New Year's Eve treat

Neighbor Nelson is always looking out for others' welfare, mine included.  A couple of weeks ago he sent me an email extolling the virtues of a French bakery he discovered in Barra de Navidad, a resort town 70 miles north of here.  The implication was that I could just nip up any time and load up on croissants, baguettes, etc.  Ha!

So when he said, on Christmas evening, that he was heading up to Barra I asked him to make a bakery run.  And he did, or actually one of the J boys did (thanks, Jeff!).  So this morning we had croissants aux amandes and half of a pain chocolate.  A very yummy treat indeed.  Not Paris, but then nothing is Paris except Paris.

This evening we're heading out to Land's End to the last house in the colonia for a New Year's Eve gathering, early enough so the assembled guests can go on to whatever blowout fiesta they might find. and there are usually plenty of them.  We, on the other hand, will be tucked up by 10 PM, if history is any guide.

To all who may stop by these pages, and to those who don't, may 2015 be a year of good friends, good food, good books, good adventures, good laughs, good health and, above all, peace in our time.

day and night

We went to the street market this morning, of course, after replacing the tire that went flat.  Took about 1/2 an hour and cost $40 US.  Not bad.

The first time I ever went to the tianguis was in 1990 with a dear friend, Peg.  In fact she is the one who originally introduced us to Cuyutlán.  To get the full introduction to the market we stopped at this stall for breakfast.  It's located right in the middle of the market.  In fact, it's in the median of the street!

For your desayuno pleasure you can get tacos, rich and meaty pozole, huevos rancheros.quesdillas and other "street food."  Coffee and tea, soft drinks, fruit waters.  I haven't eaten there since but the smells are enough to make your mouth water.

Here's what the sky  looked like at our house last night.  Were you as lucky?

what could go wrong?

This is the question Mr. C asks before almost any enterprise he enters into.  Normally, the answer is "nothing."  This morning, however, it wasn't.

I was scurrying around in preparation for our imminent departure to Colima.  The lists were made, our various chores were laid out ~ Sam's Club, WalMart, the equipal store to see if we can get the couch and loveseat recovered, lunch at Cronos, etc.  But it was not to be.  The car had a flat tire.  Llanta ponchada.  The spare is not usable.  Mr. C found a hand pump in the trunk and re-inflated  the tire but we decided it was just too risky to get caught out on the highway with a flat tire and no cell phone to call Fernando.  A complete change of plans.    So instead I unpacked more boxes, listened to my new book ~ The Woman Upstairs by Clair Messud ~ and generally puttered around.  The sun did come out today in earnest and the sea was a gorgeous, sparkling blue.  And there are quite a few visitors in town which is good for the puestos.

As I said I would, I went next door to check out the arrival of the Baby Jesus.  He's there alright.  By the size of him he's been there for about 6 months.

While I was taking these photos a fellow came over and added a lamb to the gathering.   You'll notice that it is just about as big as the baby.  Poor Mary must have had a rough time.

Tomorrow is tianguis and we're going to caravan into Armeria with Fernando, in case we run into trouble with the tire.  Mr. C will take the car to the llanta store and either fix the one that's on the car or buy a new one.  Meanwhile, I'll go off to shop.  We're looking at Tuesday for the next attempt at Colima.  What (else) could go wrong?

BTW, the pork loin was absolutely delicious.  Tender, moist, flavorful, the sauce just perfect.  I'll never cook loin any other way!

the day after the day after

We got back on the internet yesterday afternoon. And the phone works, too. Both at the same time. What a deal. I missed posting yesterday as I was  playing dominoes with Charlotte, then I raced home to go to dinner at Dago's, then wanted to finish my book ~ TransAmerica by Colum McCann ~ and by then I was all worn out.  But today is another day and here I am. Weather is still crummy with overcast skies, cool temperatures. We have had only one shower since the big weather show on Christmas Eve but no sunny days. The little Christmas gathering at the casa was so delightful. Six or 7 of us, some tasty nibbles, a couple of nice bottles of wine (we took a 7 Deadly Zins to add to the festivities) and some good conversation. Here's a look at the evening sky looking through the arches on the upstairs terrazo toward the sea.

Today's opera was La Traviata and it was really splendid.  But before it started we had a visitor.

This beautiful little girl is the granddaughter of Fernando and Chuy, although they are raising her.   She is 15 months old, has a mop of curly black hair, eyelashes out to HERE, and the sweetest smile.  She's quite tall for her age; looks about 2 years old, has soccer-player's calves, and is very friendly though only at a distance.  She keeps very close to Chuy. 

Now for a brief word about "where in the world is the family."  Alex is in Buenos Aires visiting Emily.  So are Andrew and Arielle.  Em finished her semester abroad program and  will all come home together on the 29th.   They are, according to all received messages, having a very fine time.  One post talked about going out to dinner at a puerta cerrada.  I know what that means but I didn't know what it had to do with going out to dinner.   You can read all about it HERE  Sounds like a great idea.  Of course in the USA you'd get cited, fined, shut-down in about 15 seconds.  What!  No Health Inspection certificate?  No Small Business license?  No kitchen union  protest, no waiters' union shutdown threats?  No local, state or federal what evers?  And so on . . .

Caitlin sent along this photo that best describes Christmas in Bozeman.

Tonight we're feasting on the pork loin I bought at Pina's a couple of days ago.  First I made a mirepoix then snuggled the meat into it, poured over some wine and broth, threw in some herbs, and it's been simmering in the oven for about 4 hours.  That should make it tender enough to eat.  We'll see.  

Tomorrow we are going up to Colima for a mega shopping excursion followed by lunch at, where else, Cronos.  Always a favorite.

Have yourself a cloudy little Christmas Day

 NOTE:  This is being written on Christmas Day.  We have no internet or phone service today so I don’t know when I’ll be able to post it.

After I signed off last night all hell broke loose around here, weather-wise.  The rain started in earnest; we raced through the house shutting windows and doors, hauling furniture out of harm’s way, took down the twinkle lights and got ready for a good storm.  And come it did!  It poured down for about an hour, then backed off a bit for a while, then started again.  Lightening, thunder, wind.  Around 11 PM the wind died down but it continued to thunder and rain.  We went to bed listening to the rain running off the roof into the front garden (gutters?  What’s that?) and onto the sidewalk below the front balcony.  Around 2 AM I woke up and saw ~ but didn’t hear ~ lightening.  It went on for a couple of hours; no rain, no thunder.  At 4 AM, a tremendous clap of thunder shook the house and woke me with a jolt.  Then the rains started again, heavy and continuous until about 5:30.  They slackened off, the thunder rumbled and growled in the distance.  The worst of it was over.  I went back to sleep safe in the knowledge that the house was NOT going to be washed away.

The report this morning is that we got 2 ½ inches of rain, bringing the seasonal total to 74”.  Imagine that, California!  It was still not clear and sunny this morning and we were anticipating more rain this afternoon.  So far it hasn’t happened, although we had thunder in the distance and some heavy dark clouds.  It may be over for the day.  Everything looks so clean and sparkling and refreshed that a little night music is worth it.

We didn’t venture out to Rick’s street party although it did happen, despite the rain.  This evening we’re going to a little Christmas gathering over at the casa co-hosted by Al from Milwaukee and Neighbor Nelson (who is currently staying over there as is house is chock full of his sons and grandkids for the next couple of weeks.  Ms. Neighbor Nelson has wisely stayed at home in the US until things quiet down.)

PS:  I was sure I couldn't post tonight so no photos.  Tomorrow.

Christmas Eve 2014

There has been a vacant lot next to us, to the northeast, that we have kept our eyes on over the years.  We have feared it would be bought by someone and developed to ruin our view and privacy.  Well, I don't know exactly what has happened but there has been a fkurry of activity over the last weeks.  We think the hotel, El Oasis (across the street to the southwest) has either purchased it outright or is leasing it.  The word is it's going to be a SPA.  A spa in Cuyutlán?  This is absurd.  But small spa-sized pool has been built, some little palapas, and today there are tables, chairs and umbrellas waiting for clients.

From our third floor

Ready for the spa clients; note the threatening sky

 There is also a crêche in the corner of the lot. This is the "before" shot on Christmas Eve.  Tomorrow the baby Jesus will arrive be  in the little manger.  I'll post the "after" pix after the "delivery".

The other issue is the weather.  For the last two years we have had rain storms on Christmas Eve that drenched up through Christmas and for a few days after.  This is what it looked like at about 5 PM tonight.  We'll drag in the furniture from the terrazo just in case.  If you weren't paying attention last year, here's how it lookeed.

Once again I send you the Christmas Eve story of The Shepherd by Frederick Forsythe a beautiful story for the season.

Oops!  It's just started to rain a bit; in come the balcony Christmas lights.   This is going to put a crimp in Rick's street party!

Tomorrow, some beautiful Christmas music from King's College, Cambridge.

a bit of festive

We've made the first stab at some sort of festive decorations.  Next up will be the 3rd floor lights.  Stay tuned.