Last year, we found an agenda book at our local Office Depot, and I used it to keep track of our bills, and payments thereto. It was exceptional.
Why? Because of the colors, the art, the images. They were, and are, amazing.
Last year, obviously. The outside cover.
Here is this years agenda book.
Outside front cover.The first two pages.
Above are the first pages in the agenda book, showing the beauty of the artwork, the bright colors, and the images. You won’t find these in an agenda book in the US I’d bet.
Not looking forward to paying bills this year as things here are using up our income too quickly. But, if I have to do it after looking at this agenda book, so be it. I will do it a bit less hostilely than before.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe. Wash, cover, and protect yourselves.
Marinated jalapeños, or pickled jalapeños in vinegar.
We brought about a dozen jalapeños, 10 carrots, and a dozen spring onions back with us from Los Altos this time. They’ve been in the fridge ever since. Doing the math, that was 8 days ago. Suffice it to say, they were getting a bit, how can I type this accurately, withered, shriveled, old.
What does one do with the above veg?
We made chiles en escabeche, (CHI-less n ess-cah -BEH-cheh). Take a look.
Jalapeños, olive oil, carrots, onions, bay leaves, oregano, marjoram, salt, vinegar, water, black peppercorns, cloves, and sugar.
Normally, we buy them in the can, but decided to make them ourselves since we had bought the veggies home with us for that purpose alone.
So, now we have enough to last us for a few months; Ivan gave a container to Jesús, and Lizbeth. If we run out, voilà, we make more.
I didn’t remove many of the seeds, as it was too time consuming, so it’s a bit spicier than what we are used to. Ivan told me that that’s why we have salt. I chuckled.
As I was cooking this, he came into the kitchen to express helpful suggestions. We were both nearly asphyxiated from the fumes of the chiles. We coughed for about 10 minutes, even when we went back to the bedroom. It was horrible.
I turned on the air circulators in the bedroom for another 10 minutes, and finally the chile fumes were noticeably gone. Breathing easier.
That’s about it for this exciting week.
Side note: We did go to Costco, Sam’s Club, and Soriana this week, to the tune of about $500 USD. What’s a person to do?
The cost of everything here is going through the roof because of the current President’s administration in the US. The cost of growing wheat, corn, oats, etc., costs more. It costs more to raise cows, pigs, and sheep. The rise in gas prices is making it difficult for the farmers to transport their crops/animals to plants for processing. The cost of living has skyrocketed these past two years. Cripes. It’s making it more difficult to buy some of the things we can only get from the US.
That said, we spend our “limited income” on the things we need, paying our bills first, food last. We’ll not go hungry anytime soon as I am learning to make something from little, or less.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe. Wash, cover, and protect yourselves.
I have been unable to log onto my credit card websites since the end of October.
They keep trying to send me a code to submit to verify I am who I say I am. That would be lovely, but one of them will not allow me to put in our address here in Mexico, much less our phone number. The phone number they have is my old phone number from Iowa. Needless to say, it doesn’t help me a bit.
Ivan told me he thought it was a precaution for the holiday season. As it turns out, it must have been. This morning, I was able to get on all of the websites, except that one. I will try to call them one day this, or next week.
Happily, things are as I wish them to be, and that is what I needed to know to relax. Not sure what I would do without the ability to connect with (fill in the blank), via the internet.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe. Wash, cover, and protect yourselves.
Not much to be done without electricity. We’re still in Los Altos, but back home when you read this.
There’s no internet; no internet, no programs; no programs, or movies, what’s a person supposed to do?
We went back to bed.
He went right back to sleep; me? I didn’t have the use of my CPAP, so I didn’t sleep. I snore too much, so, in being afraid of waking the whole house, I got up, and have been playing my word search games which only require online access to record the scores.
I am also able to listen to my audible books as they are all downloaded, and do not require the internet.
Lord knows I should take a walk, but that will have to wait until I’ve shed a few kilos over the next few days/weeks/months. I’ll get there, however, slowly, but surely.
Until that, and until the electricity is restored, stay happy, healthy, and safe. Wash, cover, and protect yourselves.
That’s all there is to that. I can’t continue to carry these extra pounds on me. My back just can’t take it anymore. So,
I am going to try making some low carb soups from about 50 recipes I found in a search yesterday. They look delicious. I can’t wait.
As we are still in Veracruz, I can’t start until we return home. I took a “before” photo last night that was horrible, and no, I’m not dumb enough to post it. Suffice it to say that it’s an exceptionally good starting point.
I will share whatever progress I make as I make it. My inactivity is the root cause, so that will be the next thing that changes.
Until then, stay happy, healthy, and safe. Wash, cover, and protect yourselves.
I’ve watched every season, every episode, at least twice, and have now landed on MasterChef México Junior.
It’s a show with 18 kids, several of them quite small, ages 8-13 years old, competing against each for the title of, wait for it, MasterChef Junior.
They cook amazingly well, better, even than many adults I’ve known. Certainly better than me.
The three judges are so patient, and helpful, not only in their encouragement, but their criticism of the kids end products. They always have something constructive to teach the contestants, something for them to learn.
They also teach them to show pride in their heritage, there state, and their country. There are many foods that contain the colors red, white, and green, the colors of the Mexican flag. Pride. The show is full of it.
It is also full of how proud the judges are of the contestants efforts, and how far each has come since the beginning of the competition. Also, they remind each contestant how proud of themselves they should be, as well.
Many of the kids are little girls that scratch, and spit at each other like angry kittens. She’s copying me; she said I should be sent home. She looked at me. It makes me laugh out loud.
The hardest part is listening to their voices. So high pitched, and whiny. Makes me almost want to watch something else. Not giving up just yet, though.
Side note: Chapo is no longer crying, but is being processed for dinner. Gabi went along with his dad, Jesús, and his Abuelito, Ramón, to a neighbor that slaughters animals for them. He is learning the meat he consumes doesn’t come from a cling film covered piece of styrofoam in the grocery store, but a real, live animal. Good for him. Good for them.
In the meantime, stay happy, healthy, and safe Wash, cover, and protect yourselves.
Post script: Liz is pregnant again. Hoping she’ll have another happy, healthy baby. They need a girl this time as their second baby, that died, was a tiny baby girl. Prayers, if you remember. Thanks.
Post post script: one of the young ladies was given a protein known mostly in the Northern states in Mexico as “el rato del campo”, or, as you can probably guess, the field rat. She made a lovely broth, with celery, carrots, a bit of tomato, salt, and pepper, and her pieces of rat legs. The judge said he wouldn’t have minded if she’d shredded the meat off the bones, putting it that way in the soup, but he was really going to have a hard time eating it the way she served it. Let me know what you think.
My husband bought me a pair two weeks ago in anticipation of the week we have just begun here in Veracruz. I poo pooed him for it but am now so very blessed that he did. It’s down to 37°F at night.
Last night, as I wrote about, I started the night in my trusty flannels. Wrong. We we under the mountain of coverings, (also in the post), and it was unbearable. I actually began hyperventilating a bit. He encouraged me to get out of the flannels, and put on the long underwear he bought me. I did as I was bid.
Imagine, if you will, leaving a very warm bed, about 2:30 am, and digging through the backpack that contains your stuff. Then, as if that’s not enough, stripping out of your overly warm flannels, and changing into your ice cold new long johns. Brrrr!
Trust me when I say it was worth every second it took.
They are from Nautica, and I have to say they are amazing. They are so lightweight, and warm, but, if you happen to sweat, which I didn’t, they wick it away from your skin.
As we didn’t sleep the night before we left, we finally got to sleep about 3 am. Didn’t get up until 1:30 pm this afternoon. In fact, el señor has gone back to sleep, bless him.
I forgot to say that we also slept with a short stocking cap on our head, my CPCP straps under the cap. That was the first night of the 10 years I’ve used the mask, that I didn’t lose sleep messing with the straps that hold it against my face. Score!!!
Wait just a minute. I swear I can hear a baby goat crying. Not sure why. Gonna check it out.
There is a baby goat, crying downstairs, in the room off the kitchen. I knew I heard it.
He’s crying because tomorrow he’s going to be dinner for the whole family, on New Year’s Eve. Sorry buddy. Everyone, thank Chapo. I named him that, for the sacrifice he’s going to make.
Can you see him?
I looked all over for him; on the floor, under the table, to the far left, behind some supports, but couldn’t find him anywhere. I asked Sarai, Jesús’ S-I-L, to show me where he was.
Hahaha. Never expected to see him there. At least he’s no longer crying. Good bye Chapo. Thanks again.
Speaking of, we wish all of you a Happy New Year, and a healthy one. Stay happy, healthy, and safe. Wash, cover, and protect yourselves.
Here are the photos I promised of the bacalao we made for NYE.
The final product. It tastes so much better than it looks.
You can see almost all of the ingredients we used; the small potatoes, red bell peppers, capers, parsley, chiles güeros, and the cod. As the cod has been shredded, it is the clumpy stuff you see. It smells like a Mediterranean kitchen here. Can’t wait to dig in.
This is how much 2 k of cod made for us. One 6 qt. pressure cooker full, plus 3 large plastic containers full. The containers are resting in the freezer, and the pressure cooker is in the fridge here. It was Ivan’s bright idea to put it in the pressure cooker so it wouldn’t open, and spill in transit. He’s so smart.
When we get to eating it, I will let you know how that went.
Until then, stay happy, healthy, and safe. Wash, cover, and protect yourselves.
She is Jesús’s mom, who just got home from visiting her oldest son, Ramón, who lives in Cuernavaca, with his family, about an hour and, a half south of Mexico City.
She is the matriarch, not to mention the heart of this family. Everyone is happy to have her here, safe, and sound. Now the end-of-year holiday can really begin.
I’ll keep you posted of the going’s on. Until then, stay happy, healthy, and safe. Wash, cover, and protect yourselves.
A quick follow up: it’s 1:51am, and there’s no sign that anyone is going to bed anytime soon. We, however have been in our room for about 30 minutes, after visiting Liz’ parents, her brother , and his significant other, just after midnight.
We have hugged, and kissed, everyone, (on their cheek, of course), and wished all a prosperous new year.
The music is still playing at a huge decibel number, so, instead of getting upset, as I used to do, we have another drink, and let the night pass as it will.
It will.
Eventually.
At the moment, several very relaxed family members are singing, at the top of their lungs, in the street, in front of the house. Too funny.
We have decided there is absolutely nopoint in trying to sleep so we’re both on our computers, watching whatever comes our way. I am using my iPhone to update this post. 🥳🎉🎊🥂🪅🍾
Happiness, health, and security to all.
Second follow up: it’s now 2:30am without any change. Am looking forward to the end of the night. Hopefully we will be able to get some sleep in a bit. I’m going to bed at 3am. 🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱🛏️🛏️🛏️
Need I say more?Ok. To bed at 3:30am. ???????😱😱😱😱4:00am, and that’s it!!!!Aldo and Angel watching one of our favorites.
The music is back. 🥱🥱😩😂😩😂🥱😩😂🥱
Is there an end to this? We’re older, and can’t stay awake much longer. Even the babies want it quiet. Two are crying as I type this.
5:00am, and I’m putting my deaf ear up, towards the ceiling. Hoping for the best. 😩😩
I’m going to make everyone of them eat Bacalao tomorrow 😡😡😡🤬🤬 Actually, later. 😡
I have to tell you that I have no problem sleeping in a very cold bed, room, or house.
I draw the line, however, at having to sit on an ice cold, 40ºF toilet seat.
It’ll wake you up faster than a swift kick in the rear. Trust me.
We are luxuriating in Veracruz, in our forever home, where the temperature is about 37ºF tonight. Have I mentioned that there is no central heat, electric blankets, etc.?
Well, there isn’t. We are actually wearing a stocking cap on our heads; there’s a first time for everything. He has on wool long johns, flannel pj’s for me. We will be under a flannel top sheet, a wool blanket, and a down-alternative, winter weight comforter inside a heavy flannel duvet.
That all seems copacetic, however, we sleep with a fan blowing on us, at medium speed, mostly for the white noise it provides, pas we both have ears that scream when it is quiet. Ivan’s is from injuries received while in the service; both of his eardrums are scarred terribly,while my right ear is mostly deaf, except for the screaming. Needless to say, we need the noise to negate said screaming.
For us, though, to be here, in our future home, with our wonderful, loving, beautiful family, complete with the Bacalao Navideño that we made, (that very few will probably even taste), is all we really care about. It has been 6 long months since we were here last, and then, it was just me, without him. Bittersweet.
It’s late, 2:45 am, so I will schedule this to post soon. I must tell you, however, the cold temperature makes snuggling really quite enjoyable. Usually my heat, (I’m too fat), next to his heat, minimal, makes me want to implode. Not so here. Yay. Another plus.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe. Wash, cover, and protect yourselves. Drive carefully, always, but especially in inclement weather.
Post script: a very happy birthday to our B-I-L Larry. Felicidades.
