Another Day in Paradise

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Mexico

I had one job today and that was to pick up the laundry from down the street.  I took my little red wagon and off I went.  When I rounded the last corner I could see that the lavendaria was closed?  What the heck, it is never closed except Sunday.  Oh well I guess it is one of those Manana things right?

Back home to some beach time this afternoon.  Blair and Joanne were down there so I spent some time with them.  Lots of people on the beach today.  Lots of vacationing Mexican people enjoying their Christmas vacation.

A little later we had an old fashioned dog reunion on the beach.  Archie likes his romps on the beach now and has quite a few little dog friends.

Time for a couple games of Skip-bo.  Normand and Suzanne both won tonight.  

Sue made us a yummy steak supper and then we headed downtown to see Kenia and get a churro.  Kenia was super busy so we just waved and carried on to the churro factory.  It is the same on on the corner by the OXXO.  They make them super tasty. 

With our bellies full we headed home to watch some TV and then off to bed.  Good Nite!

Christmas Dinner

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Mexico

Merry Christmas to all our Family and Friends.  

Christmas is about being together with good people, and we saw evidence of this as we walked Archie this morning.  There were many Mexican people on the beach and the kids were all having a ball.  How awesome is it to see some kids all holding hands while they wait for the waves to sweep them off their feet.  

here it comes

jump

hang on

We were invited by Steve and Julie to partake in the Christmas dinner in the big RV park on the hill.  Sometimes they don't take people from outside the park but this year we made the cut and so we headed up there about 4:30.  It was nice that Steve and Julie didn't have to run the bar for this occasion, so we got to visit with them and Don and Josie.   Steve and Julie run the Corner Bar in the Park as volunteers and normally they are busy behind the bar so we can't visit very well.  Tonight they hired a helper so they could have Christmas supper in peace.  Thanks for inviting us.

Lots of people there.  Not sure how many but well over 100 I would say.  The RV park is right full this year.

Josie made a lovely little shell Christmas ornament for us.  It is a palm tree with a Mexican flag on the beach.  It is all made from little fragments of glass she finds on the beach.  

We had turkey and all the trimmings, a meal fit for a king!! A little visiting and some dancing and home we went soon after La Penita midnight!! (9 pm).   We love watching the leaf cutter ants when we walk at night.  This colony must be huge because there was quite a line of them hauling leaves.  We didn't investigate because the line went into the graveyard right beside us.

So it is with a full heart and stomach that we say Good Nite.  I have to show you the pretty flowers outside our back window.

Our Mexican Family Christmas.

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Mexico

Here it is, Christmas Eve already.  Time sure slips away doesn't it.  We didn't do anything of interest all day really, swam, sat on the beach, ran an errand downtown.  We are getting ready to welcome, Jose, Kenia, Oscar, and a friend Victor for supper tonight.  Let me tell you how Mexico works.  If you are OCD or have a need to stick to a schedule, you might want to pick up some medication from your doctor cause you will suffer greatly around here.  Let me tell you!!  We have supper planned with them, and the communications have been, come at 5 with supper and we will have a drink and then supper shortly after.  Yup they said, perfect, see you then!!!   Well 5 came and the chairs were empty.

 6 came and went and about 6:30 a text saying running a little behind.  Ok 7 came and a text says "We are here"!!  And 7:30 they arrived.  I so love Mexico.  Its all about manana (sometime later).  So we all sat down for a lovely supper.

After supper was a little gift exchange.  Kenia and Jose had bought us some presents.  We like to encourage them to spend their money on themselves because they need stuff, but they were gracious enough to include us.  I received 3 hats because I wear hats when in the Jeep, and a wallet because mine is worn out.  Sue got a new purse which she really needed and a lovely bracelet.

We got Jose a hoody which turned out to be a little small.  Kenia had to help him get it off.  Good thing we kept the receipt.  And Oscar loved the shredded paper that the gifts were in.

We didn't get Kenia anything yet because we are going to get here something that will be useful either in her new home, or at the Cafecito later.  We had a couple rounds of LCR which was a lot of fun.  It ended up with Oscar winning all of the money!!!

Lots of nice pictures tonight of everyone.  This Christmas will be especially trying for us, as we know that Derek is not around to celebrate with his family.  He and his family will be constantly in our thought this season, and little things like the supper and games tonight, help us cope with that by distracting our thoughts for a while. 

A great night with our extended family.  We love spending time with them and they help us to enjoy special occasions even when we are far away from our Canadian family.  As I looked down toward the ocean tonight at our lit up palapa which looks like the manger we all identify with, I was reminded that it was 2022 years ago that a baby was born in a manger and his life and death and resurrection still influences us today in a positive way.  I hope you take a moment to say thanks this Christmas season as you spend time with family and/or friends tonight and tomorrow.  And to ALL of our family and friends wherever you may be Merry Christmas!!!    Good Nite!

Something Stinks!

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Mexico

Archie and I headed out for a morning walk on the beach like we do on a lot of days, except todays walk ended a little different.  He is actually well enough behaved that I allow him to go free for most of the walk unless there are rough looking Mexican dogs around.  Well today he was lagging a bit and I didn't notice him find something really really stinky gross and he rolled in it.  He didn't want to give up when I called him so I had to go put a leash on him and then get him home without touching him.  He was a mess.  I stopped by the water hose, and because the water here is from a cistern it is actual quite tempred which is good for hosing him off.  Sue brought me some shampoo and he got a scrub down.  He still didn't smell 100%, but way better than he did.  He then crawled up in a chair to dry off with that HUH What did I do look!!

We headed downtown to do some Christmas shopping for Oscar today.  He loves clothes and is rather particular about what he wears, so rather than buy him stuff he doesn't like, we took him shopping and let him pick them out.  Kenia came along for assistance.  I had to clean out the Jeep a bit before we left and there was some leftover Christmas suckers on the floor!  They must have fallen there when we used the Jeep in the Christmas parade back home before we left Rivers.  We all enjoyed eating them up now so were glad they hid away and came to Mexico.

We went out for pollo for lunch at a neat little place in Rincon Guyabitos.  There chicken is pretty good.

When we got home I did something that makes more room in the entry way when we will be in one spot for a while.  I took the passenger seat out and we moved it back into the living room where it provides extra seating.

After supper I walked downtown to pick up some supplies.  The downtown was actually quite busy tonight.  

I walked by the Purple Martin perch and there are a few of them back here again.  Not as many as last year, but maybe its a bit early yet.  I'm sure the cold weather up north will get them here faster now.

I saw an interesting thing today.  The Mexican government has a policy for people who have to work on Christmas day.  I guess this ensures that if you are needed to work, you are well paid. (in Mexican terms).

And some sunset pictures to end the day.  Good Nite.

A Dogs Day Afternoon

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Mexico

My morning went absolutely fabulous today!!  You wonder why!  Well yesterday I went and bought my first bag of good local grown and ground, Mexican coffee.  I had forgotten just how perfect the flavour is.  This year I will be bringing a bunch home with me to last the summer. 

While Sue went with Pat to the market, I spent some time on the beach with Kenia and Oscar and her dogs Oso and Jack just watching them play in and out of the water.  They are really good dogs, but I decided to wait until another day to introduce Archie into the mix.  

A little bit of time relaxing in the pool was in line on such a beautiful day!

A little later we went to the palapa for some game time with Normand and Suzanne.  They taught us a new game which is very interesting.  Miguel and Alejandra watch us because they are not really game players.  

Then a little exercise time for Archie with a bunch of his dog friends on the beach.  We just stand and chat while they race around like crazy.

Almost like a nativity scene in the background

Sue got in a little training time with Archie.  He is so intense when she is working with him.

We stood talking long enough that the sunset began to happen.  This is the first night we have actually saw the sun setting without any clouds.  It was sort of anti climatic tonight for some reason.  Oh well it set.  I like to take a picture when we get here and one when we leave to show how far the sun moves in just a couple or three months.  We had a nice day.  Glad you could join us.  Good Nite!!