Merry Christmas

The blog has been quiet over the last couple of days even though I have been very busy.  I tried to post this morning but I find myself very sad and lonely at this time of year and I just wasn’t up to it.  I am not alone in this as many of the other women in the park are teary at this time as well as we miss our families.  My mind strays to the times when our girls were small and we had a tiny Christmas with just the four of us.  I was sad and lonely for our families far away then as well.  Just the way it is!

On Monday Marilyn and Helene presented Genardo and Raphael our park workers with their Christmas gift that they had collected from all of us.   We like to let them know how much we appreciate their hard work and how well they take care of us while we are here in Mexico.  Needless to say they are very grateful.  They deserve it. 

Tuesday I managed to get my Greek pasta salad made, Wednesday it was the Angel bars and today I was supposed to cook a ham.  Sadly Felipe forgot to buy one so we just had turkey….and lots of it. 

Marilyn and Helene organized the dinner and they did a wonderful job.  Marilyn was worried that we wouldn’t have enough food.  We do provide food for park owner, Felipe and his family and this year Raphael who is new to us brought his wife and three daughters and Genardo comes on his own so we do want to make sure we have enough.  I am happy to report we had more than enough food for everyone and it was all delicious. 

Marilyn’s decorations look lovely and the food table is set up along with tables for our guests. 

This is the sign up list posted on our bulletin board. 

 

Soon these table will be covered in cloths and loaded with food. 

Looks pretty festive now. 

 

Felipe rides his bicycle checking the park.  Eric tried to tell him his seat is way too low but that’s the way he likes it.

Helene is setting a place for herself and Hal.

Here comes Jeannette and she’s wearing her Chili cook-of apron.

It is 3 o’clock and we are gathering for an early happy hour.  That’s Hal smiling at me. 

 

Ursula, Max and Gunter….three of our favorite Germans, Regina is somewhere close. 

  Hal and Bill chat.  

Dennis and Sandi.  I tried to get Dennis to wear my “Red Pointed Setter” T-shirt but he wouldn’t bite. 

Raphael, his wife and three daughters arrive.  Raphael speaks English but his family does not.  The little one is Brittany. 

They were a little uncomfortable at first but everyone was very welcoming.

Hal and Helene have taken Spanish lessons and have many Mexican friends so Hal was able to communicate with Raphael’s family which is a huge bonus. 

Hal is very charming and the girls were all smiling.

Marilyn thanked Felipe for providing the turkeys for the meal and also welcomed everyone.

Sandi said Grace.

and then….we ate with our guests going first. 

No danger of going hungry….just look at all of that food.

Desserts with more to come. 

Raphael and his family relaxing.  Brittany is a real little cutie.

This is my meal and you can see I like the turkey on the bone.  Yummy!

Fred’s dinner….very colorful!

It’s 5:30 and we are all full and it’s now getting dark.  Genardo in the back is still eating as he doesn’t start work until 5pm.  He will be here until 8am tomorrow morning.  A long shift. 

Raphael and his family have departed for home on the bus.  He said it will take them 45 minutes.  I told Raphael’s wife that he is very bueno and that “todo personas mucho gusto.”  She did appreciate my broken Spanish comment and I just wanted her to know how much we like him.  She understood. 

Felipe had music playing quite loudly by now and he wanted us all to stay and party. 

There are a few people left but most of us are tired and head back to our rigs. 

A lovely dinner eaten with good friends. 

Merry Christmas all!

Ladies Lunch

At cards last week Ruth suggested that some of us might like to go out to lunch together once a week.  The idea was that everyone would suggest a restaurant and we would try a different one each week.  Sounded like a plan to me since Eric and I rarely go out to eat and this would give me an opportunity to sample different food.  I am not fussy about what I eat…..only that is well prepared. 

So….Monday was the day of choice for lunch and off we went on the bus to try a Thai restaurant in the Golden Zone that Ruth had chosen.

Off the bus and down the street. 

Marion met us on the street up from the restaurant and informed us that it wasn’t open. 

Closed (cerrado) and no sign saying when they actually are open.  Some restaurants open later in the afternoon or are closed on Monday but this one…who knows.

 

Ruth had eaten here and said it was very good.  This is what we might have eaten but not today.  

Lucky B’s was at the end of the street, we were hungry, some of us had eaten here before and said it was good so….Lucky B’s was it. 

 

It is very bright out on the street so it was hard to get a good picture.  Lori, Diane, Sandi, Connie, Ruth, Marion, Eddie and I seated for lunch.  The service was good and we started with a bucket of beer.

Sandi had a mango Margarita….looks delicious!

This little fellow was very friendly.  He even shared a cracker with me.  They ordered rice for him and it ended up all over the table and floor….what a mess. 

I decided to order something delicious….Lucky B’s chicken and it was really good.  Fresh veggies, rice and chicken breast stuffed with cheese and mushrooms, wrapped with bacon in a creamy sauce with chopped peppers.  I ate the whole thing!  Yummy and a reasonable 110 pesos. 

After lunch we walked toward the beach.  That’s Lori gazing at the ocean

Walking back up the street.

Some of us went shopping and Marion, Connie and I hopped on a bus and headed home.  Full and happy. 

Next week…..?

A trip to the Orphanage with donated items.

Many people bring bags of donations for “our” orphanage.  John and Geri who are not with us this winter sent many bags with Dick and Val, Val brought toothbrushes and toothpaste from her dentist, Eddie had the cab over bunk in her small motor home stuffed with bags, Bill and Jeannette and others donated too.  Thanks to all of you and ….if I missed you….pat yourself on the back.  Anything we bring for them that they can’t use they will sell for a few pesos and use the money for the orphanage. 

This park and many people in it have a long history with the orphanage and many changes have taken place over the years.  It is always nice to go every year to see what’s happening and every year it improves.   

As John and Geri aren’t here this year we had to recruit another Spanish speaker to go with us.  Millie plays cards with us and her partner Al is fluent and he agreed to come with us so we were set.

The donation bags stored in the office were loaded up.

Dick and Frank load them in.

After that we loaded Eddie’s bags in and many others and the truck was full.  We left the park just after 10:30 with Dick, Val, Millie and Al in the lead, Frank, Sandi, Diane and I in the Jeep and Ruth and Jimmy followed.

Heading into the orphanage.

 

The gates to the orphanage were open and Dick drove the truck right in to unload.

This little one (Paulina?) was showing us how she gave her baby it’s soother…..she had one of her own.

I brought a bag of mini chocolate bars so the visit started with a treat for the kids.  Lupita made sure the “basura” or garbage went into the bag.  There is not one speck of litter within the gates.  Good to see as litter is an immense problem in Mexico.  Change starts with the children.   

The truck was unloaded and all the donations placed on a table so Geraldo and Lupita could go through them later. 

Every year when we arrive there are more improvements.  Small gardens have been planted and the compound looks quite pretty now.

The chickens are for eggs and not eating.  I asked if “Wally” the dog was a problem and Lupita said no, but the cat was.  Bad Kitty!

Inside next to the kitchen the tree is decorated for Christmas.

This is the kitchen.  Val showed me some pictures from years ago when Lupita was cooking under a tin roof outside.  A vast improvement due to gringo help and donations that have made a huge difference to their lives. 

Geraldo and Lupita have 22 children in their care right now and as it is Saturday most of the children were home. 

The young man with the “toque” is 15, very personable and speaks some English. 

Al is showing the kids some finger tricks and they were quite amused.  The girl standing next to Val is Carla and at 12 is a good cook or cocinera.  I explained that my nieta (grand daughter, Abby) is catorce (14) and also likes to cook.  I also told her that Abby is very tall! 

Some of the children have been with Geraldo and Lupita most of their lives even though they may not be adopted.  They remember us from year to year and are very happy to see us.  They are full of smiles, hugs and laughter.  They are clean, happy, well disciplined, well fed and well looked after.  A tribute to Lupita and Geraldo’s dedication to the orphanage. 

The children were having much fun with their hand powered carts on the concrete pad. 

Perhaps this is last years Christmas tree spray painted white.  Pretty.

The girl’s dormitory.  Note the many toys, cleanliness and neatly made beds.  Although they knew we were coming today we have arrived unannounced in the past and everything was just as neat and clean.  Try doing that in the dirt at home!

Ruth and Diane have a little sign language chat with the girls.  That’s Ruthie hiding behind Diane.  She was shy today and wouldn’t admit to her name.  I think she is about 7.

Here she is cuddling the very laid back cat.

Alejandro was tying his shoe.  As he is six or seven I was impressed that he could do this.  Hard for many children and Velcro closures are the norm so many children don’t know how. 

It took a couple of tries but he got it and was very proud of himself.  He knew I was watching and was happy for me to take a picture.

  The chalk board was a hit and when Alejandro handed me the chalk I wrote my name.  Here they call me Katy as they do not make the sound “th.” 

Lots of useful items.  Diane and Lupita watching.

Geraldo is chatting with Al who is the only fluent Spanish speaker with us.  John and Geri are usually with us and John speaks Spanish.  Geraldo was very concerned about John’s health but he was reassured that he was okay. 

 

We stood about in groups watching the children.  You can see the blue Las Jaibas Chili Cook Off  t-shirts that Frank and Dick are wearing.  This is the orphanage that the cook off supports. 

At the end of our visit Geraldo and Lupita gathered all the children together. 

They bowed their heads and repeated a prayer after Geraldo blessing us for our generosity. 

We are blessed to be a part of their lives.