One Suitcase at a Time

Fall is Coming

2011-09-05T16:01:00.001-07:00

The last several mornings as I go out to walk my dogs here in Dillon, Colorado I am grabbing my sweatshirt. Where does the summer go? It seems like just yesterday we were sleeping with the doors and windows open. I love living in the high country of Colorado during the summer. This is our first summer since we retired and the first summer we have lived in our home here. We have owned our place for fifteen years here in Summit County. At the time we bought this "second home" out two youngest children were still in school and snowboarding every weekend. It was a great family place. We used it almost every weekend in the winter. It was home to many of our children's friends and many who Mr.B taught to snowboard. Many AFA cadets took their first run here at Keystone under the watchful eye of Mr. B.
We spent many many Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with a roaring fire and snow falling on the lake. But to be honest once the snow had gone away we did not use the place much. Our summers were busy with all the things our kids did during the summer. Once we started talking about retiring we thought "what the hell" we would spend our summers at 9100 ft. What a delight it has been. The mornings and evenings have been cool and crisp. The days warm but not hot. It really has been a perfect summer. But now our days here are getting very cool. It is our sign that fall is coming and our journey back to the Pacific is near. I have started packing boxes with "can not live without" goodies to take back to Mexico. I am looking forward to hearing the waves, smelling the ocean and watching the sunsets. But I will miss my mountain home and my cool morning walks. Where did the summer go?

Jake and Megan Wheatley

2011-08-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

Paul and I attended a beautiful wedding this weekend in Denver. Both of us love weddings for so many reasons. I think the fact that we get to experience love over flowing. Every wedding we attend Paul holds my hand and as the say their vows he always gives it a squeeze as to say "I do" over and over again. I have been so lucky in my life to have married this amazing man. He always tells the groom that marriage is amazing and that he hopes they are as happy as we are. God I am so lucky. This was also a special wedding because we have known the bride and groom for many years. Megan worked for us while she was in college and Jake is the son of our close friends Greg and Tammy. They welcomed us into this family gathering filled with love. Of course there was also a LOT of laughs (thanks to Mr. B). We stayed the night at the venue and had a beautiful brunch with close friends Rob and JoEllen. I don't think I will be able to ever eat again! We wish these beautiful "kids" a magical journey in life. I can only hope they find the happiness that Mr.B and I have found all these years. Mazel Tov!!

Italy

2011-08-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

"Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”
Pope Paul VI – Italian Pope. 1897-1978

Paul and I were thrilled to spend so much time in the south of Italy this year. Not only is Italy a magical country, but it is also where our daughter and grandchildren call "home". Being able to share our adventure of this beautiful place with them was just amazing. Although Paul and I took off on our own to explore, we also got to take some "mini" trips with Jill and the kids. We can never thank them enough for all the great memories. Jill is an amazing women, her husband Erik is in Iraq for a year and she is holding down "the fort". I thank God everyday for bringing her into our lives. So here is a video for her.....thanks Bean.

Happy Birthday Mom

2011-08-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

My Mother was born August 23, 1925 in Ola, Arkansas. Had she not passed away she would have been 86 this year. Every year I want to pick up the phone and call her to wish her Happy Birthday. It is always a sad time for me. She was such an amazing women and such a large part of my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren. I think of her everyday and sometimes I forget she is not here with me. However most days I know she is here with me. I hear her voice and I see her smile. I know that she stands like she always had, right next to me. She guides me on this journey called life. I will be forever thankful that she raised me and taught me so many lessons. She was an great lady and she made me laugh a lot in my life. She is the reason I am who I am. I miss her so, but I know that as long as she lives in me and my children she is "still here". Thanks Ma.

Our Winter

2011-04-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Soon our first winter in México will draw to a close. Spring as arrived in the tropics and soon summer will follow on its heels. The days have grown longer and warmer; the whales have left on their migration north with their new calves to the colder waters of the North Pacific. The birds that all flew south during the winter have now packed in their last shrimp and are flying north once again. The endless line of RV’s from both the US and Canada leave in caravans daily from seaside towns. The markets have started to be much smaller, without the hustle and bustle of gringo dollars. And we too are winding down our first season of retirement here. It seems like it was just yesterday that Paul and I crossed the border of Arizona with a full Suburban and our three mutts, so excited to finally be “living the dream”.
December brought the kids for several weeks. Christmas is busy in this small village. There are parties to attend, foods to be cooked and gifts to be wrapped. Of course, the fact you are doing all of this in summer attire is new to us. Our home of over 20 years would normally be a foot deep in snow by then. We spent mornings with the windows open and gentle ocean breezes lapping over the white sheets. The sound of each wave crashing against the shore was magical and exciting. Christmas would come and go and we would see the kids off at the airport with kisses. We would rush back to our seaside home and just listen to the waves crashing and have another cup of tea. We knew we had become the “lucky ones”. More visitors would come and renters as well. It was nice to know that there are still some not swayed by the “danger of México”. We spent countless nights laughing with our British neighbors and looking at the stars. All the time, the waves still crashed against the shore, an ever-constant reminder of the magic of the tropics and living on the ocean.
Crop after crop of fresh vegetables would make their appearance in the markets and the roadside stands. Watermelons, strawberries, avocados, beans; all local produce that comes to us in the winter months. Everything was so incredibly fresh and beautiful. We watched the planting of the fields and were amazed as it seemed to grow overnight. Fields and fields of crops stretched out for miles. Some of the smaller fields were still worked with a harrow and horses. Farmers still tend to their crops from the break of dawn till nightfall, here in this part of México. Having grown up in the San Joaquin Valley of California, I could not get enough of the sight. The entire valley is ringed by the Sierra Madre mountains, just like in California, although here they are much closer and the pine trees are replaced by palm trees.
The fishermen also still leave the shore of our village like clockwork every morning. In small boats, they make their way to the shallows about a mile out. The day will bring them food for their tables and their restaurants. Sea Bass, Corbina, and shrimp, caught daily, grace our tables in this region. I wish people understood this part of México more. Not just the land but the people as well. Nowhere in sight is the sleeping guy under the cactus with the sombrero, or the narco’s shooting people. It’s really just a quiet, laid-back, safe and family-oriented part of the world.
Our mutts too soon adapted to the ocean and the beach. At first, they were cautious of the water, but soon they were jumping in to retrieve their Frisbees and following us in. They soon learned that a day at the beach also meant a bath at the end. They have gotten really good at baths! Jasper, who was at what we thought was the final season of his life, has gained weight and scampers about the beach like a new pup. Actually, we think it has more to do with dementia, but we’ll take what we can get. Whatever the reason, he’s still with us. Bucket and Biscuit have come to love their new home and their silly antics make our days happier.
We made the trip to Guadalajara several times for a couple of days inland. It is such a great city filled with the colors and noises that are México. People smile at you and seem to love their lives, families, and culture so much. It is so refreshing to see their happy faces. Hardly ever do you encounter a person not willing to help you and share their knowledge of their country and its history. Guadalajara is the second largest city in México and every trip brings new and exciting things to experience. Some of the best meals of my life have been consumed in this city. They have wonderful restaurants and B&B’s. We also made a trip in Ajijic , south of the city and on the shores of Lake Chapala. What an amazing place. Chapala is a lake two and half times the size of our Lake Tahoe and home to over 30 thousand gringos. The weather stays spring-like all year at over 5000 feet in elevation. This also has become the home for Paul’s parents as well. Their new digs in an assisted-living facility seem to be a good fit with great twenty-four hour care for his mother at a reasonable rate. My father-in-law could not be happier. Every time I speak to him, he says, “These people are so wonderful”, and “They not just care physically for my wife, they hug her and talk with her constantly too”. And he tells me the food is pretty great too. They allow him to live there with her, and take care of all the cooking and day-to-day chores that get pretty tough for older people. I think more and more Americans will make their way to these places as the health care costs in America still continues to climb. For our family, it was a great solution.
But in case you might think that our winter was too relaxing, you don’t know Paul very well. He kept very busy with many projects around the villa. Replacing ceiling fans, putting up new walkway lights, helping friends build solar heaters for their pools, replacing the pool pump, having a new cabinet built for the casita, and new slider windows for the main casa bedrooms are a few of the more significant projects accomplished this winter. Living in the tropics takes its toll on a home and Paul makes sure to battle the effects, keeping this place in tiptop shape. I too kept busy with new dishes to cook and the afternoon siesta (I do what I can).
Overall, I will tell you our first winter here has been nothing short of wonderful. I think the only thing I would change is that we wish we had done it sooner. It is not for everyone; in fact there are very few people that are willing to step outside the box for a minute, let alone for good. That has never been our style, and I feel so lucky to have married a man who, like me, is not afraid of the adventure of life. We have never followed “the herd”, and I am happy about that. Our time here together has been magical and exciting. After all these years together, it is still on honor to wake up next to such an amazing man.
So now we will wrap up our time here and head to Italy, a place we have been lucky enough to have visited a couple of times already. But now, we will head to Naples in the south and spend a month with our daughter Jill and our grandchildren. We look forward to spending the days experiencing the sights and sounds of Italy. We can’t wait to see the coastline of this beautiful country and all it holds. Then, we will come back to México and plan our journey back to the states. It will be bittersweet to lock our casita door and load the mutts in the Suburban. But new adventures await us…

The Big City

2011-02-01T11:34:00.001-08:00

Every once in awhile one gets desire for the big city. Not a tourist town like Puerto Vallerta where the big ships dumps off thousand of site seers from the US. Where they flock to the Wal Mart and Sam's to buy the somberos and glass ash trays with the name of the town etched across it for the folks back in (fill in the blank). Where the resorts are packed with people who love the "all inclusive" package where they never have to leave the property or perhaps even see a Mexican. Great for some people, most really. It is not in the comfort zone of most gringos to go outside the box even for a moment let alone a day. I find this so odd, but it has never been the way I liked to live. Perhaps that is why we find ourselves here in Mexico living to begin with.
The big city for us is Guadalarja, the second largest city in Mexico. We have yet to explore Mexico City (the largest), but we will someday soon. For now we just make our three hour journey to one of the most colorful cities in this country.
I am not sure what I like most about this city. I guess I could tell you about the shopping but for my gringa friends it would be hard to imagine. Street after street after street lined with colors, textures, glass, metal, ceramic. Every street brings more things to look at and hold. Not the tourist stuff or peddlers pulling you into their stores. This is the real deal. This is where things are made and shipped all over the world. The merchants are friendley and willing to help you find what you need. Or in my case what I don't need. If they don't have it they can make it or send you to another store that has the color, or the fabric or the weave you are looking for. Small store fronts open up to shops and the shops open up to homes with courtyards and families. It is a city woven together with men, women, and children. They are all so amazing to watch. So many of them, like us making a living in their craft.
Then there is the food. It is on every corner and every block. The smells are amazing. It is hard to stroll the streets without hearing the laughter of people having a meal with family or friends. Music everywhere, and not the boom car low rider music. Marachis and guitars, singers and seranaders . The culture is so rich with of music and dancing. It is nothing to see people dancing close to their partner and you too long for the slow, dancing with your own love.
I have had two of my best meals in this city. The kind of meal that when you take a bite you just hold it in your mouth wanting to savor every spice, every flavor and they way they all dance together. From the soup to the main course to the dessert, it is a pleasure to dine for several hours and savor every moment of the evening.
I guess the thing I love the most is all of it together.
The squares filled with venders and colors and textures and smells. The way everyone is busy and coming and going and working and playing. How you become part of this street scene and part of the cog that helps turn the city. If you can not find what you want in this town then it is not to be had in this country.
We spent three days lost in the color of this city, and although I am always happy to make our way back to our home on the ocean, I do love a trip to the City.

Don't Ring, Just Bark

2011-01-23T06:44:00.000-08:00

So, Paul and I have our dogs down here: Two Blue Heelers and a 16 year old miniature Dachshund. Any of you who are dog people know that when you are planning a trip, you spend as much time trying to make sure your dogs have proper care as you do actually planning the trip. With that in mind, we are going to be taking a couple of vacations from our vacation (now THAT'S luxury!) in the next few months, and can't take our dogs with us. Therefore, we have to find a place for them. Hence, today's topic.

We found, through reference, a place in a nearby town (Lo de Marcos, 1-1/2 hours away), called Beach Dog Spa. But, before we booked our dogs into it, we wanted to check it out. Thinking that as long as we're that far along the road towards Puerto Vallarta, we might as well combine the trips, and get some shopping done first in PV, then check out the kennel on the way back. We left our house in Platanitos at 8 in the morning, heading to Home Depot first, then WalMart on the way back. It's about a half-hour drive from WalMart to Lo de Marcos, and we got directions to the kennel from their web site. But, since we don't have a printer in our casita, we sent the directions to our British neighbor, Richard, to print out for us.

When we were leaving, we went to their house to get the directions, and found Richard furiously writing them down by hand on a piece of notebook paper. "What are you doing? Why don't you just print them out?" "Well," he says, in his British accent, "I think there's something wrong with the format of the message and it won't print, so I'm writing them for you." It's a whole page. Off we go.

As we are wrapping things up at WalMart, we realize that we are going to be maybe 15 minutes late for our 1 p.m. appointment at the dog place, as it's showing 12:45 on the Suburban dash clock. Even though we strive to be on time, for once we think, "Hey, this is México; EVERYONE is late down here. ¡No problema!" We get to Lo de Marcos and start following the very detailed, but rather vague, directions through town: "About 2 or 3 streets before you get to the beach, turn left on Calle Hidalgo, which is not marked." Right. We immediately find our progress blocked by a restaurant that's decided to spill out into the street with tables and chairs, and we have to find a detour, which we seem to be able to do. Turn left at the ponds, turn right at the corner, and on and on through this tiny, twisted old town. Finally, we find the kennel. I read the last of the directions:

"When you pull up, don't ring the door bell, just stand out front and bark, and we'll be right out." Paul asked me to read it again. He said "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" So, he got out of the car, and started hollering "Hellooo! Hellooo!" over the 10-foot concrete block wall. No response at all. We had the kennel's phone number, so we called it and told the lady we were out front, but didn't know how to get in. There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Paul told her that we followed the directions and didn't ring the bell, and just hollered over the wall. She said, "What are you talking about?" Paul said, "Well, those are the specific instructions from your web site." "I have no idea what you are talking about." Paul: "Look, it's your web site; I just reading what it says." I can tell he's getting hot under the collar. "Fine," the lady says, "I'll be right out."

Once she came out, I went in with her to see the place, leaving Paul and the dogs in the car outside. The place is immaculate, clearly very well run, and an obvious good choice to leave our dogs. But, then the lady said to me, "Hey, I'm sorry I was a little short with you; I should have scheduled your visit when I didn't have so much going on. I was expecting you at one o'clock." I said, "Well, it's only 1:15." She said, "Actually, it's 2:15; we're on Puerto Vallarta time, an hour ahead of the time in Platanitos." YIKES!! We totally did not know that a recent decision by the minister of tourism (or somebody) moved the boundary of the time change from the state border just west of Puerto Vallarta to just west of Lo de Marcos, a few months ago. So, we were more than an hour late. And, then she said, "So, what is this 'just bark out front' thing your husband was jabbering about? ". That's when it started to dawn on me.

I thanked the lady, and left. When I got back in the car, Paul was still fuming, and said "Well, she better have a damn nice place, because I'm ready to kick this b**** to the curb." I explained that it was us who were chronically late, and that it was starting to look like our little friend Richard may have been having a little sport with us.

When we got back, we went to Richard directly. He asked "So, how was the dog place?" I said that it was fine, except for one little thing, the part about "no bell, just bark". He roared with laughter, and said, "Yeah, that was my bit; I never thought you'd believe it for a minute." What a wanker...

Home

2011-01-13T08:38:00.000-08:00

We knew there would come a point that all the day dreaming, all the wishing, all the planning that Paul and I had done over the last five years would happen. We often wondered how we would feel. The old saying "be careful what you wish for". I think we both knew then as we know now that change is hard for everyone. And although this is what we wanted it was still going to be hard.
Saying our good-byes where the hardest. Something we have never been good at. All those years in the military you learn not to say good-bye, but "see you down the road". You always knew you would run into those folks again in life. But this was different. Our lives were taking a hard right turn and there was a pretty good chance that many of these folks we will never see again. But forward we went.
That brings us here, today. Two people in love that have started the next journey in a small fishing village in Mexico. I know we have plenty of folks calling us "crazy", and we accept that. Maybe in many ways we are.
We are making a choice few would ever make. We are stepping way outside the comfort zone of our peers. I am happy to say that our kids do not think we are "nuts" and that helps.
So we call Platanitos home for now. We wake up to the ocean waves hitting the shore below us. We drink coffee while watching pelicans make their way to someplace. We eat breakfast together on our casita patio and plan our day. We read and take a siesta. We walk down to the beach with our dogs and play Frisbee. I cook and Paul listens to music. And when our day is done we turn out the lights and listen to the waves all over again.
So far it is a good life, very peaceful, very much what we had hoped. So the "be careful what you wish for" did come true and we plan to live it to the fullest. We are Home.

Rain Rain Rain

2010-08-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

I love Mexico during the rainy season. There is something very magical about all that rain and lightning across the ocean. I have not been to Mexico since May and to tell you the truth I have begun to fill it in my soul. I need to see the ocean, I need salt water on my skin, I need to lay in clean sheets with Mr. B and hear the ocean. I love my Colorado, but I also need the ocean. So with four more suitcases we will board a plane in a week and head to our home.
But there has been rain, and more rain and more rain. Our local village has been hit hard. Otates has flooded, and flooded hard. Our son Jacob has been there all summer teaching english. He reports to us that when you see pigs swimming down the streets it i bad. Really? I never knew pigs could swim! But all joking aside, the people of Otates have been hit hard this rainy season. So this trip will have suitcases filled with some help. I am not real sure what that means today, but by next week they will be packed to the brim with "stuff".
These people have become our friends and our neighbors. They treat us like family and in turn they have our respect and our love. We will try to help in any way we can with the recovery from the floods. Even if it just means sitting and having some coffee and holding their hand.
I need this place, it makes me whole.

I think I need a couple more suitcases

2010-07-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

Our oldest daughter Jill and her family just moved to Italy! I think it is going to be a real experience for all of them. We are super excited that they have a chance to experience the culture of such a beautiful and diverse country.
I spoke to Jill today for the first time in three weeks. I am not sure we have ever gone that long without talking to each other. She had just gotten her new phone and until we set up the Skype account I decided I was going to call her. I may have to sell a vital organ to pay for the call, I'll let you all know on that!
She told me that it would be much easier if the Italians would just speak Spanish. Jill went to school in Spain and her Spanish is very good. She loved going to Mexico and getting to use skills with all the folks that live around us. She said she tries to use the Spanish word for something and she just gets a blank stare. I think once she gets settled and can get a couple of books she will be fine. I think the kids will pick it up in no time.
She is busy moving to the four bedroom flat next week and getting settled in o their new life. Then they are OFF.............. exploring as much as they can as often as they can. Our Sophia is already making friends with the locals by her charm and her use of the word Cio. And once they find out her name is Sophia (which Jill uses often due to her being naughty), they feel like she is one of their people.
So along with the bags I pack for Mexico, I am now packing bags for Italy. We can not wait to go and see more of that beautiful country. We have had so much fun in the north that we want to now see the south. So soon my friends I will be able to say I can not communicate in two countries. I bet your excited about that!!

Don and Sandy

2010-05-11T18:53:00.001-07:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

What more can I say?

Mother's Day

2010-05-08T16:10:00.001-07:00

Mother's Day is always hard for us that have lost our Mother's. For those of us that are part of the "Motherless Club", it is a time of reflection of our loss. There is no shopping for that card or gift for that special women, there is no brunch for the women who taught you had to be a women, a mother, a friend to others. There is that empty feeling in your soul, it is the day that you wish with all your heart that you could have "one more" Mother's Day with your Mom. Some of us have been lucky and we had our Mother's for most of our adult life. Other's have lost their Mother's at a young age. But I think no matter how long it has been since the loss, you are never the same. So tomorrow as my own children call to wish me Happy Mothers Day, I will celebrate the joy of being a mother, but I will be also stop and be grateful for all the Mothers Day I got to spend with my wonderful Mother. I will miss her tomorrow as I have done for the last four years.

The Trip Home-The US side

2010-04-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

So once we crossed the border we drove to Tucson and lunch with Jill and the family. Since they have moved to Arizona we do not get to see them as much as we would like. But we also know and understand that they are doing what is best for their family. I guess this recession has taken its toll on all of us in different ways.
We got to Claim Jumpers first and got a table. A few minutes later in came all the kids. It has only been since January, but I swear they have all grown so much. Connor is almost as tall as Jill now and so handsome. Fisher is taller too and seems so happy with a big smile on his face as soon as he saw us. Sophia was so cute and shy, till she warmed up and then she chatted away (the apple does not fall far from the tree). It was good to have my eyes on my beautiful daughter as well. She has always been such a joy in our lives. Her beauty is not only in her beautiful smile, and her powerful blue eyes. But in her soul. She is funny and smart. She has always made us proud. She is an amazing mother and our grandchildren are lucky to have her as their mother.
Once we had lunch we were off to the Tucson Children's Museum for the afternoon. We had so much fun with the kids and are always amazed at how smart they are.
Once the museum closed they were off to shop and we were off to Phoenix to catch a plane. And although our time together was short, it was good. A perfect ending to another perfect trip. Thanks to all that made it wonderful!

The Border-Trip Home Part 3

2010-04-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

We left our hotel at 4 in the morning to try to hit the border early. We thought with the end of the long Easter week that the traffic might become an issue. I am always amazed at how many people from the states come back to their small Mexican villages. We see car loads with kids, grandparents and the parents on our drive. For a Mexican there is no place like home. It again shows me the love of family these folks have. I know Mexicans that will drive for days during the holidays to get back to their small rural villages to spend Easter and Christmas. I guess this surprises me since I have know folks that would not drive two or three hours to see members of their family. I know some that would not drive across town!
The landscape is different now, a lot of farms and acre after acre of crops. Being from Fresno, California and growing up around farms, it is a beautiful site. I love the smell of dirt and the rows of crops. I know it sounds silly but I love the irrigation of the water. So precious and so needed. Mexico feeds so many people all over the world that is is amazing site. The US use to be like this, but the farm land has been taken over by other things now. Very sad to see the farmlands disappear, it is like seeing part of my childhood vanish.
As we get closer to the border farms turn to barren land. Having lived in the high desert of California when Paul was in the Air Force, I even enjoyed this part of the trip.
We got to the border with no problems and although we had about 50 cars in front of us it went pretty fast. If you have never crossed the border I can tell you that waiting in line is the most interesting part. It is like a carnival on the road. Food vender's, belts, hats, jewelry, car seat covers, pots, you name it and it comes by your car. Lots of windshield washers as well. We got ours done and he did a great job and all for 10 pesos! When our daughter Jill and her husband Erik crossed after Christmas the wait was about three hours and she told me that Erik ate the whole time. Tacos, ice cream, rice pudding, and even cotton candy if you like that stuff. Paul and I did not get any snacks because we knew we were headed for lunch with our daughter and three grand babies. We were saving ourselves.

Part 2

2010-04-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

My fear of having nothing to talk about lasted till we got out of our drive way. We said our good byes to our guests at the Villa, then to Richard and Lindsay. We had our cup of coffee, our snacks, our GPS and we were off and running.
The first part of the trip was very tropical, much like Platanitos. But it was an area I had never seen. Villages both big and small till we hit the toll road. Lots of vendors at that time of morning selling orange juice and muffins. If I could have gotten Paul to slow down I would have grabbed me a glass of that juice. It even included a glass!! Normally it is just a plastic bag with a straw in it. But this was first class stuff, real glass too.
Once on the toll road it was much like our highways and there was plenty to look at. Although Paul and I talked a lot.
We talked about all sorts of things. Some very deep and some very funny. We talked about the crazy things we see in Mexico and we talked about the beautiful things Mexico has to offer. We talked a lot about our lives in Mexico and where this journey will take us in the future. I think it is always hard to leave "comfort" and make big changes. We did not solve all the problems or questions we have, but it is always good to air concerns and work through it. We know this is not something many people would do, but that has never been our style. My mother always told me "go out on a limb, that's where the good fruit is". Paul and I have always taken that to heart and lived our lives together that way. We never waited round for someone to make our life better, we did it. For the last 30 years we have worked hard, taken some crazy risks, and tried very hard to laugh when we were scared to death. I guess we will cross all of our future bridges when we get them.
Our first night was spent in Ciudad Obergon. It was a really nice little hotel. Clean room, very nice pillows. Once in our room we noticed that it was also the hotel of choice for the Federal Police. At this point I felt very, very safe. All of them were very nice and polite. I did walk out side and stood for a few minutes to see them coming and going and then I relized how I must have looked hanging out in my PJ's in front of a hotel room. I thought I should go in for the night.

The Long Road Home

2010-04-14T19:53:00.000-07:00

On this most recent trip to Casa Lagarto we had decided we would drive our Suburban back to the States. It has been there for two years and it was time for the old girl to comee home. God knows she has served us well in Mexico. She has also had her share of crazy moments (one will not forget Marcos Gate). She has taken us on beach trips, airport and Costco runs. She has been a good car and we are thankful. But it was time for many reasons.
We spent a beautiful week with some friends at the villa, and got a lot done that we had been wanting to do. We even got to spend some time with our dear son Jacob. Always a good time with our son.
On Saturday we packed up the old gal and hit the road for Arizona. I had never driven to the states before and I will admit that I was concerned. Oh not like you think! I was not concerned about drug lords, or kidnappings, or crazy mexicans for goodness sake. I was worried about sitting in the suburb for two days. Paul and I alone in a car for two days. What would we do? what would we talk about? where would we eat? In the last several years we have flown everywhere, spending very little time driving. We use to drive all the time when our kids lived at home. Paul was in the Air force and it seemed like we were always going somewhere. I never worried about what we would talk about. We had three kids, who had time to talk to each other! When the kids left we started flying everywhere we went. No time for road travel anymore. Flights are always easy. I read and Paul works. So there we were about to embark on a two day road trip...what now?

A Sad Good-bye

2010-03-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

For people that know me, they know that I am a very strong woman. There are up and downs to being strong at times. One of these moments came on our last trip to Mexico.

We've had a beach dog at the villa for about eight months. We named her "Hope" because she was in such poor health that we hoped she would make it, we hoped she would stick around, we hoped she had found a good life with us. She only walked on three legs, her teeth were down to nubs from eating off the beach for the last eight or nine years, and God only knows what else. Like always, I started giving her antibiotics and food (she was so skinny). She seemed to be gaining her health back when she got pregnant. She miscarried the pups about a month ago and almost died. I decided that we had to get her spayed, that she could not stand another litter of pups. I arranged to take her to the free clinic on that last trip.

I was so excited to get her to the clinic, that by doing so, it would make her remaining life better. She did not make it through the surgery. They told us she had a massive lung infection. We were so sad and disappointed that this decision to help her cost her life. I am so sad about losing our Hope. I just hope that in the short time we had her that we made her happy, and that all the love and tummy scritches we gave her while she was with us made her final moments of life happy. We hope she is at peace now.

Another Suitcase or Five

2010-02-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

We are off again to Mexico and once again we will be taking some "needed" things with us. I am always amazed how much we take with us. But to be honest with you out of the five bags that will make the journey with us this weekend I think I might have 1/2 a suitcase with things for us or the house. I always find things that I have to take to the local village. Clothes for the children, clothes and shoes for the adults, blankets, treats for the little ones. So much of the joy we get in Mexico is from our community and through our relationships we see their needs. There are some things we can not give them, but some basic things like shoes we can do. I also found a beautiful quilt for Tere and her new husband Martin. I think they are going to be thrilled to have it on their bed in their new home. Someday we will travel with just a carry on to Mexico, but I can not imagine that will happen soon. Still to much that we "need", so till then we will continue to move to Mexico "One Suitcase at a Time".

Worth The Read

2010-02-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

A Dear friend of mine sent me this a couple of days ago. I thought "wow" it says what most of us think these days in my age group. I don't think a lot about getting older, but sometimes when I am with people that are a lot younger than I am I think "I have food in the fridge older than these people". I think there is a certain amount of wisdom that has come with the gray hair and lines in my face. I think I have learned what is important and what is just "stuff". I think it is all part of the letting go process I am in right now. To know what to hold on to and what to let go of. I don't think you can get there as a youth, I think it only comes with extreme joy (like the birth of my grandchildren) and deep sorrow (like the death of my mother). But one way or another we all get there. So have a read and for one moment stop and think of all the things it says. If you are young, you will page back and never think another thing about it. If you are "older" you will pause and think for a minute or two. And at our age thinking for that long is pretty damn good!

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving
family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become
kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own
friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not
making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need,
but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be
messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before
they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until
4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful
tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a
lost love .... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging
body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite
the pitying glances from the jet set..

They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just
as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not
break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when
somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what
give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken
is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray,
and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on
my face..
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair
could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what
other people think. I don't question myself anymore.
I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I
like the person I have become I am not going to live forever,
but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could
have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert
every single day(if I feel like it).

and finally....

2010-02-05T18:50:00.000-08:00

The next morning Paul and I join the Brits for breakfast. It was beautiful morning and the air was crisp. The coffee was fresh, the juice on our table had just been prepared. We ate and laughed and talked about our evening here at the hacienda. We talked about what life must have been like in the 1700's living here in this hacienda. We strolled the grounds before our massages and marveled at how large and beautiful this place was. It is surrounded by sugar cane fields and the mountains. Paul of course was amazed at the thickness of the walls and how it was built not just has a home but a fortress. It is my life with my engineer husband who marvels not just at how pretty it is, but how the walls were built, how the structure was formed. He gives me an interesting insight to the beauty of the structure.
It is time for our spa services and two uniformed ladies come to get us. They take us to the most amazing building that use to be the grain silo for the hacienda. The ceilings are 30 feet tall and arched brick. It is amazing to think of the work it took to build this place.
They take us to change and off to the sauna we go. It is moist and smells like eyculaptis. It feels so warm and wonderful againest my skin. Paul and I are laughing about how crazy wonderful this place is and after about 20 minutes we have had enough of the sauna. The ladies come and get us and take us to the jaquizii with a waterfall. The disappear long enough to bring us tea and Paul and I chill for awhile. I keep thinking I am on "Life Style of the rich and famous" and that none of my friends are going to believe how wonderful it is here. I think about my daughters and how I want to bring them here. Maybe on their next trip. About then the ladies come and gather the two rag dolls (Paul and I). For the next 80 minutes we are massaged head to toe and back again. I feel like I could nod off, but do not want to miss one minute of this wonderful experience. Once the massages are over they bring us more tea and leave us to scrap our bodies off the tables. We drink our tea, thank our ladies and get dressed. I did not want to leave but Paul thought the ladies might think it odd if I just hung around all day. So we leave and meet up with the Brits again. We pack our overnight bag and bid farewell to this beautiful Hacienda. But knowing we will be back made our depatue easier. I count the days till I get to make "the long road to San Marcos" journey again.

The Spa

2010-02-04T17:55:00.000-08:00

So when I left off in the last post I think the angels were singing at the gates of our arrival. Well I guess it was just one of the maids letting us in the front gate of the Hacienda El Carmen, but after the day we had I would like to think it was God's way of rewarding me for my patience.
So all six of us schlep out of the suburban and lumber inside to take a look. The grounds in the front were beautiful and several water features. So far things were really starting to take a great turn for us. We walk through the lobby where they have fresh juice for us (am I dreaming?). We ask if they have some rooms for us and the Brits. Well of course they do!! This is Mexico and they are always happy to go above and beyond for Brits (we at this point are putting on our best Monty Python voices). We get all booked in (at a very good rate) but they also inform us for $75.00 USD we can add on all the liquor we can drink for the next 24 hours. I can tell you that Richard and Paul were very tempted to take their challange but one glance from Miss Lindsay and yours truly and they pass. We also book our spa service for the morning and off to dinner we go.
Dinner could not have been better. Half of us had steaks and the other half shrimp, and all of us were super happy with our meals. Soup, Salad, lots of fresh bread, dessert, fresh juices and the service was top notch. We all eat, have some wonderful coffee and conversation and marvel at the luck we had with this find. The thing I love about meals in Mexico is they take hours. Nothing is rushed, no table turning or watresses giving you dirty looks. The staff is happy to help in any way they can. We spend the evening laughing with the Brits and planning our next day. Off we head to our beautiful bedroom to slip into the robes and slippers they provided. I snuggle with Paul and thank him again for taking me on this wonderful journey with him. Not just the "Long Road to San Marcos' but the last 30 years. It has been one great ride so far.
Tomorrow the spa....

The Hacienda

2010-02-03T12:42:00.000-08:00

The "Long road to San Marcos" took us and the four Brits to some crazy places. I will have to say I had just about given up on the whole outing and was starting to think if we turned around and headed toward Tequilla that we might be able to salvage the day. I mean let's face it, if you are having a bad day in Mexico all you need is a shot of tequilla and a good taco to bring the day back around. But there is also a saying in Mexico, it says "God send you to Mexico to learn patience". And on this day and this trip it was right on the money.
We turned down this little dirt road, one of a million little dirt roads in Mexico and headed east. Now I know we were headed east because I was still trying to figure out how I could get Paul and the four Brits to head towad Tequilla. About 5 miles down the road we came to the gates of the Hacienda El Carmen. Of course the gates were locked and I am thinking "this is it, I am going to find the fellow that wrote the article "The Long Road to San Marcos" and club him over the head. But our driver and good friend Richard leaps out of the car and starts yelling. I am thinking "right" that's going to help. When a very well dressed maid came running out to let us in. I swear to you I think I heard trumpets when she opened the gate, or maybe that was Paul? We were in and holy mother of God we had hit the mother load.

Mom

2010-02-02T08:37:00.000-08:00

Four years ago to day it was starting to snow in Colorado. It is always so beautiful when we get the big fat snowflakes that fall from our Colorado sky. But this day the falling of the snow would signal the passing of my mother. Mom had been sick for several years, she had endured chemo, she had weathered her storms. But the last three months had been different, and we all knew that. Mom knew it, she knew this was the end of her life. And on this day four years ago, my dear mother and friend left us. Her passing was hard for everyone. I don't want to say it was harder for me, because I don't think that is true. I knew then as I know now that mom had prepared me for that day. I knew all the words of wisdom, all the lessons taught, all the snuggles and laughter was about this day. It was about letting go and going on. I know she loved me and she loved my kids. I saw that love each time they walked into the room. She was so proud of all the had done and all they would do, even without her here. She had taught me to go on with my life. To fulfill my dreams, to make my memories. Four years seems so long, but it seems like just yesterday I was calling asking for her opinion on something, now I must make my own decisions. It was just yesterday that I told her that I loved her, and now I must whisper that to her as I look toward the heavens. It was just yesterday that she held Jill's children in her arms and now she would have another one to cuddle and spoil. One she never got to meet. But today like all days my mother is with me. She guides me and still teaches me about life and relationships and letting go.....I miss her.

The Long Road to San Marcos

2010-01-30T19:05:00.000-08:00

Sometimes out of nowhere you find the most amazing things. During the holidays in Mexico our dear friends and neighbors asked us to take a little "adventure" with them. At first I was not real sure if I wanted to venture away from our home. I love it there so much that I hate to leave even for the night. But Lindsay said that the last place we would go is where there was suppose to be "amazing pottery", well she sure knows how to sweeten the pot! I love pottery and she knows that. So early the next morning we threw our overnight bag in the Suburban and off we went. Paul and I and four (count them) four Brits. If everything turned out to be a bust, we figured being in the car with Brits for the next three hours would be worth it.
So off we went on our journey to San Marcos.
Well we did see some interesting stuff, old stuff, mexican stuff, stuff I am not really in to. But the fact that half the time I had no idea what these Brits where saying I only knew I felt like I was in some Monty Python movie. And for me that alone was worth it right! And then we scored, we scored big......We found this Hacienda.
Not only was this place beautiful, the food was amazing and the spa....I think I will have to save that for another post. But just let me tell you that if you ever find yourself on the "Long Road to San Marcos" you will have to stay here. It is worth the drive (even if you don't get to go with the Brits).

Tere gets Married

2010-01-28T15:49:00.000-08:00

There are so many wonderful memories in Mexico. Moments that you want to hold in your heart and memory forever. This was one of those moments. We have of course been to many weddings, more than I can count I think. But there was something that made this special for us. Maybe it was because it was so different and yet much the same. There was the bride (Tere our maid) and her new husband (Martin) and their families and all their friends from the villages they live in. There were the grandparents, the uncles, the aunts, the cousins, the children and of course the dogs. The church had flowers and the preist. The reception had food and beer. All the things you would find at a wedding north of the border. But somehow in this little village in the middle of a tabacco field nestled up againest the mountains on the pacific coast, I felt different. Maybe it was because these people were there to celebrate and watch the union of these two people. They were not there to party, or see what kind of "spread" was but on. It was so simple and rural (did I mention the reception was in a horse pasture?). We walked from the church to the reception through the streets (dirt) and people cheered and threw confetti. They served tortillas and pork (I think) and everything came from the kitchen of Martin's family. Their mother's cried and held their children tight before letting them go on this new adventure.
When it was all over, Tere and Martin loaded into our Suburban and left for their new home in Oatates. A new home for both of them. A home that has dirt floors in the kitchen a bathroom in the backyard. But when we went to visit them they were so proud of how good the house was starting to look. I was so humbled by the two of them. I will always hold that evening in my heart.

The Truth about Mexico

2010-01-24T06:03:00.001-08:00

I am always amazed at what people say to me about our plans to retire in Mexico. I thought it would be a good idea to send them to this web site. I think the more people know the less fear they have about traveling and living in Mexico. I think you will find the site very interesting.

The Walking Dude

2010-01-20T19:19:00.000-08:00

Paul and I have been going to Mexico for the last four years now. One of the things that has been a constant has been the "walking dude". We first encountered this guy on our second visit to Platanitos. We had rented a car and were driving from Puerto Vallerta. It was late at night and very dark, we were getting close to our home which was under construction at the time. All of sudden out of no where this dude jumps out of no where and we almost hit him. Holy shit did it freak us out. We swore at that very moment that we would never again drive that road at 11 at night.
Well we kept true to our word, but it would not be our last encounter with "the walking dude". We learned through the years this guy would do nothing but walk. He walked every day, all day. He walked till his clothes were thread barren and his shoes (if he was wearing any) were worn off. We learned that he was taken care of by the people of the villages. They provided him with food wrapped in bundles, food in foil and sometimes water to wash himself. Everyone knew he was "sick" but they also knew that he did not hurt anyone, he just walked. He slept where he could and ate what he found. We learned that we felt sorry for him, we brought him clothes and shoes, we worried that someone would hurt him or he would hurt someone. It was an odd to know nothing and yet know so much about someone you just called "the walking dude".
Today we got word that the "walking dude" had been hit by a car and died. We knew someday it would happen. We knew that four years ago on that dark road. But knowing it and it happening seem to be two different things. We will keep his family in our prayers, and hope his life had some happiness in it.

Marcos Gate

2009-12-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

The man in the middle of this photo is Marcos Pena. The white Suburban behind him is ours. Marcos and the other two fellows were arrested after a high speed chase in our Suburban on Sunday night. News of this came last night from a friend in Tepic where up to that point we thought our Suburban was living at the repair shop getting a new water pump. It appears that these three men had other plans for the girl. Marcos worked for us, he drove for us, he gave us advice on where to get things and we in turn trusted him. I feel somewhat foolish about that right now. Once when my son was driving back to Vegas, Marcos rode with him to the border to make sure he was not alone driving in Mexico. When our daughter came with three of her girlfriends it was Marcos that watched over them making sure they stayed safe and drove them back to the airport. Marcos has children, he has a wife with cancer and till this happen he had a job. I am pretty confused on what makes a man do this?
So today we will start the process of trying to get "the get away car" back. This will require an attorney so thank god we already have a good one in Tepic. I am sure it will cost us both money and time. And really I have no idea if we will ever get the old Suburban back, it's Mexico. But I do know that I will never get back the trust for an employee again. I will be forever jaded in the way I look at the people that work for us. So although Sunday night our truck was taken, something much deeper was taken from me, and I mourn the loss of it.

FM3 Another step

2009-11-21T19:14:00.000-08:00

Well it happen. I am the very proud owner of a Mexico FM3 Visa. I am on my way to becoming a real life ex pat. Wow who would have thought it right?
I thought it was very exciting and wanted to open some champagne or maybe a mountin dew or something. But that will have to wait for another day. For now I am busy getting ready for three weeks in my adopted home of Mexico.

Another suitcase...or two

2009-11-16T15:42:00.000-08:00

Did you ever wonder why I call this blog One Suitcase at a Time? Because for the last three years we have been moving to Mexico. Every time we head south I pack up two bags each (and really big bags too) and off we go to the airport. In these times when folks are bringing "the carry on" Paul and I are schlepping four huge bags through the airport. But look folks this is important stuff, stuff I can not live without. High thread count sheets, good towels, and all my cooking toys that I can not get in Mexico. One must always have a kitchen tourch for the love of God!
This time is no different, although I am not going with Paul this time I have packed two suitcases full of stuff. A water purification system, baby clothes for the local village, meds for the stray dogs, mini springform pans, a good cheese knife, and several Christmas presents for our local friends. I know Paul would rather just have a little carry on, but how would we ever get all this stuff to our house if we thought like that?
PS The photo has nothing to do with the post, I just laugh everytime I see Paul (taken about 30 years ago)in this photo. I guess I thought if you did not like the post you might like his picture!

Your Best Life

2009-11-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

Every one of us is called upon, probably many times to start an new life.
A frightening diagnosis, a marriage, a move, loss of a job...
And onward full tilt we go,
Pitched and wrecked and absurdly
resolute, driven in spite of
everything to make good on a new shore.
To be hopeful, to
embrace one possibility after another-that is surely the basic
instinct....crying out: HIGH TIDE!
Time to move out into the glorious debris.
Time to take
this life for what it is.

Barbara Kingsolver
from High Tide in Tucson

FM3 Application

2009-11-06T16:43:00.000-08:00

So Paul has had his FM3 for over a year now. At the time he got it, I did not really think it was a big deal if I did not get mine. And really it has not been a big deal. Paul has to jump through some hoops at the airport before we leave, but other than that and a couple of trips to Tepic for renewal it has been fine. Well we decided that I now need to get mine. If we are to retire there it is a document that will make me legal. Although the paperwork should be pretty simple and we have all the documents that I nee, I was missing the passport photos. So no problem right? Wrong! I figured WalMart had this service and it would be fast and easy. I was wrong. It took me over an hour to get the photos taken and printed. I think at one time they had five people at the computer trying to work through the passport photo requirements. I really started to worry that it was my photo, but it turned out they had no idea what they were doing.....go figure. Well I have them now and so next week I am off to Denver to get my Mexican FM3, first step on this journey. Wish me luck!

Happy to share my life with him

2009-11-05T17:45:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I am amazed how much Paul and I love each other. There is not a day that goes by that we are reminded how lucky we are to be walking this path of our lives together. It seems like we are always on the same page when it comes to our future. We know the time is drawing near for us to start our new adventure in Mexico. We talk about it all the time, when we will pull the trigger, how we will do it and last but not least what the hell are we going to do with all our "stuff"? It has taken over 30 years for us to get all this stuff and now in the next year or so we have to figure out how to get rid of it! I know that might sound simple to some but there is so many things that mean something to us. Most stuff is simple, furniture will go to a guy that needs it, some will be sold. But what about the stuff that we can't let go of? We really don't want to store these things, our kids don't want them, so what do we do? I am sure the answer to this and many other questions will get answered in the next year. But we have started and nothing is going to stop us as we hold each close and look forward to many sunsets over the Pacific. We have a dream and we have each other and that is the only thing that has ever mattered to me. I hope you share our adventure with us.....you never know what will happen.

A Time to Think

2009-09-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

One of the most wonderful things about our home on the ocean is the time to think. It never fails to amaze me how caught up in "stuff" we get here in the states. We get so busy running to work, the store, the gym, activities with our kids, and nights out with friends. I think for most of us the "me" time gets lost. We have been so lucky to spend hours walking the beach at our home in Mexico. Putting the priorities of our lives back in order. Watching the sea birds flying over head while we comb the beach for shells. It is such a beautiful peaceful time for us. We are also lucky enough to share these times with our friends. This photo was taken of our friend Tammy as she strolled along Turtle Beach just savoring the afternoon. And as you can see we do not live near a lot of crowds. Most evenings we are the only ones there. What a surrel experience it is.......

Facebook | Casa Lagarto

2009-09-25T07:57:00.001-07:00

Facebook | Casa Lagarto

2009-09-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

Facebook | Casa Lagarto

Jacob's English Class

2009-07-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

Well only three more weeks and Jacob will be done in Mexico for this summer. I can not tell you how much he has appriciated the love and support of all our dear friends . This is the second year he has taught in Oatates and he said it was better than the first. As you can see from the photo the children are very eager to learn. Jacob has 33 kids in his class this year, and as you can see in the photo there are a couple of kids at the window as well. We are so proud of him and the man he has become. He has grown up so much and always amazes us with his humor and his compassion for other people. We look forward to all the great things to come in his life.

Chelsea Takes Mexico

2009-07-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

Chelsea and a couple of friends headed down to Casa Lagarto last month. I am sure from the stories that they had a bang up good time. I have always said Chelsea can have a good time in a paper bag. She is always the first to start dancing and is always ready to "get this party started". For anyone who knew me in my youth, you know that CHelsea is like I was. Sometimes that is a real problem for me! But that being said, I can also tell you Chelsea is smart, she is funny, she is beautiful and she has a lot of soul. If you know her well you usually love her. We are are proud of her and look forward to what she does with her life.

A Father and Son Road Trip

2009-05-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

In just a couple of weeks Paul and Jacob will take off for Mexico again on a road trip. I am not sure how much Jacob likes these three full day of driving trips, but for Paul they are some of the best times. They are taking down a couple of jet skis to our home there and also a small truck to live there. Jacob spends a couple of months there in the summer teaching in the local village. Jacob is a fifth grade teacher and since he is off for the summers he likes to spend them at Casa Lagarto. He also loves the local children and teaches englsih there several times a week. He is really a "rock star" to these kids. He takes his Blue Heeler Star with him and she is just such an awesome dog. She loves to play soccer with the kids and play with them in our pool. Paul loves the alone time he gets to spend with his son during this trip. They have always been close since they were the only "guys" in the house while Jake was growing up. Paul also loves the fact that Jacob is so much like him. Yes he has my eyes (blue) and he is fair like me, but he is his dad. His humor, his way of thinking all comes from Paul. Some of their best memories have been road trips with just the two of them. I think this will be another good one to add to the books!

Lucky Lady

2009-05-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I reflect on how I got so lucky. Over 30 years ago I met the man of my dreams and I guess he felt the same about me. We have had an amazing life together and watch our three children grow to be beautiful wonderful people. We have been blessed to know watch our three grandchildren grow under the loving care of Jill and Erik. Paul has been my very best friend and has always been there to make me laugh when I felt I would never laugh again. He amazes me everyday. He has such a warm and giving spirit for everyone he meets. He is the smartest man I have ever meet and yet he never has made me feel dumb. I can not think of anyone I would rather grow older with. I love him more today than I ever have. He still surprises me and he still makes me laugh. I wish everyone had a Paul to share their lives with.

Fisher and Sophia

2009-04-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long. When I am in Mexico the internet is so slow that posting a blog is really hard. I am happy to be home after spending the last 21 days in Mexico with Fisher and Sophia. Jill had to go to Florida with Connor and so Paul and I took the two little ones to Casa Lagarto. I will tell you that they were just great kids. Jill and Erik have done a wonderful job or raising very good children. We all know this is not something that just "happens". I know that making the hard decisions of raising kids is never easy. Sometimes the easy way is not the right way. Fisher and Sophia are polite, well behaved children. I never had to tell them twice. When it is time for bed they say their goodnights to everyone and go to bed! That's it...they go to bed. Paul and I would tuck them in tell them we loved them and left the room. They did not need us to read countless books or stay in the room with them, they just go to bed. I guess it should not surprise me because our children did the same thing. But out friends in Mexico were so surprised how well behaved they were. We really have to give the kudos to Jill and Erik. We had a blast with both the kids and my only wish is that they could remember this trip like I will. We had a lot of cuddle time and lots and lots of laughing. We sure love these kids and we are honored to be their "papa and honey"

Venice Beach

2009-03-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

I have no idea what the true name of this beach is, but we have always called it Venice Beach. It is a short walk to the north of our house. In the last three years we have seen maybe five other people at this beach. You have to walk a path through the jungle and I think it is too much trouble for most of the locals. There are no beach cafes or an area to throw a boat in. Just a beautiful little beach with nice body surfing waves. More of a gringo beach really. Paul loves the body surfing there and the fact that we have it all to ourselves. Paul has been know to shed his suit a time or two. It is also a great beach for the grandchildren since there is no rip tide there and very shallow. It has not been very often in our lives that we get such a beautiful beach all to ourselves. It is a real gem

Mardi Gras 2009

2009-02-28T17:11:00.000-08:00

Well Paul and I have made it home from another fantastic Mardi Gras in New Oreleans. We were lucky enought to spend a week in the Big Easy with our dear friends George and Debbie Boudreaux and nine of our friends from Colorado and California. Paul is a member of one of the Mardi Gras Krewes with George. The Krewe of Bacchus is one of the super krewes and we feel very lucky to be part of this group. We started out last Friday at the Kings Ball which once again was breathtaking. The food was excellent and the gathering is pretty small. The king of our krewe this year was Val Kilmer. He was a very hands on king and made sure to greet and shake hands with everyone. Staturday we showed our friends around New Orleans and had some great food. I think we also had a few cocktails as well. Sunday is the Bacchus Brunch and I can not begin to tell you about the food we have, just amazing. Sunday night was our ball and everyone had a blast. We only had a few dead soldiars that night but all and all I think even they had a blast. Monday was spent trying to recover and see more of the sights. Tuesday Paul and I left with George and Debbie and headed to Bay Shore Mississippi for a couple of days of relaxing at "The Camp". I have no idea why they call it that since it is a beautiful custom home on a lake, not what one might think of as a camp! Friday we headed into New Orleans bright and early for a 6am flight. We are always tired when we get home and it took a couple of days to recover, but we love our time in this wonderful city and this wonderful time. It is like a patchwork of America in New Orleans and you see everything there. We always leave looking forward to our next visit. Our special thanks to George (Butt Paste) Boudreaux and the fabuolous Miss Debbie for their friendship, their love and some of the best damn food this side of the Mississippi.

Don't Try This At Home

2009-02-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

Well as you can see we stocked up while we were at Costco in PV. Paul has opened that cabinet everyday, several times a day just to look at his "stash". I swear we do not go through that much when we are down here alone! But the days do get pretty filled up with having a cocktail here and a cocktail there. Sometimes I feel like my mom and Marv. Every night they would have a "tootie" before dinner. Here that happens at sunset. But for those of you who know me well, you know that I am having a latte at sunset. Our time here is moving away from us again and in a few short days we will once again leave our home here. This was a good trip. Paul got some engineering work done and I have read the one book I had been wanting to read (Edgar Sawtelle). Please do not ask me what I thought since I am still wondering what the hell it was about. I thought I was going to read this great man/dog story where everyone was happy in the end and learn some great lesson about life. A good read for Mexico right? Yea that did not happen. I will not spoil it for those of you reading it, but it may be sometime before I trust Oprah and my reading material again. I will stick to "O" and accept the fact she is on every cover! (Me..this month it will be me!). But over all we feel rested and renewed. That is what this place does for us and we really need to go back to the Springs feeling renewed. So my friends, that is the wrap up.

Time for some Sea Food

2009-02-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

Well Paul and I are off to Platanitos in the morning. This is a welcomed trip and a bit of a surprise. We had no plans to go right now, but Paul was asked to come down and do some engineering. Well I was not going to let him go alone, so off we go. This is a great time of the year, lots of whales to wath with their new babies. It is also a big shrimp time. Our neighbors Richard and Lindsay went to San Blas yesterday and picked us up six kilos of blue shrimp. So it looks like we will be having some shrimp this week! As always I will try to post from Mexico. Sometimes the internet works for me and sometimes it does not. So if not I will post again when we get back.

Three Years Ago Today

2009-02-02T07:40:00.000-08:00

It is so hard for me to believe that it has been three years since my mother passed. It seems like yesterday that she was laughing and giving me advice on something. I do miss her so much. So much has happen that I wish she had been here to share with me. I guess the biggest would be the grandchildren and the birth of Sophia. The little girl that she so wanted Jill to have. I miss our daily talks and having that "mom" to run things by, and tell things to. I miss her hands, her funny finger that I use to rub. I miss her smile and that one tooth that she always hated. I miss shopping with her, and all the "bargains" we could find. I miss her stories and wish just one more time she could tell me about that first store bought dress. I miss her relationship with my children. The way she would light up when they came in the room, she was so proud of them and what they have done in their lives. But I think I miss her holding my hand the most. Sitting on the sofa with her hand in mine, so tiny, so warm, so my mother. I sure was lucky.

Aunt Bonnie

2009-01-30T04:21:00.000-08:00

Last night I got the news that my Aunt Bonnie had died. My cousin Billy let me know. I was very sad to hear of her passing. It has been several years since I have seen her and I guess it is normal to ask yourself, why did I not make the time? I guess that is why it is always harder for the people left behind. But I know in my heart that my Aunt Bonnie knew I loved her. So I thought I would spend a few minutes this morning telling everyone about Aunt Bonnie. We are all better people from knowing her. Her children are better parents for having her in their lives and in the lives of their children.
Aunt Bonnie was married to my mother's youngest brother Gene. Like all the rest of our family they traveled working the crops and trying to make a better life for their six children. Aunt Bonnie was one of my mother's best friends. My mother would tell these great stories about her times with Uncle Gene and Aunt Bonnie. Their life together was not an easy one. But my Aunt Bonnie never wavered in her faith in her God or her love of my Uncle. She stood beside him and made "his people, her people". I always loved that about her. Their lives took them to Reno Nevada and that is where they settled, raised a family and where she will be laid to rest. My Aunt Bonnie held her family together through the death of her husband, one of her grand-daughters, a grandson and three of her own children. No woman should ever have to know so much pain. But through it all she had her God and she knew that the path for her was laid out by him, and she must follow it. She was this tiny little women and yet she was so large in her faith. I have thought of her when bad things have happen in my own life and thought "how does she do it". When my cousin Ralph passed away I asked her about it, how do you go on? She told me faith. Faith is what helped her survive. Knowing that at the end of this path she would meet her God and be with her children once more. I have faith she is with them now.

Time to Go Back?

2009-01-29T16:13:00.000-08:00

I spend a lot of my time looking at our photos from Mexico. Usually I have the next trip planned before I get back from Platanitos. But this time there is no trip planned. It is driving me crazy. When will I go back? How many weeks or months till I see our beautiful home again? I love our home here in Colorado, but it is winter and you get stuck in the house or on the snow packed roads. I think of waking to the ocean waves breaking below us, the sunsets off the patio, the birds, butterflies and hummingbirds. I think about the smell of the ocean and the whales. I think about the cool nights next to my best friend and husband Paul. I think of the long lingering mornings drinking lattes with Paul and talking about our life there. Here I listen to the news about the economy, the bad news of the day, and get depressed. I hope I can talk Paul into a quick hop down next week. A deep breath of Mexico right now is what I need.

Spencer William Townsend

2009-01-29T04:58:00.000-08:00

Our dear friends Bill and Paula became Grandparents this week. Their son Brett and daughter-in-law Crystal have a new baby boy Spencer Townsend. Paula is just over the moon with this new little guy and we are so happy for all of them. There is nothing like the birth of your first grandchild! The feelings we have as parents watching our children go through this amazing journey is more than works can say. I have been telling Paula that she would not be able to describe the feelings she would have. When our Connor was born I knew at that moment what our life was all about. It was about the future. So now Brett and Crystal lives will change. Change like they never thought. It is not the changing of the diapers or the feedings at 2 a.m. It is the change in your gut. The feeling that you are now more..better. They will not be able to remember what use to fill their time and their hearts. They will only know that they have been given this gift, and they will spend the rest of their lives honoring that gift. Good luck, we will all be here if you need us.

Jacob Turns 27

2009-01-25T14:26:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Seems like just yesterday that we held our new baby boy in our arms. I will never forget that day and how Paul held Jacob in his arms and wept. It was such a special day for us. We drove home just six hours after he was born and we laid in bed the rest of the day just staring out our beautiful new son. We had so many thoughts that day, what would he be like? what color would his eyes end up being? would he be funny? would he be kind? Well that was 27 years ago and I can tell you that he is funny and he is warm. He is kind and gentle and has a good soul. His eyes are blue like his mom's and his smile is big, bright and white. He makes us all laugh all the time. He is also happy with his life and not many can say that. He knows who he is and he likes that person. He is always up for a good time and always ready to share a laugh or two. He makes good decisions and he also lives with the bad ones. He is not perfect, but he is ours and we love him. We are so lucky to be his parents and to share his life to this point. Happy birthday son!

Dinner in Mexico

2009-01-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

Having friends over in Mexico is always fun for Paul and I. We love to meet and get to know all the wonderful people that spend time near us in Mexico. It is also a time I get to use all the beautiful dishes and glasses at the Villa. It does not hurt that the views from the table are amazing. During dinner you can see whales and boats and all the other amazing things that happen in the ocean. We spend as much time as we can with the group of people we have meet down there. I am always telling Paul that we meet the most fasinating people in Mexico. I guess it is that pioneer type spirit that brings them there. Going to Puerto Vallerta, Cancun, cozamal is easy. There are thousands of Americans drinking at Senior Frogs and cruising the strips of shops and bars. But once you get out to the "real Mexico" you do not find those same people. These are the adventures, and we are lucky to know them. They come from every walk of life and tell great stories of how they got to this point. After several bottles of wine and some great local shrimp, life becomes what it should be "a gift".

Best Friends

2009-01-16T06:05:00.000-08:00

Jill and Aran.BFF

Our Third Daughter

2009-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Paul and are are very blessed to have Aran, Chad and Jon in our lives. Aran was our exchange student from Spain about 16 years ago. She is also Jill's best friend. She married one of my son in laws football buddies from the USAF Academy that she meet while being the maid of honor at Jill's wedding to Erik. They have a beautiful little boy named Jon. They joined us in Mexico as well this las Christmas and really made it special for all of us. Aran taught our maid Tere how to make some great desserts and Chad taught us all the value of a nap! Jon had a blast with Sophia and the boys, and took a big step into becoming a "big boy". Aran and Family live in Florida so we don't get to see them a lot, but they are always in our hearts. We sure love these kids!

Our Children

2009-01-16T05:54:00.000-08:00

We are very proud to be the parents of these beautiful children. Sometimes I think I am the luckest women on earth. That is not to say we always agree with each other, but we always love each other. They had a great time at Casa Lagarto and it was a pleasure for us to have them with us. We look forward to another Christmas in Mexico soon.
Chelsea, Jake and Jill

Coming Home

2009-01-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

Coming home from Mexico is always bittersweet for Paul and I. We have been home a couple of days now and normally by this time we have jumped back into our routine. But we have not done that yet. We have had a really hard time with this return trip. Don't get me wrong. We love Colorado and two out of our three children live here along with our grandchildren. But I think Mexico is in our blood now. We think of the next return trip and what we need to bring with us (new can opener and plungers!). We look at our photos everyday and talk about how much fun we had on the last trip. We try to get back into the "swing" of household chores and making plans with friends. But this time it is different. I think that we are thinking more and more about the time we can retire and spend more time at Casa Lagarto. Don't know if we can do that yet, but who knows. We are not getting any younger right?

Christmas in Mexico

2009-01-10T07:33:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Turtles

2009-01-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

We are very lucky in Platanitos to have a a wonderful turtle rescue near us. When our friends came to visit the end of December we all went across the estuary and helped release about 200 baby turtles. It is also a wonderful adventure to watch these little turtles make their way back to the sea. It is also sad to know that very few will make it the eight years it will take to make their way back to this same beach. But without the help of the turtle camp these creatures would disappear from the sea. It was fun to see the small children so excited about releasing the turtle that they had named. I am sorry my grandchildren had not been able to do this on their trip. I hope on the next visit they will be able to go to the camp to see the great job they do there. If you are ever in the area it is a "must see".

Uncle Jake

2009-01-09T07:34:00.000-08:00

Our son Jacob also spent the holidays with us in Mexico. How fun it is to have Jake around. He has such a sharp sense of humor, much like his father's. He loves Mexico so much and spent the summer down there teaching English in the local village. He decided then that he would get his master's in ESL learning. He started the program at UNLV this week. It is so much fun to see him with Connor, Fisher and Sophia. The boys really love him and they think they have a pretty "cool" uncle. We are so proud of the man he has become. I know someday he will be a great husband and father. We look forward to many more holidays with his future family.

Our Beautiful Daughter Jill

2009-01-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

I think there comes a time with your children when you realize that although you still love them as a child, they have become adults. Adults that you like, adults that you can talk to and laugh with. I am happy to say that time has come for us with Jill. She has become a wonderful wife, an amazing mother and a real damn good person. Spending ten days with her we began to see that we did a good job. We loved spending evenings with her after the kids had gone to bed talking and laughing. She gave us laughter when we needed it. She is an amazing women

My Guy

2009-01-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Paul and I have been together for a long time now. I can tell you that I love him more today than I ever have. He has been such a great husband and father. I just wanted to share with all of you my handsome guy. We always come back from Mexico with a renewed attitude about life. Mexico has taught us so much about how to live one day at a time and to not skip ahead. On the last day at Casa Lagarto we read, took a nap and had a couple of lattes while watching the pelicans overhead. We talked a lot about the time we could spend everyday this way. No place to go, no phone calls, just sitting quietly next to each other reading and always knowing the other one is right there. I so look forward to that time. I am a very lucky lady.

Hot Coco and our grandkids

2009-01-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Nothing says sunrise in Mexico better than Papa's hot coco latte's. Every night was the same and every night was picture perfect. As the memories of the day washed over you and you saw another day come to an end. Casa Lagarto is magical that way.

Our Boys in Mexico

2009-01-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

This holiday season Paul and I had all of our kids and grandkids down to Casa Lagarto in Mexico. We also had our dear "third daughter" and her husband Chad and their blond haired boy Jon join us. To round out the trip my step father and the kids grandfather Papa Grande joined in. We had a really good time with each other. It was nice just to sit around and visit all day long. The kids swam and went to the beach, we ate a lot of great food and really had some great conversations. The days were topped off by lattes and hot coco made by "Papa and Honey". Nothing brings Paul and I more joy than those babies. They are just the best.

We Are Home

2009-01-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

Paul and I landed back in Denver at 5:00 to night and made our way through customs. We drove the hour home and as I sit in my Colorado kitchen I am reflecting on the last three weeks in Mexico. I have over 500 photos to share and a life time of memories. I will try to get some posts up an a slide show in the next couple of days. Till then I hope all of you had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Remember what the great Kung Foo Panda taught us:
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift...that is why it is called "the present".

Platanitos Beach

2008-12-15T08:22:00.001-08:00

Our neighbor and good friend Richard sent this to me last night. Since it is below zero in Colorado Springs right now it was right in the nick of time. We are driving to Denver this afternoon and then fly out in the morning for Mexico. It is so cold here right now that I am having a hard time thinking about it being warm. I am really excited for this trip. All of our family will be there for the holiday and the first time for most of them. I know at times it will be a little stressful, but I also know that this is the first time all my kids have been together for a Christmas in about five years or more. What a special time for Paul and I! I will try to blog from Mexico, but the internet can be scetchy at times. I hope all my friends have a great Christmas and New Years. We love all of you so much. We are very blessed people.

Bill and Paula

2008-12-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

I think this is such a great photo of our friends Bill and Paula. We have know them for about 18 years now. Our kids have grown up together and although they have all gone their own ways we feel lucky to still be friends with Bill and Paula. Bill surprised Paula with a trip to Casa Lagarto in November for her 50th birthday (she does not look a day over 30!). They had a great time and both of them look so relaxed in this photo. Bill is having to have some back surgery soon and thinks he should head down to the casa to recoup. We think that is an excellent idea, however I don't think Paula is buying that! We are sure glad they had a good time and we look forward to a trip with them maybe next year. They are real fun people and I know we would have a wonderful time...hell it is Mexico can you have anything else?

Bill and Paula have a friend

2008-12-11T09:02:00.000-08:00

Bill and Paul spent a week at Casa Lagarto and took this photo. I am always surprised and happy when I get photos of folks that stay at the Casa. I know how much I love it and I am always thrilled to hear other stories about the place. Bill and Paula said they had a wonderful time and can hardley wait to head back. They had two of their three grown children down there and Paula's sister from the Bay area. You can read what Paula wrote at www.casalagarto.com.

The Holidays

2008-12-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

The holidays are always a tough time for me. Three years ago my mother become ill due to cancer. She had been doing so well and had plans to go to Mexico for Christmas with us and the kids. She got very sick at Thanksgiving and died the following Febuary. I miss her so much, I miss our talks, her support, and her love. The holidays are a time for family and although I know that life goes on, I miss her everyday. I know she is looking down on us, guiding us, and smiling. She was a hellava gal!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

2008-12-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

I always love Colorado when the snow starts to fall. It is so beautiful and clean. We have lived her since 1989 and I still love the sight of the trees heavy with snow. I think a lot about our plans to retire in Mexico and how I will miss the beauty of the first snows. I guess I could get use to taking dip in the pool all winter long, but I think I will always feel like Colorado is our home. This is where we raised our kids, where we have lived longer than we have lived any where, and where we have had the pleasure of sharing our lives with many friends. Colorado has been very good to us.

What we are thankful for

2008-12-02T04:43:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Some Photos to share with you

2008-11-30T05:58:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Misty Lou Who

2008-11-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

One of the hard parts for me about Mexico is having to leave my "pack" of dogs. Anyone who knows Paul and I can tell you that we have always had a house full of rotton, but lovable mutts. Since our kids are grown and for the most part on their own, the dogs have become our "kids". We love each and every one of them. But they can not go with us to Mexico on our trips. Sooo we are very thankful that our neighbors Richard and Lindsay share their "beach dog" Misty with us. The Willans adopted Misty from the streets and today she is a healthy, well feed, and loving dog. Paul and I are sort of like her "auntie and uncle" when we are in our villa. I always buy good canned dog food to feed her and we let her sleep in our casita. She is a great watch dog and for the most part sticks around the house. I think that sometimes it is just to hard for her and off to the beach she goes. You have to be a really smart dog to stay alive in Mexico, most of them end up as road kill. Misty is very smart and everyone in Platanitos knows her. Sometimes she will not come home for the night and the next day someone will say"oh she stayed with us last night". I guess you could question her loyality........

Food at the Villa

2008-11-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

We are very lucky at Casa Lagarto to have some wonderful help. Tere (photo:left) has been with us before the main villa was completed. She comes in three days a week when we are not there to open up the rooms, fluff the beds, and mop. When we are there (or our guests) she comes in six days a week. She makes a wonderful breakfast and lunch for us in addition to cleaning the villa up from the night before. She knows some english and studies at the local high school a couple of times a week. She is a very good cook and is always willing to try new things. I have taught her several dishes and she is pleased with all of them. In the photo she and Veronica (her Auntie) are seasoning Molkajete bowls for a special mexican soup. It is served in the bowls hot. The bowls are made of lava from a near by volcano . They are seasoned by grinding rice and or salt into the porous rock. It is one of my favorite dishes in Mexico.

Beware of the "No See Ums"

2008-11-20T16:32:00.000-08:00

Well not everyone had a great time at Casa Lagarto on this trip. Our dear friend Kathy became the chomping grounds for the nasty little No see ums. They are pesky little guys that come out when the morning and nights are still and bite you. For most people just putting on some bug spray and wearing some long sleeves and pants in the early morning and dusk is fine. But try as she might Kathy was getting eaten by the damn things. She was a real trooper about it for several days, even though no one else was getting any bites. I finally decided it was time to go to the Dr. in La Pinata and find out the problem. Well as always the good ole doc came through and she is allergic to them. After getting some medication she was on the road to recovery. The Dr. visit and three prescriptions cost her $50.00. Most people shutter at the thought of having to go to the Dr. in Mexico but I can tell you the clinic is clean and they are very well trained. The Dr. spoke English and is a very nice man with a very warm smile. I think Kathy will back me up on this, if you have to see a Dr. in Mexico do not be afraid. Kathy is on the mend and we will know for the next trip that she needs to start the medication as soon as she gets there. Because she is ready to go back....bites and all.

Our Last Sunset at Casa Lagarto

2008-11-20T10:33:00.000-08:00

Well we sure had a great ten days in Mexico. It was filled with lots of laughs, lots of ocean time and for our dear friend Kathy a lot of "no see um" bites. I will blog about that tonight! But I wanted to share the photo of our last evening at Casa Lagarto with you. It is always so hard to leave, and add an evening with this sunset and you find yourself saying "I am not going back"! I think all of us said that a couple of times before we got back in the suburban and headed back to PV. It is a place like no other. I say it is "magical". There is so much peace there, so much time to think and reflect, so much time to not just hang out with friends, but to really get to know them. On every trip Paul and I come back with some new outlook on something. Sitting in the Sala watching the sunsets and talking to good friends for hours. This is paradise, we are so blessed.

Need I say more?

2008-11-20T10:24:00.000-08:00

Turtle Beach, Platanitos Mexico

Pablo

2008-11-20T04:25:00.000-08:00

Paul and I have been married a long time, we have raised three kids, moved several times with the Air Force, started and run a successful business and been able to travel around a lot. But I will tell you I have never seen Paul as happy as he is in Mexico. It just fits him. He loves the weather, he loves the surf, and he loves the lifestyle. On this last trip he spent almost everyday down at Turtle Beach body surfing. Returning to the Casa for lunch, a drink, and a good cigar. He has worked so hard his whole life and has always been there for every person in his life that it makes me so happy to see him like that. He is the best father and husband I could have ever asked for. I hope we can get down there more and stay longer in the next coming year. He is a happy man at Casa Lagarto.

A LATTE A BLOG AND THE OCEAN

2008-11-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

WELL IT IS NOW WEDNESDAY AND WE HAVE BEEN AT CASA LAGARTO FOR THREE DAYS. WE ARRIVED SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND WITH FOUR FRIENDS IN TOW, WE HEADED FOR COSTCO. ONCE THERE WE LOADED THE SUBURBAN WITH FOOD FOR THE NEXT TEN DAYS, ALL OF OUR LUGGAGE AND THE SIX GRINGOS. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS AMAZED THAT OUR COSTCO IN PUERTO VALLERTA IS JUST LIKE THE ONE IN COLORADO SPRINGS. SAME AMAZING MEATS AND CHEESES AND GREAT BAKERY.

OFF WE ALL HEADED (AFTER LOADING IN A RAIN DOWN POUR!) TO PLATANITOS.

EVERYDAY WE HAVE BEEN HERE OUR FRIENDS SAY..."THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER". I THINK THAT MEANS THEY LIKE IT HERE. OUR FRIEND DAVE HAS DECIDED HE WILL NOT BE COMING BACK TO COLORADO WITH US, BUT HE WILL STAY AND BE THE POOL BOY. I GUESS GOOD WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT. WE HAVE GONE TO THE BEACH FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND DID SOME BOOGIE BOARDING. IT IS KINDA FUNNY TO SEE ALL OF US ACTING LIKE WE AR 12 YEARS OLD AGAIN, THUS THE MASSAGES TODAY! SOPHIA CAME FROM SAN BLAS AND WE ALL SPENT THE AFTERNOON GETTING GREAT MASSAGES. TOMORROW WE ARE ON A QUEST FOR BLUE SHRIMP FROM SAN BLAS. WE HAVE SEEN MANY SHRIMP BOATS OUT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE SO WE THINK IT IS THAT SEASON AGAIN.

THIS MORNING OUR FRIENDS JEFF AND KATHY WERE SURE THEY HAD SOME "CREATURE" IN THEIR ROOM. WE LOOKED AND LOOKED AND FOUND NOTHING. KATHY WAS SURE IT WAS BEHIND THE DRAWERS IN THE CLOTHES CABINET. SO PAUL TOOK THEM ALL OUT AND STILL NOTHING. HE DID FIND A CLAW AND LOTS OF DUST SO HE BROUGHT THE SHOP VAC IN TO CLEAN ALL THAT UP. THAT MY FRIENDS IS WHERE OUR DEAR FRIEND WAS VINDICATED ! AS SOON AS HE STARTED THAT THREE CRABS WENT A RUNNING. WITH KATHY STANDING ON THE BED, THE CRABS ON THE RUN AND PAUL WITH KITCHEN TONGS HOT ON THE HEELS, OR I GUESS ON THEIR CLAWS I COULD NOT STOP LAUGHING. THEY WERE ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PALM OF YOUR HAND, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WERE HUGE BY THE REACTION THEY GOT. AS ALWAYS PAUL ROUNDED THE OUTLAWS UP AND TOOK THEM BACK TO THE OCEAN. I WAS OPTING FOR A POT OF HOT WATER!!! BUT WITH LARRY, MOE, AND CURLY SAFELY BACK IN THEIR SPACE WE WERE ABLE TO TALK KATHY OFF THE BED (WE PROMISED HER A VODKA TONIC).

I AM NOT SURE IF THINGS ARE FUNNIER HERE, OR WE ARE JUST DRINKING WAY TO MUCH????

2008-11-09T03:16:00.000-08:00

Well it is 4:17 am and we are packing the car to head to DIA. Our friends will be here at 5:00 and we will roll. I am going to blog from the Casa in Mexico. We will see if I get that done or not. Till then Adios........

Biscuit is HOME!

2008-11-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know me well, Biscuit is my blue heeler. She has spent the last four weeks at the Canon City Prison for women. She has always been a good dog, but very fearful. We always just thought it had something to do with her bent tail and birth order (she is Jacob's dog Star's puppy). So since we had sent our other two heelers to the program at the prison I decided it would do her a world of good. I can not tell you how hard it was for me to leave her for the four week program. I have had her since the day she was born and she is now four years old. I felt like I was abandoning her. But I also knew that the program would do her a world of good, so I had to suck it up and let her go. Well she came home today and so far so good. She was sooooo happy to see me, I wanted to cry. I feel bad that we are leaving in the morning and can not spend more time with her. Chelsea will be staying with our dogs, so I know she will get lots of love while we are gone. Chelsea has always been the "animal person" like her mom and dad. I could not be leaving her in better hands. I will let you all know how she does in the coming weeks. If you want to check out the program or adopt a great dog go to www.coloradoci.com . They have great dogs that need homes.

Sophia Olivia turns 2!

2008-11-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

Well Sophia turned two this week, so Papa and Honey got her a table and chairs for her birthday. She had also gotten a cute tea set from Auntie Aran and Uncle Chad. So thus the photo above. As most of our friends know Sophia was a total surprise to all of us. Jill had been told she was going to have another boy. So the day that Cooper Miller Mitchell was to be born, we got Sophia Olivia. I remember that Jill had done "Cooper's" room in sail boats and all blue. It took a couple of weeks before she said "yea that is not going to work for this girl". Sophia is all girl, from her tiny little toes to her beautiful smile and big blue eyes. She is a daddy's girl and the light of her Papa's eyes. I think we are in for a lot of trouble with this princess!

Did I mention we are going to Mexico?

2008-11-07T07:38:00.000-08:00

Two days and a wake up. Even after three years of going to Mexico, Paul and I still are giddy everytime we pack our bags. We really do love it there.

Meet Aran and Jon

2008-11-06T14:58:00.000-08:00

I am having so much fun with this whole blogging thing, that I thought I should thank Aran. For those of you who do not know Aran she is my third daughter by a different mother. Aran was our exchange student from Spain when she was 16. What a wonderful women, wife and mother she has turned out to be. She and our oldest daughter Jill are best friends. Although Aran lives in Florida with her husband Chad and beautiful boy Jon, not a day goes by that those two are not talking or texting. They have a beautiful bond of sisters.
Aran started a blog about a year ago www.cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com . If you have not gone there , do so right now. Aran is a pastry chef and takes the most amazing photos. We are so lucky to have her and her family in our lives. We are looking forward to spending Christmas with all of them in Mexico. Maybe Aran will teach me some of her amazing skills in the kitchen and with a camera. We love her like our very own and I am so happy for all of you to meet her!

Say Cheese.........

2008-11-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

I know that I have some of the best looking grand kids in the WORLD. These photos were taken in Disney World last week. Connor and Fisher are best friends and they just adore their sister Sophia. They make us smile every time we see them.

Captain Hook, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell

2008-11-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love Halloween! My grand kids spent theirs in Disney World at the "Not So Scary Halloween Party". Connor (left) was a handsome Captain Hook, Sophia(middle) was our little and oh so darling Tinkerbell and Fisher (far right) was the dashing and brave Peter Pan. Kudos to Mom for picking such great outfits. I am looking forward to next year.......maybe Alice in Wonderland? I think Erik would make a great White Rabbit!!

Platanitos Mexico

2008-11-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Well our count down is now at three days and a wake up. The weather is 41 degrees with the wind blowing. As I try to stay warm in Colorado I have to look at my photos of Mexico. It always seems to help me stay focused. This photos is of our home away from home, Platanitos Mexico from the air. To the right of the photo is Turtle Beach a 11 mile white sand beach were Paul loves to surf. Our house would be on the far left in this photos. Ahhhhhh warm weather and sunny beaches, we can hardly wait.

Change has come......

2008-11-05T07:03:00.000-08:00

Well it is finally over, months and months of ads and non stop news about the race. I am so happy it is over! Did my guy win? Well no he did not. But I am happy to stand behind the new president with my support and my prayers for him and his family. It is now time to heal these wounds and move forward in our nation. I will be happy not to get the "hate" e-mails any longer about Obama. I think both the men are good men. I don't think that Obama bites the heads of new born babies and is a "plant" for the Muslims. I think he is a man with a dream and over 50% of this nation told us they agree with that dream last night. It is now time to silence the tongues and support this man and his family as they move forward with all of us. Congratulations Obama our nation awaits "the change"

Our Boy Scouts

2008-11-04T11:03:00.000-08:00

How cute are our boys!! They love their new "club" and they love doing it with their dad. I just love a man in uniform.

Papa for Christmas

2008-11-04T05:29:00.001-08:00

Paul and I had dinner with all of our kids for the first time in over a year this last weekend. The conversation turned to our upcoming trip to Mexico for Christmas. The kids wanted to know why Papa was not coming with all of us. I guess I had thought about it several times, but at 82 I know it is hard for him to travel. Since my mother passed away I know he feels some what lost in airports, let alone out of country airports. But I knew they were right, and that the holiday would not be the same without him with us. So I am happy to report that he said he would come and he will fly from Fresno to Salt Lake City and Jake will meet him there and then fly on to Mexico. He is such a large part of our children's lives and they love him so much. Everyone will be happier with him there. We love you Papa Marvin!!

Off to Mexico

2008-11-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

Well Paul and I are getting ready to head to Mexico for ten days. It should be a great time for all of us. Our friends Jeff, Kathy, Dave and KJ are headed down with us. It will be the first time for them to see Casa Lagarto since it has been finished. We love to share our home with friends and family, and always look forward to visitors. I think that is one of the reasons we love it so much. It is a chance for us to spend some "down" time with the people we like so much.

It is also starting to get cold here in Colorado. As much as I love this state there are times that taking a break to warmer climate is just the ticket. We have five days and a wake up before our plane takes off.

Our Boys

2008-11-03T19:07:00.000-08:00

I think sometimes that we are the luckiest people in the world. We have great kids who have turned out to be really wonderful, caring humans who care about each other and the world they live in. Now having said that....grand kids are great!

Connor and Fisher come and stay with Papa and Honey now and again and it is always a fun time for all of us. They are really great boys and they keep us hopping. This photo was taken the last weekend of September in our back yard pond. They always have such a great time here at the house playing in the pond or riding their four wheelers. Sometimes they get lucky and Papa lets them drive the tractor around. We are very proud of both of them and we feel very lucky to share their lives with ours.

Uncle Jasper

2008-11-03T17:48:00.000-08:00

I feel like our blog would not be complete if I did not post something about Jasper. He has been our "little guy" for about 12 years and a real member of our family. We could not ask for a better little guy to share our lives with. Paul loves to steal him away from me on cold Colorado nights. We have had lots of dogs, those of you who know us are thinking "that is an under statement!" But Jasper has been one of our favorites. All that have spent time at our home have had the pleasure of having snuggles with Uncle Jasper.

Why Casa Lagarto?

2008-11-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

We knew we had to come up with a name for our new home in Mexico. What should it be we thought. Of course everyone in the family had an idea....Casa Fiesta, Casa Doggeroo, Mama's Casa. We must of thought of 100 different names for the place. In the end the people of Platanitos named it for us. It seems as though our property was home to many large lizards (lagarto's) who loved to lay in the sun there. So the name stuck and it became Casa Lagarto. You can still see some great lizards hanging around every now and then. But they are very afraid of people so to see one is rare. We have been lucky to get some great shots of the fellows and we share a couple with you here.

Fall in Colorado

2008-11-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago Paul and I took a Aspen trip with our our dear friends David and Noreen. We had lots of fun and as always some great laughs. We went through Cripple Creek and across Boreas Pass into Breckenridge. David and Noreen have shared so much with us through the years and this was another memory to add to our list as friends. We never forget to count our blessings when it comes to friends. Thanks David and Noreen.

Fisher and Papa

2008-11-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I am not sure who the bigger kid is! Paul had a great time at Disney World with both Connor and Fisher. But Connor is more the dare devil and loves to ride the roller coasters with Jill and Paul. Fisher is more the Dumbo rides right now and so I had a great time with him. I will have to tell you that spending four days with the grand children was the best!! I will never forget our time with them and the memories we now share. We are so proud of all the kids and they are all so different from each other. Jill and Erik have done a great job as parents.

Sophia and Honey

2008-11-03T03:40:00.000-08:00

Paul and I spent four days with our daughter Jill and her beautiful family in Disney World. This is our youngest grandchild and only grand daughter Sophia Olivia. What a cutie she is and just the best little thing ever. She also said "Honey" for the first time.

Construction of Casita

2008-11-02T15:38:00.000-08:00

Construction of the Casita began in January 2006. It was all so exciting and sometimes it seem to take forever. But at the end of the day it was perfect and just as we wanted it. Richard sent us photos all the time to let us know what was going on as well. We were lucky enough to be able to go down every month or two to check on the progress and make more decisions. We planed on the Casita/Garage first so that we would have a "home" while the Casa was being built. Our trips were full of decisions to make and lots and lots of shopping! What fun for us...well for me anyway.

Christmas 2005

2008-11-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

Paul having bought the land without me ever seeing it (call us crazy), we made our plans to spend Christmas in Mexico. Along for the journey were our son (Jacob), daughter(Chelsea) and Paul's parents Rob and Betty. I can not tell you what a rush it was to see the site of our future home for the first time. Paul had made a great decision!

We stayed at Richard and Lindsay's that Christmas and it would be the first of many stays at their home. We had a long road in front of us, but we never doubted for a minute that this road was the right one. Life is crazy that way.

The Beginning

2008-10-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

Casa Lagarto was started the summer of 2005, with a visit to our dear friends Richard and Lindsay Willan. They own the casa to our immediate south. It was because of them and their friendship and the over all beauty of the area that we decided to buy our land and start our dream home on the ocean. Richard served as our general contractor on the project and Lindsay helped me a great deal with her support and advice. We had no idea at the time we started how wonderful it would all turn out to be. Thus began our journey at Casa Lagarto.