Lots of Visiting and Little Ouch!!

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

So I have a gross sore in my ear which seems to leaning toward infection and has developed a sizeable growth and it is time to get it looked at.  But before we headed out to the Dr., we have been noticing a slight propane smell and both Ed and I have been noticing the tank gauge decreasing rather quickly.  I don't know why I didn't trigger to check for a leak, but with the tanks being basically outdoors and the weather is really warm, I just chalked it up to pressure release.  But today another guy noticed the smell and I thought that it was time to check.  Sure enough, I used the soapy water test and the propane hose was leaking, so it is time to replace the line.  I will pick one up on our travels.

bubbles are not good

So off we went.  There is lots of traffic on the 200 highway.  We are going about 5 miles to the little town of Las Ayalas where our friend Alexandra has a clinic.  We met him through Kenia and he has looked after a few of our ailments over the last few years.  

Anyway I mentioned the gross ear I have.  I don't mean to gross anyone out but here is what it looks like.  

It is most uncomfortable at night when I lay on it and as I wiggle in the night it rubs the scab off it and it bleeds even more.  Oh well Dr Alexandra will fix it up.  We went in the clinic and there were about 6 people (no Mexicans) there waiting to get in to see him.  He had just come out of his office and he gave us a hug and immediately sat me down to get blood pressure done.  Then he whisked me into his office right by those people who were waiting.  I kinda smiled at them as I went by. lol.  He and his assistant gave my ears a good look over with a little camera and he said the sore was definitely infected and will require antibiotics.  I got to hold the camera screen and it was neat to see the inside of my ear.  Well here is the deal, BEND OVER and take the needle like a man, and oh yes two more over the next 2 days.  And a bunch of Amoxicillin and creams and ear drops and oh yes he made a list of all my medications that I take and told us we didn't need a prescription for any of them and even gave us a couple of the pills I take on a regular basis.  Total bill for all that 2380 pesos!!!  Like $150 CND total!!!

From his recommendations I can fill all my pill requirements before I go home at about 1/2 the cost of at home.  We still require enough other medications that we will maximize our Pharmacare and Blue Cross deductibles but won't have to pay the extra money we usually do.  Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!  And I got to walk our past all those people who were waiting!!! LOL

I always enjoy driving to Las Ayalas because you drive over a mountain and get to look down over Rincon Guayabitos in the foreground and way off in the background is La Penita.  Like I say, it is about 5 miles from our house to the Dr. Office which is 2 towns away. 

Our place is on the far left of this picture way in the distance.

Well once again we had made the morning pass by and it was lunch time.  I had to do a few errands downtown, so I stopped at El Pollito for lunch.  I tried the cheeseburger and fries just to take me back to my normal type lunch, but I still like the Mexican dishes much better.  Oh well, had to try.  85 pesos with a drink.  About $6.50 CND.

We were invited up to Jeff and Fany's to see all the work they have done to their house.  They have literally changed a very blah colour schemed house into a WOW colour scheme.  The place now looks sooooo homey and inviting.  

Love the Orange theme.

We have seen most of the changes in the main house, but today we were here to see the change on the roof terrace.  They have put a roof on it and painted the entire floor and side walls, installed railings all around and even added some fake turf.  It is amazing.  Jeff was finishing up the rood lights and decorations today.

Discussing plans

Terrace is quite large

With a cool view over La Penita

Jeff added sparkly things

Supper was amazing.  Missed the squash!!!

Remember Max's gold Olaf from the other day.  Well he got some eyes and buttons and things.

No sunset again tonight but the sky was quite pretty anyway.

As the sky darkened the lights and decorations turned this into a magical space to sit and listen and see the lights of the city.  They have turned it into a real special place.

I think this should go about there

there is a light inside this one

And then it was time to leave.  

We moved on to Kenia's Cafecito for a wee visit.  Kenia was acting her normal self and we stayed for a while.  

Kenia had Suzanna working tonight so she invited us to her house to meet Isaiah.  She has been living with him for about 6 months I think and he seems to be a real nice guy.  He works for the government as a lawyer and travels around a lot.  He is in La Penita for a few days this week so we got to meet him.  Kenia is very happy with him and he treats her like a princess.  Oscar was there as well so we had a good visit for an hour or so.  

Kenia has a lovely pool area and also has her Christmas tree set up.  It will be fun to meet all of Isaiah's family over the Christmas season as well as Kenia's family.  Hopefully Abuela will be feeling better by then.

Nope, not Santa Clause!!!

We headed for home about 9:30 which is late for us, and ended the evening with another episode of Survivor.  It is not going the way I had hoped and another of my favourites went home tonight.  That was our day today!!! Good Nite!!

Water and Propane today.

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

First chore was to vacuum the pool.  It has been staying relatively clean over the past couple of weeks.  We have palm trees by the pool so there is lots of stuff falling in it.  We try to keep all that stuff cleaned up with the net, but after a while the small stuff starts to build up on the bottom so it has to be vacuumed.  It takes about 20 minutes from start to finish so not a big deal. 

Next on the list was a trip to the water store to get 7 bottles of water.  It will take about 20 minutes to clean them and fill them so we headed over to the propane depot in the mean time.

A full load for the Jeep

We unloaded the tanks and then the boys stepped back and watched the filling process.  The reason they step back is because the safety protocols here are a little less than ideal.  They just kinda hook it up and throw the pump on while they are on their phones texting away.  They don't even watch the gauge but rather wait until it shuts off on its own.  There is no check for valve dates or anything.  I am not accusing them of anything, just stating how relaxed they are down here.

Stand back boys

We had another stop to make on the way back to the water store.  Some things are important.  450 pesos ($35 CND) for a 24 of Corona.  You can buy beer almost anywhere but we like to help out the little corner store Deposito's.  There is one on almost every street corner.

Now back to the water store.  They had all 7 bottles all clean and filled for us.  Total 70 pesos for all 7.  (5.33 CND)  About 75 cents a bottle.  Everyone uses bottled water down here as you can tell by the picture.  There are lots of these little depots all over the place. 

And we are going to do some solar panel cleaning up on the roof at the park so we needed a mop of some kind.  We found what we need at a little cleaning supply store on the way home.  That will be another days project.

And that was all accomplished before lunch!!  So when we got unloaded, I jumped on the bike and headed down the street to the little local taco shop.  I ordered a couple Taco de asada.  They sure make the meat tasty and I added lots of onions and topped it all with a medium hot sauce, and then added little dobs of really hot sauce just to make the taste buds pay attention.  Mmmmm good!!!  75 peso's (5.75 CND) for 2 taco's and a coke.

Afternoon demanded more sand stirring.  

We got to do a little facetime with Grace and Max tonight.  They are doing great and were making lots of funny faces which we enjoy.  We are not sure if we will see them in Mexico this year or not.

My friend Wanda sent me a reminder of why we spend our winters in Mexico although I am missing some beautiful prairie sunsets.  Truly a winter wonderland.

Our sunset was again a little premature as the cloud bank between the sun and the mountain would obscure its actual setting.  It is still pretty!!  Good Nite!!

That Fish Kept Looking at Me

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

Archie and I went a different direction down the beach to check out the new condo's being built just a block down the beach from us.  They have made good progress since we arrived and it looks like the concrete on the 6th floor is almost done.  They are starting to put up interior walls in the rest of the structure so I'm sure it will move right along.

I have no idea why I would include this picture in tonights story!!  It is a nice picture of our backyard and this is where the Jeep hangs out.  It is the parking lot and is at the back of the property.  Now you know!!!

I spent good part of the day just doing what I do best....mix sand on the beach!!!!  It feels so good to be able to walk around every day with bare feet and no shirt.  I spend most of my day in my bathing suit so I can go in the pool anytime I need to.

Kenia sent me a picture of a Jaguar that a guy brought down to the plaza last night.  Apparently there are quite a few around here. This was a big one and I'm not sure whether it had just been shot or whether it was mounted.  He is a big cat!!!  Wouldn't want to see him on the trail, especially if I was munching on a taco!!

Remember I bought a Red Snapper yesterday??  Well tonight I cooked it for supper on the BBQ.  It was delicious.   It kept looking up at me with the big eye as I cooked it, and I assured it that I would enjoy every bite!!!

That eye is still looking at me

I caught the sun early tonight because with the cloud cover below it, we would not see it sink into the mountain.  Still very pretty.  Good Nite!!

New Water Pump Installed

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

Brad and Julie joined Archie and I on our morning walk today.  Julie wanted to help with beach cleanup and I usually take a bag and my pickup stick once a week and clean up along our area.  Today we had 3 bags and went down by the estuary and cleaned there.  We filled all 3 bags with junk and put them in the garbage.  Thanks for helping guys!!!

Julie with the grabber stick

Brad pointed out the garbage

When we got back Jen and Ed were in the process of setting up a puzzle table for Lilly.  They found it in California and immediately thought of her so they brought it along.  Lilly was pretty happy with it and we will all stop by and help her with her puzzles this winter.

This is who makes it

Then it was time to install the water plump that I received yesterday from Amazon.  It was just a matter of changing the pipes from the old one to the new one and boom!! We have water pressure again.

The motor is pooched

Susan was busy with Max today because Fany and Jeff went to Bucerius to shop.  She got him painting and gave him an Olaf statue to paint.  He insisted that it be gold, and gold it is!!!

Then a quick trip to the pescadoria for a nice fish.  I decided on Red Snapper and we will have it for supper tomorrow. 

We found a toad hopping around the yard and thought it might be a cane toad.  If it is, it is deadly to a dog if they lick it.  So it got dead and put in a bag in the garbage.  No more toad.

Fany and Jeff came for a wee visit when they got back from shopping and that was about how our day ended.  A nice one again.  No sunset again today.  Good Nite!