Frannie waiting for the fireworks

Frannie waiting for the New Year's fireworks!

Not his favourite annual event.

Christmas 2014

Christmas has been a busy time.

On Christmas eve we shared dinner, cribbage and gifts with Heather, Chris & Augie.

On Christmas day we joined twenty family members for a festive dinner at our niece's home.

These three elves wore light-flashing, musical hats.

On Boxing Day we watched our fearless grandson ride his new"big boy" bike

around his schoolyard! Bravo Augie!!

Last night our son arrived, dispensing advice to his mother...

...and to his father!!

It has been great to visit with family, sharing stories and laughter.

Best wishes to family and friends for a wonderful New Year!

Christmas wishes

We are heading to Vancouver today for Christmas holidays. 

We are sending hugs and kisses to all of our family and friends

who will not be with us over the holidays.

May the New Year bring good health and fun adventures for everyone!

Shoes and a bug

Pre-Christmas dinner party

Tonight we are going to a Christmas dinner party for 41 guests.

Doug handled this amazing gift wrapping job

in preparation for the "Chinese auction" gift exchange.

Guess what's in the bottles...I mean boxes!!

El Tuito

I forgot to post my photos from Saturday.

We drove south on Saturday to El Tuito for lunch.

Shapes and colours

It was another quiet Sunday.

We didn't leave the "compound".

On my daily walks I am constantly attracted 

to colours and shapes.

No idea why these were hung from the tree outside Starbucks...

...and I wonder who lives here...

...stop to enjoy a refreshing glass of water...

...must have been quite a party!

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

This Church in downtown PV is always a quiet and cool place to rest.

The altar is adorned with a nativity scene for Christmas.

I sat at the back and watched as parishioners knelt in silence to pray.

The voices of a women's choir drifted in from an adjacent building.

Surf

We have had high tides and huge waves in Banderos Bay during the past ten days. 

This morning I watched some of the brave young guys who tackle the surf.

Sometimes they win...

...and sometimes they disappear!!

another day in paradise

Six new pieces are finished for the exhibition in June. A decision has to be made about whether or not to create a "signature" piece. I think that a Christmas break from paint and brushes will help to clear my mind and inspiration will flow in the New Year! Maybe!!

This local music store caught my eye this morning...

...and lilies continue to light the pond!

Christmas trees

We discover Christmas trees everywhere!

La Cruz Sunday market

This morning we travelled out to the Sunday market at La Cruz.

The flower vendor's display was gorgeous.

A young artisan had created these unusual beaded necklaces.

A close-up of two necklaces...Salvador Dali and Frida Khallo.

Each one takes about 30 hours to create.

I didn't ask the price because I felt that they were priceless!!

A busy day

Yesterday was a busy day. 

After shopping at two markets we returned to chores.

The guys were applying gesso to six large painting surfaces.

John decided to trim the ixora plants around the perimeter of the patio.

Between dips in the pool, preparing meals and adding a few brush strokes 

to a new painting, I was kept busy for the day.

Processions for Our Lady of Guadaloupe

Good news...John thinks that he is feeling better. It has been a long week for him...started with a fever and lingered with a feeling of weakness and lack of appetite. This morning he enjoyed a real meal of pancakes and sausages for brunch. ..a sure sign of recovery!

Doug and I walked down to the Cathedral to capture some of the festival spirit. On the last day of this twelve day festival there were endless processions to the Cathedral including one led by the PV Filarmonic Orchestra. It was wonderful music leading a parade of hundreds...some in traditional costumes, others carrying babies, all bringing flowers to lay at the feet of "Our Lady of Guadaloupe".
The processions will continue until midnight on December 12th (tonight).

The Virgin of Guadaloupe is considered to be the patroness of Mexico and Central America. Her shrine in Mexico City was visited by over six million pilgrims on Dec. 11 & 12, 2009.

For a small fee you can have your photo taken with one of these images.

Filarmonicos ready to lead the procession.

Orchestra members

Mini caballeros!

An unwilling participant!

Las senoritas

Love the moustache!

That's quite the bull whip!!

Everyone gets a sprinkle of Holy water when entering (or passing) the Cathedral!

This procession passed below the house last night,

a navigational nightmare for the traffic controllers!

Painting class

Yesterday our host and I spent the day at a painting workshop at Kathleen Carrillo's studio/gallery in downtown PV. Seven students attempted to emulate her style with a whimsical painting of food and wine. We had signed up for the class in order to share her exuberance with colour and her unwillingness to use "two-hair" brushes!

Kathleen has a similar style of painting to Tracey...bold, colourful scenes on large canvases. It was an exhausting day...hours of standing on a cement floor in the heat.

Below are three images. Which is mine?

Which is Kathleen's...

and which is John A-P's???

Sickness!

Illness has struck the Quinta. Doug has a cold and John is running a fever. Two of us have our fingers crossed that they haven't shared their germs with us!

Lunch at the river

Today we were invited to join some friends at a BBQ restaurant up the river. To our dismay we discovered that the road was under construction. Although we managed to get to the restaurant there was no parking and it was very challenging to get turned around. Our friends suggested another spot on the river that was closer to town and had easy parking.

The setting was absolutely gorgeous.

Unfortunately the food was mediocre!

Dec. 6th - St. Nicolas Day and our anniversary

Last night we wandered downtown along Juarez. This main street is closed to vehicle traffic during the first twelve days of December to allow safe space for processions to the Cathedral. The street was packed with vendors, taco stands, tables of cakes and spectators lining the perimeter. We watched as two groups made their way with music and dancers. Everyone applauded as they passed by.

We had chosen Gaby's as the venue for our anniversary dinner and were seated on the balcony along the outside wall where we could watch a video that was projected onto the building across the street.

Is that Linda Ronstadt?....

....and?????

The dinner was delicious and the entertainment was interesting!

After dinner we shared some "street cake" and wandered back toward the Cathedral.

Anniversary and procession

Celebrating 34 years together today...only 22 official ones. Hard to believe! Seems like just yesterday that we decided to share our lives...that's what I think until I look in the mirror!!

This morning while John was at the gym I walked along to catch a glimpse of a procession. The participants were gathering outside Woolworth's (yes, there is still a Woolworth's store in existence) for an early morning parade to the Cathedral.

One of the young dancers.

Practicing their routine.

The visit of the black iguana!

We had an exciting morning today.

A black iguana had found its way into the top

of the cupboard in our hosts' bedroom.

The gardener was asked to remove it!

Doug and I sought safety on the bed

while the poor creature jumped from its 9 foot high perch

onto the floor, running under the bed.

It was finally caught in a fishnet and released outdoors!