Busy

We have been very busy since returning to Vancouver. There are so many details that have to be dealt with before moving into the condo. A new bed was delivered today...our first piece of furniture to arrive. Everything else will arrive on April 4th.

Testing the new bed!...should be big enough!

Return to Vancouver

We returned to Vancouver after an interesting "pickup" at the airport. Our son fell asleep while he sat in the waiting area... the car battery died while he dozed and the music played! After a 7:30pm arrival at YVR we were finally delivered to the apartment at 10:30pm...amidst much laughter!

Today we visited our condo to see the painting that was done while we were in Mexico. Everything looks beautiful with a gorgeous "plum" wall in the dining room thanks to Kelly, our painter of choice!

Painting No. 14 & 15

We are packing and preparing to leave Mexico this morning. I am sharing the final two paintings that I managed to finish in this series. No. 16 is incomplete.

No. 14

No. 15

Yesterday I delivered twelve of the paintings in this series to a Gallery in Puerto Vallarta where they will be exhibited for sale. It is very exciting to be exhibited in a private gallery that has a long history in this city.

Painting No.13

At a dinner party last night we met four guys who have chosen to live full time in Puerto Vallarta, leaving the familiarity of their previous homes in California and Vancouver to spend their retirement years in Mexico.

One of the group had cataracts removed from both eyes last year but was so accustomed to wearing eyeglasses that he still wears the frames...minus the lenses!...a unique personality!

For appetizers I made figs stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in prosciutto...baked for 5 minutes before serving. Dinner was grilled salmon and veggies with a special potato salad. Doug created an apple/blueberry crumble for dessert with a scoop of ice cream. Delicious meal with interesting guests.

Imprisoned!

Final "NTZ" coffee

We shared our final "No Trump Zone" coffee gathering this morning.

We hope to see these wonderful friends again in the years ahead.

Painting No.12

Our days are winding down in Mismaloya.

Fourteen paintings are finished.

The chickens are safe!

Spring Break

We have decided that it must be Spring Break in some areas of North America. Thousands of students travel to Mexico to indulge in a constant state of drunkenness. Our residence in Mismaloya is surrounded by "Party" houses. On one side there are about one dozen young people who prefer to hear their music at top volume all day and night. It is barely tolerable during our awake hours but when they return from the City clubs at 4:00am and turn up the volume...it is very disturbing!

Above us, on top of the hill, the rap music that travelled down to us yesterday for hours was laced with curse words. On the other side of us there is a mansion that currently houses about 30 young people. Fortunately the noise from their partying is not as intrusive. This week we have spent more time indoors with the windows and doors closed against the onslaught of inebriated language and noise pollution!

Painting No. 11

Our days continue to be sunny and warm with a refreshing breeze in the afternoon and early evening. This morning we enjoyed a coffee visit with friends at Dee's in town and returned on one of our favourite orange buses. It is rumoured that new buses will start to appear on all of the city routes but the ones that travel out to Mismaloya will continue to be originals for a while...complete with their crucifixes, broken seats and floor boards that often allow a view of the road below!

A coded door

Full moon

OMG! What a beautiful way to wake up at 5:00am!...with the glow of an almost full moon filling our room and reflecting across the Bay. We lay in bed and watched as the moon dropped into the sea...or, did the sea swallow the moon? Needless to say, I prefer to sleep much later...but...this was a magical experience...to be repeated again tonight!