Easy banana bread

Not the best foto but bread was excellent 

I decided to postpone my yeast bread attempts and tried Lorena's suggestion of banana bread. No yeast, just baking soda and it was so easy. Luckily I had a little vanilla left but when I went for the almonds I found the kids left me 5. We ate most of it last night and Nahina wants to come over for one more piece today. No that's not a machete, it's a bread knife. Will make more of it but need to go shopping. 

What's up in the garden

The garden has become pretty prolific this year. It's just about the end of the season for the Carambola (star fruit) but have had lots and the neighbors got their share. 

The papaya is really taking it's time, both trees. The one in the foto is tied to the wall due to being top heavy and heavy rain.

Two banana plants and they both have about as many bananas as in the foto. They too are taking their time. They grow in such a large clump I can't remember if they are the small super sweet ones or the  regular ones

The lime trees are also very slow and produced very little this summer. The first year I couldn't eat them all soo neighbors got some. Fingers crossed this year because one tree is full of flowers.

The Hoja Santa is huge and new plants are popping up around it. The roots send out runners. Asked my Canadian neighbor if she wanted one and she said "No Way" ..... they will take over your garden. Still haven't tried cooking with the leaves. You can wrap just about anything in them and then grill or bake them. Supposed to have an almost root beer flavor. Wiki gives these as possible flavors - eucalyptus, licorice, sassafras, anise, nutmeg, mint, tarragon and black pepper.

Christmas in Mexico

Rosca de Reyes 

I've been finding lots of ideas about Mexican Christmas. Lorena says it's the 24th when they eat pozole and open presents. I'm looking forward to the pozole. One knowledgeable site even suggested they eat a Rosca de Reyes but I thought that was only for Three Kings Day in January. I'm going to check in town later today and see if anyone is selling them.

On the 24th or “La Nochebuena” many families attend Misa de Gallo or midnight Mass, and enjoy the last day of “Las Posadas” and “Las Pastorelas.” On Christmas Eve, the families gather to eat “La cena de Nochebuena” and to share in the opening of the presents.

La Manz and Pedro's fish tacos

Glen and I have been wanting Pedro's fish tacos so he drove us up to La Manzanilla yesterday. Quite a lot of people and activity as we walked around. A few new things and the town was clean. the crocodiles are still there waiting for their chicken dinner.

We finally made it back to Pedro's, sat on the beach and enjoyed a nice breeze. Last time I had one of his tacos was a few years ago and I thought they were bigger. Big enough I could only eat one. Now they bring three in an order and I could only eat two. Got one in the fridge for later today. Best fish tacos I've run into around here but the ones on the waterfront in La Paz are the best.

Hannibal Lecter and Trump

In his latest cabinet appointment, Donald Trump announced that Dr. Hannilbe Lecter will be Director of Health and Human Services. Just one more on his list !!

Kids cleaning the beach and real fries at Titos

These three kids were running up and down the beach gathering hand fulls of lirio and making a pile of it. I saw no sign of parents around that might urge them on. Community spirit or just having fun?

Glen ordered these fries and I ate about half. Titos definitely has the best fries on the beach.

Pot pie

I heard the Happy Cow (Vaca Feliz) had prepared meals but no description of them. The woman brought two out of the freezer and I was surprised to see they were all pot pies. 100 pesos each but I had to try one. They have a list on top of the counter and one mentioned sourkrout and I thought it would have the most taste. Sadly there was no sign the sourkrout or anything else I recognized. I will say the crust was great. The first half I did in the oven thinking it wouls crisp the crust but it didn't turn out well. Last night I put this half in the microwave and forgot about it. I'll try the micro again today.

New asador

We had a carne asada party a week ago with Harris and Audrey and the construction crew. We used his big asador even after putting it under the overhang because of rain. They live on the third floor and have a small balcony so small is good, They told me they bought a small one like above at Cristaleria Gladys for 90 pesos but they had no more with legs. I ended up with the Cristaleria just down from Hawaii. They wanted 139 pesos and I had to buy a grill for 60 pesos.

Harris bought some marinated pork (like carne asada) and it was super good. I bought some and tried to pan fry it and it wasn't even close. I had a large asador but the sheet metal bottom burned and rusted out. I decided to buy the one above. That's the grill, starter fluid, and the carbon. 3 days now and have yet to use it.

It's cold out there

Lorena's dog - Burro

It's been in the mid 60's (18C) at night and Burro is dressed for the weather. My fan over my bed is turned off and I cover myself with a sheet. Neighbors are all bundled up. Winter is definitely here.

Virgen de Guadalupe festival in Cihuatlan

Coming back from the airport yesterday Danny and Linda wanted to stop at the bank in Cihua. We found ourselves in the middle of the Virgen de Guadalupe festival. I parked up by the church and Lorena took the camera and the kids to get a closer look. Boom, boom boom was the dancing music and the very large and loud church bells started to compete. My ears were ringing sitting right next to the church. This is Mexico.

What a rain

Coyota slept in the bodega to avoid the rain

Look like a river bed? It was last night

Sewer pipe uncovered

We should have paid attention to the Internet weather because our backyard carne asada party got rained out yesterday. We cooked under the overhang and took all the food inside. Still had a great time and good food.

The big holes (charcos) coming back to Pinal Villa were full of water and as we came into Pinal it turned into a river. I turned into the community to avoid the section of road in the fotos. The water was easily over a foot deep and really moving. It rained again early this morning but the weather channel says it's over. Sun for the next week. Relief because I'm picking up friends at the airport this afternoon.

Amanpour on Trump

One of my favorites 

I was chilled when Trump’s first tweet after the election was about professional protesters incited by the media. First the media is accused of inciting, then sympathizing, then associating. And then suddenly they find themselves accused of being full-fledged terrorists and subversives. And then they end up in handcuffs, in cages, in kangaroo courts, in prisons, and then who knows what.

Amanpour is not alone in hear analysis of what American freedom will look like with Trump as president. The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement in October which said Trump is, “An unprecedented threat.” Thomas Burr, the president of the National Press Club, said, “We find this renewed pattern of journalist intimidation to be unacceptable and dangerous to our democracy.”

The fight for American democracy, freedom, and dignity for all people has only just begun and will continue as long as Donald Trump stays in power. The time is now for all individuals to recognize this grievous impending battle to put on their war paint, because the fight has only just begun and it will get much worse before it gets better.

This Award-Winning Journalist Just Gave The Recipe For Defeating Trump

Day on the beach

Last week we met at Tito's in west Melaque. The closest couple are building a house nearby that I've been helping with. Not helping much this year. The couple in the back are Glen and Evy who are staying in Barra. Glen comes down every year and this is Evy's first time. Sadly she is hopping a plane today because she's not doing well with the heat. 

Killer Mushrooms

A very sad lime tree

Fungus looked similar

I was so proud of my little lime tree that came up as a volunteer. A little over a month ago I noticed a growth on the trunk at ground level. I knocked it off and cleaned it up a bit. Two weeks later it was back. Lorena did it again about a week ago but it was too late. Guess I'll have to dig it up soon.

Soap and water and/or nitrogen fertilizer are suggested ways to kill the fungus but the tree was too far gone by the time I hit the Internet. Gonna have to keep a closer eye on the rest of my trees. It also says to completely dispose of the mushroom or it could spread in the yard. All I did was throw it on the compost. Hope I'm not in for trouble.

Seasoning a cast iron pan

A friend brought down a new unseasoned 12" cast iron pan. I've never had a new one before so this is a new experience. I've been all over the internet looking for directions. Answers are all over the place for temperature, time and type of oil. From 225 to 450F or from a 1/2 hour to 2 hours. Flaxseed oil is recommended but any vegetable oil should do. There is a Lodge brand that comes preseasoned but it was considerably more expensive. Even one in a second-hand store was more. So now I'm just thinking.

I left it on the stove top and Lorena washed it while doing the dishes so she soon gets a lesson. All her pans like one of mine are ex-Teflon with no Teflon left. Think she scrubs with a metal pad. 

I do have a cast iron Comal that I really like but after reading I think it's ready for a reseasoning. Maybe I'll start with it. 

Amazed at this maniac Trump

I was going to skip the politics but these appointments drove me to it. These jerks are so far right I'm looking crosseyed. I mean just read some of their quotes. Sickening !! 

Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, and Jeff Sessions

Government by the Worst Men

Donald Trump’s appointees represent a coherent ideology and perspective, one that should terrify all Americans.

What would it look like to live under a kakistocracy, Greek for “government by the worst men”?

After this presidential transition, we are going to find out. Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump said he would hire “the best people” to staff his administration. If “best people” means experienced politicians, dedicated experts, or even skilled businesspeople, then he’s stretching the truth. Few people with those qualifications are on board for an appointment to the Trump White House. But if “best people” means the hangers-on of the Trump campaign—the white nationalists, petty authoritarians, and conspiracy-mongers—then we’re on target.

Government by the Worst Men

Sandias in Pinal Villa

Get ready for watermelon season. Plants are only 3-4 inches but with all the moisture lately they should grow fast. This "patch" is only two blocks away. There are melons in the markets but not from around here. The local kids love to go through the fence and then sell the melons on the street. When the time comes the owners will have guards (veladores) in the field but at night can't stop the kids.

They're back

Haven't seen these plant-eating ants (Hormigas) for many months. A couple days ago I saw some damage and we followed their trail of leaves and thought we found the nests in my yard. We put the poison powder on two holes but the next night they were back. This time I found a trail that went out the front gate so they are somewhere out there. Problem now is it's been raining for two days and the powder does not work when it's wet. As soon as the rain stops I'll be out looking for the nest. Good news is plants come back fast here.

Trump Tren

Reserven sus boletos

Not my President

Agree 100 percent

Pendejo Trump

Él piensa pendejo significa buen amigo

Latinos love me so much they gave me this hat. From what they told me, I understand "pendejo" means really good friend

Nahima's favorite Halloween video

Canción Infantil Tumbas por aquí, tumbas por allá 

Melaque Prepa DoD display tonight

Between playing soccer and skateboarding the Prepa students are preparing the last of the three school displays for Day of the Dead. Last week was the first display by Primary schools. Saturday was done by CECyTE (local technical college) ... and today the Prepa (Highschool) is preparing for tonight. Lorena says this is the largest but they are only using half the Plaza and I've seen it full.

I haven't seen one for quite some time but they are spectacular at night with all the candles and sometimes a small religious fire.Here's a foto I took in 2008

Day of the Dead display on Melaque plaza - 2008

The end of summer

We emptied the pool last week and took it down today. We folded the liner due to rain in the morning. Not that it doesn't get warm almost every day but I think all the people that used it felt it was time and didn't use it. At least I don't have to buy extra cloro and Shock to keep it clean

Five year anniversary of Jova

Today, the 12th of October, is the Five-year anniversary of hurricane Jova. Totally devastating to crops and the people. I was house sitting near the canal that overflowed and my car ended up half covered in water. A month later I got the car back not totally complete but ran well. Amazing how much worse it was compared to Patricia last year. Jova was water and Patricia was wind.

Trump in flames

I can't believe the cavalier attitude of some fellow Bloggers even if they are kidding. Donald Trump is the worst thing to happen to the USA in memorable history. Some still say vote for Trump and others want to vote Independent because they don't like Hillary either. Anything other than a vote for Hillary is a vote for Trump though I don't think he has a chance after this last fiasco. Hopefully, he'll quit or get kicked out. We'll see what kind of a fool he makes of himself in tonight's debate.  

Last day of Pinal's annual fiesta

Today is the last day of Pinal Villa's annual fiesta for Our Lady of the Rosary -Talpa. The fiesta is nine days long with fireworks starting at 5AM every morning. Today it went on for 2 hours. Usually, we have a Castillo but enough money wasn't raised to pay for one.

Someone came up with money so we'll have a Castillo after all

An afternoon at Sirenitas

Bob and his wife are down from Ajijic and we planned to meet at Viva Maria on the beach but they were closed. We walked over to Sirenitas, my old favorite. Bob wanted the music so here's the band. The accordion player is my neighbor in Pinal. Love his accordion. 

Pump goes again

I wasn't going to give up on the pool this early in the year and the only thing I could work with was the switch. I already changed the motor last year. Pretty easy change but I had no idea what the problem was. The motor was sealed but the switch wasn't. 

Last year a neighbor had a pool just like mine but her crazy kids tore a big hole in the side and it was not repairable. My pump stopped and she offered hers. I switched the motors and that was it. That was after a pump mechanic told me it was totally sealed and nothing I could do.She also had a hose and I needed one.

Just change 3 wire connections and a securing bracket and was good to go. I think I messed up the moisture seal but keeping the switch under the palapa and some duct tape should last for the rest of the year. It's lasted 3 years and the main problem with these pools is access to parts.

Flautas de pollo

Lorena is cooking for our small local Primaria this week. Monday was Flautas de Pollo .... 3 for 10 pesos. Earnings are partly for her and part for the school. She's using my stove rather than cooking on a wood fire. The bottom foto was mine and sadly the kids just get the basic Flauta.

Today she had help from another mom and her daughter making Salchipulpos (hot dog octopus). The foto is just an example and hers had no face. Too much work. Served in a bowl with crema and catsup. Both meals are meant to fill the kids up and not particularly healthy.