La Mansion de Montitlan

 

 

 

This past Sunday Billie of Billieblog and her husband Ned and I had lunch at La Mansion, or as we "locals" call it, Gayle's. The chef and owner is Gayle. Her cuisine is exceptional and imaginative. The use of herbs and spices is always a delight. We "foodies" love to try to figure out what the ingredients might be. It's one of those places that doesn't advertise, but, locals know about it. A great find.

Sunday was no exception. The menu that was emailed out was as follows:

Cold Mango Bisque with Cocoanut milk, ginger and fresh herbs
Tossed Green Salad with goat cheese, fresh berries, walnuts,
tomatoes and basil dressing

Two entrees to choose from: Norwegian Salmon served on a bed
of lemon pasta, OR
Southern Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Succotash

Homemade Bread

Dessert Choices were: Plum Gratin with Honey Lavender Sauce, or
Homemade Individual Chocolate Pies with Merengue or Ice Cream
Sundae

Choice of Beverage

Now this is not a restaurant that I go to often. But it is a treat to go a few times a year. The menu changes every week depending on the season and what is available. It is emailed out mid-week and reservations can be made. Clever, isn't it?

Dining is in a lovely patio and courtyard setting high on the hill looking at beautiful flowers, trees and the views of San Miguel. It is a leisurely way to dine with great conversations and slow, savoring eating. It's usually a three hour event.

The funny thing is Billie brought her professional, beautiful camera to photograph. I, my insignificant digital. We only remembered to photograph the first and last courses. We were so busy having fun, we just forgot!

However, these three photos give you a bit of an idea of how a lovely luncheon can begin and end. It was delicious.

If you're interested in being on their mailing list, send me your email address and I'll forward it to Gayle. I might see you there some day!

Simple Days and Quiet Nights

 

 

It started raining on Monday the 20th. Just soft, quiet rain. Aaaah. It turned into a cresendo on Thursday night.
THAT was a "six towel" night.......towels still drying that I had to prop under the rooftop door to stop the cascada, waterfall from coming down three flights of stairs. Not complaining, at all. Just documenting.

I've been a busy bee in the garden. Yes, I have a gardener, but, well. I like to do the trimming and pruning myself and repotting. It is absolutely astonishing how after just a few days the garden is green and lush. After basically nine months of no rain, how can the three inches of rain we've had have such an impact?

In addition while working up on the roof terrace this morning, I looked over at the presa, reservoir and the amount of water in there is also surprising. It was BONE dry last week. The kids were playing soccer down there.
And now, the egrets and the red buntings, among others, are flitting and landing in all kinds of aerodynamic ways.

Kinda hunkering down at home this week while reading and putzing has been a delight. Weeks like this are what being retired is all about. I enjoy them very, very much.

Target Practice

 

I heard a big "BLAM" last night, upstairs. Trudged up to see what it could have been, but saw nothing. It was raining.
Didn't think anything of it. Sometimes the kids will throw rocks at the side of my house as they are walking up the hill. So I just thought that must have been what the noise was. It was after 9PM, though, so it was unusual.

This morning when I went up to get my coffee, I looked into the living room and glass was everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. How the heck can glass fly eight feet? And, be so infintisimal. EVERYWHERE.

Rather then get excited, I got my cupa coffee, sat down and contemplated the mess. Surprise was my number one emotion. I've been here ten years and so few little things have happened that I was truly surprised........still am.

And a perfectly round hole. Even with the rain last night, no water in the house. Thankfully it was a soft rain.

After enjoying the coffee, I began to clean up. Folded up the zebra skin rug full of glass shards and took that outside. Picked up the big pieces and dusted those on the furniture into a bag. Swept and mopped. It's clean now.

I never found a projectile of any kind. I looked downstairs in the lower patio. Nothing.

The mystery is why and what was used? I'll probably never know. I assume kids being mischevious. They were probably shocked that their target practice was so accurate.


Now to call Sr. Luna to come replace the window. Viva Mexico!

Mexican Play Pen

 

 

There is a food vendor in the jardin who has a couple of children. Today I noticed that the wee one was quite content to sit and play in a milk crate. Every now and then an older boy would come over to play with him.

I continue to be surprised at the ingenuity of the children and adults in this country. An empty soda bottle can be a soccer ball, if flattened a sorta frisbee, or something to put dirt in and pour out. A balloon lasts for days with the children.........and pull toys are a delight.

Imagination is the key. Having less fosters creativity.

I fear that with ALL that is available to buy in the USA, especially electronic devices, that creativity might be stifled in the upcoming generations.

I certainly hope not..........

Locos Parade

 

 

 

 

 

Take Mardi Gras, add the Fourth of July and a few other celebrations. It adds up to the Locos Parade in San Miguel.
Wacky, fun, hard to describe and long sorta gives you a small idea. The pictures help. But you really have to be here to see that the WHOLE Mexican community is in the parade and the whole ex-pat community is on the sideline watching in wonderment.

There are floats, gigantic paper mache masks and outfits made by the artesans of this area. It is quite a production. The excitement builds for weeks. The shopkeepers and the hairdressers along with people on the street are all talking about where to meet and who is marching.

This parade, that is now several hours long, started as a fiesta and desfile to celebrate a good harvest. It honors St. Anthony and other saints. Back many hundreds of years ago, orchards surrounded the town. Vestiges of these orchards can still be seen behind the stone walls of many haciendas. Oranges were the main crop. The parade participants used to throw oranges to the crowd. That probably became dangerous. Today they throw small candy. Reminds me of Mardi Gras.

Today is definitely the Locos parade. I can hear the float from my colonia heading down the hill with speakers blaring on their way to the starting line on the other side of town. A happy day for San Miguel! We DO love our fiestas.

Happy Father's Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been a very long time since I have celebrated Father's Day with anyone. My dad died in 1976. My husband, and father to my three children, died in 1978. My daughters of course celebrated with their husbands and families but I don't ever remember being at their homes for those occasions.

So it was quite poignant and delightful to honor my son today, a day early with a Father's Day lunch and presents. I never imagined that I would be doing this period. Much less in San Miguel de Allende.

Preparations started yesterday when Matilda, in her new oilcloth apron, came to help Grammy bake a cake. Oh my was she ever excited! And then when she saw her new apron, her joy was over flowing. Spatula in hand she stirred, then cracked eggs and even helped me pour the batter into the pyrex dish. Making the frosting and putting it on the cake was her favorite thing, of course. She managed to have to lick her fingers quite a few times.

Up and moving fast this morning, I got lots of food pre-prepared. Just ready to pop into the tiny oven or microwave or cook on the stove. All Gypsy son's favorites - corn souffle, au gratin potatoes, fresh green beans, Spiral baked ham, and of course, the finished cake.

The gang arrived at 10AM! Bedlam insued. The kids were so excited to be giving a present to their daddy. Adorable.
I was running back and forth to the kitchen checking on various dishes that were cooking. The kids were hungry by 11AM....oy vey. I had planned to have everything ready for the originally scheduled 12:30 but somehow I was able to hurry it up and have everything on the table by ll:45. To tell you the truth, although everyone ate all the different foods, I do think the kids would have settled for JUST CAKE, if they had been allowed to. Wow,they loved that chocolate frosting.

All the excitement, pandemonium and fun was just that..........fun. A happy family left about 1PM with lots of leftovers to take to their place. Me? It's siesta time!

Gayle's Moving In!

 

The Universe moves in mysterious ways! Who would have ever thought........... Here's the story.

Gayle and I met a little over six years ago. I liked her individuality. Her style of dress and her past were unique and interesting to me. She hailed from Northern California, need I say more? We actually met before she even moved here. She was "hell bent" on buying a place in Pozos, the relatively abandoned mining town about 45 minutes from here.

She did. She bought on the main street. A house with a central courtyard and all the rooms exposed to that courtyard. Magic was worked on the place with paint and decor and some remodeling. She loved the house. On the other hand, little social interplay is available there except with the dozen or so people available to talk with.

So she rented an apartment here in town. Perfect for a while, but exhausting to be here during the week and in Pozos on the weekends. Not to mention the additional cost. She opened a shop selling vintage clothing. It is enormously successful. We don't see each other that often. But, heck, that's how good friends are.........

Gayle loves my property. She always wanted to live in the Guest House. That never seemed a possibility. She had put her house in Pozos up for sale, but, selling anything, anywhere, in this area isn't happening. For the most part. Lo and behold, several days before her contract ran out with a realtor, the house sold.

She called. She wanted to rent the guest house........for a LONG time. I was flabbergasted. And thrilled. It's not that I haven't enjoyed having people here on a monthly basis. It's been fun to meet so many people. But, it is way more work and concern.

Things like "Are they going to like it?" "Will everything be ok?" "Will they be happy with the weather?" "Will there be a loud celebration with fireworks while they are here?" I'm not much of a perfectionist anymore. I am sensitive though to the fact that people are paying for a vacation.

It is so much easier when someone rents who has been a resident of San Miguel for a while. They know what to expect. They know about the weather and the noise, once a year. And I do have a group of workers for things that need to be repaired in a timely manner. Manana is ingrained in us.

So, the hardly possible is happening. After the renter in July, the Guest House will be rented to my friend Gayle, for a long time.

How divine!

A Lesson in Patience

 

 

 

 

 

Ever since the Gypsy Kids moved back here in January and Matilda has been coming over to Grammy's house, Velcro has tolerated it by hiding or running away. But today she seemed more receptive. Well she did after she had hidden behind some fern on the roof terrace and then gone out the door downstairs at a later time.

Although Matilda is only three years old, she is very, very intuitive and also listens when you explain things to her.
Smart kid. So I told her that if she would just be patient and wait for Velcro to come to her THEN she could pet her.
I didn't know if it would happen today, but someday she would.

As I was watching what was unfolding, I grabbed the camera and quietly snapped these photos. Priceless.

Voila, she and I are up on my bed coloring and the ensuing scene was too precious not to share with you. She colored a picture and then, on her own, held it up to tell Velcro all about it. I'm sure they do that at preschool but it was still adorable.

In a few minutes, when Velcro was still on the edge of the bed, she scooted over and just laid there watching her, not trying to pet her or anything. LOVE this photo. The look of expectancy on her face!

I expected Velcro to bolt at any second but as you can see she stayed and endured, or enjoyed all the attention and petting from Matilda. Rubbing Velcro under her chin added bliss for Velcro. This photo makes me laugh.

At the end of this adventure, Matilda looked up at me and said, "Grammy, Velcro likes me." How true Matilda - who wouldn't?

MORE Lessons from Velcro

 

If you read the post back on November 17, 2009 called "Lessons from Velcro", you'll know that I have learned many important life lessons from Velcro the cat. I thought I should share the latest with you.

YOU CAN NAP WHENEVER AND AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE - NO ONE CARES.

IF YOU PUSH OPEN THE SCREEN DOOR WITH YOUR HEAD, YOUR TAIL WILL MAKE IT
THROUGH ALSO.

IF YOU SIT AND STARE AT THE CURDLED MILK IN YOUR BOWL LONG ENOUGH
"SOMEONE" WILL NOTICE AND GIVE YOU FRESH MILK.

MILK WITH A FEW CHEERIOS TASTES BETTER.

SHAKING THE SCREEN DOOR WITH YOUR CLAWS WHILE OUTSIDE GETS YOU INSIDE
FASTER.

AND FINALLY.........

A DEAD MOUSE ISN'T NEARLY AS TASTY ANYMORE AS LEFTOVERS OF SHRIMP,
CHICKEN, OR BETTER YET, THE LAST LICK OF THE ICE CREAM BOWL.

Now aren't you glad I shared these with you?

Shifting Winds

 

The winds shifted to the North about a week ago. This has resulted in cooler temperatures, both at night and during the day. Woohoo.

Early Friday morning the temperature at 6AM was 44 degrees. I dug out my socks cause my feet were cold. It got up in the mid 70's that day. Last night it was really cool. Cool enough for me to sleep with the bedroom door closed. It got down to 51 at 6AM. Yippee. Our Mexican summer of two months is over and now perfection settles in.

As I write this at 11:15AM on Sunday it is 71 degrees.

So, all my Southern friends, "sweatbirds" as we call you here in San Miguel, pack up your cars, or buy your airline tickets and come on down. We're waiting for you.

The weather is extraordinary. And, the rains haven't come...........yet. They will though.

For All Those Who Ask!

The typical question from people in the USA when they discover I live in Mexico is,
"What do you do all day?"

Here is today, and it's only 1:30PM. Tenant moved out day before yesterday. Upon departure she mentioned French door hinge was broken, and kitchen sink stopped up.

A possible "full timer" wanted to spend the night there the night she left so I hurried in there on Tuesday, upon the departing tenant's departure, and cleaned the place along with changing the bed.

Yesterday the possible new tenant departed. The maid arrived and did a thorough cleaning. I tried with a plunger to fix the kitchen sink. Nope, didn't work. I also met with the iron man about welding the broken hinges on the French door. He said he would come today. Went to Mega for Drano. No Drano.

"Number one son", and only son, arrived today with Drano. He and I plunged and used Drano. We discovered a leak under the sink, which had not been there before! Oy vey. Plumber called.

Iron man shows up. Plumber shows up. Laundry lady shows up with laundry in the midst of this fray. (I had totally forgotten about her coming).

In the meantime, throughout all this, I had started at 9:00AM BEFORE everyone came to make home made Lemon Bars, two batches, for a luncheon I'm going to tomorrow.
So the kitchen was all asunder.

Whew, it has been like Grand Central Station around here. I'm happy to report all hinges have been repaired and soldered. I'm also happy to report sink is unclogged.
Leak has been repaired and siliconed. Laundry has been put away in both houses.
I've swept and remopped floors upstairs and downstairs in guest house for new tenant arriving today.

Lemon bars are made. Home made sesame/honey dressing is made. Egg salad in progress.

Siesta coming up shortly. And, tomorrow will be another day...........