The Weather Here is Always Beautiful - Honestly!!

Happy New Year Everyone!

We had our Son Tyler and his girl Jess come to visit over the holidays this year. We looked forward to their arrival for so long. Their trip began in Toronto with a flight cancellation. They were to be here only one week.

Ty & Jess finally arrived in Guadalajara at midnight the following day - so they already lost a day of their visit. Waking up their first morning here we were greeted by thick black clouds and pouring rain. The temperature, which is usually in the mid 70's this time of year hit a record low. Daytime highs of just barely 50 degrees! These pounding rains accompanied by strong cold winds continued day and night for the next 3 days! It was awful. Being Canadian cottagers, we settled in and played alot of cards, sometimes by candlelight and proceeded to catch up on our lives and shared alot of good laughs.. We sure were glad that we had purchased a propane heater and firing that up along with the fireplace keep the dampness at bay. The kids were great sports and we decided to venture out in the weather none the less.

The last 2 days of their visit the sun came out and we were able to show them around the area. Come the day of their departure early that morning the power once again went off and Greg scrambled around here at daybreak hooking up the generator. Another moment of "sure glad we bought that".

We kept saying ......................THE WEATHER HERE IS USUALLY BEAUTIFUL ALL YEAR LONG...............HONESTLY!

 

  We are not entirely sure they believed us.

ROMPOPE MEXICAN EGG NOG

Rompope originated in Puebla, Mexico in the 1600′s at the Convento de Santa Clara. The nuns prepared Rompope to welcome guests to the convent. The nuns appealed to the Mother Superior and soon began making Rompope daily. With the rising popularity the nuns began to bottle the Rompope to raise money for the convent. The love for Rompope quickly spread throughout Mexico with each region creating new variations. Flavors include chocolate, vanilla, pine nuts, almonds or cinnamon.
Here is the original recipe, I am going to make a batch up for Christmas Eve!  We hope you enjoy it!

 

 

ROMPOPE MEXICAN EGGNOG

 

Ingredients

• 1 quart milk
• 1 cup sugar
• Pinch of baking soda
• 1 (3inch) piece canela
• 8 egg yolks
• ½ cup dark rum or brandy
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine milk, sugar, baking soda, and canela in a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Decrease the heat and cook for 30 minutes at a soft boil; it will reduce to about 3 cups. In a heatproof bowl, whisk the eggs yolks lightly by hand and slowly pour in 1 cup of the hot milk mixture, whisking continuously.
3. Return the mixture to the pot and cook over low heat, stirring often until the mixture has thickened slightly and resembles the consistency of half- and- half, 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat and immediately pour into a bowl placed in an ice bath to chill.
5. Discard the canela and gently whisk in the rum and vanilla.
6. Chill completely before serving.

 

 

Christmas Poinsettia's

I wait all year long for the Poinsettia trees to come out into bloom here in Mexico.  They are absolutely beautiful.  I wanted to share with you a little history of the Poinsettia ..............

The ancient Aztecs (the Mexican Indians) prized the Poinsettia as a symbol of purity. Centuries later, Mexico's early Christians adopted the Poinsettia as their prized Christmas Eve flower. The Mexican Poinsettias are usually bright red. They are used in most Christmas decorations, because of their bright red color and because of them blooming mostly during the Christmas holiday season. For some, these star-shaped flowers symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. The Christmas Poinsettia flowers have become a symbol of Christmas and are used as festive decorations. The markets are full of these delightful Christmas time flowers.

An old Mexican legend explains how Poinsettias became associated with Christmas.

 Apparently, a child who could not afford a gift to offer to Christ on Christmas Eve, picked some weeds from the side of a road. The child was told that a humble gift when given with love would be acceptable in God's eyes. When they were brought inside the church, the weeds bloomed into red and green flowers that the congregation felt that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle!

 

Truly Magnificant and can be seen all over the landscape here at this time of year.  We have several in our yard, although not quite this big!!

KIDS WILL BE KIDS!

The other day Greg and I decided to visit one of our favourite little outdoor restaurants for lunch.  This place is called Lety's and makes the most delicious fish dishes you can imagine.  We go there fairly often when we feel like a tasty fish meal.  Pascado con coco con salsa mango is our favourite!  (fish with coconut and mango salsa)
We finish our lunch full and happy and venture out to the parking lot to our car.  Beside this restaurant adjacent to the parking lot is a farmers field full of livestock.  As we approached our car we see two baby goats on the hood of our car!!  They were very young and jumping from the hood up onto the roof and back down again.  Greg, in his usual comic fashion hollers........."hey, you kids, get off my car!"
The two little ones jumped off the hood and up into the large tree and back into the farmers field.
We laughed and were once again reminded that we're not in Kansas anymore! 
Viva Mexico!

Christmas in Chapala Mexico!

Twas the night before Christmas, not far from a beach
I'm afraid a white Christmas is out of my reach.
No snow, no sleigh bells, no Santa's reindeer,
The sounds of our Mexican Village is all that I hear.

I miss mistletoe and I miss the holly
Strung lights on my cactus, isn't as jolly
What I would give for an eggnog right now
Tequila's just not as festive somehow.

Now don't get me wrong, I love living here
But I get a bit homesick at this time of year
When the kids were young, I'd be up until three,
Wrapping their gifts to put under the tree.

They're all grown up now with lives of their own
Instead of their hugs, it a call on the phone
Hey Mom, how are you?  How's Christmas down there
They tell me they love me, I know that they care.

It's enough I suppose and I'm glad that they're well
Maybe next year they'll visit, that'd  be swell
But tonight it's just hubby and me
And 6 dogs -  the reason we don't have a tree!

The hour is late and it's past time for bed
The margarita  I've sipped has gone to my head
So I take my love's hand and step out for some air
And gaze at the stars hoping Santa's up there.

He isn't of course, as I've known all along,
And that cheery white Christmas is only a song,
But I hold my love's hand and give him a kiss
And know that it doesn't get better than this.

We live in a tropical heaven on earth
Enjoying good friends, well aware of their worth
Well that's it for my tropical rhyme,
After all, it is almost Christmas time!

 

Merry Christmas to All

 

xoxo

Time Out

After a year and a half, we decided it was time for a little road trip!   Thursday, we leave beautiful Lake Chapala and head over to the west coast of Mexico.  Only a 4 hour drive from our home where we will stay for the next 8 days!  La Manzanilla..............we have rented a little spot right on the ocean.  We're looking forward to checking out a little of this beautiful country we call home!

La Manzanilla, Costa Alegre

La Costa Alegre is the crown of the Central Pacific Coast of Mexico, and La Manzanilla is one of its jewels.

La Costa Alegre is indeed the "Happy Coast." In fact, it is Mexico's quintessential coastline. From Barra de Navidad to Playa Quemaro, dense tropical deciduous forest covers rolling hills; white sand beaches, coral reefs, and mangrove lagoons encircle a succession of bays which are home to thousands of species of plants, animals, and birds: general flora—1120 species, nearly half of which are endemic to Mexico; general fauna—422 vertebrates including 90 endemic species to Mexico, 40 of which are birds.  La Manzanilla, our base, lies in a protected corner of Tenacatita Bay, the second biggest in Mexico.  La Manzanilla’s mangrove ecosystem is home to the largest population of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) living in contact with humans along the coast of Jalisco. Though undergoing development at a rapid rate, The Costa Alegre is still a relatively wild, stunning, and unspoiled place.

Day of the Dead

Today is The Day of  the Dead once again here in Mexico.  The pics below will give you an idea of the alters that are created by each family in honor of their passed loved ones.
This is a very important day for Mexican families.  This evening Greg and I will be going into our local village (Chapala) to walk the town residential streets and view the beautiful alters created out of love by the Mexican families.  There will be mariachi bands playing, many vendors along the way selling goodies.  A parade thru town then dancing in the plaza (town square) follows.

Although this custom seems a bit creepy to us northerners - death is celebrated here in Mexico and is not feared but rather celebrated!

Altars in Chapala for the Day of the Dead