Sunday, March 30, 2014

Happy All Fools Day ...

I have to experiment with font size for Don Hugo who can't read the computer and my font has been too small ?!
I'll get feedback later ...
I'm learning more about my camera so expect more photos, esp. in a slow week ?
I have heard, but not seen for myself the Leticia's Tienda is now advertising prices ! WoW , can't wait to check it out ...
there's a good idea a long time coming !? I think the move may be sparked by a new Fruit/Vegie market that moved into the old Cyber Email place, next to Rosarita, our Dentist !
The fellow was coming down from Tuito 2 x/s a week, and must be making $$ to move in permanently ... I will see manana ... so know we don't have a computer place.  Most people have their own tablet now, but I still think somebody should have it available, besides just at the Hotel.
I missed the History of Yelapa Photo Exhibit by Lisa Law, at the Lagunita Gallery , but she's still here if you want to buy any.  I would love to but I need more walls.
Who knew there was a 3 o'clock taxi from PV ? I had to learn that on the Internet ! Expecting lots of comings and goings
this week, and get asked a lot of questions. I finally figured out it's just better to know the answer ! The Internet has 
changed things alot around here, and that brings more money, which is a good thing, and I love my cellphone service !! It's still crazy seeing people on the path with their phones, especially the cowboys on their horse !
Somehow the school children have turned into angels.  It's almost like they drank a potion, and became the mirror image of themselves.  Still hard to sit still, but so helpful and
polite. We had a guest artist deliver the ceramic tiles she had made with Grade 3, earlier in the year, they gave her their thank you cards.  A great success !!
A girl in Grade 4 was celebrating her Birthday and her parents came by with a wheelbarrow full of pizza for her class, and all the teachers, of which Ginny, her helpers and I were included !  You eat alot around here !
I survived my trip to PV. All the way to the new pier, but back on the bus to Boca for the afternoon ride.  No way I can carry my bags across the river to the boat, and it won't be long that carrying on the bus is not advisable.  Suffering fromYelapa Shoulder right now ! There are young man in Boca always happy to help, for 20 p. Great.  And I trust them without a doubt. Wouldn't it be great to have a Yelapa Taxi on Wheels,
someday in the future ... waiting in Boca then drive around PV, and deliver you and your Stuff ! back to Boca. How many seats would you need or want ? I like Boca de Tomatlan.   
I don't mind waiting around, there is always lots to look at and usually great people watching and eavse dropping this time of year ... it's all fun in the sun ....in another few months,
I may be the only Gringa around ....
Spring cleaning around the house and in the Bodega. So many people can use so much around here, and what they can't they share with Chakala.  I'm making room for my new
things, and leaving space for what's to come ... 
Happy April Fools Day Everyone ...
I hope we all have a good laugh. for some of us it's been a long time coming.  
xx
k

Photos

                                      
                                                                is it spring or fall ?!


                                                       amazing what water can do !

 

                                                 bananas mixed with beauganvilla



                                         The new crown of the Catholic Church .... stunning
 
 

                                                          A montage at the Lagoon

                                     Bench remade and tiled at the Point, in front of CasaDelfin
                                             Good job everyone, it turnded out great !
                                                               I'm on clean up duty

Monday, March 24, 2014

Photos

 
view from the bridge down river
 
 
 
                                                                             up river


he was " cocking " his head off !
A real beauty !


watch where you're going
at all times !
 
 
 

                                                                               
                Sunday afternoon visitor ...
               She's called, The Invader

Hawks, Chackalacas, Laughing Gulls

Best to get the sad news over with ....

April's son died, of a heart attack, in Northern Washington, Saturday night.  April arrived there on Thursday, since he had heart surgery scheduled for this Tuesday. 
His name was Freedom.  He was 40 years old.  Send Love to April and her family and
Live every day as if it's your last, and one day you will be right.

The Yelapa Fishing Co operative received 3 new boat motors on Wednesday.  Four stroke.
They are pumped up about that.  Now lets get on with it ! The only one eating fish in my house is Lily, walking around on 4 legs ! Don't make me go to Pollo Bollo for my fish fix, although there's nothing wrong with that !but I like to save him for a chicken/rib fix !

The new BBQ Chicken stand up river is a huge hit ! Pollo Yo ! a Yelapa spin on Pollo Loco
( chicken crazy ) ... he has a motorcycle for delivery. I loved the owners Dad, Octavio, who
who died quite some time ago. I will give Hector the picture I have of his Dad, taken when he was way up the Rubber tree that used to be in front of my house !  He was a sweet sweet man.  That's just what Yelapa needed, I think, and it's not competition for PB, since it's only take out and he closes at 4 pm everyday. Now all we need is a Deli ! and my other great idea, but that's still a secret !

The low has gone up to 20 ! The ocean breeze has warmed up and the water is calm.  I can feel summer coming on, and I'm looking forward to it.  I found a photo of my half sister's house in Newfoundland, taken this past Christmas, with 3 foot icicles hanging from her roof.
I brought it in to show the kids at school.  That got their attention, for 2 minutes !
I remember those cold cold winters, when spring arrived around May 21, not March !
The bird action around here right now is wild, more so then usual. The Hawks are laying eggs, or eggs are hatching or something exciting is going on. 

I attended the teacher/parent meeting at the school last Thursday.  The grade 4 teacher invited me.  There is an awful lot of wrestling, and jumping and rolling around, and that's in the classroom ! It was impossible to teach my class, so I left !  That got their attention too !
I went to the meeting for back up support and added my 2  centavos. The moms ( there were no dads) were all very responsive, and appreciate my efforts.. I don't know what they will do to try and get the kids to settle down.  We/they may just have to wait and hope and pray they will grow out of it , sooner than later. The school has been so unsettled these past few months, but now we have 5 full time teachers, with one performing the job of Director as well. I can't wait to see what happens on Wednesday .... or can I ?

I am going to PV tomorrow !  The only thing pulling me is getting more photocopies for my classes, and visiting the shoemaker ! We can make photocopies here, but one at a time, and I suppose we'll never have a shoemaker , not too lucrative around here !
It is an incredible feeling not to have to go to Immigration , no MIGRA ever again.
I am blessed ... and grateful ...

I'm keeping real busy with 4 houses ! Delfin, Pepe, Dulce, ( that's me ) and Dulcita ( the casita ) ... March 31 is another magic number, move outs and move in, adios and benvenidos
it's also my Grandfather's birthday, he'd be 119 !!

Taking a vacation day today. Get caught up on my emails and phone calls and school work.
Reading some interesting books.  The history of Women in Mexico, is one, fascinating.
Even how they walked was interpreted in the culture, too slow, too fast, too interested, too distracted, too hot, too heavy, etc. I've become so aware of that now, while walking to school.

Women are the spine, hands and legs of Mexico, and teachers should rule the world !
Have a Super Great Week !
k
 

Monday, March 17, 2014

Happy Everything

Happy Birthday EMC !! Happy St. Patricks Day !! Happy Full Moon !! Happy Spring !!
That's today covered !  Busy around here with going away parties and pot lucks !  Lots of people begin leaving right around now.  Most won't be back until next November. 
Slowly we will be a back to a fishy little sleeping village ... and we can all catch up on our 
rest ... Until May begins with Firecrackers at 4 am to celebrate The Virgin of Guadalupe's Birthday! The fiesta lasts for nine days, with the finale being Mothers Day May 10th !  All women invited ! 
The Internet was out of service in the Village all day yesterday. Upgrading perhaps ??
That would be nice !

I think most of us miss the Yacht Club not being open.  The first few Saturdays we may have enjoyed a little more quiet but it's an Iconic Yelapa Establishment, and many people are disappointed there's no dancing this year.  I can understand why they might not be serving dinner, with 11 plus other places in town to eat, but I hope the music and the dancing come back next year ! A great place to have fun !

A few Fishermen in the Cooperative are waiting for their new Outboard Motors.  A Government sponsored program throughout the Bay, encouraging people to upgrade to cut down on pollution and such I suppose.  The motors were taken in to Boca last week,and the new ones hadn't arrived yet ! so some boats sitting idle right now waiting.... the new ones are supposed to arrive Wed. !!??  No one can relax till they see them for themselves !

The ocean has been pretty churned up the last few days. Big tides, as usual with the moon, with high winds and overcast ...sweeping leaves out of the house twice a day ! 
Is it going to rain ?? No.
Large grey cloud formation this morning, up river. The ocean turned steel blue, the hillside dark chocolate brown.  The wind subsided as the clouds grew larger and darker, like a
blanket being pulled over us .... is it going to rain ?  No. 
The sky will clear, like it did yesterday, and the sun will shine large and hot.
I even did a little sun bathing yesterday .... getting myself ready for summer !

Enjoyed my first Cucumber Margarita at a Margarita Tasting Party on Friday at CasaVieja.
So much fun we'll have to do it again ! A new Restaurant has opened, actually relocated from up river, right down the path from me, serving Breakfast and Pastries and Fish & Chips !

I pulled my back carrying one bucket of water too many down the hill.  My first day of rest on a St. Paddy's Day for a long while.  We don't have an annual Big Party here today, and
some year I would like to rectify that !!

I love school.  5 hours teaching and 10 hours preparing, but it's all so worthwhile. 
I just have to stay organized and keep searching for more resources !

To Idaho, Eagle Bay, Wisconsin, SB, PoCo, Ottawa, Vancouver and beyond ...
Much muchness to you all and Enjoy Your Day !

xx
k

     

Monday, March 10, 2014

photos

                                                                 Buenas Diaz .... to you too !

 
 
  
Emilio ...in the trees, again
 

                                                                                                                      
                                                 Catching a ride home after school

                                                  Daphne Nicole ... Mimi's grandaughter
                                                                        loves her fruit ...

School Days

March has turned into May, temporarily I hope !  Humidity is high and the sun is summer strong ! Ocean is flat and calm, except for a short wind snap yesterday afternoon, blowing a few things over upstairs !  I don't know what the ocean temp. is, since I haven't even got my feet wet for over a month, but everyday people are splashing around in there .... except I have heard of some nasty jellyfish hanging around.  They can spoil the fun pretty quick.
20 degrees at  8 am ... a few scattered clouds, but I don't think they'll last long ...
lets see what today will bring ...

I have worn out two pairs of shoes walking to school .... they just need a trip to the shoemaker, who lives in PV, so that may take some engineering.  On to the reliable, but none too stylish Keens, that I found abandoned on the trail a while back.  They are perfect, in all ways, but one ! I'm enjoying the exercise. My legs feel in Olympic shape, ha ha, but my arms and shoulders could use some rehab. Too bad books have to be so heavy !! 
Watching the kids walk home with their giant backpacks loaded up, makes me cringe a little, and you see it everywhere, not just here.  Did I really have that many books when I was going to school ?  I honestly can't remember having a backpack !? We carried our books in our arms, and if you couldn't manage, which was rare, hopefully the boy you had a crush on that week, carried the rest for you.  I suppose that still happens, but the boys have it tougher now. To carry her books and his, he may need a wheelbarrow, or horse with a cart !

I have a long list of Homonyms, Synonyms, and Antonyms, I just have to memorize which what is which !  D&E compiled a list that was ready for me when I arrived in Vancouver, and I've added what I have to make just under 200 words, so far.  I'm having the English speaking students write sentences using the different meanings.  It's not going to keep them occupied for long, because they are eager to practice, and show me what they know.
The biggest thrill is having the kids approach me in the village and on the path, and say
 " Hi, my name is Pedro,"  and I ask " How are you today," and he says "I'm fine good ! "
Still working on that one, but most of them get it ... good, very good, or great !
Fine seems to be a bit of a tongue twister for many of them.
I can't say enough what a great job the Teachers do with such few resources, in an
environment that presents numerous challenges !  The Grade one Teacher has accepted the Director position, (  He is longest serving there, this being his 2nd year ) and that's great news.  It is impossible to express the impact the New School Library has had on the
Develpoment and Education of the Primary Students. It is changing lives right before our eyes !  Muchos Gracias A&B !

High season still in full swing.  People coming and going.  Many houses booked right through till May, including Delfin. The Yacht Club hasn't been operating for sometime now,
and it is missed by many.  Hopefully it will be it's Iconic Self next year, and continue to provide a Total Yelapa Experience for us all ...
The Beach Restaurants are going strong; I can tell through the binoculars !! I will have to drop by and check it out for myself someday soon, before the Easter rush !

Any chance of rain has passed, and it's clear skies ahead.  Get your garden hoses lined up !
The hillside is still more green than brown from my view, thanks to those late Dec. rains, but it won't be long till all the green we see are the tops of the palm trees.  In the blink of an eye, it will be May, and if El Nino or El Nina or Global Warming don't interfere too much, rain will not be far behind.  Many of my transplants from last summer are growing strong, and my task, is to keep them alive. 

Strange to think of those who are experiencing extreme rain and snow !  I feel so close to everyone through Skype and email but we are in different orbits ! We can reach out anywhere in the world, almost, and connect to someone, be aware and involved.  Of course
there are many many drawbacks, it's changed everything, but nothing we can do but move forward ... and do the best we can to take care of ourselves.

It seems many of my friends and loved ones are on the path to healing, and it does seems to involve a lot of walking.  With time comes new growth, scars become less raw and tender.
Keep on hanging on .... Spring will come again .

Health and Happiness  ... Peace & Love
xo
k




Monday, March 3, 2014

Happy March

....at least here's hoping March will bring sunnier skies and smoother sailing ....
Time may not heal all wounds, but at least, it does soften the blow.

The overnight low is 17, but feels more like 15 with the ocean breeze ! Sun every morning and overcast every afternoon, would be great if it rained, a little ... cutting weeds and shrubs away from tender transplanting that require water now, like the avocado start, that is doing very well. Enjoying the 3rd batch of bananas, and not a one went to waste, this time ! The leaves on the large Mango tree in the back are turning purple and Morning Glories like a waterfall of purple flowers. 
Both Bougainvilleas, huge one at the top of the hill, and small one at the bottom, bursting  in vivid magenta buds ... so hurtful if you make the wrong move, yet so beautiful.

Busy, busy around here, groups coming and going.  Restaurants are all doing well, lots of Live Music at Mimi's, and on the beach. I had to postpone my Business Venture with Mimi, but that doesn't mean the dream is over, just waiting for the next opportunity.

It struck me the other day, how the expression ... One Day ... is different here than what I grew up with. It comes across , to me, as not sarcastic and improbable, but hopeful and something to look forward to.  I hear it a lot, friends and aquaintances wanting me to visit their homes, or to visit mine, or enjoy some leisure time at the beach together, and 
they look me in the eye and with all sincerity say " Un Dia " ... I like that ..
I also like like the  " God Willing "  ... expression you hear it a lot too ..." Dios Quires " ...
a reminder we are not in charge !

School is taking up most of my time, and I love it, so far.  A lot of work, but very rewarding.
It will get easier as I get into a routine and learn my way around up there. Try to use whatever resources are available, but I know it isn't much.  Teachers are amazing !

Co ordinating Casa Delfin and Pepe has taught me a lot too, but there is a lot more to learn,
and improving my Spanish is at the top of the list.  

New moon on Saturday, but it was late last night and this morning that the ocean got a little rough and wild. The rhythm of the ocean delights me, no matter how aggressive she may be, as long as I'm not on top of her !  The tide is high this morning, so it's a little easier to get on the taxi, but these are the kind of days, I'm happy I don't have to commute ! 

Until next week, Good Luck tomorrow Dad, and Get Well Quick !!

More photos to follow ... 

love
k