No Need to Check The Weather!

All one has to do is be in the jardin on the days that the charity, Patronato Pro Ninos does walking tours and the size of the congregation of tourists will tell you how bad the weather is up north!

This year we have been inundated with tourists.  Those that come from Canada usually come January through March.  This year, however, we are getting more short term tourists just trying to get out of
the frozen tundra called the USA.

In the above photo the group was so large I could not get all of them.  They numbered about forty people or more.At other times of the year the gathering is usually much less then ten.

The money raised from these tours funds programs for healthcare in the campo for the children. It is a wonderful and good cause.  You can put Patronato Pro Ninos in your search engine if you want to know more about the program.

But, back to the tourists.  Yesterday morning I went to meet a friend for breakfast at Cafe Monet, my favorite breakfast place.  The best oatmeal I've ever had anywhere.  The place was packed with people at 9AM.  Sheesh.  Luckily my friend had arrived earlier and gotten a table.  Even when we left an hour later it was still packed.

I asked my usual question of the owner.  Who are all these people?  And he replied, "Snowbirds".  Wow.

Of course, come April 1st, the great sucking sound will happen as it does each year.  The rental properties, of which there are many, will empty out.  The restaurants will have servers standing at the doors looking for customers, the number of cars on the streets will diminish greatly and those of us who live here full-time will say "Aaaah".  The "high season" will have ended.

We will return to village life with empty benches, empty restaurants and few participants for the walking tours.

It doesn't last for long.  By mid-June, the "sweatbirds" will start arriving and they stay til mid - August.  Then again we have no one sitting on the wall until mid September.

With temperatures here now in the low 80's and humidity in the low to mid 20%, people arrive and start grinning.  They find it hard to believe.  

Yes, if one wants to know the weather North of the Border, just check out the wall in front of the Parroquia in San Miguel de Allende.  I find it very humorous.  What about you?

Last Week Was "Birthday" Week!

It was a week of activities getting ready for Matilda's birthday parties last week.  What with wrapping, baking, picking up, dropping off and the parties, it was a chunk of GRAND times and sweet memories.

Matilda got a lifesize Barbie doll.  Sebastian has decided that he is married to that Barbie.  His comments
are hilarious and precious about "his Barbie".  At five, you wonder where they get these ideas.

So, on Saturday off we went to the skating rink/playground/bowling alley.  The place had just opened the week before and already it had held three children's birthday parties!  Yup, it's going to be a success.

The bowling alley was full of people as well!

As the kids arrived, first they played in the playground area with a slide that was about three stories high.
I would have been afraid to go down it, but the kids were fearless.  With lots of jungle gym things to climb on and play on, a good time was had by all.

Then it was time to eat.  Pizza, fruit juice and the cake was saved for last.

Off to get skates, helmets, arm and leg pads, they went with glee.  Parents and grandparents helped to outfit the kids to minimize any falls.   I watched.  Nope, I didn't skate or even go out on the floor.

Here are some cute photos of the kids with their dad.  By the end of the skating period, they were doing pretty good.  A few more times and they'll be whizzing around!  Aaah, I remember those days of skating and dance skating with my big brother.  What fun!

Nectar...........a.wonderfully delicious dining experience.

On Friday, for lunch, a group of us gathered at Nectar on Correo, inside Camino Silvestre'.  After having had lunch there the week before and been duly impressed, when everyone wanted to know where to go,
I suggested Nectar.  It is in a little courtyard with hummingbirds zipping from hummingbird feeder to hummingbird feeder.  Quite an enchanting experience.  Camino Silvestre' sells decorative hummingbird feeders worldwide, wholesale and retail.

Not only was the food delicious, but the friends and conversation were magnificent.

 Here is the Nectar salad with goat cheese along with carrot soup with ginger and slivered almonds.  Oh my.

                             A salmon sandwich with seasoned new potatoes on delicious bread. To  drink all                                                           kinds of  flavored teas or traditional drinks.

                                                                   Seasoned tomato soup.

.

Identifying left to right, Angie, who has lived in San Miguel for 20 years.  She came from Haiti prior to that and is an artist of international repute.   Jennifer who now lives in Seoul, South Korea but still owns a house here in San Miguel.  Carolyn who has a place here, but also a home in Nashville, Tenn where she comes from.  Carolyn had an antique mall in Nashville for a very long time.  Here in San Miguel she handles estate sales and just enjoys life.  Lastly is me with that happy and grateful expression to be part of the group.

Conversation centered around Jennifer as she left on Saturday to return to Seoul.  It was fascinating to hear about South Korea, their customs, culture, business climate and the fact that there are 25 million people in Seoul!  Who knew?  Prior to being involved with a treaty group of 38 countries in Seoul, Jennifer was in Mongolia with Mercy Corp.  As we all sat and talked, it occurred to me that at Jennifer's age, 52, the life experiences and opportunities she has experienced would not have been imaginable to my generation in the 60's or 70's.  How wonderful that she is having these amazing career opportunities and life experiences.

In addition, the fact that I know so many interesting, intriguing people here in San Miguel certainly livens up
my life.  What a life!

Matilda Isabella's Seventh Birthday

Now that Matilda Isabella, my youngest granddaughter, has turned seven on Thursday, it seems that the parties last several days.

Thursday, THE day, she had a little party at her school.  Then that evening, off to Pollo Feliz we went since that is where Sebastian and Matilda wanted to go.  The reason, of course, is not the food, but the play area!
Smart company.

The mix of customers is very interesting.  Lots of business people in suits!  Suits are unusual to see in San Miguel.  Large families eating together and we were the only small birthday party for a child, even though there were other children in the restaurant.

The last time we were there was for my son's birthday.  We ate, we had cake that I brought and that was that.

NOT this time!  I did bring an angel food cake with whipped cream frosting that I made for Matilda.  It
was a family tradition when I was growing up in my family.  Then it became a tradition for my children.
The little girl statue that is put in the middle of the cake must be 60 plus years old!  I also have a little boy
one that will be used for Sebastian next year.

We ate chicken, salad and fries.  I was seated looking out the windows so couldn't see what was happening behind me.  Imagine all of our surprise when we were swarmed  with boas, beads, hats and a frame!

 I didn't know what to think.  You can tell by the faces of the kids that they LOVED it!  Even their dad did too.

 The manager was there to make sure that all went well.  He even had a candle and a match to light  for the birthday cake!

                                           Matilda wanted a photo of the two of us together.  FUN!

 Then the manager put this frame in front of us while the staff sang Happy Birthday or Feliz Cumpleanos actually.  It was something I had never experienced before - the frame and the knocking it on the table!

While everyone was singing, including the manager, he was also encouraging Matilda to stick her face into
her piece of cake and whip cream.  She did with gusto!  That too is a tradition, I'm told.  Hmmmm.

The whole thing was surprising, fun and unique.  The kids sure had fun.

Today, Saturday, there is a roller skating party at the new facility that I wrote about a couple of days ago.

I left after the kids had played in the big play area for about an hour and eaten pizza.  They were attempting to roller skate when I left.  I presume by now gifts are being opened and another cake, Tres Leche, is being eaten by all the kids and parents.

I'll write more about that later with photos.  Whew, if there is this much going on at seven, can you imagine all the excitement at seventeen?

In my wildest imaginings, I would NOT have thought of this!

An invitation last week came for a "soft opening" of a new business in San Miguel.  It was a great surprise!

In my wildest imaginings, I would not have thought of the possibility of this business opening in San Miguel.
Milwaukee, Chicago, Houston, yes, but San Miguel, no.

What is it?  Take a look!

                                                              A multi-lane bowling alley!

                                                               Great new equipment!

                                                         A play area for the littlest of kids!

                                                         AND, a roller skating rink!

A trifecta of fun for kids of all ages, even my age.  It has opened at the Luciergna Mall on the outskirts of town.  It is located at the end by Soriana and the Consulate office.  It is called 300Bowling.  For further
information and to speak to the manager, call Adriana at 044 415-101-0411. 

The designer of the interior space was Paco Rosendo.  I was impressed with his choice of colors and finishes.

I'll be there Saturday for Matilda's Seventh Birthday party.  I'm sure I'll be posting more photos with people roller skating or possibly bowling as well.  Note:  You will NOT see me roller skating.  Those days are over.

But, as a kid in Chicago, when my parents and big brother and sister were avid bowlers, I went to the bowling alley with them from time to time.  It might be fun to see if I can still get a ball straight down an alley....and not fall over.

Only time will tell.  In my humble opinion, although I would never have thought of this in San Miguel, it will be a very fun thing to have available here.  It seems it will be a "slam dunk" or "rolling good time" success. Congrats to the people who came up with the ideas.

See you there. 

February - A Schizophrenic Month

In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, the town referred to as the place with "eternal spring", often, that is not quite true.

To me, the chilliness begins in October with one or two dips toward the 30's at night but warm during the day.  Then November the same might happen.  We ALL know that December and January can be nippy to
put it mildly.

Many of us leave and head for the beach the month of January to save us from cold hands and frost tipped noses.  Temps can dip down to 26, 27 or 30 at night.  That's okay if it is sunny the following day to warm up
the stone walled houses.  If not, it is multi-layered clothing until the next day when the sun usually is out.

I try to leave as often as I can in January.  This year that didn't happen.  I contented myself with the pipe dream that it would turn warm on February 1, as it has sometimes in the past.

More often however, the weather the first week or so of February can be dicey.  Candelaria happens and the vendors sleep under their tables at night!  I've often, over the years, felt so sorry for them when the inevitable rain comes for a night or two.

Back in 2010, I documented the rain of all rains for five straight days the first part of February.  I wrote about it in a blog on February 5, 2010.  Here are the photos.

Now we haven't had that much rain since last Thursday when our cloudy skies and off and on rain began, but it was kinda miserable.  Not feeling well on Thursday or Friday, I finally succumbed to closing the drapes and ignoring the world.  It worked.  Finally on Sunday a tad of sun appeared.

That photo of the abandoned hotel in the second photo was a project begun in 1982 by Club Med to have a facility in San Miguel for people to visit archaeological sites in this part of Mexico!  Quite forward thinking, as the Pyramid at Canada did not even begin to be explored until the early to mid 2000's.  There are several other pyramids to explore over near Irapuato and north of here now that are open to the public.

Club Med stopped construction in 1983 and now our very own ruin sits there disintegrating bit by bit, year after year as the water flows through in our not very frequent floods.

This second photograph was so amazing that people from all over town came to stand on the cliff in awe and amazement.  I too was awed and amazed.

Most of us who have lived here for a long time know not to even think to attempt to have an outdoor event in February because of this schizophrenic weather.  Some years its perfect, but when it isn't, it REALLY isn't!

Sadly that is what happened last week at the Writer's Conference where at least 75% of the activities were in tents on the grounds or on the grounds themselves.  It certainly dampened the spirits, I'm sure (pardon the pun).

Today as I write this, I turn and look out the window at not azure blue skies, but no clouds, thankfully.   We all hope the weird weather is over and the warmth is returning.

Forecast for the next ten days is in the high 70's to mid 80's.

Bring it on!

Happy Valentine's Day

From my heart to those of you that are important in my life or my family's life, have a wonderful day filled with love and joy.

Earlier today, Sebastian, age 5 and Matilda, almost 7 made and brought these handmade Valentines to me.

I want to share them with you in all their precious simplicity and colorful joyfulness.  I, of course, will treasure them forever because that is what a Grammy will do.

As a sidenote, the red one made my Matilda five hours ago is still wet red paint.  I have the red paint marks to prove it.  Just a delight!

                                                    HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

"Purpura", a rare purple dye obtained from sea snails

The above phrase captivated me at least twenty-five years ago.  It didn't occur to me at the time that anyone else was captivated by it also.

Imagine my surprise in 2005, when I personally met Marta Turok, who has single-handedly worked within the government of Mexico to accomplish the impossible, the cancellation of a contract with a foreign country to extract this purple dye.

A couple of years later when she was at the Feria Maestros del Arte at Lake Chapala, I traveled there to hear her speak on this very subject.

It's a convoluted story, but, at one point in history, this dye was worth more then silver and gold, I'm told.
It is very laborious and dangerous to extract the dye from sea snails in the state of Oaxaca.

So, imagine my surprise yesterday to meet, at the Writers' Conference another woman whose mission is to protect and prevent the desecration of the sea snails.  Her name is Patrice Perillie. She lives in the state of Oaxaca and formerly practiced law.  She is passionate about her current involvement with the weavers and gatherers of the dye near her home.

As she told me, if the people can have two people and two boats to protect the environment of the sea snails from encroachment, the people of the area will be able to continue to make a living collecting, weaving and making items with the purple dye.  Then they will not have to go "North" to make a living.

She was brought to San Miguel, by her friend and mine, Patrice Wynne.  Now here are TWO dynamic women!  I've known Patrice ever since she came to San Miguel.  A former, very successful bookstore owner in Northern California, she started a company here in San Miguel called Abrazos that makes all kinds of garments and items by utilizing the sewers of San Miguel.  Local Mexican women.  She again has been very successful.

Patrice was recently in Puerto Escondido for the 6th Annual Weaving Exhibition and Sale of the Dreamweavers, as the people I talked about previously are known.

Since she has been in charge of the first Artisan's Market at the conference, she invited Patrice and her group to participate.  They brought a film which will be shown this evening at 7 PM at Patrice's home in San Miguel about the process of harvesting the dye, the making of the thread and the weaving of a garment.

 The two Patrice's.  Notice the wonderful huipil that Patrice Perillie is wearing while Patrice Wynne is wearing one of the aprons made famous by Abrazos.

               Here are more of the items made with the dye.  Huipils, little bags and scarves. ALL
                                                                     natural materials. 

Very few items are made.  If you want to participate in helping to save the sea snails and the purple dye, please contact either of these women on their FB pages or, if you're in San Miguel, go by the Writer's Conference and go to the Artesan's Booth to meet both of them and get more information.    

In addition, if you interested in knowing more about Marta Turok and her accomplishements over the last 35 years, please go to www.mexicoartshow.com/turok.html.   Her story is fascinating as well, since she has saved so much of the indigenous arts of Mexico.    I'm honored to know all of these women who care so much about the artesans and their traditions.                           

Tenth Annual San Miguel Writers' Conference & Literary Festival

It was my intention to read all the literature in the packet I received from the conference  before writing this post.  It isn't going to happen.  If I wait until I accomplish that, it will be over and a memory.

So, I'll share with you my experiences and impressions yesterday of seeing over three hundred (300!) people participating in this event.  It was shocking to see that many people, mostly from out of town and out of this country of Mexico, here in San Miguel for the conference.

The event has been held for several years at the Hotel Real de Minas which has lovely grounds and many rooms to accommodate the participants.

Arriving about lunch time, the roar of people having the buffet lunch was somewhat staggering.  Tables were set up in the dining area as well as outside in the beautiful, warm sunshine under clear azure blue skies.

Each person that I met commented about the incredible weather.  Many had hardly been able to get out of where they lived, because of snow and weather.  Many jokingly, I think, said they are not leaving.  It was 79F here yesterday, thankfully.

While waiting for the talk by Tracy Chevalier who wrote, among other things, "Girl with the Pearl Earring", I wandered the grounds to visit the Bookstore and the Artisan's Marketplace. Here is some of what I saw.

 Bougainvillaea blooms in an empty birdbath.  I've seen this many times in Mexico and Guatemala.  Once in Guatemala an entire swimming pool was full of bougainvillaea blooms as one walked into the restaurant.  A scene of beauty I'll never forget.  This was tiny, but still lovely.  It was on one of the paths..........

 The grassy grounds were set up with places for people to recline and read or enjoy the sunshine or whatever.  It is HIGHLY unusual to have this much grass anywhere here in the semi-arid part of Mexico.

 We all appreciate seeing this expanse of green.  Probably those coming from the Northwest where white is the predominant color at present, enjoyed it as well.

 The Artisan's marketplace is showing for the first time this year.  People were invited to participate from other parts of Mexico as well as San Miguel.  My next post will be about the Weavers of Oaxaca who are trying to save the purple dye that is excreted from a conch.  If it becomes extinct, that will be the end of natural purple dye in the world!

 Sadly, I was so overwhelmed by the size and variety of books for sale in the Book Market that I forgot to take a photo!  This walkway is where all the meeting rooms and ballroom is for the various events.

 Impressive is the word that comes to mind for the hotel's ability to handle feeding this many people without any problems.  Well, none that were self evident.  Having eaten here previously, it is very apparent that the
cooks and staff work hard to make sure all are happy and satisfied.

 Here are the HAPPY participants dining al fresco around the pool and outside the restaurant.

 Once the ballroom doors opened for the presentation of Tracy Chevalier, the room quickly filled.  As far as I could determine by standing up and taking a few photos, there was not an empty seat.

Susan Page, the force behind this magnificent event, welcomed everyone.  Interestingly, she asked different segments of people to stand up.  Some of the groups were "Those that this was their first time".  Next it was
"Those who are returning" (large group).  Those from the USA and those from Canada.  Lots.  Then she asked for all the Mexicans and quite a lot stood.  The biggest round of applause was for this group!  Yeah.

Susan's comments to the Mexican participants was heartwarming as she expressed her love for the people and country of Mexico.  She urged all at the conference to embrace the people, the culture and the town.
Lovely.

Earlier, while waiting for Tracy, I spoke with several participants.  To meet these accomplished, published writers was a delight.  Their interests were fascinating.

One woman, Bonnie Lee Black, from Taos, New Mexico wrote a book on "How to Make an African Quilt".She wrote this after spending time in West Africa and realizing that teaching the women how to quilt would assist them in making a living to take care of their families.  I could have talked with her for hours.  Her book was published by Nighthawk Press.  Hope I hear from her again.

Another woman that I met and talked with was Penny Pearlman, who wrote a non-fiction book called "Pretty Smart, Lessons from our Miss Americas".  She lives in Westport, Ct.  What a dynamic woman with many interests.

Last but not least, as I was out on the grounds, I met a 40 year old woman, Christy Crutchfield from Ardmore, Oklahoma.    She told me she had just turned 40 and decided to come to the conference.  She is a blog writer as well.  When she said Ardmore, Oklahoma, I remarked that a fascinating female attorney from
Ardmore has come to stay in my guest house twice.  She immediately said Cherie Clark.  It's a small, small world.  Cherie Clark reads the blog and has for years.  Hi Cherie!  Don't you just love all these synchronistic things that happen in our lives?  I relish them.

Christy and I talked for a while as I told her that her life is just beginning.  That I had started my business at 40 and it was the time of my life.  I hope we'll stay connected as well.

The talk by Tracy Chevalier was exhilarating.  She started her career as a historical fiction writer at 30, about twenty years ago.  She has written nine books since.  The amount of research she does for each was surprising and daunting.  As she spoke, I remembered how awed I was when reading "Girl with a Pearl Earring" in 1999.

Her writing is so lyrical and full of details that transport you to that time and place.  Of course most of you
know that it was later made into a mesmerizing movie.  Tracy said she was very surprised how that book has
changed her life.  She lives with her husband and children in London, England but graduated from Oberlin in Ohio.

That was the first presentation I heard.  Tonight I'll hear Scott Turow, a former attorney turned writer.  His writing is extremely different then Tracy's.  Then tomorrow morning, for me, Gloria Steinem will be the piece de resistance.  Any woman who lived through the 60's, 70's and 80's owes a debt of gratitude to her whether you agree with all her viewpoints or not.   She and a cadre' of other women spoke up and stood up for the rights of women.  I will be honored to hear her speak.  She is truly an icon of our generation.

There are so many other speakers.  Alice Waters spoke last night  Angeles Mastretta will speak on "The Emotion of Things"and Richard Blanco will speak on the fact that he was chosen to serve as the fifth inaugural poet of the United States.  Not only are there lectures, there are workshops, roundtables, live theater, festivals.  It IS the "whole enchilada".

My plans for next year - to start saving my money now to be able to go to all the things that are possible!

For way more information then I could possibly post here, search the web for the 10th Annual San Miguel Writers' Conference & Literary Festival.  They have a magnificent website and a Facebook page as well.

Happy reading.

Rocky Road - Part 2........the Saga Continues

I've so enjoyed having the boulders across the dirt path next to my house for the last few days.  I never realized that the few trucks and cars that used that path as a road added so much noise to the day.

While basking in the silence, I heard the sound of a bulldozer yesterday morning about 9AM.  Uh oh, now what?

I opened the front gate and walked out in front of the school and my house hoping that no more digging was going to happen on sewer lines.  Right about that time, he came zooming by me on his way to the dirt path.
Now zooming is a relative term.  Lumbering, noisily would be more like it.

I wondered what the heck was going to happen now.  So, off I went to my perch in the living room where I can look down on the road and the activity.  The bulldozer driver was picking up those huge boulders and piling them next to the edge of the canyon!  I thought, "Uh oh, now what?"

As he did this a crowd began to gather of men and women.  Extremely unusual at 9AM on a Monday morning.......or any morning for that matter.  They stood and watched as the road was being cleared of
any obstructions.

The bulldozer driver made quick work of the boulders and then lumbered back whence he came.

The people continued to stand and stare.  Then they talked amongst themselves.  Of course I couldn't hear them nor could I figure out what was going to happen next, if anything.

I got my answer this morning!  At 9AM the bulldozer came lumbering by my house again and went to the dirt path.  He started picking up the boulders and carefully placing them across the road again!  Below are the documented photos of this little saga.

 I actually liked the way he spaced the rocks this time better then the last so people could walk between.

Then, the fun began!  The woman of the colonia began to show up just as he was finishing his work.

 It was obvious that they wanted to document the action and then they also wanted to direct the bulldozer driver.

Here they are telling him where they want him to move the boulders.  It turned out he only moved one to make a larger walking area that could not be used for a car to pass.

I chuckled as the driver did not look too happy and the women were standing him down.  Then a couple of men arrived at the completion.  The driver quickly finished the work and was seen lumbering off in the distance.

It's amazing how much goes on in this tiny colonia and around my house.

Of course, I wonder, is this the end of the saga...........or not!

Most Expensive City to Live..... in Mexico!

Most of us who live in San Miguel de Allende assume it must be the most expensive place to live in Mexico.
Ahh, but au contraire, this is not so.

 

Many people say so, but that does not make it true.  Yes, there are restaurants here that the tourists go to and spend $80USD for a dinner and drinks, but those of us who live here seldom frequent those establishments.  The same with the hotel rooms that have door rates of $600USD (and often have few guests except on the weekends).  But, there are also hotels for $30USD a night that are nice as well as many places to eat for $5-10USD for a full meal with soft drink.

The suspense has ended.  A survey was done by a firm, whose name I have lost.  However, I do remember it began with a K.  Ahh, the trials and tribulations of an ageing mind.

They used Mexico City as the base for determining those places that were higher in cost of living for rent, food, utilities, transportation.

The most expensive place is Los Cabos.  Not having ever been there, I can't gauge if that is true, but based on the survey it is true.

Second is Cancun.  Having paid $4USD for a Coca-Cola there, I agree.  And I SO remember forty years ago when there were no paved roads and the dirt roads were divided by white painted rocks.  What a shame!

The next city really surprised me.  Monterrey!  I've participated  in many restaurant trade shows there and never thought it expensive.  However, I also now realize that was about 20 years ago.  My how time flies.

On to other information........

The least expensive places to live are Tlaxcala, a delightfully clean, sweet little city in close proximity to Puebla.  Zacatecas, Tepic and Guanajuato round out the least expensive.  Who knew?

There you have it.  Go check them out yourself.  Let me know what you find.  I've been to all except Los Cabos and Tepic.  I never felt that Zacatecas or Guanajuato were noticeably less expensive then say,
San Miguel de Allende!

It's all a matter of perception, isn't it?

Tiptoeing through the Tulips

Each year I await with great anticipation the large garden sale at Parque Juarez.  Strolling from one end of the park to the other amidst rows of roses, tulips, primrose, bromeliads, hydrangeas and orchids is absolutely a delight.

This year did not disappoint.  Going early in the morning helps to avoid the crowds that are there on the weekends and in the later afternoon.

I "ooh and aaah" as I walk along.  While walking, men with wheelbarrows come up to ask if you want them to follow with you as you select plants to purchase.  Then they will take them to your car or taxi to take home.

Isn't that great?  However, I always like to walk through, look, price, and then go home and figure out where I need to fill in with a FEW plants.  It is necessary for me to control my impulse to buy everything!

 Cost of plants?  These roses were 2 for 50 pesos, which with the current exchange rate would be less then $3.50USD for two plants.  I don't buy roses, as much as I would like to, because one year the cutter ants ate three bushes in less then an afternoon.  It is not worth the horror and dismay to experience that again.

 Herbs, macetas (flower pots), you name it, it is here.  Mexico exports a lot of flowers and plants to the USA.  We get the benefit of the industry.  Many of the license plates on the little trucks parked around town are from Puebla.  You can drive for miles and miles and miles in that state and see fields of gladiolas, roses, geraniums - well you get the idea.  Everything.

 The orchids this year seemed more plentiful then in past years.  All kinds and all sizes.  Glad I left my wallet at home.

 While meandering at the market on Friday morning, a group of little children came through.  Fun to see them in their uniforms enjoying the flowers.

And, as I left through the fresh flower arches, here was the banner for the sale.  Am I going back?  Of course.  I will have my list and my wallet and my budget - it's the only way I can go and not buy too much.

If you're in San Miguel - go by and buy beautiful plants.

Rocky Road!

The saga might be never ending.  It began last year when SAPASMA trenched on my street to put in new sewer pipe, the plastic kind.  That lead to tons of dirt, literally, which was all piled next to my house along with rubble and debris.

Then, after my complaining, a bulldozer and many dump truck loads later, six to be exact, the dirt pile and rubble was almost all gone.

A week or so later, one evening, men and women from the colonia appeared with rakes, brooms, shovels and strength, to get rid of the rest of the rocks and rubble that was still around.  By the time they were finished raking and cleaning, it was almost smooth.  The next evening they returned and cleaned the edges of the cliff of scraggly weeds and assorted tiny trees.

To say I was thrilled would be an understatement.  Of course I figured that was it.  That now the trucks and some intrepid drivers in their cars would use this unpaved path as a shortcut.  But, at least they didn't have to dodge rocks, potholes and rubble.

Saturday, mid-day, all of a sudden there was such a racket that I jumped up, ran upstairs to see what had happened.  It was such a large crash that I was afraid a car had run into the school or the concrete fence or, heaven forbid, gone off the cliff.

Nope, none of the above.  This is what had falled on the road. A dump truck brought a mini Stonehenge.

Of course, they weren't in this singular line but in a jumble with one on top of the other.  A mini boulder mess.  The next day when I looked out to see what had happened to the jumble of boulders, they were in this single row.

On the other side of the row, they had dug a trench so that the road behind the boulders is much lower then
the road on my side.  In other words, if someone could possibly move these to drive through, I think there car would be ruined.  Talk about a simplistic solution!  I so wish I had seen how they moved these big boulders from their initial positions!

 Whoever placed them, left an opening for all the workers that pass by going home after a long days work.  Plus the children go through there coming up the hill to school. 

But, guess who isn't coming that way anymore!  The motorcycles, the cars, the Coca Cola truck, the garbage truck.  Basically no one.  It really wasn't all that much traffic as prudent drivers didn't want to drive the potholed path and would turn around going back the way they came.

Now it is silent!  I've also noticed that there is no trash either.

Someone had told me long ago that this section of the calle was not meant for cars but rather a walking path and lookout to enjoy the beauty of the canyon.  Oh how I wish I had the money to put in benches, trees and flowers to truly make it a lovely place for people to stop and enjoy the magnificence that I see all the time.

Often I do see people walk to the edge of the cliff, stand there and take it all in.  Now they can do it in the quiet of the moment.

 Now I no longer live next to a road, but a path and a dead end street.   Another unexpected gift!