Living in Mexico - Building, stained glass and cooking

New Mexican construction

2012-02-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

Finally, I feel better and can share some photos of the new guest bedroom and outdoor kitchen. The windows and security bars turned out so beautifully, with waves of iron and spirals that are matched on the door. We are going to wait until next fall to create the stained glass arch and sconces as well as the mirror for the bathroom. Tile and floors go in next week and I promise more photos!

Dancing Horse - floor show!

2012-01-15T04:21:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday, we were dressed and ready to celebrate our friend Bety's birthday. As we stepped out of our camper a stunning black Frisian began to dance in front of us. The owner of Tachos RV park is now raising Frisians (horses for the uninitiated) and training them to dance. This big boy pranced, danced, sidled and generally wowed us - What a floor show to start off our wonderful evening at Barcelona Tapas Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta.

David's new stained glass - small ones for sale

2012-01-07T03:59:00.001-08:00

These are so pretty and we can sell them for 250 pesos!

Elena's Tomales Vera Cruz Cooking Class

2012-01-07T03:53:00.000-08:00

Wonderful group! Elena sent the special palm leaves from her Vera Cruz plant and we made dozens of delicate delicious tomales. We topped it all off with Pineapple-Chile Margaritas - a hit!!!

2011-12-18T04:48:00.000-08:00

After a challenging return - no water system, no electricity or phone service - thank goodness for David!!! He can fix anything!!! We are now home with everything working well. The new construction is going well and we will put in the plumbing and electric next week. Doors and windows will follow, then paint. Should be finished by mid-January and ready for guests!

2011 - New Construction in Los Ayala, Nayarit

2011-12-18T04:43:00.000-08:00

Back in Mexico!

2011-12-14T04:46:00.001-08:00

We are finishing another level of building - photos coming soon!!!

2011-03-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

Another slideshow design by Smilebox

2011-03-02T04:50:00.000-08:00

Photo slideshow made with Smilebox

2011-03-02T04:43:00.000-08:00

Free picture slideshow made with Smilebox

2011-03-02T04:31:00.000-08:00

Two Commissions, Nelly's Sport's Bar in Guayabitos and Estudio Cafe in Nuevo Vallarta.

New Year's Eve Dinner-Ribs and Shrimp

2011-01-24T05:15:00.001-08:00

Our fabulous New Year's Eve dinner at Pina Loca. Our neighbors marina, Ed and son Robin joined us for a memorable meal - David is having ribs and I had pineapple-cheesy-shrimp. Nice time had by all and in bed by 9pm. I did wake up at mid-night and watch the fireworks on the beach!

The Mason and The Dancing Dolphin Stained Glass

2011-01-17T04:45:00.000-08:00

Two more finished windows. David is enjoying the challenge and is now working on his first commission. The second one was just ordered! I am taking these to the Tiangus every Thursday to show and hopefully sell.

2011-01-01T16:11:00.000-08:00

We are so rich in family! One of our Mexican families (Victoria will be 12 next week, we met her when she was 2!!!) joined us for a New Year's Day feast - I tried out three new recipes - shrimp-pineapple-sausage kebabs marinaded in spices and rum on sugar cane skewers, new caesar salad dressing (yummy), and an Italian Parsley-spearmint-mint (from our garden) pesto on arabian flatbread served for "pizza" appetizer along side goat cheese stuffed chillies - all grilled on our patio. We have to say all was wonderful accompanied by Spanish Rice, Spanish olives, Margaritas, red wine and last but not least, a yummy Mamey Mousse, Lime Tart and (groan) Chocolate cake. We did say feast!!!!

Stained Glass Art - Parrots

2010-12-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

This piece is entitled "La Bromista" (the joker) see if you can tell why? There are over 100 pieces to this beauty!!!

Birthday for Cecy!

2010-12-21T14:20:00.001-08:00

Our wonderful friend, Cecy (and my Spanish teacher also) at her 29th Birthday Party at Latitude 21. Many more Amiga!

Mauricio's! The best restaurant in Vallarta!

2010-12-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

Lunch at Maurisio's - the best in Puerto Vallarta -
Come for the party 03 April 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Art in all forms!

2010-12-04T18:45:00.000-08:00

Jessie the seal painted a painting - very cute!

David and Federico - the artists!!!!

Amisad Mural

2010-12-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

Our neighborood "Amistad" wall mural - all our friends and neighbors are painting on this wall - this fish was a surprise for me from our neighbor, Alberto - I returned from a trip last year and he had painted this beauty on our wall.

The wall with my octopus, David's fish, a fish from our friend Mary, Manuel's fish, and our Russian/Mexican neighbors' yellow fish. Ready for more!

Our friend and contractor, Manuel, created this for us out of cement last April - I painted it

This shell was found in Baja, on a beach we anchored off years ago. We dried it and mounted it on our wall and I painted the feet, tail and head. Fun!

Turkey day In Mexico

2010-11-26T05:45:00.000-08:00

Our contribution - apple and pumpkin pie - apple was the favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We enjoyed music, wine and friends at our neighbor's home in Los Ayala. Life is good - pie for breakfast...

2010-11-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

These are David's latest Stained Glass creations - aren't they beautiful? The second one was made last January, but damaged by the robbers - I think he improved it when he repaired it!

2010-11-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

Our resident "Spiny Tailed Iguana" - he was green last year and now is a full adult.

2010-11-19T08:46:00.000-08:00

We are finally in Los Ayala and I was lucky enough to have friends ask me to paint the fish at their new front entrance! It was fun and colorful - I think it really made the entrance jump out at you!!!!!

2010-06-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

May 3, 2010 David's 69th Birthday we were married - after 12 1/2 years it finally felt right!!!!

Another Stained Glass Window!

2010-03-23T09:07:00.001-07:00

David has done it again!!!!! A show this Friday at a local restaurant will be fun.

Chilie For Fun Cooking Class

2010-03-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

Second class, loads of fun and informative - Chili Rellenos turned out perfectly!

Thanks everyone!

2010-03-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

All painted and moved in - so nice, we love it!

Roxanne the Dragon

2010-03-06T07:32:00.001-08:00

Roxanne is finished!!!!! Isn't she wonderful!!!!!!!!! David is blowing away the teacher - she says he is a master now!

2010-03-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

Well, the first Chilies For Fun Cooking class was a blast! My new kitchen held up well and everyone had fun creating the wonderful food - we made a super fruit salsa, a tomatillo-chipotle salsa, a remolde and street tacos salsa. Then we made a tasty ceviche from my friend Elena's recipe - muy buen!

Next class this Wednesday!

2010-02-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

We are Moved In!

2010-02-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

Finally, after an unexpected delay due to MORE rain, we have moved in our new Cochera! It feels totally different, as we are high and dry with different views, even the sunrise!

It took all day Saturday and - Bless you Goerge - the loan of a jeep, but we made it. 30' is LONG and we had little manuevering space - we have both had nightmares for the two years of planning as to how we were going to get the trailer into the lot and now feel so relieved!

It's a good day today! Cooking classes Wed.

2010-02-13T08:47:00.000-08:00

David's latest - isn't it gorgeous!

2010-02-07T10:01:00.000-08:00

David's second stained glass window - isn't he amazing! This is in the door of our trailer...

2010-02-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

Here is our Maestro Evardo and Tonio, working on the bovedas in front - finishing off the roof. The bovedas will be acid washed and then sealed - they look great.

We poured yesterday - tons of cement pulled by hand and pully to the roof - hours of backbreaking work - but we have a roof! We hope to move the trailer in end of this week...

2010-01-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

Our Bovedas are being built as we speak - this roof design has intrigued and delighted us since we first saw it here in Los Ayala. This style of arched roof makes a graceful cement statement and creates a waterproofed roof - at least our contractor says so - I threatened him with having to live under an umbrella at our new cochera if it leaks and he doesn't want to do that, so we have confidence this roof will not leak! There are no welding joints, just bricks and steel motared together - pretty amazing, huh?

2010-01-22T13:28:00.000-08:00

This is Mexican building at it's best - the scaffolding and braces are trees cut down from the jungle and wired together. The forms are for our cement cross beams - 5 total, then the metal braces go in with bricks laid in an arch - called a "boveda", it is very pretty and I've only seen this kind of roof structure in this area.

Now you can see the new windows David added to the front of our Cochera (garage). His stained glass class is such fun, he is planning more windows - I am happy, as I love stained glass. In the afternoons the sun will shine thru these windows and paint the pation with color. Also our stunning jungle backgraound is clear here. 2 more weeks and we can move the trailer in!

2010-01-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

These are our beautiful Mexican Arches - one is an entrance the other a big window. We had a fiesta this last Saturday and danced on our new floor. The roof will be completed in two weeks and we will move in!!!

I have a new ceviche recipe from the wife of our contractor - one of the best I have ever eaten - interested? tell me and I'll post it!

Stained Glass Art

2010-01-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

David has taken up stained glass and this is his first completed window - isn't it gorgeous!!!!

2009-12-30T10:24:00.000-08:00

This was finished the day after Christmas! Doesn't Clancy look happy? Now we go up 2 more feet on each column then a cement connector beam and we can move in....unless we decide to finish the roof....

2009-12-24T13:33:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-12-22T10:19:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-12-16T07:28:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-20T06:01:00.000-08:00

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

2009-05-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

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

Undersea Mural

2009-01-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-20T10:05:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-27T08:29:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

Our beautiful Soltice Gates arrived in time for Winter Soltice!

Finally Septic Mystery Solved!

2008-12-02T06:32:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-11-20T06:47:00.000-08:00

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.

Our Rat Catchers!

2008-11-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

Wow, we were surprised at our construction site by Macedonia catching not one but two Boa Constrictors. The first one was angry, hissing and striking, so he set it free quickly after the photo op. The second one was more docile and we all were able to hold and play with it ( those who wanted to that is) Victor thought it made a lovely hat!!!! The second one was also set free. Our lot is next to the Federally protected jungle, so we can expect more close encounters in the future.

Our wall will be completed by tomorrow, then the septic tank and electric go in. We HOPE to move onto our lt by the end of next week. Fortunately the hotel has room for us until after Thanksgiving, if necessary.

Now to food: today I grilled salmon (Coho from Canada) with pesto, tomatoes, asparagus and guero (blond) chilies stuffed with herbed goat cheese - simply delicious! The planning for our January cooking classes "Chilie For Fun" has begun, it should be fun. I am adding breakfast and dinner recipes of favorite or new Mexican dishes in addition to the recipes for salsas, enchiladas and soups that have been so popular in the past.

Wall Progress...slowly, slowly

2008-11-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

Growing slowly is the best way to describe our new wall. I feel like I'm growing a crop of blocks! But it is getting higher and will be finished in two more weeks. Then, the septic goes in, power and water and we can move!!!!! The hotel Posada Los Flores is lovely and has been a wonderful experience for us - we enjoy having young families as friends and neighbors. Cesar, Anna, Xavier and Iszel share their life and fun with us .

I am also having fun sharing recipes with a new friend, Toni, the chef on our friend Craig's new 80' power boat. She wanted some eggplant recipes, so I passed on "The Immam Fainted", "Ratatouille"and "Mashed Eggplant with Garlic-Lime ". I hope they work well for her.

Everyday we go to the beach, walk the dog to the lot and enjoy quiet times in our small Mexican town, practicing our Spanish. Alovely, relaxed way to live.

Challenges of building a wall - rain!

2008-10-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought a simple 1 meter wall could be so difficult to construct, until hurricane rains flooded our project - we have a river running down the street! However, Mexican workers are amazing - amidst all the mud, they are cheerfully digging, setting rebar and preparing to mix the cement for the foundation.

Meanwhile, I have some friends visiting and have been showing them my Mexico. The other day, we crossed a river and went over a tall mountain in 4 wheel drive to a gorgeous beach, met up with the Turtle Biologist, Juan, who showed us the safe enclosure he had consrtucted to protect the turtle eggs and some baby turtles. My friend Teresa fell in love with the turtles and he let us "free" a handful - she was so excited! We the returned over the mountain to find a 'gringo" stuck in the river crossing. Don had all the things necessary to pull him out - 1/2 hour later, we pulled George's jeep out and found out he owned a bar - he gave us a handfull of drink tickets as a thank you.

We had a flat tire...if we hadn't stopped to help, we would have ruined the tire. So, we then drove to the main road where a 14 year old boy metodically checked the tire for holes and repaired the valve stem - all for $5 - but we weren't done yet! We then headed for a small town, Lo De Marcos for lunch on the beach - Ahhhhhhhhhhhh life is good.

The next day, we went to the Tiengus, an outdoor market, hit a couple of other small towns and decided to take George up on his offer of drinks - well, we expected a dive bar and instead drove up a steep hill to one of the nicest places I have ever seen. George and his wife Loretta own and run Los Compadres Hotel, Restaurant and Bar - immaculately clean and beautiful with a view of the whole bay and Isla Jaltemba. He was very grateful and we shared lots of cervesas and stories and admired the work they have accomplished in the last 30 years here in La Penita. What fun we had. This should answer the question I am often asked "What do you do in Mexico?"

Changes!

2008-09-11T07:17:00.001-07:00

Well, as is normal for us there is a change! David has been invited to cruise on a buddy's new 80' power boat up from Panama to Costa Rico in Oct, so we will head south quickly, set me up to build in Los Ayala and he'll fly to Panama and enjoy 3 weeks of exploring. I have been to these places (altho it was 20 years ago!) and also need to take care of cat and dog, so David will explore with his friends. He is more than ready for the water and an adventure.

I also will be having an adventure as I will be learning how to build in Mexico - starting with permits, social security (yes, we have to pay our workers SS!), supplies; all good schooling for me. This year is a simple wall, fill, septic and power&water - then I get to find the wrought iron designer and plan the fun part - decorative iron on top of our wall...but I am getting way ahead of myself - one project at a time.

Preparing to leave for Mexico

2008-09-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

14 inches of rain so far for our southeast Arizona mountain region monsoon - everything is wet and we are weeding and mowing madly! We have 1 month to finish all projects and pack the camper, get our new FM3's (Mexican Passports) and prepare the ranch for our caretakers, who arrive in December. It sounds like alot of time, but it speeds past quickly.

I can't wait for Mexico, as our work slows down and we can enjoy friends and family down in San Carlos and Puerto Vallarta. Boat work is first - we need to clean up the old girl and prepare her for sailing. There is constant maintenance on a sailboat. The rigging, sails, decks, woodwork - all must be kept clean and polished to combate the salt water, and checked for cracks and wear. Lots of friends are also headed south in October, so the work yard will be fun and lively. Stay tuned for more stories.

The Beginning - Sailing as a Life

2008-08-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

This is a new method of communication for me. I hope this forum will enable me to share the exciting and adventurous life I have with my partner, David.

This photo was taken after many months on our sailboat OREA in the Sea of Cortez. We are Scuba divers and Humpback Whale watchers along with fishing for Wahoo and Dorado. We have spent many years way out at the Islas Reveillegedos (about 400 miles from Puerto Vallarta and 250 miles from Cabo San Lucas) working with biology teams to track, record and count Humpbacked Whales. Talk about paradise. Three to four months with nobody but us, a buddy boat or two, the biologists and a small Mexican Navy troop. Hard to come back to the insanity that is civilization!

Our favorite times are quiet anchorages with our Yellow Lab, Clancy and our Bengal Cat, Ophet. The favorite question we get is "What do you do all day?" Between cleaning, cooking and diving, the day is full and tiring...we do not miss any of the so called benefits of society, as we are totally self-contained - solar and wind powered for lights, propane for cooking and sails for power (we do have a deisel engine burning 1/2 gal per hour when there is no wind!)

This has been our life for 11 years...now we are going to build a home in mainland Mexico on a lot we bought last January north of Puerto Vallarta. The boat will be our getaway from village life. Should be interesting!