Pic-of-the-Month for March, 2019

Hola Amigos,

Well, I did it again!  Procrastinated until the end of the month, so you get another "Pic-of-the-Month".  Why not?  If you really want to find out what's happening with us, give us a call or come visit!  Our US phone works fine down here.

We have had some fun in March.  My good friend Jill (whom I've know just about forever...we met at church camp when we were 12) came down for 10 days.  She was, and probably still is, recovering from Valley Fever.  The infection had gone into her joints, so she was pretty sore in the knees and ankles.  So, first thing I did was take her for a hike!  The warm weather seemed to make a difference, and she said she was feeling somewhat better and had less pain in her joints.  We did do several hikes while she was here, and she even made it to the top of the Flag Monument one day!  (Ben dropped her off at the bottom of the hill; I met them after hiking just over a mile from our house.  And no, Ben didn't go with us!) 

 
Also while Jill was here, we went for a real ride in the Jeep!! If was hot, dusty and bumpy (stiff springs and a lot of bumps in the arroyo), but still fun.  We went up the Buenas Aires arroyo where there is a small water fall at the end.  Very refreshing after all that dust!

It is still running water for quite a ways (a 1/2 mile past the falls, maybe?) We haven't been here in quite a while; probably since we still had our old blue truck.  We are looking forward to many more trips like this even farther afield.  

This week, we had a roll cage built for the Jeep, and we're getting a few more ideas as we talk to Armando, the man who owns one of the hardware stores here in town, and is also a race car driver.  (No, I'm not letting Ben race this thing!)  It's going back to Armando's shop on Wednesday to get a few more modifications.  

The 1930 Model A is coming along nicely.  Our marriage survived the building of the soft convertible top.  We didn't exactly follow directions, but did mostly, and it is looking very nice.  We even got most of the wrinkles out of the top, and were also able to fold the top down.  That's not the easiest process in the repertoire of "the way things work on Model A's".  It took two of us to maneuver everything, and fold bars the right way, but we got it done.  It's probably not something we'll do real often.  Below it is sitting out in the sunshine so the fabric would soften, and we could maybe stretch it tighter.  It worked!  Pardon the dust...it has been sitting in the shop for quite a while with no cover and it does get dirty in there.  Even the Model A's under covers get some dust.  The picture on the right shows it with the top folded down.  It has a cover that goes over that to keep it from flopping around in the wind.

Ben even got the rumble seat cushions in, and that's a practice in maneuverability! Poor Ben was practically standing on his head in there to get the seat back screwed down at the bottom of the seat.  Believe us, that is NOT an easy seat to get in and out of!  Cute, but not real practical, unless you're a teenager!  We will be taking it to the body man in La Paz for some touch up work and to fix it so we can close the driver side door.  The latch doesn't line up correctly.  That's why we have a rope tying it to the other door right now.  

It's too bad we didn't get this Model A done in time for the Spring car show last weekend in La Paz, but there is one more in May, and it will be ready then!  We took the 1928 Martin Parry woody, and it was popular as always.  Ben even won a few prizes.  See our 2019 March album for more pictures of the car show.  

Our garden is doing very well.  The corn crop is tall, and is putting on corn cobs now.  The bees are really working the tassels, so I'm hoping for lots of nice big full ears.  (And we've managed to keep Sam and Zoey out since they like to knock down corn stalks and eat the corn!)  The beans are doing well, too.  I've picked enough to be able to can 15 1.5 pint jars.  Plus we have eaten a lot... I love fresh green beans.  

Zoey still loves to go for our daily walks.  If we go to the Flag Monument and back, it's at least 3 miles, sometimes more depending on the route.  I'm enjoying meeting various people from the neighborhood on my walks; we see the same people (and dogs!) very often.  Zoey is excellent off leash.  She stays right next to me 98% of the time.  Sometimes she has to spend more time smelling some things, but then she catches right up.  She also leans toward going in the direction of the shorter distance, hoping I'll go that way, but is always willing to follow me wherever I go.  Many people comment on her short little legs going so far, and they're really surprised when I tell them she wasn't walking at all after her accident 3 years ago in April.  She doesn't walk in the normal manner, but she does very well and keeps up a nice pace.  Sam, our 12 year old dog, still insists on coming about once a week.  When he does, that is our shorter distance day, and he ALWAYS has to stop and smell the roses, and ALWAYS is lagging behind, and hates going up hills!  (I always encourage him to stay home, and can usually convince him.)  

We are starting to think about summer travel plans, and we are planning on a full three months in Oregon this summer, but there is still plenty of time for you to come visit us.  My favorite months here are May and November; the weather is just about perfect, and town is clearing out so it's not so crowded driving through the narrow streets.  And there is always plenty to do and places to see!  We will probably leave here in late June, unless plans change. 

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

Pic-of-the-Month for February 2019

Hola Amigos!

I have changed the title of this to "Pic-of-the-Month"!  I seem to be getting slower (maybe lazier) in my old age.  This is just one of those things that isn't high on the list of things to do.  

We have been busy with lots of visiting and socializing and also a little work here and there.  Many things are getting done...more or less!  

Of course this month there was Valentine's Day, which we celebrated with our friends Katie and Mel, who came in from the wilderness of their camp at Las Frailes.  




Earlier in the week we had visited them at their camp in the Las Frailes arroyo (about 4 miles up) for an overnighter.  They fed us well, then took us on a neat ride (using their Samurai and ATV) up various smaller arroyos off the main one.  Beautiful countryside!  We saw so many interesting plants and rocks and rock formations.  It really makes us want to get the Jeep running and get out and about more!  (See later story).  Not much water coming down this waterfall right now, but it does run other times of the year.

Here's a cute little cactus growing out of this rock wall.   



Ben, Katie and Mel at another "waterfall" that happened to be dry right now.

Do you see the face in the rock wall?  

The next week, we visited as guests of our good friends Tony and Janet for another overnight at Pueblo Bonito in Cabo San Lucas.  We ate very well (and often)!  They are staying there for some needed R&R and down time.  We always enjoy being with them.  Ben & Janet share the same birthday, so claim they are brother and sister.  I think, with all of the snow happening in central Oregon, they are very happy to be in Baja right now!

Here's the view from our room on the 5th floor.  

 This was during the afternoon, and the photo below was sunrise the next morning.  

On Sunday the 17th, we were invited to "the ranch" at Los Planes.  It is the ranch of the family of our La Paz friend Rossi Amarillas.  Her brother Alfonso still ranches there, raising cattle and renting out some ground for crops like corn or zucchini.  We were celebrating Rossi's birthday and her's and Hector Manuel's wedding anniversary.  They fed us some delicious Birria and shrimp ceviche and other tasty foods.  We took a short walk out the driveway and photographed some of the huge cactus that grow there, and met some new calves.

This is a Cardon cactus, which grows in all of the Baja Peninsula.  This one is possibly 500 years old!  

Progress report on the car restorations:  
The Jeep is getting new seats installed.  Ben and our friend Chuyito went to a junk yard in San Jose del Cabo and bought about 2 year old seats and seat belts out of a Honda.  They look like they'll be much more comfortable than the camp style seats that were in it.  However, to mount them and to get them to fit properly, some welding was involved, so the Jeep is at a shop in town getting that done.  Hopefully, it will be done on Wednesday.   I'll add a photo to the February album when that is accomplished.  The engine is running very nice, as Chuyito took it on himself to study up on the carburetor, and correct a few misplaced wires.  See a video in our February album to see it running!  (Chuyito is driving).  Ben also bought some steps so we can get in and out of it without breaking a leg!  
The '30 Roadster is coming along slowly.  Ben has spent a lot of time underneath it (again!) shimming the body to try to get the doors to fit correctly.  Since the body is not "stiff", with a roof and window frames, it's tough to get it lined up so the doors close and latch.  He's close with the passenger door, but still working on the driver's side door.  Then, this week we are going to take on the soft top roof project.  We've found and watched several "how-to" videos.  I hope our marriage will survive this project!!!  Ben did buy a nice air powered staple gun (shown in the videos) because we thought that would be a lot easier than little upholstery nails and a hammer.  There is a car show in La Paz in mid-March that we would like to take the car to.... time will tell!  

Our garden is growing!  Corn cobs are starting to develop, and if we can keep the varmits (Sam and Zoey) out of the garden, we should have some ready to eat in a week or so.  (Yes, Sam sneaked in the fenced garden when we had left the gate open and knocked down a few stalks that were thinking about developing cobs.  😦)

Here's the link to our February 2019 Album, which has more pictures and videos in it than this post.  

We have guests coming the end of this week, but we've got space for more!  If you can get to an open airport, you might want to consider coming to visit us here in Baja California Sur, where it NEVER snows!  And the weather is starting to warm up with highs in the low 80's, and the wind should start to slow down, too.

Hasta la proxima vez (who knows, maybe sometime in March!)
Tus amigos de Baja
Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey

Pic-of-the-Week for January 31, 2019

Hola Amigos,

My calendar reminder said I was supposed to do this on Tuesday, but hey!  I'm retired and really don't have a schedule.  Did you miss us?

Last Sunday was our 51st wedding Anniversary; we didn't have a BIG party like last year, but it seems like we celebrated for three whole days!  On Saturday, we went to San Jose del Cabo and stayed at our favorite hotel there, The Tropicana.  We were joined by our friends Mel & Katie, and Tom and Karan (my cousins from Oregon).  Saturday was also Karan's birthday.  We went out that night to Jasmine Restaurant and had delicious food, and enjoyed their dancers.  Wow!  So many colorful outfits, and talented dancing!  We loved it!  The restaurant also gave us gifts (nice wine glasses) and provided a bottle of tequila with our picture on it.  😍😏  And desert!

 On Sunday, we came home and prepared for 11 of us for dinner; our friends Hector Manuel & Rosy were bringing Chilis en Nogales for dinner!  Another delicious meal (sorry, I didn't get pictures of it.)  Thank you, Rosy, for all your hard work, and Hector Manuel, for delivering them all the way from La Paz!  

On Monday night, we went to Rancho Buena Vista and joined the party put on by Mark Walters and his band, Skeleton Key.  Mark is part owner in Rancho BV, and a good friend of ours.  He has also been very ill this past summer with diverticulitis so it was very good to see him up and about, and playing the music he loves.  That's him on his guitar back there.  And by the way, a very nice dinner was served, too!  

Ben's auto projects are continuing.  We got the Jeep back from the auto electrician yesterday, and the wiring is beautiful.  Only problem is it still won't start (does that sound familiar?)!!   Ben is trying to figure out why it doesn't get any spark.  We did try to start it while still at the electricians, and pointed out that the fuel pump (which is rather noisy) wasn't working, so he got that going.  Poco a poco!!  

The Model A Roadster is coming together.  Ben got the doors put on, and that was a major effort (more time underneath the body adjusting things and shimming so the doors fit.)  He has started to work on putting the folding convertible top together, and he says the instructions are very difficult to understand.  He wants me to read them, too, so both of us don't understand what we're doing!  Sigh....  I think this is the most difficult one we've worked on yet, but it should be a ton of fun to drive around.  

One of the more exciting things that happened here (and we had perfectly clear  weather for it) was the full eclipse of the Super Blood Wolf Moon on January 20.  I got some amazing photos of it, but then, I took over 200 photos, so chances were pretty good that I'd get something decent!  I created a whole photo album of the best photos, but here is one at the full eclipse.  Super Blood Wolf Moon album is here.  Notice the star (or maybe it's a planet) off to the left of the moon.

Zoey and I are continuing to walk 6 days a week, and 2 to 3 of those days include a hike up to the Flag Monument.  Zoey is amazing, and is willing to go as far as needed, panting all the way (she refuses to drink water until we get home).  She is very good at staying right next to me (without a leash) when we're crossing the road, or when traffic is passing us on any of the dirt roads we hike.  She's also friendly with all the dogs we meet hiking with their people.  That was 3.34 miles round trip this morning.  And when we come home, Zoey spends much of her day hunting lizards in our wood piles!  Don't bother stacking up the wood, she just noses it apart in her hunt for critters.  

And Sam, our other dog?  He'll go on hikes maybe twice a month, if I adjust them a bit so we don't gain too much elevation, and while Zoey hunts, he naps!  

Our granddaughter had her 5th birthday, and her Mom made another beautiful birthday cake.  

She was born in Chicago 5 years ago, and I went up there to help out at that time.  I remember extremely cold weather the entire time I was there.  It was not quite as frigid as it is currently, but cold enough for someone who is used to sunshine and temps in the 70's in January and February, and no wardrobe for that kind of weather.  

For an example of "cost of Mexican life", we paid our property taxes last week.  The piece with the house, with Ben's old man 50% discount, was about $210 US.  We also paid the taxes for the first time on our neighboring lot, and got a 20% discount for paying early.  It was $9500  pesos, or just under $500 US.  Yes, believe it or not, a bare lot is more expensive, but it will be cheaper taxes after we build a structure on it with at least a bathroom and bedroom.  Too bad that won't be for a while!  (Anyone want to invest in a Baja vacation home??)  😉 

Well, January is another memory, and we're ready to start February.  If any of you are in the need to get out of the cold weather, drop us a line.  We have only a few guests planning on coming, so make your reservations soon!

January 2019 album has a few more pics.  

Hasta la proxima vez,
Tus amigos de Baja,
Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey

  

Pic-of-the-Week for January 15, 2019

Hola Amigos,

This is the first edition for 2019, so Happy New Year from Casa Purkey, seen  from the Flag Monument a few days ago.  

This photo makes it look like its set right down in the middle of the tropical desert we have here, but it's not, really.  Just close!  And yes, I did finally hike with gimpy Zoey up to the top of the Flag Monument.  We both made it, and according to my iPhone pedometer, it was 2.8 miles round trip from my house to Rancho Buena Vista, and up to the monument and back home.  Since Zoey couldn't walk at all several years ago, she is doing fantastic.  I've found that she doesn't mind walking on the beach as long as she is far away from the water, but she will only take it for so long, then she's ready to turn around and zoom back home!  Hiking up the road to the monument didn't bother her at all!  

Below is the view to the north and Los Barriles from the monument.  

To the left is the track of my walk this morning, from our casa to Rancho Buena Vista and back.  Not fast, not far, but Zoey and I are out there getting our hearts pumping!  I'm going to have to do the Monument hike again to see if the Runkeeper app agrees with the distance my iPhone said.

Ben is making fantastic progress (finally!) on both the Jeep and the '30 Roadster.  

We got the Roadster running the other day, and it is sounding very good.  (Not a simple task...see description of getting a Model A to run below). 

 He had some help from our friend Mel two days getting the rumble seat lid to fit properly, and after much shaving of some rubber bumpers and various adjustments, it fits nicely.  A few days ago, since it's now running very well, we put the engine hood on.  It will need a minor adjustment by the body shop to fit perfectly, but it's close! (You can see where the curve of the hood doesn't fit tight by the radiator). Ben took the windshield frame and a pattern into La Paz last week to have the windshield glass cut and fit into the frame.  He also took the light bar (holds the headlights, and attaches on the front fenders) into the body shop, and they are painting it for him.  (The replacement part he bought didn't hold the headlights correctly...they were pointing up, and there was no way to adjust them.)  He's going into La Paz tomorrow to pick up those parts. 

Today, the Jeep is at the welders getting some sheet metal welded on to close up the holes previous owners cut in it for the tail lights.  Original lights just bolt on the outside.  After the welder is done, Ben is towing it over to the auto-electrician to have the wiring done.  At that point (hope, hope, hope!), it will be drive-able.  Not done, but drive-able!  Ben has made a beautiful wooden dashboard to cover up the ugly, full of holes one that was in there.  He was having an awful time trying to get a smooth finish on it, so he took it to the body shop in La Paz.  They polished it to a beautiful finish!  Now, if we can keep it looking nice and un-scratched.   He ordered new gauges for it, built a new glove box, and has the gauges installed and ready to take to the electrician.  (Good thing you can't see the back...it is really ugly!)  

Most of these tasks don't sound like much, but every one is a time consuming effort!  For example, Ben decided to put the license plate on the Jeep the other day.  Holes were in the bumper at the correct place so the license would fit perfectly.  Ben was going to crawl underneath, and I'd hold the license and put in the bolts, and he'd put on the nuts.  He got under there, and couldn't see the bolts... so he said "I'll have to take off the bumper to put this license plate on it.  Then he looked, and the trailer hitch was welded to the bumper!  Argh! Get out a cutter and cut that weld off, then unbolt the bumper, put on the license plate, then re-attach the bumper.  That 10 minute job took about an hour or more!  

Here's an example of time consuming tasks for the Roadster.  Ben wanted to try starting it, but he wanted to turn it around so the exhaust was pointed outside the garage door.  First, we had to pull the Jeep out of the way by hooking it up to one of our other trucks.  Then, we got in pushing positions, and pushed and steered the Roadster out of the garage.  When we got out and were ready to turn the steering wheel the other way to back it up (three-point turn?), Ben was turning and turning and turning the steering wheel, and the wheels weren't turning!!!  Oh no!  We managed to get it back in the garage, and Ben tried to find out what was wrong in the steering unit.  He was taking it all apart (sorry, I don't know the names of the bits and pieces), and discovered when he took off the steering wheel, it was missing a Woodruff key.  Aha!  He contacted our friend Robin who had access to those keys, and he came over a few days later to install it (of course Ben was gone that day...) and he said "Ben told me the wrong size".  So, after several more days, he was back with the correct size, and they installed it, and Ben re-connected all the steering parts.  Finally, we could then steer the car out the garage and back in so it was headed in the opposite direction.  (Don't forget, we had to move the Jeep again!)  Of course, the car didn't start on the first, or second or third try, or that first day!  The battery seemed to be very weak, and the re-built engine was stiff!  Ben switched batteries, (Model A batteries are 6-volt, by the way).  He called our friend Mike in Bend who rebuilt the engine for advice.   He tried a 12 volt battery, which helped turn the engine over much faster.  When we finally had a strong battery, and the gas line switch in the correct position, it finally started.  That was about a 1+ week task, just to start the engine!!  But it is purring now!  You can see a video of the engine running and Ben making a few minor adjustments to it in our 2019 January album.

We are just hoping when these cars are both put together and running, Ben will have some space in his shop.  This is what it looks like now!

Just a few washers and bolts, various car parts, screw drivers and wrenches and instruction books laying around!  He seems to know where most of this stuff is, though!  

We have been having some good times with cousins Tom and Karan from Oregon.  They usually spend the month of January here, staying at a nearby house they rent for the duration.  They've been coming for several years now, so know their way around, and last year for the first time, drove down from Oregon.  They picked up some hitchhiking young girls (20-ish) yesterday and hauled them all the way to Cabo Pulmo!  We've played lots of Mexican Train, gone to music concerts together, eaten out often, sat around our fire pit and told stories.  Tom went to La Paz with Ben last week when Ben needed to leave his new pickup in the body shop for minor repairs (rust from some Canadian winters before we bought it).  Tom let Ben drive Tom's truck around La Paz for their other errands that day, so that worked great.  

One of our other projects is clearing the new property next door.  We have an abundance of burning materials for our fire pit.  And we have found some desirable trees and cactus underneath all that brush!  Forty years or so ago, they used to make adobe blocks right here.  There are still stacks of them, crumpled and broken, under a layer of dirt and leaves. 

The garden is doing well.  I have planted my next crop of sweet corn and Blue Lake pole beans.  Neither are up yet, but we had a wonderful soaking rain yesterday, so I'm expecting things to pop up soon.  I've got some very healthy looking cucumber plants, tomatoes, lettuce and radishes and cilantro.  We planted some sunflower seeds for the birds' benefit, so we'll see how those do!  

Like our sweet granddaughter, we send you our love, and hope that you are healthy and enjoying this new year.

Don't forget, more photos are in our 2019_January photo album.



Hasta la proxima vez,
Tus amigos de Baja,
Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey

Pic-of-the-Week for December 19, 2018

Hola Amigos, y Feliz Navidad!  

We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from beautiful Baja California Sur, Mexico!  

  

Those are a few photos of my meager Christmas decorations!  

Don't forget the reason for the season!  



We have no family close by this year, so we will celebrate with friends down here, and hopefully have some video phone calls with our wide spread family!  We did enjoy chatting with Rebecca and Tim the other day, making plans for our summer, but the kids were already in bed so didn't get to chat with them.  Ryan has a job in Shanghai now, but probably doesn't get the Christmas Holiday off.  Hope to see baby Olivia in video or still photos....hard to believe she is 5 months old already!  

Our "at home" projects are moving along.  The '30 Model A still hasn't been started due to shorting problems with the ignition switch and the distributor.  Ben spent a lot of time trying to figure that one out, and now, he really needs to send that unit back to the manufacturer and get it fixed....in the US!  In the meantime we've been working on upholstery and getting the seats in.  We got the front seat in, as well as some side panels behind the door and panels in the rumble seat area, when Ben decided those back panels needed to come out to put in some wood slats to stiffen the area.  So, back into the rumble seat area to unscrew multiple screws to get the things out.  Here's a 2 for 1 shot of the Model A and the Jeep out front!  



That was discouraging enough to start working on the Jeep again.  First effort to put the Jeep tail lights in and he discovers that the holes where the tail lights go are a lot bigger than the light fixtures.  Grumble, grumble!  (It had some diamond plating metal in that area previously).  Not sure what to do there!  Ahh... work on cleaning up and putting the windshield on.  (He just started that project, so not sure how long that one will last until he runs into a problem that can't be easily resolved!

Another ongoing project is moving our phone line.  When we first built our house in 2002, the phone line was to the east of us about 50 yards.  They then changed the line to follow the road that curves around our house to the west and south.  They hooked our line to a pole way to the southeast of our casa.  That line goes UNDER the road in a PVC pipe that has been exposed for about 6 months on part of the road.  I keep piling rocks up around it, and piling dirt, but it won't be long before some big old truck drives over it and cracks it, thus compromising the lines (ours, Ryan's, and our neighbor Peter's house).  So, we had a trench dug from the closest pole to our monument in front of the house.  We can do that now since we bought the neighboring lot!  It's much shorter distance, no roads go over it (other than our minor use of it to get to our new lot) and is nice and deep!  By the way, it cost $40 to have that trench dug, and a few trees pulled out, by the backhoe.  It would have taken Ben a couple weeks to dig that much, if he'd survived.  That is HARD dirt, and there was a BIG chunk of concrete that the construction workers used to bend rebar when they built our carport, directly in the middle of the trench!!  It took the backhoe a while to get it out.  You can see it sitting there to the left of Ben.

Our favorite plumber / electrician, Carlitos,  came and attached proper conduit piping to the monument, and laid the pipe in the trench for us.  We're waiting for the back hoe to come back and fill it in.  Then the Telmex guy should be here any day (hope hope hope!) to move our phone lines to our new conduit.  Picture below shows Ben working with Carlitos in the trench.  Our monument is the pink thing there on the right.  

   
The garden is doing OK.  We did have an invasion of cutworms and other nasty critters that ate the maturing lettuce, so we pulled what was left, replanted, and will try again.  The garden area on the new lot is fenced in to keep the bunnies out, and so far I've got two rows of 1" to 2" high corn, a couple tomato plants and some cucumbers planted in there as well.  My bush beans did produce, but not a lot... this was an experiment to see if I could get some beans before I plant the pole beans a bit later.  Yeah, I could, but not very many!  More compost / fertilizer / good dirt?  Who knows.  Maybe less wind would help!  

Yes, it has been windy, and the kite-boarders are loving it.  We just hope that it calms down enough in the evenings so we can go out and enjoy a fire in our little fire pit.  The ambiance is nice, and we've also got a lot of trees pruned and areas cleared on the new lot.  Ben has been using the pitchfork inherited from his Dad a lot on this project!  

We had company!  Chrys and Gary were here for a long weekend to celebrate Gary's birthday.  They had a great time and wished it could have been longer.  Sam was thrilled with Chrys, because she picked him up and held him at the table, just like Ryan does.  Chin on the table, and all is well in Sam's world!  (He doesn't get up there during meals, by the way.  Just before or after.)  Chrys also joined me on my morning walks, which was nice.  She was amazed at how fast Zoey can move on the way home!  

The big waves in this picture are due to the strong winds.  

Chrys and I found this Moray Eel on the beach the other day.  He had tried to eat a fish that was caught in a net.  He couldn't swallow it, so they both died.  

Well, on that cheery note... 

More photos have been added to the 2018 December album.  

We hope you have a lovely Christmas and a prosperous New Year.  And maybe you'll think about coming to visit us in beautiful Baja in 2019!  

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

Pic-of-the-Week for December 5, 2018

Hola Amigos,

I apologize for not writing and posting a second Pic-of-the-Week in November.  I guess we were busier than I thought with all our social obligations AND running the "Feeding the Hungry" Fashion Show.  It was a busy month, and we're hoping we can get back on some of our "important" home projects!  

We took a day trip amidst all the activity and went out to Los Frailes to visit our friends Katie and Mel at their Canyon camp.  While there, Katie spotted a Road Runner right next to their pickup and camper.  I grabbed my good camera and started taking pictures.  This guy was so calm and didn't mind having us around him, chatting quietly, clicking pictures right and left!  Pretty amazing!  I got within 5' of him.

I have a really cool video of him  here:  Road Runner video.   There are also new November pictures in our 2018-November album.

We ended our trip to the "wilderness" with dinner in La Ribera at a new restaurant there.  The owners used to run the restaurant "Trinidad" at a trailer park in La Ribera.  That place burned down several years ago, so they've started this new one and the food is delicious!  It is Providencia Restaurant Bar & Grill.  We recommend it highly!

November 20 is Mexico's Revolution Day, a very important holiday here.  Of course, we got out our Model A's and dusted them off and drove into town for the parade.  This is the one time a year I get to drive the '29 pickup, which is fine with me.  I'm not a big fan of double-clutching, and we do have way more topes (speed bumps) than most places, which involves even more shifting!  

I got the princesses in the pickup, and Ben got the "junior" royalty (three cute elementary age kids) in the '28 Woody.  

After the parade, we worked full speed ahead on the Fashion Show.  In spite of a few bumps in the road, this year's Fashion Show, which helps feed poor  families in Los Barriles, did even better this year than last year.  We had changed a lot of things; venue, dinner instead of lunch, open menu, no reserved tables, more jewelers, more clothing vendors....you name it, we changed it!  Everyone seemed to have a great time, and we're already thinking about how to make improvements for next year!  

Here are some photos taken by the professional photographer who donates his time and efforts.  Neil Howe photos.   If you look hard, you might see someone you know! (Me and Ben!)

Our last exciting event in November was a concert by Miguel de Hoyos, our favorite guitarist!  You can check out a video by him in the 2018 December album.  

Right after the Fashion Show, but in December, was this autumn's annual car show in La Paz.  Ben loaded up the 29 Pickup and we headed to La Paz.  We have fun with this, especially the parade on Saturday night.  Most Mexicans haven't seen a car that old still running.  They think they exist only in movies!  We try to beep our oo-gah horn as often as possible, especially when we see little kids!  In fact, we were asked if the horn (claxon in Spanish) worked OK by a waiter at the hotel / restaurant where we stayed!  I assured him it did.  Our hotel is only a few blocks from the venue, so we got a lot of walking done.  

The Model A was parked right in front at the show, and it attracted a lot of attention.  

Here is a popular spot for photo taking!  

In December we're looking forward to a few guests, time to work on the Model A and the Jeep, and more gardening.  My first lettuce crop was doing well, and then got eaten in just a few days by cut worms and other nasty critters.  They didn't touch the spinach.  And I have beans on my bush bean plants, and we've been enjoying some very tasty radishes.  

Hope you are all staying warm, wherever you are.  

Hasta la proxima vez,

Tus amigos in Baja,

Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey