An artsy BBQ

I decided to go with building a BBQ and a brick patio instead of tiling my living room, and instead of putting in some shelving in my kitchen, and instead of finishing the tiling my bathroom....there is so much work that I want to do yet. I feel the outside is more important as that is where I spend most of my time. Where the bricks were going to come from has changed a few times, when the brick were going to get here has changed a few times what the bricks were going to cost changed a few times.  It has been decided that my land lady's son is going to do the work, and my Mexican cousin will supervise. There is a pile of bricks in my yard that were left over from the my new fence that got built this summer and so I get the guy started on the BBQ first while we wait for "other" bricks to arrive.  I draw him a plan and he understands what I want ( I think).

 Then the whole project gets stopped before it has even began because the Island has no water, you need water to mix concrete. As soon as water was back (4 days) on he gets started, I mostly watched, I was going to help but as soon as he started I realize that it was not going to happen like I thought....thing are just done differently here and I have never worked with bricks and concrete or used a thin clear hose with water in it as a level, or used string to square things up, or mixed concrete with the exact amount of gravel, sand and water...it looked a little finicky ( like mixing bread dough) or tapped a brick exactly in the right spot to split it in half, when I was done tapping my brick it shattered into little pieces. I decided to help by sitting on the back steps and asking questions and looking up the Spanish answers that he gives me in my dictionary and run to the store every once in a while for cold drinks, very helpful I was.

 As I am sitting and watching my BBQ take shape I see this project getting bigger, maybe it would be nice to have a shelf above the work space, 2 shelves would look more balanced, and you need a place to hang your utensils, then I think a sink would be nice, one of those beautiful Talavera sinks, how about a built in cutting board, this could be a project that has no end....he thinks I am just being funny, he doesn't know me. Maybe I will build the sink when he is done, I've learned so much about brick laying, I could do it. When he is almost done he tells me that he has never laid a brick in his life until now, he's a fisherman, he says now that he has learned he might built himself a BBQ like this too, I ask if I should help again...he laughs.

Once his work is done mine begins, I need to go into Mazatlan to buy some tile to put on the top of the two ends to make a nice smooth and easy to clean work space. Then I want to put some decorative tile along the edges and I plan on adding some shelves above the work spaces and of course some arty touches like some wall pots with herbs. Still pondering the sink. the end of all this is a ways away yet.

His work is done, now mine begins. 

We start measuring and laying out the string to make where the boundaries of my patio is going to be, I want all the space laid with brick that is not garden space. He pull out his trusty clear hose that is filled with water to see how level the ground is....it's not level at all, of course. He asks if I want it level? Sure I say. Then we will have to haul in lots of sand he says. I try to explain I don't mind if it is not completely level. He asks if I want it wavy, he makes some very dramatic wavy motions with his hands, really steep up and down waves, the kind of waves that would sink a tuna boat. No, I don't want it to be that unlevel, even a drunken sailor would get dizzy walking on that patio. I say I don't mind if it is a little unlevel but not like that...making the waving motion. Then we will need lots and lots of sand he says again. I am thinking he is not understanding what level of unlevelness I am looking for.

 The part of my brain that houses my golf course irrigation stuff gets triggered (thought I had that shut off) and I am trying to eye up the land looking to see where the water will all drain during the rainy season, not that I am here then but I still don't want all my bricks to sink in a sink hole created by a big puddle. I try to explain that I want it all sloped to the back of my property so that the water can run into the jungle in the back, he still keeps making the drunken sailor wavy motions in the air while I am making more of a slow slope motion. Just then his phone rings and it seems his ship has come in, or is ready to leave, either way he is outa here, might be back tonight, if not tonight, possible in 2 months when his voyage his over. He take off, leaves me with string and hose and 1000 bricks piled up in my back alley. I suddenly feel so lonely, he's been my companion for 6 days.

If this project was in my front yard I am sure all my neighbours would be offering to help me. My neighbours across the street got tiles put in their home last week, and it all went down like an Amish barn raising. There was so much excitement and fun, food, music, and laughter, women sitting in plastic chairs in a circle, laughing and chatting (probably heckling the men) and the men working away. Pots, bowls and dishes with food got carried out and in all day. But no one can see into my back yard, I could work away there all day no one would know. I need some Amish friends.

I spend the afternoon moving my string around and daydreaming about what plants I will plant and where. I notice that it would probably be a good idea to paint the house (that was on the to do list too) before I plant plants up against the house....painting is yucky work, I hate painting. Once again, some Amish friends would be nice.

As you can see a coat of paint would really spiff this place up, I plan on planting big plants up against the house of  the right side, would make sense to paint first. 

See my boundary string, lot of room for plants

When I go to bible study that evening I get handed a 400 page book (in Spanish) that apparently I agreed to read last week. I just got through reading "Curious George" in Spanish, it had 12 pages with about 12 words on each page, there is no way I can read this book. Sometimes when I don't know what is being asked I just say yes, I should stop doing that, but saying no sounds so harsh. I think I need to go back to saying "possibly" when in doubt.

The germinated seeds from my papaya today. 

totally off topic, it is so hot here that the seeds in the papaya that I cut open this morning had already germinated in the papaya....seriously. I carefully took them out and put them in a pot of dirt. We'll see what happens.  

Banana harvesting

Today my land lady came over to check how I was doing for water, still no running water on the Island, I have almost 1/2 a barrel left by my pila so I can still carry some into my house with a pail to wash, have a sponge bath and drink. Supposedly a pipe is broken and they are working on  it. She notices that a bunch  of bananas on one of my trees are ready, I'm excited, have been waiting to harvest bananas since last year. She goes to get her machete...because all good women here have machetes, I have one too but I let her use hers because I think hers is sharper than mine....I think it's better that mine is not so sharp, at least I won't completely cut my hand off and it might be easier to patch up should I have a accident or is it easier to patch a clean cut?..not sure. While I am still giggling with excitement I must of had my head turned for a second, thump! she falls the whole tree with the bananas still on it. I'm stunned, I realize that the tree has to come down but I would have carefully picked the bananas off first, only one banana got schoomoshed that rest all fared well. Not her first day harvesting bananas. There were about 30 all together, she takes 1/2 and leaves me the rest, I am thrilled, (still giggling) about 3 of them are ready to eat and I eat one right away, oh my gosh...I can't believe I ate a banana right from the tree, where I come from this only happens in movies, but then at least once a day I feel like I am living in the movies here. I take the rest and wash them and put them in a sad looking bowl...certainly not worthy of beautiful handpicked bananas, (it was actually my colander) I put "nice baskets" on my shopping list for when I head in to the mainland next time. This would be a beautiful centerpiece on my kitchen table, if I had one. My landlady lent me one last year but apparently it is not available for lending this year. My table that I made last year houses my office, my laptop, printer and magic jack phone, camera and kindle....no wonder my extension cord blew up the other day when I was blow drying my hair. Electricity here is just not made to power everything at once. So I am on the lookout for a new to me kitchen table, I could get a plastic coco cola table that are abundant everywhere, which I will get for outside but for inside I want something with more character...I am living in the movies after all. But now I have to go and stare at my bananas. Here is a picture so you can stare at them too.

These are the banana that will be ready in about 2 weeks

The banana bowl

Bananas, the green ones ripened very quickly

yummmmyummm

Did you know that a banana tree only produces bananas once, which is why you cut the tree down when you harvest the bananas and then it sends a new shoot out of the ground. Apparently once you have banana trees you cannot get rid of them, and why would you want to? I have another bunch of bananas that will be ready in about 2 months I'm told....I hope I'll have a pretty basket and table by then. 

A Poopy Morning

I have no idea what possessed me  this morning to step outside of my very safe box, but for some reason I did. A few days after I got here I was walking on the beach one morning or afternoon, I can't exactly remember what time of day it was...not important here, anyway, I saw a SUV pull onto the beach from the plantation and as they just got onto the beach they stopped and the women in the passenger side threw a couple (2 or 3) little black baggies out the window onto the beach...hummm. When they got further onto the beach they both got out and 3 dogs jumped out...hummm. Did they pick up their dog poop elsewhere and then throw it out onto our beach? Not very nice, but, for the most part I am a "mind your own business" kind of person, so far that has always worked nicely for me so I  do just that, and kept walking. But for some reason today was different. I'm on my morning walk and on my way back I see the same SUV parked on the beach and 2 people are walking 3 dogs, coming towards me (they are returning to their truck now) then I see in front of me  a couple of super fresh piles of poop, do I say something? The poop in front of me is right on the tide line and in minutes it will get washed away, so it is not really that big of a deal but it's still the image in my mind of her throwing the baggies out the window that is annoying me and that is what compelled me to break my "mind your own business" rule. I figured if I just asked them in the nicest friendliest way if it was their dogs that had left that (there were no other dogs around and it was minutes ago fresh) it would be ok......wow, was I wrong! From now on I will stick to "mind your own business". I may have made 2 enemies and I still have to live here until April....not sure how long they will be here, we didn't get that acquainted and I have no desire to. It was ugly, I walked the rest of the way home glancing behind me every once in a while to make sure they weren't going to come after me. Seriously.

One could argue that the Mexicans don't pick  up dog poop, why should we. I think we can give them some grace on this as they are a little busy trying to make a living, not even trying to get ahead, which is a North American phrase, they are just trying to stay afloat, never mind get ahead. They are preoccupied with issues that we cannot even imagine, regardless of how many months we spend here, we cannot and do not even know all the issues they face on a daily basis. Keeping the kids fed takes priority over dog poop, littering, recycling and any other environmental sins we can think up. We (North Americans) however, have no excuses, most of us come from places where leaving your dog poop behind or littering is not tolerated which means we know better, if you don't shit in your own yard don't shit in someone else's. Plus.....here is the important one, we are all guests here and should behave like guests. If you want the people of Mexico to change their ways, or at least start to pick up dog poop, lead by example, and don't think it doesn't get noticed.

Last year I was standing on the beach talking to 2 of my Mexican friends and a North American women was picking up her dog poop about 12 feet in front of us and my friend commented on how nice we North American are because even though this isn't our country we are still trying to keep it clean. It does get noticed.

Be a good guest in whatever country you are visiting and don't leave your shit behind, I however will not be running for beach poop police this year and will not ever confront the bad guests anymore and will  continue to "mind my own business" I will just roll my eyes behind your back and put you on my mental list as a bad guest.....that will teach you, won't it.

I never accused them of leaving poop or of throwing poop out the window, I only asked them if it belonged to their dog, he (the women never said anything) was defensive and angry immediately before I could say anything else.   

Got my game face on

I am     I am heading into Mazatlan for a baseball game, Mazatlan vs Mexicali. I shower and dress in my city clothes, my hair even looks good, but before  I even leave the house I am sweaty and my hair becomes a frizzy mess, I tame it with hair clips. The breeze on the boat across is so welcome. I walk to central and stop at a cowboy store and buy a grill for my proposed BBQ, I love the cowboy store, it's old style, right out of an old movie....Canadian Tire and Hardware stores must just horrify old people these days. I don't make a fool of myself today, I really have come a long way.

            Central Mazatan is nuts, it's "Al bien fin" weekend*, shops are full of bargain hunters, ladies, with children, ladies with babies, ladies expecting babies, grandmas with babies and children all crammed into little shops and hole in the wall stores. I see bored looking men and young lads sitting on their heels on the sidewalks, leaning against walls guarding bags and strollers with sleeping babies, thank goodness for cell phones, but who are these guys texting? Possibly their single buddies that are going to the ball game or possibly their married buddy that is sitting on the sidewalk one street over...who knows, they are good men, doing their duty. 
ome    Some shops are so small there is people slippage onto the street, I keep walking. I feel the sweat running down my back and into my underpants and at one point I think I feel it running down my leg and onto my feet but it's just the lady next to me spilling her orange pop on my feet as we bump shoulders,  now I am sweaty and sticky. I arrive at my friends house and she offered me some food, I explain the beauty  of the baseball sausage served  with bravo sauce and eaten with a tooth pick, but she insists, I eat anyway. We pick up 2 more friends and we head to the game discussing sausage and hot dogs. We arrived early, just as planned, at the food court I opt for a medium size serving of sausage so that I can have a hot dog too, my friends have tacos...they looked good too but I do have a limit to my ball game food consumption. The sausage did not disappoint, I cannot explain the pleasure. The hot dog** was out of this world, only an absolute genius could do this with a wiener. I've been a Venados fan since my first game in 2000 and even though they are in last place these days, as long as they keep serving sausage and hot dogs I will be a loyal fan. I  been to a game that they haven't won, and so we are of course expecting a win today. In the 7th inning we are ahead 6-1, middle of the 7th the Venados have a meeting to discuss where they are going to go for beer in celebration of their first win in a long time and then in the 9th inning something very bad happened......I dropped my hotdog...of course not, I snarfed that down before the first pitch was thrown...was still licking my fingers though. Things went very very sideways very quickly. My heart went out to the  Venados, I imagined booing and mean name calling coming from the peanut gallery every time I made a mistake at work. I felt so sad for our boys in red. The saying "victory was snatched out of the jaws of defeat"*** was played out perfectly, we lost 6-9. On the way home we discussed how this could all have been avoided had the Venados included us in the meeting they had in the middle of the 7th, we were sitting right behind them, they must have heard us coaching, we had it all figured out. It's 10:30 by the time I get back on the boat to go home, I am amazed at how warm it still is, this is new too. I am informed on the boat that there is a quiceanos and a wedding party on the Island if I wish to party on, I stay up past my bedtime for the Venados only. On my walk home I meet my Mexican sister and we discuss why we are both out this late, my pedicure appointment on Monday and how her brother will be by my house in the morning to start on my BBQ.  I get home and find out I have no water, that is not new. In the morning my neighbour brings me a chunk of fresh tuna, he just came off a tuna boat. I still have no water and neither does anyone else.


     * Al bien fin - http://mazmessenger.com/2012/11/17/news/national/mexican-retailers-lure-shoppers-with-steep-discounts/

                                                                                                               

                       * *The baseball hot dog; a piece of bacon is wrapped around a wiener and is grilled on the            BBQ, on a second grill a piece of ham is grilled, and onions are grilled with a touch of          mustard and soya sauce. Big fresh super soft big buns are heated up in a warmer. The ham is placed on the bun, the wiener with crispy bacon is put on the ham and it is covered with grilled onions, this beautiful thing is handed  to you and you top it with toppings like, red salsa, mushrooms, grated queso fresca, guacamole and of course the old standby mustard and catsup are available.I pass on mustard and catsup.

 *** to suddenly win a contest when it appears that loss is a foregone conclusion, to succeed in an endeavor through reversal of fortune, skill, effort, or good judgment. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/snatch_victory_from_the_jaws_of_defeat

Baseball sausage, called that because I have only ever  seen them at the stadium 

** 

I have arrived

I was told there would be a tall man with a big smile and a red hat waiting for me at the airport and there was. Upon exiting the plane I felt first the humidity, then the heat and then I smelt it...Mexico, you smell like home, familiar and welcoming.

We wobbled along the dirt and rocky road discussing what was new on the Island and what wasn't, we decide to enter the Island via the beach, we have 4 wheel drive. We cruise down the beach with the windows down, the salt air licking my face, the surf is singing to me, I say out loud "this is why I work so hard all summer, this makes it all worthwhile". I am overwhelmed with gratitude. We come up the beach and we see some friends and my Mexican cousin*, we stop for refreshments, we tell stories, and laugh at things that outsiders wouldn't "get". It starts getting dusk, I need to get home to at least unpack sheets and towels.

My backyard is amazing, my garden has flourished, I am so thrilled. Inside...not so thrilling, a thick layer of dust on everything, mouse poop in my closet, but only in my closet, I can deal with this. I have hot and cold water and electricity.....I've come a long way. I can't find the light bulbs, my cousin runs to the store to get some, I get the bed ready and wash the floors. I go next door to see my Tio & Tia, they are surprised, they were expecting me on Wednesday, no idea why. We chat as best we can with my broken espanol, I do understand there will be tamales tomorrow, life is good.

            I head to the store for some essentials like toilet paper, coffee and cream, I meet people along the way, they were all expecting me on Wednesday, it takes me an hour to get to the store. Lady at the store asked how I got here 2 days ahead of schedule...no idea how I did that. It was difficult to decide what to order for supper as I am severely lacking vitamin T, tacos, tostadas, tortas, tamales, tostilocos, taquitos, etc.....I go for tostadas and they did not disappoint, soon I have quac and salsa running off my elbows.  I admire my garden and new fences as I eat on my back steps. I boil some water for the morning coffee and continue washing down the house. I find it's too hot, did I mention it is hot hot hot. I am in the shower when I miss the dessert truck, oh well. I toss and turn all night, is  it the dogs barking, is it the heat, is it the gecko clicking or is it the excitement of finally being here? Or is it because I can't wait for my morning walk on the beach at sunrise?

            My morning starts at 5:30am, in the dark  I have my first coffee as I sit on my back step waiting for the sunrise, once again gratitude flows. I wait until my second cup  of coffee before heading off to the ocean, I wish I had a to-go cup  to take my coffee with me. The tide is high making it harder to walk, the water is warm warm, I want to jump in but I don't. I marvel at how the ocean is never the same, it's new every day. Except for a lone pelican the beach is all mine. I  find a big log to use as a yoga bench and do some stretches, surely my muscles will release soon. Back home I continue cleaning until lunch. I have lunch at a beach restraunt, I try to use their Wfi but it is not working. I have eggs rancheros and a cold coco and watch someone's ship come in. I don't accomplish much for the rest of the afternoon. I purchase my first papaya since last April from the veggi/fruit guy, he said he asked his father if he had seen me yet yesterday (his father lives across the street from me) We chat a while, he swears there is nothing new on the Island, I don't believe him. I run into the dessert truck guy on  my way home,  he tells me all about his adorable baby that is walking now and has very curly hair, I think he said they changed his name to Angel.

            At 5 pm I head over to the church for a Luctuoso**, there are 37 people crammed into the little wee church, more than I have ever seen, at the altar call 15 people come forward, that's almost 50%. We all gather outside under the palapa for food, tamales and totopolos, more vitamin T, I am amazed at how hot it still is....that's new too, was not this hot last year. I stop and chat with people all the way home.

I sleep a little better this time, but am up well before the sun but yet it beats me to the beach again, again I wish for a to go cup for my coffee, must find me one. I meander around my hood all morning chatting with neighbours and puttered around the yard, I draw a plan on the ground with a stick for a patio and BBQ, I change the plan 3 times before lunch. Today a friend came in from Mazatlan  for a visit, I sit on the beach while she swims, Mazatlan doesn't have a beach this perfect for swimming, I can't believe I live here. After she heads  home I go see my Mexican cousins wife (does that make her my cousin?) who had a baby 15 days ago, a tiny tiny baby, 2. some kilos. Have never held such a tiny baby....adorable. I go home and wash all my dishes with bleach so that I can stop eating out and start cooking, My cousin comes by to see my plans for my BBQ and patio, we change my plans 3 times during one conversation.  I wonder if I should get tiles put on my living room floor first or built patio first, I am leaning towards the patio. I have 2 tamales that my Tia gave me this morning (no cooking again) and head to the tienda for some gift wrapping for my baby gift, I hang out there for 2 hours sitting on plastic chair in front of the tienda chatting and getting caught up.....mostly on who has all had babies, nothing may be new but babies keep coming. I go home and boil a pot of water for coffee in the morning, tomorrow I head in to the mainland for some errands, top of the list is internet and phone, I have this fantasy that it will be a one stop one visit event. Also I hope to pick up my dust buster to clean up the mouse poop in my closet....still living out of my suitcase, I also need granola and a water jug ( so I can use my pot for cooking). The evening is quiet and hot, but the crickets are loud.

            * You will recall Mr Cardenas asking me to call him my Mexican Tio (uncle) instead of Senor last year, if he is my uncle then that makes his son my cousin, his daughter however prefers to call me sister, twin sister actually, we have the same name, we are the same age and today we discovered we have the same feet...yes our feet match. They are my Mexican family.

 ** A luctuoso is a memorial service that is held at the 1st anniversary of a death. There is sometimes a memorial at the 1 month anniversary also.

          

Getting there

Sorry for being absent for so long, I of course have many excuses as to why but I won't bore you with all of them, the biggest one being.....new laptop. Which means all my stuff isn;t where it used to be and some of my stuff isn't anymore at all. I don't do well with new stuff. Plus the key placement on the keyboard has all shifted over a wee bit which may not seem like much to the techs in the lab but in the real world it is like leaving the toilet seat up.....feels like a long drop doesn't it? 1 cm on the keyboard is really 1 foot in the real world, so I am learning to type all over again and finding the right picture to upload is like a game of hide and seek, and I was never good at seeking....hiding I can do very well....still looking for a Christmas present I bought for a friend 15 years ago.
Anyway here is a brief update;

- finished work, I am officially unemployed and it is a great feeling, the golf course is covered under a blanket of snow...I do have pictures, I do....but it's my turn to seek, be patient.
- big recycled sweater is almost done, I am knitting the neckline now, lesson learned on this one is "don't make up your own knitting pattern as you knit...have a plan".
- Louise is safe and snug in her winter home  with her 25 siblings  at first it looked like it might not work, they didn't really welcome her and she had that "I am a special town chicken attitude"  and was like..."where is my yogurt  and my daily hugs" but she is a trouper and adapts well to change and after a while blended right in, she's a country chicken now. She wears a pretty bracelet on her ankle so that in the spring I can identify her and have her back.
- As soon as I stopped spending time outdoors due to freakin winter, Bobbi the cat went home, I guess I am in his summer home as well, even the neighborhood animal are adapting to my summer winter schedule.
- My suitcase is packed, my house was "fall cleaned" my cars are parked, my banking stuff is done, I am ready for doing my taxes (always the first thing that needs doing when I come home) Had all my little good bye visits, other people moved into my house.
- Went snow shoeing one time, was lucky, we had a huge dump of snow, as annoying as that was I was happy to get to go out on my snow shoes.
- Then I hit the road south.....am hanging out on Edmonton with some family and one very cute grandson....photos coming.
- On November 12 I fly outa this wintery country to my beloved Island....oh happy day. If this makes you sad don't worry you can all come via the internet.

Casa de Renta

I am doing a little commercial for a friend. My friend Yazmine Ibarra Moreno along with her husband and some other family members have spent the last few years building this rental complex/duplex, It is finished except for some future plans of some landscaping and some other upgrades that will come in time. Now it needs to earn it's keep and is ready for rentals. There are two units in here, the one on the left is a cute little studio and on the right a very spacious 2 bedroom unit. Let me give you a tour. 

\Lets start with the little one bedroom studio

Little kitchen in the one bedroom, fridge, microwave, stove and little oven

little bedroom, with the bathroom on the left

Here is the 2 bedroom

very spacious kitchen and living room

master bedroom

nice closets

one of the biggest bathrooms I have ever seen in Mexico

The second bedroom has 2 single beds in it

 

lots of space

Nice big fenced in yard, I'm sure someone can find you a hammock to hang so you can relax and listen to the ocean

There is a washing machine on the front patio as well. All furniture in both units are new as is all bedding. This complex is one block in from the beach, so while you do not have a beach view you are across the street from the ocean (you can see it from the entrance) and you can hear the ocean from inside. I Love falling asleep to the sound of the ocean, I've given up the beach view this year but I can still hear it all day long. This is a great way to live in the middle of a Mexican neighborhood and experience very day Island life and still have all your luxury amenities that you are accustomed too, like hot showers, running water and a washing machine ect..Good good food is just a short walk away. The 2 hotels are just a 3 minute walk from here, you could also go eat there. My house is also a 3 minute walk away, and I know where the good food is, I have made that my business.
To get more information and for prices you can call Yazmine at 9-81-90-15 ...or  9-81-93-15 or 66-91-41-59-90...

She also has a facebook page under Casa de renta  Please don't ask me for prices, if you are serious give her a call, she does speak quite a bit of English, if you have a problem understanding each other I will assist in any way I can but I don't want to be in the middle of pricing negotiating.