A Mermaid on the Beach

Week of Gratitude

We had the best week! How'd y'all do with that full moon on Sunday? We went to Stone Island for a Temezcal. We are so blessed to have such lovely community here.

On Tuesday, we spent the whole day celebrating the most awesome 63 year old man I ever met. (thanks Northie) Yup! Hal is the birthday boy.... we started the day with a ride on the malecon (14 miles), and breakfast in the Olas Altas part of town. Our neighbors Sam and Rita shared a WWII dinner at Wings Army (Mazatlan chicken wings!), a fun dessert at a snappy little cafe, and Harry Potter.

2 days later..... We shared a gentle Thanksgiving with our friends of the Jackson clan. Dinner was memorable and perfect. And traditional - turkey, mashed taters, yum, I'm gettin hungry.

2 days later....Back with the Jacksons where we played and laughed and shared the best time with our new friends.

Hal has some interested people for his Tarot class in January.

Drumming circle was satisfying.

Ate a lot of good food.

See you next week!

On the Waterfront

Before and during Tai Chi class last week. If you look closely, you can spot Northie in the class.

Getting the propane tank filled

Pretty handy - the truck comes around and whoever needs propane gas yells at him to stop at their rig.

Igi

One of our little neighbors, in the tree next door.

Beach Day at Stone Island

Northie made us a great picnic lunch and we headed off to one of our favorite beaches in the area. Seems like the ocean is always calm and there's plenty of space on the huge expanse of beach. Won't be the last time we do this!

War on mice

Looks and feels like we won this one. I know, I know – billions of mice, two of us. However, Hal has spent so much time plugging up holes and setting traps. We have launched 4 carcasses back into the field as warnings and let one escape to warn his friends about us.

We are quite happy in our little routine – singing and drumming with our friends, tai chi classes, bike rides, the beach, Stone Island, and always little household chores and projects. Oh! And studying Spanish – no classes yet, but starting to recapture the verbs I lost over the summer.

Our friends from the “north” are slowly starting to arrive. It’s good to have neighbors. Especially those that speak English AND French. He he he….

Our garden is a daily source of delight. The coleus from WaterSpirit in Maine is so happy here. Same with the peppermint originally from Pittsburgh. The tobacco seeds, tomato seeds and marigold seeds are all happy little babies. The mother-of-millions that OOWah gave me are just cute little maids at this stage, but growing quickly. The stars of the garden are the two purple beans from the Maine council of women labyrinth. They are amazing. Right out of a Jack and the Beanstalk Classics Illustrated.

Where we get our fish.

Enough fish for two complete meals - 54 pesos ($4.50)

Where we get our fruits and vegetables.

4 perfectly ripe avocatos
2 big tomatoes
10 limes
2 bananas
1 cantelope
2 oranges
1 head garlic

63 pesos ($5.00)

Breakfast and snacks for the next few days - priceless

Saturday evening around downtown

A few scenes from a walk around the downtown/old town area to one of our favorite restaurants on the beach.

Friday Night Art Walk

The first Friday of each month there is a huge gallery event where many art gallery downtown open for guests. A friend of ours runs an art school and has a gallery and we spent the evening there, surrounded by incredible artwork by him and his students.

It just so happens that the First Friday Art walks start in November (when we arrive) and end in the spring (as we are leaving). Coincidence??
You decide.

Another little slice of our life...

This is where we get our drinking water, in 5 gallon containers. 9 pesos (74 cents).

Mid week report

Critters: So far, Hal is in the lead with one frog in his shorts and one lizard hiding in the toilet paper roll. I only found a scorpion.

Downtown: a wonderful visit to the mercado where we had the best chile rellenos EVER. Two complete meals -$5. I hung out and read on a bench at the Plaza Machado while Hal distributed some Tarot flyers. Then, we met up with some of our lovely friends on the malecon and sang to the sacred waters of the earth. Finally, we went to our first Tai Chi class of the winter and did Tai Chi on the waterfront as the sun set behind us.

Bus ride home: air conditioned.

Celebrating Life, Celebrating Death

Dia de los muertos in Mazatlan…. We made our own sweet little altar early in the day, then headed to the Mercado which was hustling and bustling. The evening was full of ancient ceremony honoring the ancestors. It moved me to my core. I am still in a ceremony state of mind.