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
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?
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!
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
Envious of your clear view of the blood moon.
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