Hola Amigos,
We hope this finds you all healthy, and staying healthy. We can report that we, too, are still healthy, and still staying home. Baja California Sur is in serious "lock down" mode. Most every business is closed, including hotels and restaurants and no fishing boats are in the water. Terminal 2 is closed at the airport, since few international flights are arriving. We do go out to get groceries, go to the bank, and once in a rare while, to the gas station! We have seen a few friends, and appreciate the chance to visit; at the proper social distance! We are enjoying having a meal brought in occasionally by a Mexican friend who runs her restaurant (take out only) in Los Barriles. It's a real treat after all this cooking we've had to do for ourselves. Today, just because I still have lots of flour and a few chocolate chips, I made cookies! Now, since we can have no guests, I guess I'll just have to eat them! Thanks, Katie, for the delicious old, tried and true recipe!
We can finally say that our house is all painted... and in only two colors!! It looks really, really good, and we're very happy that job is done.
This area was a real bear! Our hired painters did a great job painting this section on the 2nd floor, but it was a 4 or 5 year old bucket of paint that just wasn't right. So, we tackled it ourselves with the correct color. I stood below and told Ben where to paint! I also edged these things, and you really can't see what you're doing, except from below, or someone else holding a mirror.
After he finished painting, Ben decided all our outside doors needed refinishing. This house has 8 wooden outside doors!!! He said the main double front doors and maybe one other didn't need to be done, but has finished all of the others. Of course, they have to come off the frame, and be moved to a nice shady work area in front of the garage. Upstairs, downstairs, these doors go where they're needed! Ben has done an amazing amount of work.
Zoey and I continue to walk daily, although Zoey does seem to be lagging behind a bit these days. We did manage to get up to the Flag Monument on my birthday, May 4, just to prove this old lady could still do it! Here's the view from up top!
And the Pitahaya cactus are blooming now. The flowers on these ugly cactus are large and beautiful. It's always a pleasure to see them, and I usually have to stop and get a picture if I can get close enough!
I'm also making face masks for the community. I may give them to Chuy Castro for the folks in our Feeding the Hungry program, if they need them. I've made several for each of us, plus have given some to friends. I was given the elastic, so many will go back to the community program that distributes them.
Our plans for this summer are still up in the air. We did just hear there will be no large gatherings in Oregon through September, so that means no Pendleton Roundup (😒) or car shows or fairs or swap meets. If we are able to easily visit friends and family when we go up, then we'll do it. Otherwise, we might just stay here. We do need some things in the States, though, so we're leaning towards going north the end of June as usual. And we do have a few doctor appointments scheduled for early July. We'll try to keep you posted.
I've created an album for May. You can see more flowers, grandkids, paint job, etc. here: May 2020
Hasta la proxima vez,
Tus Amigos de Baja,
Harriet & Ben, Sam & Zoey
Please see the following note from Ben regarding the Feeding the Hungry Program we are doing here in our little towns.
*** A Feeding the Hungry Update from Ben
Ben & Harriet
We hope this finds you all healthy, and staying healthy. We can report that we, too, are still healthy, and still staying home. Baja California Sur is in serious "lock down" mode. Most every business is closed, including hotels and restaurants and no fishing boats are in the water. Terminal 2 is closed at the airport, since few international flights are arriving. We do go out to get groceries, go to the bank, and once in a rare while, to the gas station! We have seen a few friends, and appreciate the chance to visit; at the proper social distance! We are enjoying having a meal brought in occasionally by a Mexican friend who runs her restaurant (take out only) in Los Barriles. It's a real treat after all this cooking we've had to do for ourselves. Today, just because I still have lots of flour and a few chocolate chips, I made cookies! Now, since we can have no guests, I guess I'll just have to eat them! Thanks, Katie, for the delicious old, tried and true recipe!We can finally say that our house is all painted... and in only two colors!! It looks really, really good, and we're very happy that job is done.
This area was a real bear! Our hired painters did a great job painting this section on the 2nd floor, but it was a 4 or 5 year old bucket of paint that just wasn't right. So, we tackled it ourselves with the correct color. I stood below and told Ben where to paint! I also edged these things, and you really can't see what you're doing, except from below, or someone else holding a mirror.
After he finished painting, Ben decided all our outside doors needed refinishing. This house has 8 wooden outside doors!!! He said the main double front doors and maybe one other didn't need to be done, but has finished all of the others. Of course, they have to come off the frame, and be moved to a nice shady work area in front of the garage. Upstairs, downstairs, these doors go where they're needed! Ben has done an amazing amount of work.
Zoey and I continue to walk daily, although Zoey does seem to be lagging behind a bit these days. We did manage to get up to the Flag Monument on my birthday, May 4, just to prove this old lady could still do it! Here's the view from up top!
And the Pitahaya cactus are blooming now. The flowers on these ugly cactus are large and beautiful. It's always a pleasure to see them, and I usually have to stop and get a picture if I can get close enough!I'm also making face masks for the community. I may give them to Chuy Castro for the folks in our Feeding the Hungry program, if they need them. I've made several for each of us, plus have given some to friends. I was given the elastic, so many will go back to the community program that distributes them.
Our plans for this summer are still up in the air. We did just hear there will be no large gatherings in Oregon through September, so that means no Pendleton Roundup (😒) or car shows or fairs or swap meets. If we are able to easily visit friends and family when we go up, then we'll do it. Otherwise, we might just stay here. We do need some things in the States, though, so we're leaning towards going north the end of June as usual. And we do have a few doctor appointments scheduled for early July. We'll try to keep you posted.
I've created an album for May. You can see more flowers, grandkids, paint job, etc. here: May 2020
Hasta la proxima vez,
Tus Amigos de Baja,
Harriet & Ben, Sam & Zoey
Please see the following note from Ben regarding the Feeding the Hungry Program we are doing here in our little towns.
*** A Feeding the Hungry Update from Ben
Wow! Thanks! Those are two words that sum up Harriet and
my feelings quite well. As many of you
know, we are not good at fund raising.
Our thoughts are always, “yes, a few will give a little”, and then we
can move on and get over it.
Well, we put out the word that our annual fashion show was
cancelled due to the COVID-19 Virus, and the real losers would be the people
that we normally help who are the poorest of the poor in our community.
The church that we attend donates some basic food items to
some of these people weekly, but we feel that every family is different and has
different needs. Young families with
babies may need diapers, and/or special food.
Others may need medicine from time to time. Others may have young kids in school that
need items for lunches. This is why we
feel that the food vouchers are very important to the poor families that we
help.
Our Feeding the Hungry program has been, and will continue
to be, an ongoing program. We don’t
expect to help all the families become self sufficient financially. We will always have a few families that need
help with enough finances to buy food and other necessities. Between donations, and the fashion show that
we put on each year, we hope to have enough money to buy the food vouchers
through the entire year.
Since about the 1st of April the government has
really clamped down on individual and group activities and businesses that
are not considered to be critical. The
beaches are closed, out-of-doors individual activities are curtailed, and some
of the small towns have closed to everyone except the local area people and
those people generally need to have a reason to gain entry to the town.
Many people are out of work because the government has closed
so many businesses. Restaurants, hotels,
time shares, rental units, schools, massage centers, sports clubs, and all
construction work! Many families now
have no income since they cannot work so there is no money coming in to feed
the families.
We are truly amazed how many people helped us financially with
the Feeding the Hungry Program. These
people have been so generous. This is
where the “Wow”, and “Thank you” come in!!
To all our supporters, again we say “Wow”, and “Thank you”! We have been very fortunate to have Chuy
Castro involved with the Feeding the Hungry Program from the start 4 years ago. His knowledge of needs of the people
intimately has been key in the success of this program.
Who would have thought that the COVID-19 Virus would come
and turn the whole world up side down!
For now, we are glad that we can help a few very needy families. If you would like to continue helping, our
PayPal site is available with no fees attached at PayPal.Me/BHPurkey .
To all our many contributors, again we say “Wow”, and
“Thank you”! 💖
Ben & Harriet
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