5C's Que Pasa

We have been slowly getting ready for Mexico.  One day last week I shopped at seven different stores picking up various items that we like to bring to Mexico with us.  I was out all day. By the time I unloaded and put things away I was worn out.

Colin meanwhile had put the garden to bed.  He pulled everything out and turned the soil.

Normally we have the RV in front of the house for a full three days in order to load.  This year for a variety of reasons we only have 2 full days plus maybe three hours.  So we have started packing and carrying various loads over to the RV in the storage compound.  Putting things into their place inside is my job.  So I worked on that while Colin got the basement in order.  He has also has been working on a few projects which I will share with you another day.

Last year our carrots never came up and we have lots of sweet tasting ones this year. Too bad we can’t take them south with us.  Besides eating them raw we have been boiling them as an extra vegetable with dinner.  He also harvested the last of our beet tops.  Only half of of them froze when we got down to -9C, lucky us.

I have been looking since July for the best exchange rate to get some US cash.  I should have got it back in July when on the 10th it was 1.3357 Canadian per US dollar.  All of you Americans should really come visit Canada as the exchange is in your favour.  I recall once very long ago when we traveled to the US and for once the exchange rate was in our favour.  At one point the exchange got up to 1.3577 but last Friday it was only 1.3437 and I rushed out and got our US cash.  I only saved close to $30.00CAD but had I purchased my US dollars this past July 10th I would have saved $60.00.  Since I got my money last Friday the rate has only gotten worse.  I managed to get my Mexican Pesos back in September at the lowest exchange rate in months so I am happy with my deals.  When we purchased our RV in 2001 from the USA we paid something like 1.54 Canadian per US dollar.  However it was still cheaper to import our RV into Canada then to pay the asking price for the same RV in Canada at a dealership.

We grow big beets :). I will give half of these away and store the rest in our fridge to eat next spring.

I made pizza one night last week and added a thick layer of beet tops under the cheese. I was surprised that they never broke down. A lovely addition to my pizza.

We have been enjoying the changing colors around us as well as the variety of water fowl stopping in as they head south.  Everyday we see something new. We love living here. Plus our house is well insulated and if the sun is not heating us though all the windows, we have a few radiator type oil burning heaters on and our fireplace on low to keep us toasty warm.

Sometime in the past week ( I have not been keeping tracks of details this week – a huge first for me ) we went out for dinner to a hole in the wall restaurant in the area.  They only have nine tables.  Everything at Chantana’s Thai Restaurant is delicious.  I had the Gang Kjew Whan, green curry with coconut milk, basil and bamboo shoots plus I paid a few dollars extra for five are pieces of shrimp.  Instead of peppers I asked for extra veggies.  Cost $12.50.

Colin enjoyed the Pa-Nang, a nutty flavoured red Thai Curry with coconut milk and shrimp. Cost $13.00.  We haven’t been here for a few years and it was the perfect choice on a very cool evening, temps down to 0C.

We have been spending a good deal of time trying to speak with Mommio.  She has had some good days.  Apparently she was up and dressed one day and sitting in the wheelchair. Of course she mostly slept.  She has had a few good days where she has been eating.  Then she became restless again and the doctor decided to up her pain medication to three times per day plus more as needed.  Hence she has become sleepy and not too responsive although she has had a few more alert days.  Colin has managed to have one more ‘I love you’ conversation by phone.  She did know that he was on the phone. So happy that we purchased that special phone.  Today she opened her eyes when she heard his voice.  All we can do is take it one day at a time.

As for us between loading the RV and the multiple calls to check on Mommio we are in slow motion.  The blog is not a priority right now.  No fear, once we head out on the 25th there will be daily posts.  I also am working on being able to show you a video about the new Guaymas – Hermosillo bypass.  Thanks for sticking with me through this difficult time.  By the way I am feeling better but still cautious.

Wishing all our friends and blog readers a very special Thanksgiving long weekend.  I found this online about how it all started.  I hope you enjoy the read.

Last night we decided to go see the Downton Abbey movie.  It was simply wonderful. Of course we have watched every episode  on TV and this was a wonderful finale. I believe that the movie is enjoyable without having seen the 52 episodes taped between September 2010 and December 2015.  I loved how the audience laughed at sarcastic words by certain characters and other situations that brought several laughs.  There was drama and romance and just plain fun.  The enjoyment just went on and on. I particularly enjoyed the Viennese dances.  Looks like we just might be hiring a private dance instructor to get us back on track.  Then of course a trip to Venice would be in order.  Just dreaming or am I?

Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, coming down the stairs.  I was trying to get an exterior shot of the country house but the scene changed.

It was another freezing cold night and my heart was sad to see a young lady sitting on the curb near our car, with her cart and all her worldly possessions.  She was not begging.  Perhaps she was waiting to find a place to sleep.  It truly was cold.  I had a granola bar and $2.00 was in my console and sent Colin over to her.  She was most grateful.  A tiny gesture but hopefully it will help.  Today someone let me go ahead of them at the grocery store as I only had two items.  I thanked her and mentioned how wonderful it was to be the recipient of something I have given to others many times.  If feels good to give.

We woke up to a heavy frost on the grass this morning. This tree is still not losing its color. It is late getting leaves in the spring and late turning colour in the fall.

Colin was able to speak with Mommio this morning, mostly just hellos and I love you.  He was so happy to be able to hear her voice.  First he has to call the nursing station and then they will go to her room and answer her phone when he calls.  They then come back or stay like today to hang up the phone.  The new special phone is great and she could actually hear his voice.  Worth every penny.  She is still in bed and sleepy but she did eat her breakfast this morning.

I could not get close enough with my zoom to figure out what type of ducks these were.  It was obvious that they did not belong here.

They were just here for the day yesterday and have already moved on.

There was a period of time that we would only get insurance while we were transiting the USA and did without in Mexico.  Should something happen to us there we would just pay the bill.  However should we be in accident or get hit by a car while walking in the USA we wanted to be covered.  A few years ago we decided that it was time to get full medical travel insurance.  I spent weeks comparing apples to apples and came to the conclusion that the Costco insurance through Manulife was the best deal.  I was dreading completing our insurance for this trip south as I have read on two blogs that prices have gone up considerably as well as read that in a few articles in the news.

We had a wee shower a week or so ago and had a lovely double rainbow.

Sure enough our costs have risen and it doesn’t help that I turned 65 last year.  We have been getting an annual coverage that is good for 30 days, as many trips as you want in a year.  If you will be away longer that 30 days you need to top up your policy with the number of extra days.  For instance we needed an extra 1o days for our recent trip to Europe and that only cost us $40.80CAD each.  The annual policy is reasonable at $190.38 each.  We are in the same category for now but that will change next year when Colin turns 70. Fortunately we always answer no to any of those health questions they ask, nor do we take any medication of any kind.  We needed to add 130 days to our annual policy for this trip to Mexico and that cost us another $769.86 each 😯

So with the annual policy and both the 10 day and the 130 day add ons our total annual medical insurance cost was $1009.84CAD/$760.00USD each.  Because of my age my increase over last year was $342.21 and Colin’s increased by $186.81.  So basically insurance costs, at least with Costco and for our physical health and age has gone up by $186.81.  It does start to add up overtime.  On the other hand we are covered for being out of country for 200 days in a 365 day period.   That works out to $5.05 per day, not bad overall.  Plus we were covered for our trip to Edmonton in September and Colin’s recent visit to Winnipeg to see Mommio.

If I was as clever as Colin I could have put these three photos together.  It almost looks like the pot of gold is at the end of my street.

Do you all get travel medical insurance?  Does anyone have any suggestions for a better price?

We did call earlier today to check in on Mommio and it appears that she has been mostly sleeping since Colin left. They did give her pain medication earlier today as she was restless. We asked if she seems to be missing Colin but they could not say, just that she has been sleeping.  However she did eat breakfast and lunch which is good.  At this point we don’t know if this will be her new normal, sleeping all the time 🙁