On the left is our fabulous 'Jefe de Construction', Manuel. He has worked a miracle in three short weeks! The photo on the right was the lot early this morning - ready for leveling (all done) and cement, being poured as I write!

With our workers, we just had roasted chicken, tacos, papas, chilies, tortillas, salsa and beer to celebrate all the hard work, plus the fact they are working on their Christmas - that's right, tomorrow is nothing, today and tonight is the big time in Mexico for the Nativity Fiestas. We appreciate all the hard work and effort, sometimes into the night - 8pm several times - to get us to this point. Next week we can move the trailer on!

We are moving forward rapidly - 4 columns are now finished, with the last two done today - then leveling and concrete by Thurs afternoon - Manuel wants me to be able to dance on the new floor for Xmas! You can see the trailer, outside our lot wall - it is 12' tall, so our interior finished height will be between 13-14' - a skyscraper for real! This crew is wonderful and a huge difference from last year. We are delighted and are going into Vallarta next week to pick up two HUGE pots from our friend Trish - she is remodeling again and wants more spce on her condo patio so we luck out!

My first cooking class is 7 Jan - a Paella class on our newly finished lot!

We arrived after a wet and easy drive to rain, rain rain...not at all normal for this time of year. We immediately began the construction of our "Cochera", a garage for the trailer to protect it from sun and rain. Amazingly, nothing broke on the drive down.

The foundation is 1 meter deep and strong enough for a 3 story house should we decide to expand later. We have 4 columns now and the rest should go in today - Our wonderful contractor Manuel is trying to get us in and "parked" in time for Christmas, which will please our neighbors, as we have taken up half the drive with our new home, plus vehicles, workers and cement. This year the garage stage will have steel beams tying the whole structure together and plastic covering the top, then next year a pisa/floor combo roof and a palapa with a staircase for access and arches across the front.

Come down and enjoy!

Returning to Mexico - Finally!

After a challenging summer with many health problems we are finally returning to our home in Los Ayala, Nayarit. We will arrive the first week of December and begin phase two of our building plan - a cement slab for the 30' trailer we will be living in and a cover for said trailer. Photos and stories to follow.

Cooking classes begin in Jan - April, email me for additional information.

Get around car

Our new Mexico "Thing" Mi Cosa. Clancy has taken it over and decided it belongs to him!

Undersea Mural

Here is our Undersea Mural - it will be a constant work in progress as all our neighbors are invited to paint something on it!

From Start to Finish!

We have finished our project and moved onto the lot. It only took 10 weeks, but began to feel like 30. We have begun an undersea mural on the bodega wall and found a lovely Talavera lamp with a fish motif for the bathroom - what luxury to have a shower and toilet! How grateful the little things make us.

I have begun the cooking classes in Nuevo Vallarta at Estudio Cafe, our friend's restaurant. We had no sign ups and I was concerned that the downtrend may cause people to cut way back. Then, 3 women from here in Los Ayala (from my Yoga class) signed up and 5 more showed up at the class. So we are full, I have 12 for this Thursday - Mexican soup class. It is fun but exhausting to drive the hour and a half, plus collate and print all the recipes and shopping lists. It'll be easier next year here in Los Ayala. I will be concentrating on more advanced Mexican cooking, but will always keep the intro chili class.