To begin again ...

... but where to start ?

    I have been home from my road trip for 15 weeks. 
    I am thrilled to report , I have unpacked !
    Around the 10 week mark, I took a day off; to replace the canopies over
    the kitchen island and bed, that protect from termites, other creatures
    and such, that fall from the palapa ... meaning roof ... and realized there
    was not a box, bin, bag, or crate, left to inspect and consolidate.

    WoW ! Now, with my memories and history gathered here I begin
    to create a home of my own, ahhh, to relish and savour and share
    with family and friends.     
    I can't wait !!  But.
    I will take a little holiday this month, to reconnect with Yelapa,
    take it all in ... recharge my batteries ... write ...


    Weather ? Weird ... but becoming more predictable every day...raining
    every , or every other day.  Wet, steamy, sticky, mucky, mossy, buggy,
    humidity is 105 %, sun is brutal, it's a test of endurance.
    The feeling is still the same, ... to burst out in laughter or tears ?

    Do both, while jumping in the ocean, or shower, grab a Corona from the  
    freezer, ( the electricity here so far so good ... up the hill not so good )
    get in the hammock, swing in the breeze, say yummm.

   This year the drainage ditch gets dug behind the banos.
   Being here this time of year you get to see up close and personal
   the deluge some of these storm produce. Mud.
   Retaining walls and " canals " all around each building are high priority !
   Google ... " How to install gutters on Palapa roof ? " or ask on the beach.
   I think someone there tried it .

   Living within Mother Nature. What a trip.
   Everything you do she is in your face.
   I'm so glad I went to Brownies and Girl Scouts !! 
   Thank you all my Scout Leaders !! Volunteers all !! 
   Growing up in the North, and being a Chesley ! , help with keeping the right   
   attitude, and adapting, but it ain't easy.
  
   The motto, mantra is ... Don't Sweat it ... so ironic, but true.
   An oxymoron, double-intandra ..you know what I mean ... 
   A clear example of the inside out of Yelapa.  You just feel it more now.

   We have Mexico Time, we have Yelapa time, and we have Yelapa  
   Summer time. 

   Everything slows right down.  The rhythm changes.
   Mexicans on school vacation come on the " Party Boats "
   and water taxis for the day.
   Three Americans from San Diego, mother 2 daughters on last day
   of their holiday, at Boca on the 3 0'clock, out for 2 hours, but they HAD
   to come to Yelapa, they have heard so much.
   One perhaps a volunteer at the clinic one day ??

   They would have been here 2 days ago but the hotel in PV sent them on
   the Island tour instead of to Yelapa !!
   They persisted and found their way, I'm pretty sure I will see them here   
   again...
  
   Buses jam PV with tourists and Conventions.  They park up on the highway 
   now, instead of downtown old town, Gracias a Dios .. 

   There is the smell of food cooking everywhere ... it smells good.
   Suntan lotion and beer.  No one runs for cover when it start pouring,
   or the thunder begins.  They carry on having the best time swimming,
   or crowded under a towel or umbrella.
   They aren't ready to go home yet.

   Observing and sharing in the Mexican Family Culture is a blessing and a
   privilege for me, and so many of you I know.

   WoW.

   Greener hills every moment.  Jungle growing 10 cm a day.
   Buds budding and flowers blooming.
   Yet everything needs to be cut back and trimmed and transplanted.
   Now I know what trees fall over and which grow into the house !!

   My machete is ready. 

   Our loved one Maria Von healing nicely in PV. Stitches out Friday.
   I will post an update on FB.

   Sooo nice to be back. I will post 1st Monday of every month...
   Yelapa Stories .... and more ..

   Hasta Pronto

   kelley
  

  

  

Hola..mucho gusto

omg so long and yet it feels like but a dream.
I am on my phone because neither lap top in top for and I wanted to pay tribute to my Father, I started the blog for him with his encouragment. Eleanor read or printed them out when he couldn't sit at the computer anymore. I saw them all stacked up.in their room..He liked to correct my spelling.
I have the giant list he and she wrote out for me for
my English classes of homonyms and synonyms..
for the high advanced..it's fun..
Always curious , like me, ??!! .. helpful, positive,
someone you could REALLY count on..
Persistent to the end...There was no such thing as broken in his world.  Everything could be
fixed or modified.There was no giving up.
I am missing him less and less because the longer he's gone the more he grows in my heart.
LOVE TO ALL...IT'S RAINING..

Me and Papa Don Hugo

He looks so dorky..always making me

 the star..

left me one year ago

28th of July

27 florescent light

27 9 way switches

believe it

down in the valley

the  first trans gendered 

mother and son !

or maybe the 2nd ??

more

Tuna Tuna..who wants some Tuna

six boats in total

Tuna Tuna ..who wants some Tuna..

my first Self ie

New photos from my smart phone

melt in your mouth home grown

muy bonito chicita

can you believe your eyes ?

Home is where the heart is

Photo

                                                                 Elenora and Hugh  2014

Eulogy for my Father

Thank you for being here, for everything you have done for my Father and all your efforts here today.

For a lonesome cowboy he sure managed to lasso a lot of love in his life, demonstrated by those of us gathered here today to bear witness to his long life and grand legacy.

A solo farmer, rancher, machine operator ( none too big or too small ), mechanic, engineer,
modifier and fixer of all things.  Old school, old timer the very last of his family, of his generation to leave us.

Build the barn, brand the cows, baste the Turkey, he could, and did, do it all. Figure it out and then make it happen, that's my Dad.  From his favorite old hair with pencil and ruler, under the hood of my car, me holding the umbrella, or patrolling the job site in his white hard hat, he was in his element - being useful - the fixer of all problems.

One thing though, that he couldn't figure out, is how to be in more than one place at the same time, and I  know he wished he could have.

He followed his calling, which took him around the world. He followed his dreams and his ambition, and in the 25 years I got to spend with him, he encouraged me to do the same.

His heart was broken, but mended, he made many sacrifices, but he kept his strength and resiliency.  He kept joy in his heart and a passion for life - regardless.

He turned out to be my hero after all.  My Warrior, my Robinson Crusoe. 

When we were first getting to know each other, I would take the Greyhound out to the Hinterland of Aldergrove.  He said he'd make me a cozy bed in the Chicken Coup! 
I had no idea what to expect !  I was quite relieved and grateful I wasn't actually in with
the birds, but in a small, charming loft above them. It was just like in a story book.
From then on he had my complete trust.

He took my sister Norma and I on a camping trip to Vancouver Island in the old mini minor, with a trailer hooked to the back, loaded with tents, supplies, tools and food for a month.
We were going for the weekend ! Neither she or I had much camping experience, and ....
had no idea what to expect !! The adventures we had that weekend are with me forever.
Over the years we'd joke it was more like a trip across Country, and no one would believe
half our adventures !

Years later he took his Granddaughter Andrea and I on a trip in the RV to Whistler.  He was our sole entertainment, and we laughed all the way.  Life with my Dad, aka Uncle Hughie, 
was never , ever, boring.

He was a great story teller, but a great listener too.  Curious, concerned, generous with all things.  I loved him deeply.

On behalf of Greg, Norma, Leigh and Carmen, I say our final :  Goodbye Dad.

Hasta Luego Padre.  Que te veja bien.