Pic-of-the-Week for December 31, 2013

Hola Amigos,
Welcome to the FINAL Pic-of-the-Week for 2013.  And let us wish you un feliz ano nuevo (Happy New Year), wherever you are in this world!  These next two photos are from the Tropic of Cancer monument near us here.  They have done a great job of making this somewhere you'd want to stop and take pictures!  
This is the old monument, which used to be just painted white with a red stripe around the Tropic of Cancer latitude.

And this is the new monument (I'm obviously on the back side here, since the continents are backwards, but the light is better!)  

John and Allyson are leaving today... reluctantly!  They have very much enjoyed their time here, although the social life was a bit busy at times!  Of course, it may be the time of year.  At least John got to watch the Ducks beat Texas convincingly yesterday (GO DUCKS!) He enjoyed re-connecting with his childhood friend, Ellis (who had the TV and satellite connection so we could watch the game).  I imagine we'll be seeing them down here again soon!  John even got his feet toughened up walking barefoot on the beach!

One of Allyson's goals while here was to pet the burros.  They left early one morning to walk the beach to town, and the burros showed up.  We went into town and had breakfast with them, and left them in town, came back home, and the burros were still around!  They must have heard that Allyson wanted to see them, because they hung around for a couple hours until she finally came back!  (Of course, the gum drops may have had something to do with it!)  (Or...maybe they were hanging around because it was garbage day???  Probably not!)  

We took them a lot of places around here, but left enough things "undone" for them to want to come back again, and we hope it is sooner rather than later!

As you can see from Allyson's outfit, the weather has been very pleasant.  A few windy days, and some gorgeous calm days.   We took a tour to Punta Pescadero and saw a whale jump and spout, took in the gorgeous scenery and endured the bumpy ride!  We must admit, a road crew finally repaired the road to Nowhere (to El Cardonal, actually), and it wasn't too bad.  There are rumors that the beach road will be paved someday soon, but we're not holding our breath!!  It is still bumpy enough to rattle your teeth! (The road to our house STILL hasn't been graded.)

We had a lovely Christmas day last week; we were invited to a Christmas Brunch at our neighbor's home (Craig and Mary), then invited to Christmas dinner at friends' home (Dick and Becky) at Lighthouse Point (about 30 minutes south of us).  Santa even came to visit at Breakfast!  We ate well and sang Christmas Carols and had a wonderful time.  (Notice Santa's footwear... Baja appropriate!)

Christmas dinner with ALL the fixings!  Delicious! 

As we say farewell to 2013, we wish all our friends a very blessed New Year.  We hope that you will consider a Baja vacation sometime in 2014 so we can share our blessings with you! 

I think I have finished up the December 2013 album; just a few captions to add.  

Hasta la proxima ano....  
Tus amigos de Baja

Ben, Harriet, Ryan, Sam & Zoey 

  

Pic-of-the-Week for December 24, 2013

Hola Amigos,

First of all, we want to wish all our friends a Merry Christmas, and encourage you to remember the "reason for the season". 
"For unto us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6  

We will be participating in our church's Candlelight service tonight.  Sure wish you could all be here to sing along with us!  We're singing lots and lots of Christmas carols and hymns.  I'll be busy at the keyboard, while Ben runs the PowerPoint show and Ryan does the sound.  

Cousins John and Allyson arrived last Friday, and they are great guests!  They have never been here before, so everything they see and do is a new experience, and for the most part, they have enjoyed themselves!  

Yesterday we took them and some other friends to our favorite restaurant in Santiago, Palomar, then on to the Santa Rita hot springs.  We were the only ones at the hot springs, and we sat and enjoyed them for several hours.  Just as we were getting out, another group showed up.  Perfect timing!  That water felt SO good!  (It was a very windy day at home, so a great day to go to the hot springs).  

Here is our "tour group" of friends who spent the day enjoying lunch and the hot springs.

John, Allyson, Ben, Sandy, Harriet, Debi, Pat, Jim and Ryan.  

Oh yeah!  I did finish the baby quilt!  At least as much as I will do until it needs to be bound.  I let professionals put the backing on and "quilt" it, and I'll have that done in Chicago when I go to visit in February.   

Well, we've got things to do, and places to go, so I'm making this letter short today!  We hope your holiday celebrations are happy and safe and blessed!   

More photos are in our December 2013 Picasa album.  I even have captions on most of the photos!  

Feliz Navidad a todos nuestros amigos!  
Tu amigos de Baja
Harriet, Ben, Ryan, Sam & Zoey 

 

This cactus is on the trail to the hot springs. We all took turns posing! 

Pic-of-the-Week for December 17, 2013

Hola Amigos,

Only 8 shopping days until Christmas!  Where does the time go??  There are no presents under our little tree, because the dogs probably wouldn't leave them alone (especially any food items).  Besides that, none of us has bought any gifts.  Ben does well enough just buying items over the internet for his old cars!!  Each time he makes a purchase, I say "Merry Christmas"!  (It is exactly what he wanted, after all!  Can't go wrong on that gift giving!)  Ben has been attached to Model A's for a LONG time.  Here's a photo his brother Ken sent us recently with Ben as a little boy sitting on the fender of an old Model A that was on their farm.  The others in it are his sister Carol and Uncle Jess Bunnell, and brothers Dan and Ken on top.  He said, looking at it with his more experienced eyes, that it was really in pretty good shape, considering! 

He has been busy still working on the Woody, especially.  Checking the brakes (which are in bad shape!), re-adjusting this and that.  It looks good on the outside, but needs some work on the "workings".  He hopes to take it to a National Model A meet in Puyallup this summer, so that means fixing up the car trailer as well.  Lots of details to work out!   

I helped my friend Janet at a local style show the other day.  Here are her models; many of whom are my friends, too.  Janet's shop is very popular here in town.  It's nice to find clothing appropriate for the climate and the life style here locally.  I didn't model; I was a "back room" assistant, getting the clothing that was modeled back out on the racks.  (Janet is the blonde (Hah! That eliminates one person!) in the grey dress on the right).  

Work on our palapas upstairs is continuing, and they will probably finish tomorrow.   Miguel and his crew do really nice work, and he's asked me to ask all my friends if they need any palapa work done on their houses.  So....anyone need a palapa roof done at their house?  Ryan's only complaint is that they show up VERY early in the morning (one time before 6AM) to start work!  Some other friends who had them do a job for them told him "no work before 8AM"!  I guess it worked, although Miguel was chomping at the bit outside their gate!! 
 

 I have been working on the quilt for our new granddaughter, although I don't have much to show for it!  It took me several days to figure out how to do the borders.  I even took photos of possibilities and posted them on Facebook for my quilting friends out there for suggestions and/or comments.  Some are real pros, so I really valued their input.  I think I've finally got it figured out, and am in the process now of putting it all together.  My normal Oregon "quilter" is not doing any work until April (they now have a house down here, but no quilting machines), so I'll be taking the top with me to Chicago in February, as Rebecca says it can be done there.  I'll post a photo of the finished product...when it's finished! 

We're looking forward to my cousins arriving this Friday.  We hope to show them some of our favorite things and places and food while they're here, and also, give them some time to just relax!  

Here's another "blast from the past"... Ben and I cross country skiing at Clear Lake, Oregon, in the 1970's.  See... we can get in the cold winter spirit, too.  At least we used to!  

Right now, we're enjoying bright sunshine.  The temp is rather low this morning at 61 right now, and a low of 56.  I imagine it will get into the 70's today.  

I haven't posted any new photos to my December 2013 album.  Not much picture taking happened this week.  (That's why I fluffed this up with old ones!!)  

Hasta la proxima semana,

Tus amigos de Baja,

Harriet, Ben, Ryan, Sam & Zoey

Pic-of-the-Week for December 10, 2013

Hola Amigos! 

It was a very quiet week at Casa Purkey, compared to the last 2 weeks, in spite of the fact that Miguel and his helper came to work on our upstairs palapa!  (No sweet little boys chasing dogs or blowing bubbles or digging in the dirt!)  Today is Aaron's 2nd birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY from Grandma and Grandpa Purkey, Aaron!   Looks like he's climbing up to the table for his next meal, maybe of birthday cake this time! :-)   Hard to believe that I was there in Jordan for his birth 2 years ago.  How time flies!  

Now we're getting ready for the birth of his sister in a few short months.  I just made my airline reservations last night.  I won't be there for the birth, but will be there to help Rebecca when she has her knee surgery mid-February, and a bit after.  I'll get home just in time to help entertain Greg and Cherlene (Ben's brother and sister-in-law), who will be arriving in Baja the same day I return.  

We're also expecting my cousin and his wife on a visit late next week.  John drives school bus, so his schedule is a bit tight!  Allyson runs a Health Food store in Prineville, so she had to make arrangements for someone to run that while she is gone.  It only took them 3 or 4 years, but they finally got it figured out!  Hooray! 

Since things quieted down, I hunkered down yesterday and worked on the baby quilt.  I actually made really good progress, and have the main part all put together.  Now, since I'm working without a specific pattern, I've got to figure out how to do the edges, probably 8" more all around.  I'm thinking more "fans".  What do you think so far?  Enough color?

Another exciting thing that happened is our plant stalk finally started blooming!!!  And guess what color the flowers are????  


GREEN!  It is very pretty, though.  It does have yellowish stamens (which are full of pollen...don't pass too close by!) 

This plant definitely makes a statement, and I'm loving it!. 

Like I said earlier, Miguel and his helper come early every day to work on the palapas upstairs (like, 7am!)  On the day they removed the old palm leaves, it rained!  They are still putting up the new Palo de Arco cross braces.  They took yesterday off from working here to accumulate more.  I imagine the palm leaves will start going on late today or tomorrow. Here is what it looked like the other day after they got the available Palo de Arco sticks up on the palm beams.

When they started doing the work upstairs, Ryan hauled our "Christmas Tree" downstairs (we store it up there).  He strung the lights and I decorated it, so we're all set for Christmas at Casa Purkey!  

You might notice our gas heater behind the tree???  Ben actually turned it on the other night.  He said it was in sympathy for all of you who are suffering such low temperatures in the US, especially Oregon.  (We remember the last time we had below zero temps in the early 70's when we lived in Eugene....  BRRRR!!) 

There are a few more photos in our December 2013 Album, and even some captions.  We hope you are all staying warm... temps here are in the 60's at night, and 70's during the day.  We've had quite a few clouds; it seems like the jet stream is flowing right over southern Baja, but we can usually find a warm sunny spot somewhere!  If not, we'll just head to the hot springs!!  (Or turn on the heater!)   

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

Pic-of-the-Week for December 3, 2013

Hola Amigos,

Yes, I know this is late today!  Today was Rebecca and Tim's last day here.  We ran them and the boys to the airport late this morning and saw them off with their two big suitcases, 2 backpacks, a duffle bag, a stroller, two carseats....and oh yeah!  Two little boys!  I think they're going home well rested.  Hope so, because Rebecca and Tim will be leaving Chicago for an 11 day conference in the UK on Friday!  The kids get to stay with Tim's grandparents.  (I'm wishing them lots of energy and patience for the time!!!)  When you're not used to it, little ones (even your very own, precious, smarter than any other kids and so good looking grandkids) will certainly try your patience!  I guess that's why we have our children when we're fairly young and resilient (and don't need so many naps as I do now!)  Anyhow we had fun with them, and I will see them all again when I go to Chicago to help Rebecca when the baby grand-daughter is born, and for some knee surgery Rebecca has scheduled on Valentine's Day. 

We had a very nice Thanksgiving, although I was sick in bed with a stomach upset the day before.  Ben ended up with the same crud Saturday afternoon, and he's finally feeling better today.  Rebecca helped a lot with the cooking on Thanksgiving, (for which I'm very thankful!) and Ben smoked a turkey that turned out delicious! 

Aaron loves mechanical things, and he eventually spotted his Grandpa's coffee grinder, and ground to his heart's content!  (there were only a few beans in it)

 Aaron thought his Unca Ryan was pretty cool.  He went looking for him in the driveway this morning (where he had been told NOT to go!)  He was very happy when Ryan showed up and rescued him!  

The boys also spent a lot of time blowing bubbles.  It's a real treat for them to be outside and barefoot this time of the year (I rarely saw them in shoes, unless we were going somewhere). 

They also spent some "down" time looking at videos on David's tablet.  They got along pretty well together!

I got the boys to help me measure the plant that hasn't bloomed YET!  It is now way taller than either I or the boys could reach!  Can't wait for it to start blooming.

I've started a new album for December 2013.  Not much in it yet, but it's early!  (I stole some from Thanksgiving and added them in December).  I might even do captions some day.  

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

Pic-of-the--Week for November 26, 2013

Hola Amigos!

Well, here it is 11:20, and I finally have a few minutes to sit down and write our weekly report!  I remembered that it was Tuesday about 2 hours ago, but still had a few chores to do before I started this.  It's just a bit busier around here than usual with 2 toddlers (almost 2 and almost 4)!  Throw in a couple silly little dogs in the mix and it makes life even more interesting!  The boys like to get up at 6AM and have a bowl or two of Cheerios with milk, and another breakfast with the adults at about 9.  By then, it is almost time for Aaron's morning nap (Rebecca joined him today!) and some quiet time for David.  We changed the schedule a bit last Wednesday when we all went for a ride in the Model A Woody ... first time for David and Aaron in a car without car seats (let alone seat belts!)  I think they had a grand time practicing their parade waves!   Ryan drove the Model A Pickup, and the Revolution Day princesses rode in back.  He had the tough job!  (These photos were taken by someone else who had a really nice camera.  He chose a sepia / black and white theme for this photo).

Yesterday we went to the zoo in Santiago, which is just the right size for toddlers (small and not too many animals to see).    Plus it has a really nice playground structure that the boys enjoyed greatly.  

Aaron loves to push the stroller!   

The lioness roared really loudly while we were there!  She is very pretty in the sunshine...  same color hair as Aaron!

We've also walked on the beach and waded in the water and played in the sand and blew bubbles, all things that are hard to do in the Chicago area this time of year.  Other things the boys have done, especially Aaron, is find all things greasy ... he loves mechanical things, and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty! 

Future mechanic?  Could be!! 

 Let's see.... I got up on this thing all by myself.  Can I get down?  (Photo taken through a window).

This

What happens when I push this button, Uncle Ryan?  

This is a "Y", Zoey.  

As you can see, we have been a bit busy around here!  I have had a few quiet moments to add more photos to our November 2013 Picasa album.  I've even put captions on a lot of them.  

We hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving celebration this week.  We're having all our family (that's 7 of us) plus 4 guests.  Ben is going to smoke a turkey, and Rebecca and I will add pies and potatoes and all the other goodies that go with a proper Thanksgiving meal.  

Hasta la proxima semana,
Tus amigos de Baja,
Harriet, Ben, Ryan, Sam & Zoey, AND Rebecca and Tim, David and Aaron!  

Pic-of-the-Week for November 19, 2013

Hola Amigos,
The daughter, son-in-law and grandsons arrived yesterday, so this week's post will be short!  Things are very busy around here!  The dogs are tired out already!!!  Aaron helped was the dinner dishes (he loves water!)

David played with some letter cards that were originally his Mom's when she was a little girl!  He loves letters!  

Ben went to another car show in La Paz this weekend.  He had a bit of trouble with the engine running too rich, so Ryan ran up on Sunday with another set of spark plugs for him to use.  He did with another prize, this one "Honor to whom honor is due".  He says he doesn't know who won top prize!  He has trouble following the Spanish! 

These girls are the twin daughters of Hector Manuel Amarillas, the car show organizer.  They are both excellent water polo players at university in La Paz.  

In the meantime, I stayed home and dog sat and worked on the quilt.  It's coming along slowly, although I'm still in the "design and decide" phase.  I can't believe I'm still cutting out a few more of the flower petals here and there, but that happens in this phase!  I do seem to have enough scraps that I can come up with the colors I like.  Here it is laid out on my bed as I decide what design looks best. Maybe I'll even get some input from Rebecca, since I'm making it for her new baby girl!  :-)

Oh...it rained one day last week.  It was completely unexpected... and it poured for several hours. Now the weeds will pop up for sure!  And after the rain storm, Ryan discovered this guy (gal?) in our courtyard.  A nice little baby tarantula, probably 2" long.  He transported him in this old jug to a field far away!  (Don't need the grandsons playing with it!!)
 

We've got a parade coming up this week in Los Barriles for Revolution Day November 20, if Ben can get the cars running good!  

There are a few more photos in our 2013 November Picasa album.   Suzie Johnson, I'd like you to look at the photo of the plant you gave us years ago that is starting to bloom, and let us know the name of it, please!

Hasta la proxima semana,
Harriet and Ben and ALL the rest!  

Pic-of-the-Week for November 12, 2013

Hola Amigos,

Happy Veteran's Day to all you Veterans out there! (A day late!)

It is another beautiful sunny day here in Baja California Sur (BCS) and the morning temp is a comfortable 68.2F.  The low this morning was 61.5, so we're probably going to have to get out another blanket one of these days, or turn off the fan over the bed!  So far it is still real comfortable to just have a sheet over us at night.  We have had some windy days, but it should be calming down by the end of the week.  We're already seeing kite boarders whenever there is wind.  They are back early!  The water is still nice and warm for swimming or wading, though.  

Last Wednesday I was out for several hours in the morning, and when I got back home, Ben said he had something to show me.  He took me around the house, and there was our Neem tree, cut down.  What he wanted to show me is how well he calculated the cut... the falling tree just missed our loaded Papaya tree and the Bananas trees!  I was impressed! Oh, and he also missed our neighbor Peter's palapa roof!  That would have been nasty to poke a branch through there!!  We had talked about taking that tree out...it made nice shade, but the seeds were dropping everywhere and it was starting to block the upstairs view!   Those branches are now all in the pickup, waiting to be hauled away. (He took the previous load last Tuesday, so there was space again!)  He did this all with a nice sharp hand saw and clippers.

One thing we discovered when we got home this fall is that our new palapa in the courtyard has Powder Post Beetle.  Phooey!  Fair amounts of sawdust were on the counter and some of the posts.  We managed to find a spray guy, and he did the job last week.  He guarantees his work, so we're hoping for the best.  Here's a shot through our kitchen window of one of the fellows spraying the Boric acid.  

Next week is the November 20 parade here in Los Barriles.  The street crews are getting the parade route cleaned up....the street sweepers were out!  If you give enough guys brooms and shovels, the job gets done!  The rains wash dirt and sand into the streets, and water flows downhill, so there were big piles at the bottom!  They sweep the dirt into piles, and shovel it by hand into a dump truck.  Mexicans are hard workers! 

This next weekend, Ben will be taking one of his Model A's to the Autumn car show in La Paz.  I'll probably stay home because I have a piano to play on Sunday morning at church!  Since most of the choir members just arrived in town, I should probably be there for them!  It has been fun seeing the photos that our friend Hector Manuel Amarillas has been posting on Facebook.  Here's one he posted from the a parade we were in a few years ago, maybe the first time we took the '28 Martin Parry / Ford Model A.  There is Ben driving, Harriet in the front seat behind the sign, and Ryan waving.  I think we had two or three other passengers as well!  (Our car painter's wife and son, maybe?)

Then on Monday morning, after Ben loads the Model A on the trailer and hauls it back from La Paz, Rebecca and family are arriving in San Jose in the early afternoon!  It will be a busy day!  

I don't think we've told most of you that we are going to be blessed with another grandchild next January!  A girl this time, so those two boys will have a little sister to spoil!  So, I started a new quilt project with "girl" in mind.  It will have lots of pinks and pretty bright colors.  This kind of pattern with curves is something I haven't tried before, so it may take me a while!!  Fortunately, I've had some good advice from a quilting friend on Facebook, so it may not be as difficult as it could be!  I haven't sewn a seam yet....but soon!!  I'm still cutting out all those flower petals or wheel spokes, or whatever they are.  I've found a pattern called Amish Wheel that I'm using to make this. 

Of course, the new arrival means that I'll be traveling again to help Rebecca and Tim.  I probably won't be there for the birth in late January, since Tim's parents live nearby to help with the boys then. However, Rebecca has a torn meniscus in one knee, and will have that surgery in February, so I'll be there to help during that time.  Hmmmmm.... Chicago in February... I don't have a wardrobe for that climate, so I guess I'll be visiting the thrift stores when I get there!  

Looking forward to a couple busy weeks with busy boys... POTW may be late next week!  A few more photos are posted in our November 2013 Picasa album.

Until the next time,
Tus amigos de BCS,
Ben, Harriet, Ryan, Sam & Zoey