First day of Kinder

Today was the long awaited first day of Kindergarten for Nahima. Yesterday the mothers helped clean the classroom and playground. We also painted wooden crates used for each students personal storage space. I drove this morning because of the crates but normally they will walk to school.

The big deal is how does Nahima handle being away from mom and with strange kids in a strange place. There was no crying when we drove away but she did tell her mom this morning that maybe tomorrow would be better for Kinder.  I was surprised there were like 25-30 kids in that small classroom with only one teacher and a helper.

Pinal Villa Kinder

Classroom and wooden storage crates

Nahima with arms crossed - still some doubt

She needed fotos so used mine

No smiles for mug shots - besides she has no front teeth

Fotos of the Digs

A couple other bloggers have been posting fotos of their houses and suggesting we do the same. Well why not. Don't know if it reveals much about that blogger unless it's how organized they are or if they cleaned up just for the fotos which I did not.   I took some fotos of the bedrooms and "living" but I need to figure out low light and this camera without a flash.

First is the kitchen which some may have seen on my house building blog Kitchen Cabinets.  I said those cabinets would keep things off the counter but it doesn't seem to work that way here. I plan to build shelves under the counters and hang colorful curtains in front but the logistics of  how to do it has escaped me.  I'm definitely not going to have custom cabinets built. Could also use a larger fridge - some day!

The other is the bodega which happens to be full of my Canadian neighbors stuff.   Their house was broken into while they are up north and neighbors and I filled a pickup and bought it over here after we found the broken door lock.   Also kiddie pool, lots of lumber, beach toys ... and all the stuff I've accumulated from construction and maintenance. Also a favorite hiding place for my dog when the fireworks are going off.

Melaque sunrise fotos

Just a couple of older Melaque sunrise fotos from when I lived in town and got up early in the morning to check the world out. I still get up early but sunrises out here in the country are not nearly so impressive.

From downtown near Las Brisas I think

Closer to Villa Obregon

The real Virgin of Guadalupe celebration

Mexico’s most colorful nationwide annual festival, the celebration of the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe, begins on December 1 thru the 12th. This year in Melaque they have been beginning the celebration at 5am in the morning with booming fireworks and audio announcments. Parades almost every day and streets are decorated in combination with Christmas - quite a scene. The fotos below are from last year and on the bottom is a link to short videos of this year.

Short videos of the Virgin of Guadalupe parade Melaque - Costalegre