As we approach
December, the ten-day forecast is sunny days with temperatures in the mid-70s,
with nighttime lows in the low-50s. With our elevation of 5,000 feet above sea
level and on the same latitude as Hawaii, we are blessed with one of the best
climates in the world. While we have experience this for the past twelve
years, we still pinch ourselves to make sure it is real.
We decided our entertainment center needed some TLC. So we redesigned
it, got six estimates and picked a new cabinet maker who happens to be a
neighbor of our housekeeper.
Six weeks later, our combination
entertainment center and liquor cabinet was installed. The biggest
difference was putting in drawers in the lower cabinet, making it much easier to
access stuff.
The 'Feria Maestros del Arte' held there 18th annual folk and indigenous art
show featuring artist from throughout Mexico which is held in Chapala.
We met this artisan who specializes
in stained glass. We created a design for our kitchen windows and had him
do the stained glass for us.
We helped Brian and Marilyn celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. It was
actually in October and they took a cruise with their entire family.
Live performances thrive in Ajijic
and on this particular day we enjoyed a musical called Songs for a New World.
This lady is a veterinarian and owns a goat farm.
November's Conexiones Entre Amigos held at LCS featured the largest
Christmas Market in Guadalajara, with 250 vendors set up through the
holidays.
LCS Educational Director introduced a bus tour for members to attend the
Christmas Market. Unfortunately, the weather was cool and rainy so the
trip was cancelled.
Glorine designed two stained glass patterns for our home and had the artisan
we met at the art fair do them for us.
Two
weeks later, the stain glass projects were completed and hung over a couple of
small glass block windows in our kitchen.
Glorine is trying her hand at abstract art at a weekly art class offered in
Ajijic. Who knows what she can do when she combines her natural
creativity with skills she is learning?
The
Grey Cup (Canada's version of the Super Bowl)featured the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Larry bet on five slots at 50 pesos
each and end up winning 1,000 pesos.
Cats anyone? There are currently 18 cats that roam the grounds of the
Lake Chapala Society. They have not seen a rat or mouse in years!
El Parque hosted a Welcome Back party
for returning snowbirds. It featured Roy's famous Margarita's that made
the evening more fun than usual. It was a blast!
Dinner out with John and Pat, a couple we met and became friends with on our
Mexico City Christmas Tour several years ago. As the evening went on,
one of the customers 'broke out in song.' It was great!
After another awesome live
performance at Bare Stage, we joined Jim and Margo to celebrate Jim's birthday.
He is just a kid!
Turkey Day and an opportunity to be grateful to share it with friends.
David and Karen (on the end) were also on the Mexico City Christmas Tour.
It was the best meal ever!
We spent a weekend at this AirB&B
near an artisan community called Tlaquepaque in Guadalajara. The B&B was
in a gated community, fully equipped, including an indoor Jacuzzi.
Tlaquepaque is more touristy and upscale, while Tonala is more of a
wholesale area in which artisans sell every imaginable piece of art made
from glass, wood, metal, ceramic, etc.
Now that our entertainment center is
done, our next project is to have a coffee table and two end tables made for our
living room. We are using our newfound awesome cabinet makers.
We couldn't help but stop and talk to a young couple who had their campervan
shipped from England and are now touring North and South America. They
shared two great apps for campgrounds, dump stations, free parking that they
use in Europe.
And that is what we are planning to
do next spring--a 12 week campervan tour of Europe. We've booked a
20' RV and a one-way flight to Barcelona. This is a tentative plan,
but know it will change. It will be interesting to see the actual route we
take.
November's web page includes November 1 through November 31.
