Pic-of-the-Month for April 2022

 Hola Amigos

Another month has passed, and I am just as slow as usual!  I guess that's what retirement does for you...hones your procrastination skills!  

This has been a very interesting gardening year for us.  Some successes, and some failures.  Gardening in Baja just isn't the same as in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and you'd think we'd have figured that out by now, after spending 21 years here!  We do have plenty of tomatoes.  Believe it or not, some of those pictured above are Beef Steak.  Yeah, right!!  They just don't get as big as in Oregon.  They are still delicious, and we are enjoying them a lot.  We had some corn, but it was about the shortest cobs we've ever had.  Tasted good, what there was of it!  And my poor green bean crop!!!  Since the black cow got in and grazed on my bean leaves up to 5 times, they have been suffering.  We've eaten a batch or two, and there is one or two more bunches to eat, and they are still blooming.  I know I won't get enough to can, unfortunately.  We'll be missing those lovely jars of canned beans next winter.  Ben canned several batches of pickled beets.  The bugs got into those, too; ate a bunch of the leaves and were working on the beets, too.  He dug all the rest up a few days ago and processed them.  They sure turn out pretty!

Easter was this month, and for the first time in two years Mexican families were allowed to camp on the beaches here, and elsewhere in Mexico.  COVID-19 had shut them down for 2 seasons.  It wasn't quite as crowded as I've seen it in the past, but there were still plenty of people enjoying their vacation for Santa Semana.  

This is the first week since we got here in mid-October that there is no loud construction activity going on next door, nor the accompanying music!  It appears that the two identical houses built there are mostly done, other than a little finishing and cosmetic work.  They say they're going to build another one, or at least upgrade the little casa right next to us, but they haven't started yet!  We've seen and talked to our new neighbor.  He is spending some time in the new house on weekends.  

Photo below is the BIG truck removing some of the construction forms and materials from next door.  He went very slowly out over the cattle guard.  I'm sure he knew I was watching him, and we sure didn't want him to take out our "new, improved" fencing!!  

You may remember when I had my wallet stolen last October, then returned by a nice young Mexican lady whose mother had found it alongside the road.  We have been in contact with Maria since that time, and have recently found out she is in a tough situation.  She is a single mother with three daughters, age 8, 7 and 5.  She has Lupus, which was undiagnosed for several years.  She is on medication, and since her kidneys are not functioning properly, has to use a catheter every 3 hours.  Due to these problems, she can't work a regular job.  She helps her mother (who also lives with them) at her Hot Dog stand, which is open every evening.  She also bakes desserts which she sells via Facebook when she feels well enough.  Anyhow, we've added her to our Feeding the Hungry program for food vouchers, and after an appeal by Ben, others are helping her with medical issues.  The local East Cape Health Clinic interviewed her and is willing to help with many of her expenses, including the catheter probes (free) and doctor visits and referrals to other medical experts.  The other day, we treated her and her three daughters and a niece to a ride in the Woody, and some ice cream in Los Barriles.  A good time was had by all!  If you have any desire to help with ongoing living costs, such as house rental, you can give a donation to  paypal.me/bhpurkey   Just mention "Maria E" in the comments.  Please contact us if you want more information (purkeybh@gmail.com).

 We have two more months to enjoy ourselves here in Baja before we migrate north.  May is my favorite month here.  It's not windy, it's warmer, and it's just lovely!  In the meantime, I continue to walk every morning.  I am adding up the miles (270 so far this year), and seeing some pretty cool things on my walks.  Ben, of course, is busy with all kinds of projects in the shop and yard and garden and with cars and woodworking and helping other folks, and also fixing what just broke....again!   

We'll leave you with a picture of our Shaving Brush tree in bloom.  It's done now, but it is gorgeous in March and April!  More photos are in our April 2022 Album.  Enjoy!

Hasta la proximo mes

Tus amigos de Baja

Harriet, Ben and Zoey

Pic-of-the-Month for March 2022

 Hola Amigos,

Well, it looks like it's getting to be a habit for me to wait until month end to write to you.  Not many days left in this month, so I'd better get to it!

Ben has been missing out on car shows for the last several years due to the pandemic, so he got his cars collection all cleaned up, and pulled them out of the garage for a little show in our driveway!  That's a '56 Willys Jeep, '30 Model A Roadster, '29 Model A Pickup and '28 Ford/Martin Parry Depot Hack.  The construction workers from next door appreciated seeing them!  (They were working on our extension to the cattle guard at the time).  We took the Woody to breakfast one day, and the pickup to church on another day.  We need to do that more often!

Speaking of cattle guard extension, we had to bite the bullet and add three more metal bars to the existing crossing.  The hombres from next door did it for us, and gave us a pretty good price.  It's nice not having to open and close our new side gate all the time to go in and out (we had to show the Mexicans how to use the Eastern Oregon rancher's latch!) We are feeling much more secure now with it being a really LONG jump for that guy to attempt to cross.  Hopefully, he won't tip-toe across!!

OK... do you know how to use this latch?   ---->

Our "Feeding the Hungry" organization did not do a fashion show this year.  It's a lot of work to organize the show, and we didn't want to have to cancel at the last minute like we did in 2020.  We did, however, hook up with the Lack Family for two of their concerts at La Playa and took donations and had 50-50 Raffles. We didn't raise as much money as we do at the Fashion Show, but made enough to support several more families for a year.  The Lacks were very gracious to let us do that, and we appreciate their generosity, as well as their fantastic music!  

Good friends Katie and Mel were able to attend one of the concerts with us before they left town, and they appreciated it very much!  We also took them on a La Paz tour day, and let Katie wander around downtown where she had spent some time quite a few years ago.  It was pretty much just like she remembered it, and brought a few tears to her eyes!  We had a nice dinner out, and spent the night in La Paz.  They spent the night at Maranatha Park in Centenarrio in their camper before heading north the next day.  

Cathedral in downtown La Paz, across the street from our hotel

Ben always has several projects going.  He rebuilt a cabinet for our friend Ruby.  She pointed out some termites in the frame (the cabinet door fell off!) When he took the cabinet home, the whole thing was riddled with termites, so it was a complete rebuild (except for the doors!!)  

He's cleaned up his cars and right now his shop is neat and tidy.  He's been playing around polishing and cutting some of the obsidian he picked up last year, and it's turning out very nice.  I made him a vinyl apron to wear while he's working on the polishing, since it works with water!  He's also got out his chain saw recently and has been doing some serious trimming.  We have a gardener that like to get out and cut and trim things, too, so we have plenty of fuel for our fire pit!  

I'm still walking and have kept up with my monthly goals so far this year, although I got a cold and pretty much missed three or four days this month.  I'm just a smidge away from 200 miles so far this year (195.8).  Zoey has pretty much given up on walking with me; she only goes a little way every couple of days.  It's a bit lonely, but is still a lot of fun to see what I can see on these walks.  I saw a Jack Rabbit yesterday.  A few days ago it was a seahorse washed up on the beach.  I even saw a buck deer about a month ago!  That was a surprise!   I'm thinking about starting a small quilt, but haven't had that "urge" yet.  I'm also practicing my Spanish daily with an online program (DuoLingo) that is quite good.  Not quite fluent yet!!  Give me a few more years.  (I still can't make out much of what the construction workers are saying next door, even though they talk (and yell!) plenty loudly.)  

The garden is doing well, in spite of that dang bull who ate my beans down to nothing.  Amazingly, he didn't eat the beans or the blossoms; just the leaves.  I've watered them well, and planted more seed in the row, and we'll see if I can get enough to can a batch or two.  Can't imagine not having some home canned beans in my pantry!  

Ben has canned several batches of his pickled beets.  They are so pretty, and tasty, too!  We've also harvested a banana bunch, and are trying to share them around a bit.  They are so good!  The Papayas are prolific, and we are also sharing them with friends.  Yum!  

Oh, and I just have to show you this example of Mexican ingenuity.  How do you hold up some droopy wires over a driveway?  Let's use that old ladder no one ever uses!!  Aha!  This is at Rancho Buena Vista.  I walk by here daily, and got a real chuckle out of this one.  (Some of the wiring around here is pretty scary!)  

More photos are in our March 2022 album.  It includes a couple grandkid pics. Enjoy!  

Hasta la proxima vez,

Tus amigos en Baja

Harriet, Ben and Zoey

  

  

Pic-of-the-Month for February 2022

Hola amigos,

It is again the end of the month.  I'm not a procrastinator....I've just been busy!  Kinda.  

Anyhow, this short month is done, and we have done some fun and interesting things.  

Here's a high point.  I only seem to have a few orchids that survived this year, and this is just starting to bloom.  It is making up for those I lost, I guess!  There are a lot of buds on it, so we'll be enjoying it for a long time.  

Cousins Tom and Karen spent about a week with us over Super Bowl and Valentines, so we did some fun things with them.  Katie and Mel came and went, and we did some fun things with them, too.  All 6 of us went to Rancho Buena Vista round bar to watch the Super Bowl.  We did manage to find one channel that broadcast it in English, so that was a plus!  We didn't get to watch the advertisements, but I hear they weren't that good this year anyhow!  We were the "crowd".  They did serve carnitas which were very good.  Tom took this picture... 

We were invited by our neighbors to go with them and a hiking group up to Flat Top.  We had done it a year ago, and that was when I fell going down the trail ...flat on my face!  Ben didn't want to go, but I went with them and made a successful trip...with my trusty Palo de Arco walking stick.  It worked great.  

Here's some bad news;  we've had a black bull getting into our yard, and he's been seen tip-toeing over our cattle guard to get in here.  Dang thing!  Ben and Mel did some work on it to try and keep him out so he couldn't use the edges of the cattle guard, but that didn't work either!  He's eaten some beautiful Hibiscus, some of my green beans, most of the lettuce (he couldn't get into our corn), and some flowers like Zinnias.  On the Saturday morning we were getting ready to go out to Frailes for a few days again, Brian came knocking on our door and said he'd chased him out again.  Since we were leaving momentarily, Brian volunteered to string a gate across the cattle guard.   And guess who was watching while Brian was doing this!?  

Somehow, when we were gone this Saturday and Sunday, Dalia said he was inside again. We may have to rebuild the cattle guard and make it a bit wider.  He has been seen jumping it.  So, if we have to do that, Ben made the corner gate easier to open and latch if there is construction happening in the main driveway.  And while we were out there doing that, we cleaned up outside the gates of our driveway.  It all looks neat and tidy now!  

We did another trip out to Las Frailes since Katie and Mel will be leaving to go north in a few weeks.  Ben and Mel caught some fish on the one day the ocean was fishable (too windy other days). These are White Bonita.  They cut up some for Sashimi on the beach, and froze the rest.  Good eating!  

See the whale?  No?  Me neither! 

Our final adventure this month was our annual whale watching trip to Magdalena Bay.  We invited neighbors Brian and Hope, and some Mexican friends Ingrid and Daniel.  We didn't see quite as many whales as we have in the past there at Puerto Chale, and our boat had 10 of us touristas in it.  One couple was seated in front of us, and I gave up after 20 minutes or so trying to get any pictures with my nice camera, since those two were always moving to the best vantage point, and standing in front of us!  Ugh!  He was also moving quickly from side to side of the boat making it list one way or the other!  I decided to act as the counter balance.  When he moved one way, I scooted the other!!  He finally stopped doing it when I moved up to their seat!  (His companion was standing on the seat in front, so there was room for me!)   Oh well, I've seen whales before, and maybe this was their first time.  (Next time, Ben says we're reserving our own boat for us and our friends!)

We spent the night in La Paz and had dinner at a very nice restaurant, Tatanka, recommended by cousin Tom.  We can't wait until they get their home built near La Paz and invite us up for dinner!  (Hint, hint!!)  

 More photos from this month are in our February 2022 Album.  Most of the pics are captioned.  

Some more good news....COVID is on the wane here at the moment.  And we are still healthy.  And happy.  And the grader is out there right now working on our road, and doing a very nice job.  (Small things make me happy!)  

Hasta la proxima mes,

Tus amigos de Baja,

Harriet, Ben & Zoey

 

Pic-of-the-_Month for January 2022

 Hola Amigos,

Good grief!  The month is over today, and I haven't got the POTM done yet!  You were probably wondering if I was finally going to give it up in 2022, or was sick or something.  None of the above.  As long as you read these (and send us an occasional note back!) they will continue to be posted.   :-)  

I'm sorry to start out with some sad news, but our lifelong friend Ellis Seifert passed away January 21 from stage 4 cancer.  He fought long and hard, and was able to spend his last days here in the place he loved, and introduced to Ben in 1985.  He was my neighbor growing up on Coburg-Harrisburg Road, and our neighbor here in Baja since 2000.  He will be missed.  (If you'd like to send condolences to Marsha, check with me for her email).  

The good news is that we have continued to stay healthy.  People all around us are getting sick, but we've tried to keep a low profile, and have avoided Covid-19 so far.  (We're really glad we were able to get our booster shots last month!)  For instance, we celebrated our 54th wedding anniversary out at Campo Crabb at Los Frailes, way out in the boonies, with Katie and Mel.  She ordered a dinner for us from Sandra, who lives at the ranch up the arroyo.  She and her husband Ivan delivered Chili rellenos, rice and beans, and homemade tortillas!  Ben served a lovely bottle of Oregon wine (Tannat from Troon Vineyards near Medford).  It was all delicious and very much appreciated. 

Sandra and Ivan delivering dinner.

Speaking of Covid-19, we are still helping families who contract the disease here in the local area by giving the vouchers from the local grocery store worth $50.  When they are off work, there is no sick leave, or government assistance.  No work, no pay.  The $50 is greatly appreciated, and can go a long way.  Since July we have helped over 200 families, and the month of January has been very busy since so many are getting sick after the Christmas holidays.  Our friend Dalia has been a huge help contacting the families and getting all the information we need to get the vouchers out to them (she speaks Spanish and English).  Ben then creates a file of every family so we can better track them, and sends that information on to our friend Gordon Blackie, who packages the vouchers and labels them, and delivers them to the distribution point, a local business.  The family then sends a friend (who is not sick) to pick up the vouchers and the groceries.  It has been working quite well.  If you're interested in helping with this project, you can get a US tax deduction by giving through leaders2give.org  Click on "Donate Today", then select "Feeding the Hungry" from the drop down list.  Every dollar helps!  Thanks for listening.

Ben is still working on the trailer house remodel, but it is getting very close to done.  Mel helped him out a bunch, and it was great to have him here for that project!  The floor is amazing.  It looks really pretty, and very easy to care for.  And we don't feel like we'll fall through at any time!!  Ben also built lift up wooden cutting boards for each end of the very short counter space.  That addition has been extremely useful!  Now he's putting a shelf in the cupboard above the sink which will enable me to store my dishes better.  

We harvested the first corn crop.  The cobs were not picture worthy, but the little things were delicious!  Ben is taking a bug sample from the next crop to an agriculture store in La Paz today and he hopes they can get him a good, safe (for us) spray to kill those critters that are invading.  The rest of the garden is doing well.  My green beans are up and ready to be strung.  The beets are looking healthy and starting to form globes.  The lettuce and radishes are bountiful and delicious.  

I am continuing to walk, although not to the Flag Monument.  I'm getting in my miles anyhow, just taking different routes.  I decided to set goals for myself.  The goal for the year is 600 miles, and I've surpassed January's goal of 50 miles by doing 65.6. No, Zoey hasn't gone that far.  We do a short loop of .6 to .7 of a mile whenever we walk, then I drop her off at the house, and continue on. I've started going down through Vista del Mar below us to check out our new neighbor's construction project.  It's pretty amazing.  He won't block our view, but he's building way up there in what looks to me like a pretty precarious position. In the picture below, what looks like the roof, is actually the floor, which will be held up by the pillars and the wall.  Yikes.  Did I tell you we've been having earthquakes in the area lately?  Some quite close, and around 4.0.  I think he'll feel the earth move in this house!  (I haven't felt one yet, but guests did feel one upstairs in our house).  

We have been enjoying getting to know our new neighbors, Brian and Hope.  We recently went to Brian's retirement party.  He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after 34 years.  (He is the same age as Ben was when he retired from ODOT after 34 years!)  They are very generous and thoughtful, like to get together at the drop of a hat, and even took us out to dinner for an early Anniversary celebration.  Brian created a WhatsApp group for us called "Vecino Perfecto" (Perfect Neighbor)! Hahaha!  We've been spending lots of evenings visiting either around their firepit or ours.  So, we had to build a "Caracol" (pass way with no gate) through the fence for easy access.  We're looking forward to many more times visiting with them and helping each other as neighbors.  It's pretty convenient, too, that Hope is a Nurse Practitioner!  Currently they are living in a cute little container home on their property while they figure out how to build their permanent home.  

So, until sometime in February, salutations from us in Baja, and we hope to hear from you!  Stay healthy out there!  

More cool photos (including some cute grandkids) are located in our January 2022 album.  

Hasta la proxima vez,

Tus amigos de Baja,

Harriet, Ben & Zoey

  

Pic-of-the-Month for December 21, 2021

 Hola amigos!

Merry Christmas to all of you.  

We hope that your Christmas is joyful and that you can celebrate with us the reason for the season...Jesus Christ' birth.  

We do plan on a Christmas dinner here at our house with friends and neighbors.  There will be 10 of us.  Yesterday, Ben and I were planning on going into Cabo San Lucas and Costco to get the Christmas Ham, but alas, there were none.  So Ben will be smoking another turkey.  

Before we left, I had read that Covid-19 booster shots were available for those of us 60 and over in Miraflores (where we got our original 2), La Ribera and Santiago.  We left early and got in line.  Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as nicely organized as the first times we went.  People seemed to line up willy-nilly; but we eventually got in line, and managed to get our Astra Zeneca booster.  So far, no bad side effects, other than Ben being a bit sore and achy this morning.  We are very happy to be able to get the boosters in a timely manner, what with the new strain out and about.  

We went to visit Mel & Katie again at Los Frailes.  Ben and Mel went fishing several times, and were successful again.  They caught an African Pompano this time, and it is a gorgeous fish.  Even after being caught 3 or 4 hours previous to the picture taking, it was very colorful.  Almost as colorful as my shirt!  

Ben and I rode with our neighbors Brian and Hope in a "Rock and Roll Fun Ride" for a benefit for Feeding the Hungry.  We had to guess names of artists based on pictures, or lines of music to name the band, etc.  I was pretty hopeless...I listened to the music, but I sure didn't have all that stuff memorized like many of them did!  Good thing for us that Hope knew her 60's and 70's Rock and Roll, even though she's a lot younger than us.  Check out the December 2021 album for pics of that ride.  

The BIG project this month is replacing the floor in our little camp trailer.  It had quite a few very soft spots, so after our Los Frailes trip, Ben started ripping up the linoleum.  Underneath that was 3/16" plywood (very moldy & rotten in places), then 1 1/2" foam, and a very thin plywood under that.  He found the lightweight aluminum cross beams were few and far between!  He came up with a 2x4 cross beam structure to lay in there instead, with 1/8" plywood underneath that, and styrofoam and plywood in the gaps, all covered with a 5/8" sheet of plywood.  All pieces are glued and screwed together.  In the picture above you can see the styrofoam in some holes, others with the plywood filler.  He added the final plywood on top of all this.  They also added some aluminum brackets to hold up the floor by attaching them to the walls with a stiffener behind.  He did just this area by the entry door so far, and will attack the other end by the dinette next.  We'll be ready to go camping again in the not too distant future!  And we won't be falling through the floor!  

Other than that, the garden is growing, Zoey and I are still taking our walks, and I got to play the piano at the Community Saturday Market for our little musical group that sang Christmas songs.  It was a rather windy day, so I had a bit of trouble keeping the music from blowing, but it went pretty well.  I'm on the right, with my hat on backwards to protect my neck from the sun!  

OK!  We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy, healthy New Year of 2022.  

Hasta la proxima mes,

Harriet, Ben & Zoey

PS.  Again, pictures are located in December 2021 album.

Pic-of-the-Month for November 2021

 Hola Amigos,

Here it is, the end of another month coming up.  I guess, since it's a nice rainy day here in Baja, instead of going for a walk, I'll sit at my computer and write you a letter!  

But first, this lovely sunrise at Frailes Bay....

We hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends this year.  We are all struggling with the "new normal" and hugs and having big groups getting together, but we pray that your times with family and friends were happy and healthy occasions!  We had 8 of us here at our casa for Thanksgiving, including my niece Angie and nephew-in-law Mark whom we haven't seen in years.  We also invited our NEW neighbors, Brian and Hope, who are supposed to be moving into their new container home today (on a rainy day, of course!)  

We have accomplished quite a few things this month.  Ben, of course, tops this list of things done!  He changed the transmission in the 1930 Roadster.  He and I got it out, and thankfully, he hired our friend Chuyito to help him get the "new" one back in.  It now shifts perfectly, and maybe someday, I'll even drive it!  

We had two new gates installed to make our courtyard more secure.  Also, they'll be nice for keeping dogs in or out!  We chose a Quail pattern that is really whimsical.  Always know that you are welcome when you come to visit us (no locks on the gates...yet!!)  We are just going to let the finish rust, and eventually paint it with a wood stain.  

The garden continues to grow, some areas with fits and starts....and stops.  Ben tested some of our soil and decided it needed a certain chemical (phosporus?  phosphate??) and added it at what he thought was the correct strength.  Oops.  He killed everything he put it on...lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, cucumbers.  So, we are on the second (and in some cases third) replanting.  Good thing we have lots of seeds.  The corn is almost waist high, and he's talking about putting the bird netting over the garden soon.  He is also ready to plant his second crop of corn.  We have some nice squash plants, too.  I'm seeing some buds forming on a few.  In the photo below, you can see the corn and two rows of beets.  

We had a new gate put in to more easily access the new west side lot.  We didn't do it, but hired a Mexican fellow who did a really nice job on it.  We even used it when we got back from our camping trip and it made maneuvering around with the camp trailer much easier.  Our existing cattle guard it to the left.  Old opening was to the right by the concrete pole.  New opening is angled across the corner and gives a much better way into the lot.  

 Ben built a beautiful cutting board for our new little trailer since it has NO counter space (Well...maybe 4 inches between the stove top and sink!)  It fits nicely over either of the sinks.  He is also in the process of building some swing up wooden counters on both ends.  He can't finish it until our friend Ruby comes with the piano hinges next week!  

We took the trailer out for a "test" run to spend a few days with our friends Mel and Katie at Los Frailes.  The trailer did very well, and the propane function of the fridge even started working!  Woohoo!  It was quite comfortable, although we have developed quite a list of things to do to improve it.  Poco a poco!  With this trip, we also realized there were a few things we forgot to pack, so we are rectifying those faults, too!  (Fly swatter, spices, serving bowls!)  

Ben and Mel went fishing two days, and came back with quite a haul the first day, and a nice dorado the next day.  Yes, we ate well, and the weather was just about perfect.

Just about to the day that we had been back for a month, I finally got the gumption to hike up to the Flag Monument.  For some reason, it's not as easy as it used to be!!  (Not that I'm getting older or anything... and doesn't it look far away in that pic to the right?)  Anyhow, I made it that day, and haven't made it back since!  Some other day(s), I will!  Zoey is nowhere near able to do that hike anymore.  I have trouble getting her around a .6 mile loop near our house, but she's still always anxious to go.  She just goes slower, and slower, and slower, and has to sniff every little thing!  Oh well...at least she's still moving.  

 

 Our night blooming cactus decided to bless us with about 8 blooms.  Of course, to enjoy them, you have to get up in the middle of the night, or very early in the morning to see them in full bloom.  by 6am, they are starting to close up again.  I got a fairly good shot when I let Zoey out one morning at about 5am.  

I guess that shot was worth getting up early!  

I have created a November 2021 album with a bunch more pictures if you'd like to check them out.  As usual, if there are captions, you'll see them if you click on the "i" .  

Hasta la proxima vez,

Tus amigos en Baja,

Harriet, Ben and Zoey  

Pic-of-the-Month for October 31, 2021

 Hola Amigos,

We have been back home since October 10, and are getting "in the groove".  We had a good, uneventful trip back here, and are very happy to be here to enjoy our comfortable bed and big kitchen!  And Ben is appreciating all his nice tools as he works on repairing things that have broken over the summer!  

We dealt with a lot of smoke from forest fires on the way down, and have been enjoying the extremely clear and clean air down here.  A bit hot and humid when we first arrived, but it is starting to cool down nicely, with highs in the low 80's.  Today, October 31st, is the first day of Standard time in our part of Mexico.  We're not sure if we'll get Trick or Treaters tonight.  COVID is still an issue in Baja, but it is getting much better.  Evidently, the state is GREEN, so you are allowed to do gatherings, but people are still very conscious of wearing masks when out and about.  

We arrived to a very green Baja, since Hurricane Olaf went through in September, and Hurricane Pamela skirted by in early October, shortly after we arrived.  All rain is very welcome here.  The livestock are fat and happy, including our local "wild" burros!

I had a bad experience one Sunday morning at breakfast two weeks ago, when a dishonest man stole my wallet out of my purse.  I didn't even realize it was missing until I got home and about an hour later, got a fraud alert on one of my credit cards.  I went to look for it in my wallet, and the wallet was gone.  I went back to the restaurant, and they didn't know anything.  Fortunately, they have a good security camera system in the area, and on Monday, the owner sent me a video of the man stealing my wallet.  I made a police report, canceled all my cards, and ordered new replacements, including my driver's license, Medicare card, and I gathered all the information I needed for my Mexican Permanent Resident card.  This morning, we got a telephone call from a local Mexican lady, and her mother had found my wallet (minus all money and credit cards, but with all the very important ID) about 5 miles from our casa.  Wow!!  Was I ever happy and grateful.  She received a generous reward from us!  A friend is flying in tomorrow who is bringing my replacement debit and credit cards, and an "extra" driver's license (which is always nice to have!!)  Other than losing about $3000 pesos cash (about $150 US), I am good to go!  

Ben has been very busy fixing things that broke.  We had a water leak on our front veranda, and he was planning on breaking up the tiles there and digging down to repair that line.  He was finally convinced, after we saw an existing line that was visible, to just bypass that line, and two faucets next to the house (that we didn't use anyhow).  The pipe on the right in this picture now has a valve so we can shut off the water to the faucets on the corners of the veranda, and a new one he added out of this picture.  He completely cut off the line with the leak.  Here, he is relaying the pavers.  

He's also had issues with getting our little Honda Tiller to run like it should.  After much tinkering and repairing with spare parts, he thinks its in pretty good shape.  He has already started corn in our garden, and squash and cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as radishes, lettuce, carrots and cilantro.  I told him after living in Mexico for over 20 years, he's almost "official" Mexican the way he can fix things with available bits and pieces!  

We have taken a ride in the '30 Roadster and got many appreciative looks and waves.  We've also taken the '56 Jeep for a couple rides, and it seems to be running well (after Ben remembered the special plug that it needs to start!)  We are trying to get the new little camp trailer in shape for a trip sometime soon, but we're having issues with the propane power for the fridge.  It works with electricity, but not propane.  😕 Hoping to have "expert" help soon.  

So far, we've stayed pretty close to home; no trips to La Paz or San Jose, although we are planning an exciting trip to Costco this next week in Cabo San Lucas!  At least I don't have to go to Immigration like I was going to have to until my cards were returned.  

Zoey and I have been walking, but not going very far yet as the weather has still been pretty warm.  We're working up to it!!  I have seen some pretty wildflowers and some gorgeous sunrises.  You can check out the photos in the October 2021 photo album.  

Pitahaya cactus blooms above, I think the one to the right is Tree Cotton.  

This is the year of New Neighbors.  We will have new ones on the east AND the west.  The music is loud and constant for the work crew on the east.  I told Ben we're going to have to get them to coordinate their music selections when the crew starts on the west, or we'll get a bit of overkill!  I might have to set up my own speakers and play the music of my choice!  

I'm going to be short and sweet this time!  The photos tell the story of all I missed telling you about.  Enjoy!  Again, you can check out the photos in the October 2021 photo album.  

Hasta la proxima vez,

Harriet, Ben & Zoey