Una Obra De Arte – A Work Of Art

7 Sep

When our air conditioner went out last week, we contacted Mario who had done all the original electrical work on our house. He had worked with a handful of laborers to bring our vision of a home in Mexico into existence.

My favorite spot. Doors lead to our bedroom.
Hand woven Oaxacan rug hangs over our bed.

We hadn’t seen Mario in a while and he brought his wife to see our obra de arte, work of art. Watching his excitement at showing her around our house, gave me new eyes. Living here, I sometimes forget how beautiful it is.

Bathroom mural.
More of the bathroom mural.
Back gate with artist made ironwork.

I find that many houses in the US are beige, gray, black, white and brown with the occasional touch of color being a turquoise throw pillow. I find neutrality boring. Our house has blue floors! It was one of those risks that could have been a disaster but turned into a WOW. We forget how striking it is because, well, we live here.

Light fixtures.

Thank you Mario for reminding us what an obra de arte, work of art we live in.

Can you tell I love DOTD (Day of the Dead)?
A lovely day today.

DOS TORTAS

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Come In – But I Don’t Have Pants On

31 Aug

We were looking for a house sitter and found a friend. Whenever we leave our home in Mexico, we must find a house sitter, someone to care for the dogs and manage the house. Michelle was recommended after she had visited Bacalar last year. We found a real treasure.

Wannabe influencer.

We have had mixed results with previous house sitters. Walking out the door and handing the keys to the house and car to a virtual stranger is not without anxiety and consequences. We have been lucky and any damage over the last twelve years has been repairable.

Michelle added fun to anything she touched.

On several occasions we have found folks who have continued to be friends and returned to hang out on the lake and play with the dogs. But none like Michelle.

This crazy woman fit right into our quirky lives and we will miss her. We became “sisters” and Lisa’s mom became Mom to another daughter. Even the dogs have a new “Auntie Michelle.” She left on Friday with a promise to return. The house already feels empty.

Lisa’s Aunt Linda is also visiting.

Thank you Michelle for coming into our lives and being someone to talk to, a swimming companion, a dish washer, a sous chef and friend to Lisa’s mom. You have added laughter and companionship that we didn’t know we needed.

DOS TORTAS

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This Week In Bacalar

24 Aug

I started back to physical therapy this week after six weeks of traveling and minimal exercise. The immediate goal is to walk without a limp and be able to step into my shorts one leg at a time. I’m coming up on a year since my accident and it’s time to kick the healing process into high gear.

Bathroom mirror selfie.

My physical therapist told me that in order to build muscle and improve balance, I need to work out HARD with weights and it’s going to hurt.

Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge

He isn’t wrong. I hurt from my hair to my toes and I’m not even back at the gym yet. We hauled exercise equipment down from the States to Mexico and it’s been put to good use.

Our friends from Austin. This was my first outing after the accident. I was in a wheelchair.

I can now walk stairs, stepping one leg after the other, rather than relying on my uninjured side to do the heavy lifting. Hurray for small improvements, especially considering I only began walking with a cane the end of January. Thanks for all your encouragement and support. Little things make a difference.

DOS TORTAS

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Return To The Jungle

17 Aug

As we wended our way back to our little jungle paradise, Lisa and I were both supremely happy to be back in Mexico. The US is exhausting and insane. We can deal with our broken mini-split air conditioner and the assortment of challenges that show up daily in Mexico, better than the drama going on in Texas, Washington DC, Alaska and every corner of the country.

This week I went to a Tuesday-night sketching group that has been resurrected in Bacalar. It was so much fun. I’ve been watching portrait drawing on YouTube and itching to be challenged.

All sketches done with my non-dominant (left) hand. Timed 3 -15 min

When I travel, I like to carry an art journal. Sketching in the park, and a quick drawing of Lisa’s 90 year old Aunt Edna (who follows my blog) are lovely ways to remember a trip. I also like to doodle, in the airport, on a bus or wherever I get bored with scrolling.

Doodles are great for relaxation.
Aunt Edna lives outside of Portland

Try it.

DOS TORTAS

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I Guess We Still Got It Going On

10 Aug

Whenever we travel, my caffeine addicted wife has to find out where she can get her morning fix. Many hotels have those cute little coffee makers in the room but our basic digs in Portland did not.

Our coffee haunt in Portlandia.

So every morning she got up early to tootle across the street only to return with two fist fulls of large coffees for our morning pick-me-up. On our last morning, my lovely announced upon her return, “I think the barista was hitting on me,” That got my attention and of course I wanted all the deets.

The use of a tried and true pickup line gave it away. “Are you here alone?” We had a good laugh, noting that the wedding ring and two cups of coffee was not a deterrent. I have seen both men and women flirt and/or hit on her over the years. Mostly she is pretty oblivious to how hot she is, having been happily coupled for thirty years.

When we first moved onto our property.
She hasn’t aged a bit.

In Austin a few days later we were meeting our niece for dinner. Lisa dropped me off in front of the restaurant and went to park the car. I sat at a tiny table next to two young men, MUCH younger than me. One of them struck up a conversation telling me that he liked my “look”. I didn’t realize that I had a look, but my orange, tiger patterned cane must be the newest fashion statement.

If you are an Instagramer you would know that the latest trend on social media is age disparate couples both homo and hetero. Some have 20-30 years between them. Lisa and I have twelve. Now I don’t really think the guy was hitting on me, but who knows. Maybe I also still have somethin going 😂 on.

DOS TORTAS

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A Few Of My Favorite Things

3 Aug

Sometimes I don’t notice a pattern until it hits me in the head or kicks me in the butt. The pattern I saw during our recent visit to Portland, in the US Pacific Northwest was neither of those things, but a pleasant aha.

Flowers galore.

I like farmer’s markets! My favorite was in Amsterdam which was made all the better by the surprise of it. It was huge, blocks and blocks of vendors, happy people, delicious fragrances and flowers. There is nothing like a beautiful day to people watch. And we found it in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Cuypt Market (stock photo)
A talented community group.

Portland did not disappoint. The day was stellar with music in the air, dogs to meet and food to sample. I love talking to the farmers who present their wares a bit anxiously, hoping to sell out. It makes paying ten dollars for a bag of granola almost worth it.

Freshly picked and organic.

In Amsterdam we pigged out on apple pie. In Portland it was blueberry scones. As our travels continue, we landed this week in Austin where it is currently 100 degrees (38). I’m not sure whose idea it was to go to Texas in August but I don’t think we’ll be hitting up any markets this weekend.

Portlanders are so artistic
I guess we’re going to hell.
Mobile art.

Farmer’s markets are such a sensory experience. Whether Amsterdam, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Northern California or Portland, Oregon, you will find me wandering and taking in the tastes and smells, tapping my toes to the music and appreciating local charm, just one of my favorite things.

DOS TORTAS

Love Means Having Your Back

27 Jul

After ten months of recovering from an accident where I broke my femur and had surgery, I get down quite often. I want to be able to walk without pain or limping. The other day, in a tearful fit of feeling sorry for myself, Lisa reminded me how far I’ve come and said, “you’re doing great, you’re still healing .”

My surgeon said it would take a year.

Lisa has my back which makes all the difference in my healing process. Her comment also reminded me of when my mother had my back growing up.

My unstoppable mother.

I missed a lot of school as a kid due to asthma. In those days there wasn’t really any treatment. One day I returned to second grade having forgotten to bring my rosary. Bless their hearts those nuns had a lot of rules. I believe my “fine” was a quarter (25 cents) and I refused to pay it. I was about eight or so with an inflated indignation and sense of fairness.

Summer vacation.

The end of the school year came and Sr Angela refused to give me my report card until I paid up. I went to my mother who marched with me to the principal’s office to let me plead my case. The teacher was called on the carpet and turned over my report card tout suite.

Such a good Catholic girl.

It wasn’t the last time my mom had my back. She bought me long white gloves and a rabbit fur cape for my junior prom. They were adornments that I didn’t know I needed. God knows where she got the money, but it was important to her. I was her only daughter and no one had done those things for her.

1969

After almost thirty-one years I have so much gratitude for my wife. Having her in my corner means the world to me. Also thanks Mom,

DOS TORTAS

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Torta Time Out

20 Jul

While we are off galavanting (my mother’s favorite word) here’s an earlier blog to enjoy.

Stela The Blind Pug’s Big Escape

DOS TORTAS

Always An Excuse For A Party

13 Jul

The Tortas are on our annual visit to Northern California. Our granddaughters turned seven and it was time for the pool party of the century.

The calm before the storm.
Each with their own themed cake.
Gringo taco bar included.
Grandma Lisa doing Spanish with the girls.

My poor daughter got sick and wasn’t able to attend the party. Instead, she ended up at minor emergency with early pneumonia and more antibiotics. And today we clean up.

DOS TORTAS

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When In Rome

6 Jul

One thing I like about living in Mexico is that I get to ignore most US holidays. I am not an expat that tries to recreate my origin country in Mexico. No backyard barbecue dressed in the american flag for us.

My MIL loves Christmas for the presents of course, so I don’t get to skate past that one. We do manage to keep the decorations and gift giving to a minimum.

Such was not the case at the Fourth of July bash that we attended with our kids in Northern California. The rocking event put on by their friends is in its twenty-third year. The party spills out from the garage, to the driveway and into the street. Food was catered, a disc jockey blasted and kids had much to entertain them.

My grandson was turning blue before his mom could drag him out of the dunk tank.
USers are so subtle.
One cranky child missing.

All in all a good time was had. The Tortas however were in bed before the fireworks 🎆 went off. Thank God for Uber.

DOS TORTAS

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