Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Pic-of-the-Week for October 27, 2015

Hola Amigos,

By my reckonings, it has been two weeks since I last posted news from our casa here in Baja, and in that time a major hurricane hit Mexico.  We heard from many of you wondering how we were doing in the storm,  and we appreciate your concern!  Fortunately, this mega-storm was 100's of miles south of us, and we didn't see any of the effects of this storm here on the Baja Peninsula at all, thank you, God!  Where the storm hit land in mainland Mexico was a fairly low populated, mountainous area, and although there were lots of power lines down, damage was minimal.  Everyone breathed a big sigh of relief once the storm was past them, and that happened quickly!  

FYI, here's a map of Mexico.  We live near the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula on the west side of Mexico (below La Paz and to the east).  The storm hit way down near Manzanillo, then blew through Mexico and on up to Texas. 

  
Since we've been back home, Ben has started in his annual "to do" list, and of course, things keep getting added that weren't planned!  For instance, we noticed dog scratches on our bedroom door which we assume were put there by the dogs of the house sitter who stayed here while Ryan was in Europe in September.  So, Ryan was charged with sanding and refinishing the door.  That job got done, and he was ready to put it back up when he poked a spot on the door frame, which immediately crumbled due to another termite infestation!  So... Ben went to La Paz, bought some cedar and proceeded to build a new door frame.  Of course, this one is not easy, as the door has a sweet arch at the top, and the door frame had to match.  Not easy, but it is turning out very nice.  

Ben even found the jig he had made to cut out where the latch plate goes!  


This is what the old door frame looked like, underneath the paper thin layer that termites cleverly leave so we don't know what is going on!!  

I have been working on some gardening projects, including planting radishes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers and zucchini squash.  I am very pleased that my Dendrobium Orchids, which I moved outside into our courtyard over a year ago, really seem to like it out there, and they are blooming!!  I was ready to throw them out, but gave them this last chance, and they are responding nicely!  I think regular watering and some fertilizer agree with them!  

We're trying a new accessory on our bird feeder to try to keep the Doves from hogging everything, and it seems to be working!  They can't squeeze their fat bodies through the wires, but most of the other birds can!  We still put seed on the ground, so the Doves are not suffering!  This Curved Bill Thrasher figured it out, and was enjoying his solitary dining very much!!  




I have added a "water-wiggler" to the bird bath to keep mosquitoes out, and the birds are getting used to it.  The Oriole on the left was in the process of taking a bath, and the Finch and Thrasher just watched it, took their drinks, and flew on! 

I've been trying to do regular beach walks with the dogs, and the other day we found a small herd of cows on their way there, too!  They were really kicking up their heels like they were glad to be there!  Their pleasure didn't last too long, as some other dogs came along a chased them off.  :-(  


Another flower seen on the way to the beach is Jimson Weed.  It is quite common here, and does have a pretty flower, but the entire plant is poisonous! 

I have posted some more photos in our 2015 October Picasa album.  I have found that I can't advance past a video once I've watched it, so I am putting those at the end.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  

Here's one more cactus blooming in our garden... Barrel Cactus bloom this time of year, and they are so colorful!  Just don't get too close!!  


Hasta la proxima vez!
Tus amigos en Baja
Harriet, Ben, Ryan, Sam & Zoey

PS.  Here's the required "dog shot" for those of you who are wondering if Sam & Zoey are doing OK.  They think they are chasing cows here, but are not, really!!





Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Pic-of-the-Week for October 13, 2015

Hola Amigos,

We made it home to Buena Vista with no major car or trailer problems, hallelujah!  It was a six day trip from Bend, and you can't believe the amount of rain we encountered on the way south.  It was raining south of Klamath Falls to Susanville.  It was raining in San Diego.  It poured the night we stayed in El Rosario.  And it rained every day but yesterday (Monday) since we got home!  Sunday reminded us of an Oregon rain....steady rain and gray skies all day.  Amazing!  Of course, our poor Model A was filthy by the time we got back, but thankfully, none the worse for wear.  It is now washed and polished and put away in the garage for a while.  

My beach walk with the dogs was nice and sunny, but it rained later in the day (afternoon showers are common).

Our last Pic-of-the-Week was over a month ago!  I guess we've been lax about getting anything out, although if you're on Facebook, I have posted a few pictures about our activities.  I'll do a quick recap!  

We went to the Pendleton Roundup!  (Of course!)  We invited friends Sandy and Debi to join us, and they had a ball.  And we got to visit with our niece Anne and her family in Athena, and also friends in Walla Walla.   Anne is always kind enough to let us park our trailer near their house and use their electricity and water.  Hard to find a nice spot like that within 50 miles of Pendleton during roundup time!  


We had a very relaxing and enjoyable time camping in Sisters City park with friends John and Marilyn (and their two dachshunds).  We also ate very well and shopped and walked all over town!  We did this during the week, because that little town seems to have some event going on every weekend of the summer!  Not sure how they manage, but the town is always brimming with activities and tourists....and traffic.  

 
Ben got to run a John Deere tractor!  His brother Ken rented one to smooth out some new gravel on their driveway, and told Ben to "go for it". So he did.  Then when that was done, they pulled some fence posts and removed a bunch of brush along the property line with the road (they need clearance for snow removal).   (We do appreciate them letting us park in their driveway as often as we do...and letting our dogs hunt in their yard!)


We put the trailer away and packed up for our trip here, which is always a big job!  The best part of that is visiting with Ed and Chris who generously let us park our trailer in their large yard.  

We got the chance to see old friends George and Ruth Clark when they came over to Bend from Vancouver to visit with Ben's brother, Ken.  George, who is a young 93 (94?) really liked Ben's 87 year old car.  

The trip home started bright and early on October 1, (with almost freezing temperatures that day in Bend), and ended mid afternoon October 6.  We had a few long days and a few short days, but one of the nicest things is when we stopped to visit our Baja friend Carlee at her home in Nevada.  She invited our mutual friend Don Baumann over for lunch with us.  We haven't seen in him in about 40 years!  We met him and his wife Michelle when they were students at UO and attended our church in Eugene.  He is now a pastor at Carlee's church in Nevada!  

I have decided to slow down on these postings, and do it every two weeks.  Not a lot has changed down here since we started doing this 15 years ago.  Cows and burros are still free range, the flora and fauna haven't changed, the sun is still shining (usually!). 

There are two Picasa albums if you'd like to see more detail, especially of the Pendleton Roundup.  September 2015 and October 2015.  

And, just because I can, here's a flower I found on the way to the beach.  Shaped like a snapdragon, but the seed pod is vicious!  It is "Devil's Claw", or Desert Unicorn Plant.  From my new Baja Plant guide "The name Devil's Claw refers to the spectacular woody pods that end in 2 curved, pron-like claws.  The curved claws can clamp onto cattle nostrils, fur, clothing skin, and hiker's boots in a highly effective dispersal method."  Ouch.  Flower is pretty, though!


Hasta la proxima vez and very glad to be home!
Harriet, Ben, Ryan, Sam and Zoey