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.

BBQ in Vallarta

Christmas was in Vallarta. I cooked a leg of lamb and asparagus, along with Guero chilies and goat cheese on the BBQ - served with rice and mushroom risotto - yummy! we shot off crackers and poppers, laughed alot and drank wonderful tequila. Wish you could have been here with us!

We are finished with our project just waiting for a roof on the bodega/bath. Glad to have it done.

Solstice Gates!!!!!!!!!!

Our beautiful Soltice Gates arrived in time for Winter Soltice!

Finally Septic Mystery Solved!

Daniel, our wonderful plumber/electrician.

After waiting 3 weeks for the septic tank to be delivered and being told by Muro they had no idea where it was. 4 of us pounded on the door, so to speak, and Friday morning, without warning, it appeared on the lot! This was weird as Fridays aren't even delivery days - so where was it???????????

We now are looking at the end of the tunnel...two more days of stucco, 1 1/2 days of paint, installation of our 15 wrought iron arches and entrance gates - tons of sand/gravel filler and levelling and we can move onto our lot. The peace and quiet will be wonderful as we are looking forward to seeing our flocks of bright green wild parakeets swooping over head several times a day and observing the other wildlife that lives in the jungle.

Sarandeado and more building...

Our Fabulous Crew - Victor, the Project Manager (me!), Macedonia and Sergio

What a marvelous way to cook fish! First, you go to the fish market - here every morning the fresh fish are sorted and sold before they head for Vallarta. We went and picked out fresh snapper the other day and a dorado still smelling of the Pacific Ocean followed us home yesterday. The young fish guy splits the fish into three pieses - the bones in the center and the two fellets fanned out like cards. Then, we marinaded it in a combination of Worchestershire sauce, soy, Huichol hot sauce, lime and beer, then BBQ'd it over mesquite - WOW! is the best description - meltingly tender and moist, fragrant and delicious - order this dish for two or more people, it is a wonderful way to enjoy the freshest fish!

Our WallBuilding continues. We now have power lines brought to the site (underground, an unexpected delight!) and the land is filled, levelled and cleaned up around and in the site. The Tenaca (water storage bin) is ready to be set up onto it's ledge - we all signed our names in the cement, including the workers - and we bought the pump. Water and power lines are in and we plan to dig the hole for the missing septic tank Friday. Hopefully, it'll appear so we can set it in. Then, sand and gravel to smooth out the inside base, stucco on the fence...well, still alot to be done, but we are moving along quickly. We plan to move by the 1st Dec, after enjoying a Thanksgiving feast with our friends Robert and Lynn from Oakland, here for their first visit next week.