We've been in our new home for just over three weeks and love it! It seems to be just the right size for us and the layout is perfect. The Ajijic house we lived in last summer was newer and more up-to-date, but this one just seems to fit our lifestyle perfectly.
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| Back Terrace |
We have a little terrace just off our bedroom so this is our view every morning when we wake up. Matt and David, the handyman, hung a clothesline out there for me. I love taking the clothes fresh off the line, folding them on our bed, and then having our closet right there to put them away.
For those who visited us in La Cruz or La Paz, you know what it's like to work in a small, Mexican kitchen. Well here we have a nice, full sized kitchen and I love it! We're working on getting it stocked with what we need, but it will be perfect for us. We're within walking distance to some of our favorite restaurants in Ajijic, but we've been out to dinner ONE time. We loving fixing dinner in our new home.
This covered terrace is right out side our living room and we spend a lot of our days here. Matt and I found the perfect hammock chair for me in La Paz and I think this is the perfect spot for it!
Our living room is very comfortable....and colorful. And Matt finally has his recliner!
When we first arrived, our terrace was terribly overgrown. Matt and our gardener, Leo, worked very hard to get it thinned out. This day they filled ten bags of yard waste! Clearing out all this old stuff, gave us plenty of room to add plants of our own.
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| Terrace Work in Progress |
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| Cleared out and ready for "our" plants to grow! |
One thing we were missing was a barbeque grill. Kathleen took me on a shopping trip to
Tonala, which is a great little town to pick up some incredible bargains on hand-made Mexican wares. I bought some beautiful pottery, hand blown wine glasses, pots for the garden and this great barbeque grill.
We had just been settled into our new home for one week, and I left for a few days in Cancun to meet my sisters, niece Niki and here very cute little boy Gunner. Was a good trip for sure although the timing wasn't perfect since we were still in a bit of a turmoil from our relocation. Love my sister time....and so good to spend time with that sweet Gunner and his mom.
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| A lady walking the beach asked if we were twins - must be our lovely hair |
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| Karol enjoying the back porch |
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| Niki and Gunner |
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| Gunner playing with the toys Uncle Matt sent him |
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| My last beach sunrise....for a bit |
The lovely Lola has fit in perfectly. She craves affection and petting, but goes about getting it in a very subdued mellow way. From the first day we picked her up, she has worked very hard at winning Matt's heart - and I think she has succeeded. Herm does really well with her, although probably just a bit jealous. They both love their morning and afternoon walks! Both get very excited, do a little dance and try to crowd their way to the front door so they can be first out the door!
We also are very happy with the location of our new house. We have a great little tienda within walking distance where we can buy household staples. There is also a pescadoria selling fresh seafood and a carnaceria where we can buy meat. We also walk to the Tuesday organic market where we buy most of our produce. There is a great panaderia nearby selling sourdough breads, and a French bakery when we want to indulge. Very seldom do we need to visit the local Wal-mart! There is a salon just a block away for me; and next door to the salon is a vet for the dogs. There is also a dentist across the street. Also within a few blocks is a ferreteria (hardward store) and vivera (garden center). We feel like we are just where we need to be!
Was good to reunite with our old friends from this area. We've enjoyed reconnecting. Were able to join one group of our friends for our every other Saturday night at Molcajetes in Chapala and last weekend we had a Derby Day party. Here's a photo of the winners of the best derby hats contests.
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| Syd, Joe & Sharon |
Matt is back on the golf course in full swing, playing three times a week. I've got a schedule worked out where I can get to yoga class four or five times a week. I spend every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the ranch with my dogs....and then an occasional Saturday and Sunday. I'm set up for Skype Spanish classes with my La Paz instructor and that has been going very well. Wasn't sure I'd feel comfortable Skype-ing my lessons, but is great to be able to do this from my own home.
An update about my La Paz mamma dog that I shared pics of her and her NINE babies on our last post. She and all nine babies are doing well......and now she has a TENTH baby. Evidently someone found a very small puppy that had been dumped in La Paz. Shawn, my friend and dog rescuer, ended up with the baby and tried putting her with mamma dog as she was just a bit smaller than mamma's puppies. Incredible mamma let her nurse and she is fitting in with the other babies. Shawn has made arrangements for all ten babies to go to San Diego to be adopted at the end of June; and mamma will be spayed and be one of the first residents of the new dog shelter in El Centenario.
So that's our life as it stands now. We're very happy to be back in Chapala.
After much deliberating, Matt and I have a new ride! With our schedules the way they are, it was obvious that we needed to add a vehicle. I wanted a small motorcycle since I felt I could ride it on the highway to the ranch. Matt wanted a scooter, since he HATES motorcycles. Matt won - we bought a 2008 Honda scooter. I don't think it has enough power to carry both of us, but it's good for one person. I ride it to yoga and Matt will use it to run errands when I'm at the ranch with the car. 
