5C's Que Pasa

I needed to clean the fresh shrimp I had purchased in town earlier in the day yesterday so that I could freeze them for our Christmas dinner.  Always a bit of a process taking off the heads and tails as well as de veining each one, no need to eat what is in their digestive tract.

Colin got the memo that Christmas photos were required.

This one was taken by me but his are very different and much better.  Bigger camera = better photos.  Can you see that bright white light in the middle of the shot.

That is this display of our  special pet ornaments.  See those five stocking above.  I knit those one for each of the 5C’s.

With the flash on you can see the details.  The photo of the five of us was taken in Acapulco at least 13 years ago.  Our new hot air balloon ornament on the left of that frame and on the right our new piece of crystal.  The other ornaments we have had for several years.

This morning on our walk, one of the new foals came up beside us.

Our sunset this evening.

Yesterday was the day to make a big change to my potted plant area.

Now that we are no longer planting directly into the soil it was time to make the area neater looking.  Darwin helped Colin with the project.

All the palm tree roots that had been killing my hibiscus year after year had to be removed to level the soil.

I still had some Oleanders planted in the soil but as they have not bloomed in all of the years I have had them, it was time to remove them as they could no longer be a part of the area.

The soil had to be leveled and bit by bit the bricks were placed in the perfect position.  There had always been a row of bricks on each side of the soil so now the plant patio was six bricks wide.  Those bricks cost 3 pesos each or .15 of a US cent.

Darwin was in charge of making sure that we had straight edges.  Ismael came at the end to get rid of the old roots, etc, he took away 3 1/2 wheelbarrows full.

Adding some sand between the cracks.

Replacing the pots.  Funny how nine winters ago I started with pots and then moved to planting everything into the ground and now a part of my garden is back to pots.

It looks so much better than having the plant pots sitting on the old soil.

Yesterday was a huge day for the cruise ships.  There where three in port.  Can you spot what is strange in this photo?

This Norwegian cruise ship is going out the shipping channel to the ocean backwards!  We can only assume that it was being pulled and pushed by tug boats.  This is a first in all the years that we have been here.

Once clear of the channel mouth it was turned.  Likely there was not enough room to turn all three large vessels in port.  As they arrive in the morning they are always turned so they are facing the correct direction to exit the port.

Carnival was next ship to leave.

It was heading South to Puerto Vallarta while the Norwegian sailed towards Cabo San Lucas.

Finally the Princess ship headed out.

I was shopping too intensely to take any other photos but this one.  Christmas is certainly in the air 🙂

We returned home shortly before sunset.  I now know that the market starts to close at 4PM but we had almost all the time we needed, well at least I did.

I spotted this fisherman setting out his net.

I hope he had a good catch.

It was pizza night.  Once the crust is semi baked I put on the tomato sauce, then the Yves veggie pepperoni, mushrooms and pineapple and of course cheese.

It really was a laid back Monday.

Saturday we headed into Mazatlan with a few friends.  One of two trees just outside the doors of the Teatro Angela Peralta.

A new addition to the Plazueala Machado Christmas decorations this season.

The Machado is nicely lit up.

Myself, Diane, David, Pierre and Colin.   This was the start of three solid hours of fun.

Both dancing and margaritas were involved on behalf of special friends Kathleen and Ron who are unable to be here this winter.  Looking forward to seeing you both here next November.

I can’t recall why, but our delightful waiter wanted to know my name.  He could not believe that I was a ‘Contessa’.

The fun continued.

I was on the way to the ladies room but was stopped for a few quick twirls.

This is Carlos, one of the original founders of Los Cryps, a very special band, mostly playing Beatles music and similar.  Los Cryps is playing every Saturday in front of the Gaia restaurant. from 7 – 10 PM.  However Carlos is only here till mid to late January.   He is heading back to Mexico City to study.  At the moment there are only two original members left in the group.

This is the last photo in that post.  They used to dress in suits and ties.  You might notice that I was wearing the same dress both back in 2014 and this past Saturday.  I have had to have the dress taken in due to the weight I have lost.  I really love this dress and this last Saturday was the first time I have worn it in a few years.   I think I am now going to call it my Los Cryps dress.

They are incredibly talented.  Carlos told me it would cost 2500 pesos per hour to come here to the Isla.  Anyone want to chip in for a party?

This last Saturday was pure joy.

Those three hours passed in a flash.

Pierre took our photo in front of Gaia’s lovely tree.

There was a large group dining in the area and they chanted  ‘beso, beso’ ( kiss, kiss ).

The magical lancha ride back to the Isla.  We got back just before midnight.  Yet another evening to add to my special memories.

Yesterday, Sunday, was cool and dreary. 54F in the early morning. Not too many folks visited the playa.

Once I finally tore myself away from the computer, I dressed in pants ( pants !! ), yes, that cool.  I spent most of the afternoon reading and relaxing.

Colin cut a semi dead branch off of our palm tree, giving me an even a better sunset view.

Not much of a sunset yesterday but we got to see the Crystal Serenity sail out, of of the smallest ships thus far.  A quiet day after an active evening Saturday.