Mexican Independence Day

September 16th is Mexican Independence Day.  To be completely honest, I was a bit apprehensive.  Fireworks seem to go off throughout the year and all night long, so I expected lots of boomers and some very scared dogs.  But the fireworks were minimal.

The festivities started on Saturday, September 12th with the Globo Regatta.  I've got to to say that was one of the most fun times I've had in Mexico.  A globo is a hot air balloom made from tissue paper.  They range in size from as little as two feet high to huge ones maybe 12 feet tall.  And some are very elaborate.  Some are made by individuals, but most seem to be made by teams.  From the beautiful designs we saw, I can only imagine how many hours went into building them.  Each globo has a cage underneath that holds a kerosene soaked rag.  Once the rag is lit, it (hopefully) generates enough hot air to fill the globo and powers it for flight.  If there are any design flaws, the globo burns up instead of taking off.  Matt and his friend Vern made a globo together and then they each did their own separately.  I guess there is something to be said for team work, because the globo they collaborated on launched perfectly, while the two individual ones didn't fare as well.  Matt's burned off during take off and Vern's probably only made it about 10 or 12 feet into the air before burning up.

The soccer field in Ajijic is crammed with people watching these globos.  When a globo burns up, it often showers down burning tissue paper and the kerosene rag.  Some people rush away from it; others (including the kids) rush TO is so they can stomp out the fire.  No one ever said this was totally safe, but was lots of fun.  Check out the video in my previous post.  I snagged it from Youtube but couldn't figure out how to imbed it in this blog post.  This really captures the excitement of a bad launch!

Here's a pretty one!

This one was a team effrt - check out the guy smoking while trying to launch a tissue paper balloon

Part of Our Team

Like this pick of Ceci, Vickie and Anna

Matt preparing to launch his KC sports masterpiece

The broom girls have an important job...to help keep the balloon upright.  But sometimes we caught them goofing off

Here it goes!

Oh, there it went!

Fire crew rushes to stomp out our fire!

Junior fire crew help as well

This one is really pretty!

But didn't fly too well!

 But didn't fly too well...check out the YouTube video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e6dInJXMcGE

This one was pretty, and it flew!

Vern's globo

Kids had so much fun with their foam fights!

Matt's new friend....and he tried to swap his taco!

Anna checking him out!

I think she got his phone #!

We've also been busy this month preparing for the Barkeritaville fundraiser for the Ranch.  The menu was brauts, german potato salad, home made pickles and of course lots of margaritas.  My job  was to cook the bacon....about 30 pounds of bacon!  Was a long day, but lots of fun as I worked with Diane and Vivien and the other potato peelers.  The day of the fiesta was beautiful.  Matt manned a grill cooking brauts and I dished up plates.  We had a great turn out, about 125 people, and made enough money to help keep our dogs fed and cared for.

Kevin and Bob were the other two grillers!

Good pic of Paul and Ceci

We had great support from our Chapala friends!  Here's Vickie, JC, Ron & Jan

Christa & Jack

Making important decisions!  Do we have enough Margaritas!

Gudrun recovered from making 120 pounds of her famous potato salad and looks great!

We had our youngest, and cutest, volunteer Isabella selling 50/50 raffle tickets

I got to take a break long enough to dance with Paul

After party...hanging with Nacho

Me, Nacho, Dryden & Paula

So after this busy month, I'm heading to the US on the 23rd.  Going to spend some time with Ryan and Brandee and then head to South Carolina to visit Mike and Karen for a few days.  Matt is on dog duty here...hope that goes well for all four of them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e6dInJXM

AJIJIC GLOBO REGATTA EXCITING DRAMA! Sept. 13, 2014

Our Art Opening

Matt finally finished the last of his murals in our terrace and everyone wanted to see.  On Saturday, August 16th we hosted an open house to view his work....but really just sounds like an excuse to have a party.  We had lots of fun with our friends and Matt received a lot of compliments....but unfortunately no commissions....such is the life of an artist.  Our friends Joe and Sharon presented Matt with a beret...every artist should wear a beret, right?  It was personalized with his name "MattVan Gough" so he's got a new nick name.  Much better than what this group calls me "vaquetona". We were playing Mexican train one day and I was kicking some butt.  Couldn't seem to loose.  Two of my Mexican friends, Ceci and Ana, started calling me vaquetona.  They said it sort of meant brat, but others I've asked said it's somewhere between a scoundrel or a cheat....hmmmm.  But I guess it's all in the delivery.  They usually say when they greet me "me preciosa vaqui", so it sounds nice, right?

Here's a mural I saw in San Miguel Allende.  I was hoping Matt was use this as an inspiration for his next work!`

Every September in Ajijic, one of the biggest events is the Globo Fest.  A globo is a balloon and for this fest it refers to miniature, homemade hot air balloons.  They are made from tissue paper, the heat comes from a basket under the balloon where a tee shirt soaked in kerosene is lit.  If all goes well, this contraption actually launches and drifts off before it falls somewhere in the mountains...and hopefully doesn't start a fire.  If all doesn't go well, it burns up at launch.  I understand there are hundreds of these globos and they are all launched from the soccer field.  The kids all love when a globo burns up during launch as they run and stomp out the fire.  No one ever said safety was a high priority in Mexico.  Mostly it's Mexicans that build globos, but Matt plans to build and launch one this year.  His friend Vern always has a globo in the fesitval so he's teaching Matt.  The past week or so they've been building a prototype and I was there for the test launch.  Kathleen and I of course celebrated the launch with jalapeno jamaica margaritas.

Sad news here.  On Monday, August 18th, Lola suddenly refused to eat.  Very unusual for this sweet girl.  On Thursday, after four days not eating, I took her to the vet and she ran blood work.  All Lola's liver function tests came back with terrible results.  The vet said her liver was so damaged there wasno treatment, and to just take her home and keep her comfortable.  Matt and I moped and cried for the rest of the week (OK I cried, Matt moped).  We tried to coax her to eat anything we could think of; occasionally she'd take a few bites but couldn't keep anything down.  Then miraculously Sunday she seemed a bit better.  I got her to eat some pieces of beef and she kept them down.  Monday I fixed her a stew of hamburger and rice and she actually ate a meal.  Right now she's eating chicken and rice.  Her jaundice is much better and she seems to be regaining her energy.  So we are cautiously hopeful.  The vet says to wait another week or so and we'll repeat the blood work.  If her results are improved we can maybe consider some treatment options.  So please, need prayers and good thoughts for our sweet Lola.

Our Chapala Summer!

Summer is beautiful Lakeside.  The rains started a bit early this year and by mid-June everything was starting to green up nicely.  A good rainy season is much appreciated here as the water level in the lake has been very low for several years.

Cara, Me, Kathleen & Louracia

For the fourth of July weekend I went to San Miguel de Allende for a two night girls trip.  What a beautiful city!  Kathleen, always the adventurer, was the driver and she did a great job.  The trip was about 4 1/2 hours each way and we saw some beautiful parts of Mexico.  We stayed at a wonderful B&B that served some of the best Chiliquiles ever for breakfast.  Each room had a fireplace and the room Louracia and I shared had a beautiful view of the cathedral and each morning we'd watch hot air balloons drift over the city.  The town of SMA is shaped like a bowl with the main shopping

The Square in San Miguel

area at the bottom surrounded by hills.  We trekked down the street every day to shop, eat and sightsee.....and then back up the street each night to our hotel.  Well, at least Kathleen and Cara did.  Sometimes Louracia and I grabbed a cab!  We actually closed down the bars both nights....or actually I think we closed down two different bars in the same night.  But whatever, we had a great time.  On the way back, we went through Dolores Hidalgo to shop for pottery and briefly saw Guanajuato....which will definitely be out next trip!

Beautiful San Miguel

The beautiful breakfast table at our B&B

Shortly after I returned from SMA, Matt had a family emergency and needed to return to Kansas City.  He was very much missed here, but this is an easy town to be alone in.  The dogs and I kept up our daily routine and the only thing that really suffered in Matt's absence was his beautiful garden.

I do think Matt has finally finished with the murals in the garden.  Originally, he was going to paint one...but he enjoyed it so much now there are five.  It's been a great project for him and they look great!  We're very happy with our beautiful terrace!  Everything is growing so fast - this is the perfect climate for plants.  Not too hot, not too cold.

Our best surprise was that Ryan and Brandee came to see us.  They arrived last week for a six day visit and man did we pack in the activities!  We went to the markets here in Ajijic, Tequila (yes there is a pueblo named tequila...and they makes lots of tequila there), Guadalajara, Talaquepaque, Tequila Fest in Chapala and we had some incredible meals and lots of fun.  Ryan took most of the pics, and has promised to send them to me soon, but for now here's a pic of Ryan, Brandee and I tase testing the tequila at Herraderra distillery.

My one bit of sad news is that Buster, the pup I'm fostering that I talked about in last blog entry, had to have more surgery.  He had nerve damage in his right rear leg and it became apparent he would never be able to use it.  Vet said best to amputate.  Buster did pretty well with this surgery although he did have an infection but recovered quickly.  And yes, he's still staying with us.  Originally it was going to be a short foster for a week or two - now two months later he's still here.  But I'm taking him to the next adoption day and hopefully he'll charm someone like he has me.  He is a sweet heart and has so much spirit.  Hermann actually loves to play with him....and Herm never plays with anyone.  Lola, she'd rather he just leave her alone.  

Vino Blanco.....in Ajijic that ain't just white wine!

I guess it's not surprising that Ajijic has it's share of quirky characters.  I'm sure this is true of any haven in Mexico that attracts Americans and Canadians.  I will say that the Chapala area seems to attract ex-pats that are mostly on the "normal"side, even a few that are way too high strung, but we have a few that really wouldn't blend in back in Kansas City, but here seem to have found their perfect place to be.

One of these was Pedro Loco.  Matt and I never met him, he passed away just before Matt and I first came to Ajijic in May 2013.  From what I under stand, Pedro (formerly known as Peter) was a retired Canadian attorney.  He loved to dress in colorful Mexican garb, and adorn the outfit with a flowered straw hat.  Legend has it that Pedro loved to drink, and sometimes it was a long trip home from whatever bar he was at that night.  But luckily Pedro had a great little donkey named Vino Blanco that he took almost everywhere he went.  Vino Blanco always knew her way home, even when Pedro didn't, so he could just climb on and she'd deliver him to his doorstep.

We met Vino Blanco when we arrived in May 2013 as she was being cared for by Yve, the owner of a local restaurant.  The old Yves restaurant was lakeside and one of our favorite places for dinner, and an easy walk from our village house.  Yve kept Vino Blanco in front of his restaurant and she attracted her fair share of attention, not that she really cared.  She roamed the beach area, but it was eroded and not much to munch on, but Yve always tried to find her a bit of green grass to munch on.

So here we are a year later and back in Ajijic.  This time we rented a house just west of the village.  It's still within walking distance, but a longer walk.  I usually walk the dogs around the neighboring housing developments rather than through the village.  So I do miss seeing the village every day.  But one thing I do get to see everyday is Vino Blanco!  Last winter Yve moved his restaurant from the old lakeside location to the west end of town.  It's in a beautiful property, an older home and the outside tables surround a swimming pool. And it's directly across the careterra from our new house!  We love walking across the street for breakfast, lunch and dinner at Yve's.  And every day we can see Vino Blanco munching grass around her beautiful new home.  We can even here her bray when the mood takes her.  So, we have a piece of the village right her on the west side!