It is some pretty".

January 9, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The New Criterion.

2012-01-09T11:55:00.001-06:00

I am just now reading an issue of The New Criterion. It is a wonderful magazine of culture and history along with events current to the world of today. It brings to my brain discussions I have never experienced in the past. I was not classically educated. I was educated in order to teach. I have been trying play catch up ever since. Thus the reading of The New Criterion.

This issue is all about the decline or not of The United States and is the result of a symposium held in New York earlier this year, so the articles are the papers given at that event. Earlier this year, Commentary also asked or their writers "Are you optimistic or Pessimistic about America?" For two issues we the readers read why not and their reasons for their answers. This is more of the same, couched in a different manner.

This issue of The New Criterion gives ample food for thought along with masses of statistics to back up the ideas. Whichever side you are backing, you could certainly find agreement from someone in those papers. I enjoy reading The New Criterion but this January issue is worth the price of the whole annual subscription.

January 8, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Football.

2012-01-08T20:00:00.000-06:00

It was the most unusual event, watching the Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. I foolishly assumed that the Steelers would beat the Broncos easily, but I was wrong. It is actually fun to watch although I was rooting for Pittsburgh. Since we moved away from the Washington area, we have lost our allegiance to the Redskins. Our friends at the farm always cheer for the Steelers so for all those years, we have cheered for Pittsburgh, unless the Redskins were not involved. So we switched our main cheering for the Steelers.

It is fascinating to watch the connection people have with the sports teams. The Chicago Cubs have fans all over the country, even folks who have never lived there. And college teams stay with everyone who attended that university. It is one of the aspects of life in the US that brings people together.

January 7, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Four Seasons.

2012-01-07T19:54:00.000-06:00

It is captivating. My friend Wendy told me about this book and she was right to recommend it. The full title is The Four Seasons: A Novel of Vivaldi by Laurel Corona. it is her first book of fiction but I suspect more will be published as she is a good writer. I had not noticed when the book was published in 2008. In fact, Wendy tells me that few people have read it, but I enjoyed it very much.

No wonder Venice fell on hard times. Their society was ridiculous. In the book you learn how things were run, and the customs of the day. And of course, even though the main characters are two sisters, Vivaldi is a large presence in the book. i wanted to be listening to Vivaldi music when I was reading. It is one of those books that you want to know what will happen to these people so you just keep reading until it is over. Then you want to know what was going to happen next. It is a good book and I enjoyed it.

January 6, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Shopping.

2012-01-06T21:52:00.000-06:00

When we leave Mexico at the end of February, we will spend two weeks in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. It is not a pleasure trip. Our task is to purchase all the belongings damaged or ruined in the fire of the Carriage House, so the new Guest House will be ready to be used come July. Yesterday I reviewed all the insurance lists and made three other charts; one for items to be purchased at the hardware store and another for Sears, and yet another for the antique stores. I also have a list of items to bring from the farm. so now I will be ready to complete our shopping in an efficient manner when we get to Nova Scotia.

The Insurance Company has been wonderful to work with and we have had no complaints at all about them, but their rule is that all receipts for compensation must be submitted within one year of the incident, which is June 2nd. This is a problem for us so now we must fly up for two weeks, when it is still cold and snowy, and complete our purchases, and submit our receipts. We will be ready come the end of June to put everything in place..

January 5, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. Colds.

2012-01-05T20:07:00.000-06:00

All my life I have pretended to ignore my colds. I just took an aspirin or two every four hours and continued on with my work. Also I drank tons of water and just kept going. In a few days, I discovered that my cold had disappeared. I knew it had gone when I no longer needed the aspirins.

Now that I am retired and have nothing real that needs to be done on a daily basis, my colds seem much worse. I find myself paying attention to my cold along with my sniffles and sneezing and coughing. In the past, I paid no attention and never admitted that I, in truth, had a cold.

In the olden days, in three days, the cold was gone. Now that I am 74, it seems to take longer. Perhaps it is because Ken got his cold sooner and his colds always last longer than mine. Or perhaps my immune system is not as good as in the past. Who knows but I only know that I don't like colds and I am never getting one again!!

January 4, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Sunset.

2012-01-04T17:49:00.000-06:00

Every day the sun comes up and every day the sun goes down.. You would think that if you saw the sunset every evening it would be boring. Just the big round red ball sinking down below the edge of the Pacific Ocean. But there are several things that make it not boring.

The first thing to notice is that every time the sun goes down, the scene is different. The clouds are in a different position and the winds are too, so the picture you see, every evening, is not the same one you saw yesterday. It is like looking at another painting, every evening.

The next aspect that makes the scene interesting is the facts involved. It looks as if the sun is leaving us but in truth, we are leaving the sun. And today, the sun is in just a tad different position than yesterday or last week, so we must figure out what is really happening out there in space.

And finally, the sunset food prepared by Ken and brought out to the balcony is always different, nourishing and interesting. Sometimes, the food is the best part of the sunset.

January 3, 2012 Playa Royale, Mexico. Burma.

2012-01-03T20:41:00.000-06:00

It is a story that needs to be told so I was pleased to read it. But this book by Emma Larkin was badly in need of a good editor. The title is "Everything is Broken: A Tale of catastrophe in Burma" tells you everything you are going to read throughout the whole book. But it is poorly organized, badly written and forgets it is not an historical novel but a piece of non-fiction. Most readers would never persevere to complete the reading.

Burma is a terrible place, run by a military dictator who changed the name a few years ago. After reading this book, one does not get the feeling that things will get better for the people. The story needs to be told but I wish a good editor had organized the material and cut out half the stories. This is the country that refused any aid right after the Cyclone. Who knows why. But I did read the book to the bitter end. Now I know I never want to travel to Burma.

January 2, 2012. Playa Rpyale, Mexico. The Society of Friends.

2012-01-02T20:40:00.000-06:00

The protagonist in the book The Voyageurs is a member of The Society of Friends, commonly called The Quakers. I know very little about the Quakers but what I do know, I learned 53 years ago when I served on a panel organized by the Quakers in Toronto. The only part I recall was a conversation with an older lady. I was 21 so perhaps she only seemed old, but what I learned from her became helpful to me my whole professional career.

I asked her at lunch what a person must believe in order to be a Quaker. She told me that different groups have different policies, but that one belief was critical, which was that a Quakers task in life is to find the good in every person. They felt that there is good in everone and it was up to each to find that good. Now I was a teacher, with a group of 42 second grade children. I helped all the children and some kids I really did not like much, but when I returned to my class, I started to try to find something that was good about every child. Amazing things happened both to the children and to me.

I have never been critical of others, but this approach had a wholly different approach, and I was able to keep it up in every career. Many people have asked me how I could work with this person or that person, and my answer is always the same. The old lady told me something that has stuck with me and has been helpful to me. I don't even know that the Quakers still preach it!!

January 1, 2012. Playa Royale, Mexico. The New Year.

2012-01-01T19:10:00.000-06:00

A clean slate is always wonderful, I always thought. A new week, a new month and now a whole new year to fill in the pages of my calendar. It is a childish thought I know but it still gives me great pleasure to contemplate the brand new year. It never crosses my mind that the year might bring difficulties. I just assume that we will continue on the path of having good health and proceed along with my life.

My life consists of going from place to place, enjoying my family and friends. My new years resolution is to spend more time with my granddaughters and I hope we have scheduled our time properly to account for that resolution. At the moment we will spend over a month this Spring with both Texas and Mississippi. Kate and Mary Frances will drive with us to the farm and will stay several weeks before we drive them to Maine on our way to Nova Scotia. Both boys and their families will visit Nova Scotia this summer. And finally, we will all spend a week at an all inclusive resort in Mexico called Aventura Cova, south of Cancun. We will be together this year, God willing, on several occasions.

Now we begin the new year, looking forward to having a good time!!

The sun still sets over the Pacific

2012-01-01T09:02:00.000-06:00

December 31, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. New Years Eve.

2011-12-31T20:19:00.000-06:00

Tonight we will stay at home. There are many options open to us here in Nuevo Vallarta, but Ken has a cold so we have spent the day in the condo, watching football. We will continue to enjoy ourselves and celebrate the New Year quietly, at home. Actually we will celebrate along with the good folks in Nova Scotia, where the time is two hours ahead of us. We will celebrate midnight in Liverpool, then we will go to bed.

My favorite celebrations for the new year have always been held at home, with good friends. A few times in my life I have been talked into a large dance and dinner party, but I have not enjoyed them. The frivolity seems to be forced as everyone is determined to be festive, whether they wanted to be or not. Last year was lovely. We all stayed home at Suzanne and David's home. The kids had a dance party with the WII and we all ate, and ate, and ate. Then we went to bed, after the ball dropped in New York. The kids were happy and so were the adults.

Tonight Ken and I will be home, together, which we will enjoy. And we hope Ken feels better tomorrow.

December 30, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. Voyageurs.

2011-12-30T20:12:00.000-06:00

My clever niece gave me this book for Christmas, sending it to me directly on my Kindle. It was a wonderfully efficient way to give a gift to someone always on the go. I was so pleased with the gift and have enjoyed reading Voyageurs.

The author is from Scotland and lives in Glasgow, which surprised me, as I assumed she was a Canadian. It is very evocative of the landscapes and the topography and I thought that the scenery was a normal part of the authors life. It is certainly a big part of the book and I wished I had a good map at hand. Fortunately I am familiar with the areas described but I wished I had a good map.

It is a rollicking good tale that takes place in Upper Canada between 1809 1nd 1814. Margaret Elphinstone is the author. The story is somewhat unbelievable but I enjoyed it thoroughly.

December 29, 2011. Playa Rpyale, Mexico. The Lazy Day

2011-12-29T18:34:00.000-06:00

I think I have become lazy. Today I did nothing except read. And I prepared a large salad for lunch. At six o'clock I finally got dressed but until then, I was wearing my night shirt. The rest of the time I was reading. I am still trying to figure out if retired people are allowed a lazy day or whether I am truly a slug.

To top it off, since 6:00, Ken and I have been drinking a combination we learned in Boston. In one large glass you mix clamato juice and beer half each, with a large squirt of lemon juice. And we ate nuts. It might be the only food we eat tonight. After all, we haven't really done anything today!!

December 28, 2011. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Italian Couple.

2011-12-28T18:00:00.000-06:00

They are from Toronto and are about our age. In the early fifties they moved from Italy to Toronto with their own families and soon married and had five children. Now they are rich. This afternoon by the pool we met them for the first time this year. We were delighted to see them again.

It is fascinating to hear their story. He started out working as a carpenter. They saved their money and bought some land. Then they did it again. Next he started building houses on his own land but always kept expenses down. So in one lifetime, he has gone from being very poor to being very rich, but he and his wife have never changed a bit.

They have five children and fourteen grandchildren. She and I became fast friends when I observed her trying to swim and offered to help. She calls me her swimming teacher and gives us home made sauces for our pasta. Now she has ten family members coming for two weeks, for whom she will cook every meal.

Now he is going into the sheep business, on 400 acres he owns north of Toronto. He will milk the sheep or rather he will have someone milk the sheep. "That's where the money is". The milk becomes cheese. The government is taking another 200 acres for a park but he has yet to agree on a price. "Always something going on", says our friend, the Italian man from Toronto.

December 27, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Mega.

2011-12-27T21:31:00.000-06:00

The Mega store is a big grocery store. It is not quite as good as an HEB in Texas but much superior to any grocery store in Bethesda. Most people in Washington would never believe it, but it is true. Here in Mexico, in Bucerias, they have a wonderful, large grocery store, with staff bumping into each other to help you shop.

Maybe I enjoyed it so much today because our pantry and refrigerator has been empty for three weeks and all of a sudden I could see all these marvelous foodstuffs. Or maybe it is just a really good store. When Ken and I went to get a taxi, we had four large grocery carts to wheel outside. Now who would have ever thought that one of the best grocery stores you ever shop in is in Mexico, where it is supposed to be so backward?

Our freezer is full of meat and bread and pizza. The refrigerator is full of fruit and vegetables and beer and milk and yogurt. i And the pantry has everything we need for the next two months. I am a happy camper.

December 26, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. Sarah's Key.

2011-12-26T14:27:00.000-06:00

This is a wonderful little book, written by Titiana de Rosnay. It is another of a long line of books written about real people and their lives from the Second World War. The writing is beautiful and sparse and tells an interesting and tragic story. It is a novel but tells of a real event that occurred in Paris in 1942. The story needs to be told as anti=semitism is alive and well in France...once again.

It is interesting how so many people kept secret their terrible experiences during the second world war. On a personal note, Suzanne's grandfather Capps, went to war a normal person in 1943 and returned 'shell shocked' in 1945, not able to be around loud noises or many people. No one did anything except his parents bought him a ranch in the Hill Country where he lived the rest of his life. He never talked to anyone about his experiences. He never complained. But he could not function as a normal human being.

Now we are reading a bit about what really happened to people during the war. This book is another in that ilk and is worth reading.

December 25, 2011. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Christmas Day.

2011-12-25T13:03:00.000-06:00

We are back in our condo at Playa Vallarta, with everything out of the locker and in place. So far, we have no food, except eight lemons we brought from the tree at Villa Number 5. We are happy to be back. The Villa was beautiful but the hotel/time share was very busy and everyone was on vacation to be spending one week at Paradise Village so we were not inclined to pay attention to anyone. We stayed by ourselves in our Villa. Here at Playa Royale, the staff calls you by name and when you walk around you recognize people, so you feel that you are at home.

I must say, this is the most unusual Christmas for us. In other years, when we were giving our family time with the in-laws, we have been around other people. One year we took a cruise and by Christmas Day had made friends to enjoy but this year we are really alone. Fortunately, we like each others company so we are happy. in future years, I have already figured out a better system. We plan to spend Christmas in a city where we have relatives. We will enjoy the city and we will spend the holiday season with our relatives. The only problem is that Ken does not do well in cold weather and all our relatives live in the cold. This could be a problem. Perhaps Vancouver will be the first test for our new system.

Ken and I will laugh about this Christmas, the one we were alone...together.

December 24, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Christmas Eve.

2011-12-24T21:49:00.000-06:00

This must be the busiest nights of the year for the parents of young children, where the box with "some assemble required" takes two hours to put the toy together before the gift could be placed under the Christmas tree. Home is the best place to be when the children are young, but we spent many Christmas Eve nights at Dave and Irene's home, helping them put together their children's toys, long before our children were born. One night we even used the toboggan that was to be given to Wendy as a gift on Christmas morning. And another time when David and Andrew were 6 and 7 it took us until two o'clock in the morning to pump up a jumper, after borrowing pumps from two neighbors.

Now we are in Mexico, and tonight we ate a lovely dinner outside sitting on the Marina. It is quiet and pleasant and delicious. After, we listened to the band of West Point, also the Four Canadian Tenors on TV. There is no question, that we are getting old!!

December 23, 201. Paradise Village, Mexico. Christmas Holidays.

2011-12-23T15:10:00.000-06:00

We have a system. Ken and I often observed our friends being burdened by trying to visit both set of parents over the Christmas season. We saw friends required to eat two full Christmas dinners on Christmas Day, just to satisfy the grandparents. "There must be a better way", we said to each other. Our plan was to discuss with our first daughter-in-law Suzanne, to alternate the Christmas season with us and her parents, so one year we would spend Christmas with them and the next year we would not see them over Christmas.

The system has worked for both boys and their families. Ken and I go something else for Christmas which works for us too. The first year by ourselves we wondered if we would be blue. David and Suzanne and Andrew and Christina were coming to join us for a week at Playa Del Carman, and were arriving Dec. 26. They had no children. Christmas morning, Ken and I walked into town, and ordered a tray of tropical fruit and fresh pastries, sitting right on the beach in the shade. It was wonderful.

I love being with the children and grandchildren and our families over the Christmas season. But we enjoy our solitude too, just not every year!!

December 22, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Food.

2011-12-22T20:20:00.000-06:00

Sarah once was visiting our condo in Chevy Chase, along with her family. She looked into our refrigerator, looking for milk for our tea. She commented to us in amazement "There is not food in the refrigerator". She lives in a home with four growing children and two adults, where the refrigerator is full of food. Our home had two older adults, who were mostly out of town, so she was right, our refrigerator was empty.

Here in Mexico, our refrigerator is totally empty except for one bottle of milk and one half cant elope. In the pantry we have one box of cereal and one box of oatmeal. Ken and I have decided that we will go hungry most of the time so we are only buying a minimum amount of food. It seems to be the only way we can get rid of our belly. Unfortunately, we have no scale so we can't tell if it is working but it certainly works for our billfold.

We eat out once a day, dining at a different restaurant every day, generally around two or three o'clock. Our meals are wonderful and generally we have food left over which we bring home to eat tomorrow. So when we listen to the discussions on TV about hunger in America, they are talking about us.

Wake Up

2011-12-22T11:30:00.000-06:00

December21, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Guest House.

2011-12-21T19:23:00.000-06:00

It is happening, bit by bit. In Nova Scotia, our guest house is rising. It is now under roof. Our builder George had wanted it to under roof by Christmas so they could complete the interior out of the harsh weather rather than putting on the roof in the freezing rain. So we are pleased that the carpenters are meeting their schedule. It is always difficult to have a construction project underway when you are not physically on site to help along the progress. But we have faith in our builder George, who is very interested in doing a superior job, so we expect all will be well.

When we leave Mexico at the end of February, Ken and I will go to Nova Scotia, after five days in Jackson, and when we are there we must purchase all the belongings and have them delivered to the house. So we are pleased, but we need the interior of the guest house well along to completion. The guest house will be in use all summer so we need to have it ready for the summer season.

The name used to be The Carriage House but it was really a Folly, beautiful and fun, but not practical. This new building we call The Guest House as it will be more ordinary but more functional. We hope it will serve our guests well. In the meantime, we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Guest House NS

2011-12-21T12:29:00.000-06:00

Trolley Trip

2011-12-21T08:28:00.000-06:00

December 20, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Trolley Drivers.

2011-12-20T20:31:00.000-06:00

He is our favorite trolley driver. He waves at his friends and calls out a greeting to almost everyone we pass. When you step up to the free trolley he greets us as though we have just given him a gift. and he always says goodbye with a smile.

The route takes about thirty minutes to complete and he drives the trolley for twelve hours but he seems to enjoy his job and he knows everyone he meets along the route. This is the third year the trolley has been in operation and he has been one of the drivers every year. The other driver pays no attention to you or to anyone else along the drive. He just drives the trolley. It is my guess that our favorite driver receives more tips!!

Our driver is local. It is winter here and he wears boots and jeans. Today, we were wearing sandals and shorts with a light shirt. In the middle of the ride he pulled out his wool sweater and wore it the rest of the trip. It looked ridiculous but he was warm in his sweater while I was warm in my shorts. To each his own.

December19, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. A World on Fire.

2011-12-19T19:48:00.000-06:00

I never paid attention to the impact of Britain on the Civil War, until I read the book by Amanda Foreman. The name of the book is "A World on Fire: Britain's critical role in the Civil War. It is interesting. It is not so much what was done but what Britain did not do, such as not name the Confederates as a Nation. Rather they stayed neutrals throughout the war.

It is interesting to note that the English had a bond with the folks from the south. Of course the English mills were in need of the southern cotton but the English hated the slave trade and slavery, so they had a problem. The book tells you all the players both pro Union and pro Confederate and explains what happened.

I have read much about the Civil War but this book adds to my information bank.

December 18, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Snow Queen.

2011-12-18T21:00:00.000-06:00

The performances are being held this weekend in Jackson, Mississippi. Kate and Mary Frances both dance in this Christmas ballet. They love to take part in these shows and the shows are of a high quality. I wish I was there to see it but I enjoyed seeing them in costume. It is just difficult to do everything. Maybe next year.

Ballet is surprisingly important in Jackson. Now even Molly takes ballet lessons. The ballet school, Ballet Magnificant, is the brain child of a local lady who is a professional dancer. But before her, another lady put Jackson on the ballet map, so every four years, Jackson is the American home of the International Dance Competition.

The most important part is that the girls receive excellent training and work hard. With three performances this weekend, Kate and Mary Frances will be tired. Now they can focus on enjoying Christmas.

From Snow Queen

2011-12-18T10:41:00.000-06:00

December 17, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Friday Nights: A Novel.

2011-12-17T15:43:00.000-06:00

It is a book about women and work and friendships, written by an author who has written many novels, Joanna Trollope. I actually struggled to keep going in the book because these people are not too interesting all the time, but ultimately, it is a good read. It is my opinion that women are not hired wired to take economic responsibility. They must think through their actions and decisions, and that is what that book is all about.

The older character, Eleanor, is newly retired and makes several points that seem accurate to me. This is not a must read book but it deals with subjects that are pertinent today. The question as to what makes women happy is never really addressed but is certainly out in the real world. I am not rushing to read other books written by Joanna Trollope but this book is a thoughtful book about different types of women today.

Backyard Villa 5

2011-12-16T18:05:00.000-06:00

Mississippi Neighbours

2011-12-16T17:56:00.000-06:00

December 16, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Time Shares.

2011-12-16T12:24:00.000-06:00

Over the years, we have made very good use of our Time Shares. Early on, we realized how useful they could be for our family. We could see that we fixed the price of our vacations and that all we would need to pay would be the airfare. We exchanged our time shares for places all over the world and stayed in places that we never could have afforded. We vacationed in Japan and Austria, France and Switzerland, and all over the continental US and Canada, all using our time share exchanges.

Eventually we owned several time shares and they served us well. Everyone told us that time shares were bad investments and they are, but they did for us exactly what we wanted, which was to force us to use these time shares for our vacations. We stopped talking about our Time Shares, we just enjoyed them.

Now that we are retired and live part time in Nova Scotia and Mexico, we do not need our time shares, so we have turned all but one into Paradise Village in exchange for one large number of points. Ken commented recently that planning for the future is over. Now we must do it now!!

December15, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Dentists.

2011-12-15T21:35:00.000-06:00

I had the same dentist for thirty years. Every six months I had my teeth cleaned while my dentist checked and fixed anything that went wrong. Other than an emergency, I would have never considered having anyone else look at my teeth. But now I no longer live in the Bethesda area and I have left my dentist, Dr. Hurlson, who I love dearly, so this year in Mexico, while walking in the Mall close to our condo, I spotted the dentists office.

Now I have been walking past that office for the past ten years or so but I never considered going in...until now. Yesterday, my teeth were cleaned by a very efficient pleasant dental hygienist. She used a new high tech ultra sound to remove the tarter, and the Dentist checked my teeth. I was pleased with the cleaning and the care and I was pleased with the price. Now I am free to go to another dentist. But please don't tell Dr. Hurlson I am having my teeth looked after in Mexico!! I feel sure he would not approve.

December 14, Paradise Village, Mexico. Villa Number 5.

2011-12-14T17:57:00.000-06:00

Mr Great Kisskadee visits me every afternoon while I am sitting by my private pool over looking the marina. Right behind me in the yard is a lemon tree and the kiskadee flies from his perch on the wall down to get a drink of water in the pool, then directly to the lemon tree. Soon he returns, scolding me all the while. He is big and bold and beautiful. I appreciate his visit to me every day, just as I appreciate living in this wonderful home, Villa Number 5.

It is a long and complicated story. Our place at Paradise Village was fine, a one bedroom two bath apartment, with WiFi and comfortable furniture. Ken and I owned 6 time shares at Paradise village plus two others, one in the Bahamas and one at Lake Tahoe and we wanted to assemble them all together and upgrade our membership, so we did. This was complicated and required a lot of time, so we got to know the bosses. I joked with them and told them that we might upgrade our membership to Platinum level, if they would move us into Villa Number 5.

If you don't ask you don't get. We are now living in a 5500 square foot home overlooking the marina with our own pool and yard, along with daily cleaning service. "It is some nice", as they say in Nova Scotia.

December 13, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Hare with Amber Eyes.

2011-12-13T20:53:00.000-06:00

This book, written by Edmond de Waal, includes many topics of interest to me: families, beautiful objects, history, art, wars, anti Semites and relationships. No wonder I enjoyed it. Irene read it at her book club and I wish I had been there to listen into the discussion. I know nothing about the author, except that he is a good writer.

The book tells one hundred years of one family, their history and their loss. Parts of the book are chilling but parts of the book are lovely. I hate anti Semites but seeing it up close and in a non dramatic war brings the actions all the more real. True but awful.

i thoroughly enjoyed this book. And thank Irene for sending me the title, which I down loaded into my I Pad. The modern world is a marvel.

December 12, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Stitches.

2011-12-12T20:14:00.000-06:00

Ken has surgery twelve days ago in San Antonio to remove two cancers from his skin. We were leaving for Mexico so he could not have the stitches removed, which meant that he would be forced to either have me cut them out or find a Mexican Doctor. In addition to the cancer removed from his nose, the surgeon also removed a place on his right arm that she thought needed to be biopsied. Turns out that she was right. Ken had been asking about that spot for a couple of years and both the Dermatologist in Bethesda and Mississippi told him that it was fine.

The surgery was done in San Antonio because we were unable to schedule the complicated procedure while still in Jackson so Ken arranged to have the work done in San Antonio. It was a good thing too as the spot turned out to be a melanoma. The good Doctor removed the whole thing but wanted another bit of flesh removed.

Again, we are dependent on the Medical services of the small clinic in Nuevo Vallarta. It turns out the facility and the doctors came through with flying colors. Ken's nose is now without stitches and he has another wound on his arm. We are pleased with the service and the treatment. Certainly much better than using me!!.

December11, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Together.

2011-12-11T20:31:00.000-06:00

It is a good thing that Ken and I have a good time together because we spend a lot of time with only each other. We have observed couple married many years who don't seem to enjoy each other, when they find themselves retired. One friend of Ken's from the hospital retired and the couple moved into a retirement community. Within six months, the couple divorced. It made sense. They had both worked hard and raised the children but they had never spent much time together so when they were together all the time they discovered that they did not like each other. In fact, the wife could not stand being with the husband.

Ken and I are fortunate. Even though we really only spent vacations together, we have always enjoyed each others company. Now that we are retired, we find our skill sets complement each other. And being together suits us, which is a good thing, because we certainly spend a lot of time together.

December10, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. A New Home.

2011-12-10T17:55:00.000-06:00

Ken and I are like gypsies. We move to a new spot and immediately turn the new place into our home. Today we moved down the street to the Paradise Village, a Hotel/Time Share, to stay for two weeks. Then we return to Playa Royale on December 25, and will remain there until the end of February. It was an easy switch. We brought one small case with us from Texas so we packed up just enough clothes to last the two weeks and returned everything else to the locker. This morning, we checked out of the condo and took the shuttle down to the Hotel and checked in, as we were pleased to know that our room was ready.

Our room overlooks the Marina so we see these huge yachts coming and going. And our balcony is large and quiet. The good thing is that we have two bathrooms. Our plan is to eat out once a day and eat breakfast in the unit, which has a small kitchen. We have owned in this Time Share for many years but we have not stayed here for several years. It is a pleasant place and seems to still be well run. We will enjoy our stay here. It's a bit like going on a vacation.

December 9, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. Another Lunch.

2011-12-09T20:07:00.000-06:00

It was a lovely day. First a walk to the mall to have our hair cut. Then another walk down to the hotel to change dollars into pesos. Finally a trolley ride around the complex. After walking all around the marina on the other side of the canal, we wandered past all the restaurants and discovered one was closed and another had opened but our two favorites were still there.

We ate a large and lovely lunch at the Italian restaurant, The Bella Donna, sitting at the edge of the large balcony overlooking the canal. The birds and animals and fish put on a show. We saw frigate birds and brown pelicans, yellow breasted Kiskadees, and black headed buzzards. Also flying fish and many iguanas. The food was wonderful as was the show from the creatures. It was a wonderful spot to eat lunch. But I think I got the name wrong!!

December 8, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. James Madison.

2011-12-08T14:50:00.000-06:00

His home is just a few miles from the home of Thomas Jefferson, and is also open to the public, but I have never visited the home of James Madison. Now that I have read this new biography, we will certainly make a visit to Montpelier, as we have toured Monticello several times. I enjoyed the book because although I knew what Madison had done and written, the details of his life and loves were vague. Now I know it all.

One small point in the book is the description of the war of 1812 as seen in the US and in Canada and Britain. I studied the war while living in Canada and I studied the war while living in the US and I can tell you that I learned about a different war. Not only the goals but also the results were taught differently. It amused me at the time but the author spells out the reason for the dichotomy. It is an example of the writers style which is simple and direct and sparse.

It is another in the long list of books published about the Founding Fathers and a good addition to the library.

December7, 2011. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Arrival.

2011-12-07T18:32:00.000-06:00

It happens every time we walk into the condo for the first time. It feels hot so we turn down the thermometers in each room while we change clothes and unload our belongings from the locker. We keep the doors closed. Ken organizes the computers so they both work. By now we are wearing Mexican clothes and shoes. While sitting to drink a glass of water and catch our breath, one of us notices that it feels cool, so we sit outside, and discover that the weather is pleasant and we do not need the air conditioner at all. So in we go and open the doors and turn off the cooling. It has taken us about an hour.

The question one would ask is why do we go through the same drill every year? Why don't we first change clothes and shoes and drink a glass of water before we turn on the air conditioner? You would think that we would learn. Maybe next year we will recall the drill. Perhaps it is our clothing, which is heavier than our Mexican clothes, that makes us feel so hot or perhaps the condo really is warm. Next time we will try a different system. Living here in the winter we have no need for air conditioning. The large doors are always wide open and we spend lots of time on the balcony. It is very odd indeed, this drill upon arrival.

December 6, 2011. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Birthdays.

2011-12-06T16:31:00.000-06:00

People spend a lot of time and effort celebrating birthdays. I like them and I enjoy celebrating with friends and family, but Ken and I don't pay much attention to our own birthdays. When he was a boy, his Mother made a big fuss on his birthday so he tends to associate birthdays with something unpleasant. For years after we married, his birthday in August always meant we were traveling home to Toronto and forgotten the date so we would arrive home to discover that we had forgotten his birthday and our anniversary. Our pattern was set early which was to go out to dinner to celebrate both events.

We had no money to spare so we never exchanged gifts either, something we still don't do. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing but it works for us. A friend once told me how upset she was when her husband had forgotten her birthday. My suggestion was to tell him a few days ahead so he can't possibly forget. Many years ago, Ken and I were flying to Winnipeg to attend our niece Darlene's wedding. While filling out the Immigration form on the plane, Ken showed me the date. I just commented on the number. It wasn't until I heard my sister-in-law say "Happy Birthday Ken", on the phone that I realized my error. Ken may not enjoy a fuss on his birthday, but he does want you to notice it!!

December 5, 2011. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The First Sunset.

2011-12-05T18:30:00.000-06:00

Every day it is different and every day I like it. The sun goes down very quickly, just dropping off the edge of the Ocean as quick as a flash. No wonder the good folks of times past thought the earth was flat. It certainly looks flat while watching the sun set. Now the sky is orange and pink but tomorrow it may be purple. I will be sure to check it out tomorrow.

December4, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. A Birthday Celebration.

2011-12-04T11:16:00.001-06:00

The dates are incorrect but the sentiment is just as real. Today , my brother David and his family and friends, celebrate his 80th birthday, held at his son and daughter-in-law's home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They celebrate birthdays together every December, as four family members have birthdays within a few days of each other, but this year is extra special. Son Ken and wife Anne from Vancouver are attending too. I wish I was there to join the festivities. My grandmother Houghton lived to be 95 so I have told Dave that his goal is to exceed that age. It is a wonderful thing to get to be eighty, especially when in good health, both body and mind. Dave's birthday is actually on the 18th of December, way too close to Christmas.

Tonight, at son David and Suzanne's home in San Antonio, we will celebrate my 74th birthday, which is on the 6th. When I turn 80 I will think about celebrating in style such as my brother David, but this time we will have a quiet, low keyed dinner, together with the girls, at home. Son David will open a bottle of port, I am sure. It will please me to spend my birthday party with part of the family. As Ken correctly says, it is always a special Thanksgiving when we get to spend time with the family!!

December 3, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Deer of Village West.

2011-12-03T20:16:00.000-06:00

Once upon the time, a river with many tributaries flowed. The land was forested and was full of deer and other wild creatures. The Corps of Engineers built a dam on this river, the Guadalupe, in 1964, and the river became a lake, called Canyon Lake. Soon, houses were built along the shore and in the spaces between the lake, forming subdivisions.

When we first saw our little subdivision, called Village West, most lots were still forest so the deer were hidden but the good folks who lived there began to feed the deer so the deer became tame and also ate all foliage in sight. Every year the game commission relocates many deer but the deer are still here and still very tame. Also very small. They are half the size of the deer at the ranch. Most people have fenced their yard. Ken only plants whatever the deer will not eat. When I take a walk, the deer don't even move away from me. And when I was carrying the groceries from the car into the house I was forced to close the back of the car to avoid these little deer eating the fruit. The deer are very sweet and come right up to you. But I remind myself that the deer are wild animals, but as more and more houses are built on the empty lots, the poor deer will have no place to live. But I actually like watching them.

December 2, 2011. Double D Ranch, Harper, Texas. Rain.

2011-12-02T18:11:00.000-06:00

Today it is raining at the ranch. All the way from Canyon Lake it rained, the first time in months. Everyone is delighted with the rain. Unfortunately for us, today was the day the bunk house was to be delivered, but because of the rain, it will not happen. Unfortunately for us, it will be put in place next week, when we will not be at the ranch, so our good friend Robbie will make sure it will end up in the correct spot.

We did look at the building in Kerrville and could see the work that Chris the carpenter had done. By the time it can be moved, Chris will have the place completed. It is a cute little place and should serve the girls well.

We did laugh. The only day the bunk house could be delivered and set in place is the only day it has rained in months. Trust our luck. But we are pleased with the rain!!.

December 1, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. A Dinner.

2011-12-01T12:20:00.000-06:00

The meal was delicious, but was especially enjoyable because it was unexpected. Several aspects of the dinner were commendable. The girls complimented their Mother for the dinner she had prepared, not once but several times during the dinner. It seemed to me that many young people take their mothers for granted but last evening they were effusive in their gratitude.

We had expected to drive straight back to the lake after Ken's surgery but rush hour was upon us so I called Suzanne to ask if it was OK to stop a bit at their home to allow the traffic to abate. She not only said yes but also invited us to stay for dinner, which was to be fish, so the shared meal was a surprise and a delight. And the food was wonderful.

Ken needed three prescriptions so David drove me to two drug stores to obtain them. It was not necessary for him to accompany me as the drug stores were close to their home but it was rush hour and it was dark, and I appreciated his company and his driving. Once again, I am grateful for my family and their assistance and competence. It was an unexpected dinner but very pleasant.

November 30, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Waiting Room.

2011-11-30T23:10:00.000-06:00

I was by far the youngest person in the waiting room room of a dermatologist office. It was fascinating to observe the interaction and the conversations all afternoon. Ken and I arrived early for his appointment with the surgeon, who was going to cut off the cancer on his nose. It was diagnosed in Jackson but we were leaving too soon to make an appointment in Mississippi so after many phone calls, Ken arranged to have the surgery in San Antonio. It was complicated as a Pathologist and a plastic surgeon were required to be available.

My corner seat allowed me to observe everyone in the room and I was careful to keep my nose buried in my book so I did not engage in any conversation, but everyone in the room talked to each other all afternoon. For over four hours I watched and listened to all these old folks who were also having cancers removed. They had just met but they shared their life stories, told of their careers, discussed the state of their activities, observed the additional traffic these days but never talked about their health or their skin cancers. They were all cheerful and grateful even though it was a long afternoon. I just wished they would keep quiet so I could read. I was not looking forward to the next twenty years of Dermatologists offices.

November 29, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. Basketball.

2011-11-29T13:47:00.000-06:00

This afternoon we will attend two basketball games, one for Abigail and one for Sarah. I am very excited. One thing I will look for is how much they have changed since last year. Children grow at different rates and sometimes the youth who was the star last year is clumsy now so it will be interesting to see the team members. Basketball is a wonderful game because the game changes as the child grows and skill level improves. High school basketball is actually a more interesting game than at the professional level and is especially fascinating with middle school kids such as Abigail and Sarah.

I will be a typical grandmother and will cheer them on but I also will evaluate the play of all the other girls. Once you are a PE teacher, you are always a PE teacher and I will evaluate the coaches too. But I will keep this all to myself and spend my time smiling and enjoying the play and of course, hoping the girls win!!

November 28, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Sunny Day.

2011-11-28T14:10:00.000-06:00

It is a beautiful day at the lake in Texas. The sun is shining and the temperature is seventy degrees. The lake is calm. Soon, I will go for a walk around the loop by the house. A bright sunny day, followed by an overcast windy day looks especially appealing. One summer, Ken and I worked in Arizona at a camp, where every day the sun was shining. After a bit, we never even noticed the sun, we just stayed out of the direct sun and searched for shade at every opportunity. Soon we returned to Ontario where a bright sunny day was appreciated, especially in the autumn colors.

Our life here at the lake is pleasant, especially as we are only forty-five minutes from David and Suzanne and the girls. Yesterday we spent a wonderful but unremarkable day with the family in San Antonio. I watched an episode of Antiques Roadshow with David. The girls quietly got their school work ready while Abigail studied with a friend and Sarah watched the movie Titanic. Mostly we sat in the lovely living room chatting and sipping wine, everyone coming in and out through out the day. Allison and Samantha opened and put up many Christmas decorations. Dinner was in the kitchen, eating left over ribs and chicken and sausage, along with salad. Nothing fancy but delightful. David served us a new port.

Ken says that every day is a Thanksgiving Day for us, but the days we spend with the family make us extra grateful for another Thanksgiving Day.

November 27, 2011. Canyon Lake. The Tudor Secret.

2011-11-27T21:28:00.000-06:00

It is another rollicking historical novel, written by C.W. Gortner, the author of The Last Queen. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Now I must refresh my memory about the sixteenth century. I have studied English history but not for a long time and it is clear there are lapses in my knowledge. The mid century was a particularly difficult time for England, before Elizabeth became Queen, with the Tower of London in it's hay day.

Two characters in the book did become responsible for the Elizabethan intelligence system, thought to be one of the best ever in the world. I knew this, so it was interesting to see them as main people in the book. The protagonist is purely fiction but the others were based and named for real people, playing their own parts. The whole book is one fast moving, interesting spy story, taking place in 1653. Once again, I am so grateful I was born in 1937, and not 1637. Now I must read some real history to learn what really happened!!

November 26, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Remote.

2011-11-26T21:33:00.000-06:00

How times change. From 1958 until 1968, we did not own a television set. We were perfectly happy. If something good was on TV, such as a hockey game, we were asked by friends to come to their home to watch the game. Today, we carry our own satellite dish with us, including the remote control and the box. Each home now has a new thin television set.

Today, we drove from the ranch to the lake house. Ken set up the TV system and it worked like a charm, actually the first time it worked well the first time he turned it on. But he was irritated to realize that he left the remote control at the ranch, so he called Dish TV and they are sending us a new one by overnight courier. We both laughed that we can not function without the remote. How times change.

November 25, 2011. Harper, Texas. The Bunk House.

2011-11-25T18:04:00.000-06:00

The wheels are all in motion. The small house is being built by the Mennonites in Temple, Texas and will be delivered to the Kerrville store on Monday. The place is 12x34. Chris, the carpenter, will finish the interior, and will install insulation, wood ceiling, beaded board on the walls, plus a full bathroom and the electricity and plumbing. He will work on the house in Kerrville. When complete, the building will be brought to the ranch and installed in it's rightful place, just behind the fire pit.

In addition, Allen Tascht, the septic man from Harper, will put in the septic system and attach the water. He already pushed over two trees to make way for the little house.

We hope it can be delivered before we leave for Mexico. We will tell Robbie, our good neighbor, the proper location, just in case we can not be here when it arrives. I would hate to have them leave it in the wrong place!!

Loren, our builder, recommend these buildings and assured us it would be cheaper than having it built on sight. I am sure he was right. Now it is up to all the players to do their part. We have started all the balls rolling by ordering the work and signing over the deposit cheques. We hope for the best.

Replacing the Carriage House

2011-11-24T22:05:00.000-06:00

November 24, 2011. Double D Ranch. Harper, Texas. Thanksgiving.

2011-11-24T18:56:00.000-06:00

You can not beat Thanksgiving as a holiday. No one really needs to think about it, but merely buy and cook the turkey, mashed potatoes and beans and call it a day. And don't forget the gravy and cranberry sauce. It is a wonderful meal. And after a bit of football on TV, serve the pumpkin and apple pie for dessert. It is the nicest and easiest holiday of the year.

Ken and I celebrate Thanksgiving every day of the year so we are not really stuck on The Thanksgiving Holiday. But I love the lack of stress and other responsibilities along with the gathering together of families and friends. The song says that Christmas is the "most wonderful time of the year" but I will put my money on Thanksgiving as the most enjoyable celebration. No gifts to exchange or religious tasks to honor, although both have their charm but give me a good turkey dinner and a football game or two and I am a happy camper. I love Thanksgiving!!

November 23, 2011. Double D Ranch, Harper, Texas. Another Good Book.

2011-11-23T21:02:00.001-06:00

My friend Wendy told me about this book and I am glad she did. The title is "Emily's Ghost" and is written by a lady named Giardina. It is a novel, a historical novel and is all about Emily Bronte and her family. I prefer reading real history but have enjoyed several historical novels this year. I had also read the book about Jane Austin called Jane's Fame which is not a novel.

This book is engaging and again makes me grateful to be living now rather than the nineteenth century. The lives led by the women folk were narrow and rigid as shown in this novel. Most of what we know about the Bronte sisters comes from Charlotte, who outlived all the others, so this novel dealing with Emily is an attempt to flesh out this peculiar lady. It is worth the time to read this book.