Waiting for Dirt

 Buen dia. It is just a beautiful day here. Autumn has always been my favorite season and it really is a pleasant time of year here in Alamos.

We are back now from our terrific two week road trip to north Texas where we spent time with family and celebrated my autumn birthday, and Senor is out in the yard waiting patiently for his dirt to be delivered. It will be placed on that black tarp, right in the middle of the pathway to the stable and to get out there I will need to walk way around the other side of the yard because to the left of that tarp are piles of sand, gravel and ladrillos.

Humberto has skipped out on us this morning, maybe at home carving his wood statues or painting a new design or maybe he has another tooth ache. I was expecting him to start moving the dirt as soon as it arrives, maybe to clear at least the pathway so we can come and go.

The dirt will go here, in Senor's garden. While we were in the states, Senor supplied himself with the vegetable seeds he plans to grow. This is what Humberto did in the garden while we were gone, lined it with old ladrillos, getting it ready. Eventually concrete will add some height to its edges and make it easier to tend. But October is prime growing season here in Sonora, so it is all about getting the dirt.

 While he waits this morning for the truckload of arroyo dirt that is heavily mixed with loam and manure and should smell wonderful by mid afternoon, he is working on his irrigation system for his garden. Here he is out in the stable, in the shade, so he can see the fire from the butane lighter and avoid a trip to the hospital for burn care. You already know how 'construction smart' he is. Believe me, he is just as smart about irrigation.

Note that I say, his garden, not mine, not our garden. He is planting all the tall plants, sweet corn that sister in law, Yennifer, sent from Minnesota, tomatoes from seeds he harvested from our seven foot monster last year tomato tree, and the huge assortment of seed packets he got from Freddie's Farm Store in Texas. He says he will be taking care of it. I am sure I will not be able to keep my hands out of it, but I will try.

Vegetables and fruits are very cheap here in Alamos. Our neighbor said................ linda, it is so cheap to buy them, why on earth would you want to put in a garden. Well, anyone who has ever had a garden knows the answer to that. Now, next year I might ask him to build me a raised flower and herb garden out of the rest of the recycled ladrillos that will soon come off the old wall he and Humberto will be tearing down. And if the casa is done by next summer, by autumn he will surely be looking for something new to do.
Whoooohoooo, I smell manure. The cowbell on the gate is ringing and Cookies just did a nose dive under the bed. The dirt has arrived.
Hasta luego................linda lou

Clean and Sweet Smelling New Old Car

Buenas tardes.
I keep threatening to cut down this jumble of cactus vines. Straggly, and part yellow, part green, and a little hairy, it entertwines around and up the mesquite tree, and does nothing else.
A Mexican friend said...................... be patient, it really will bloom, for one night out of the year. 

 And finally, it did, around midnight. I knew it was happening. I kept running outside in the dark to take photos as the blossom unfolded, and then, much to my surprise, it lasted into day break but by 8am, it had closed back up and shriveled into nothing. Maybe I'll keep it.

 I have decided to keep Senor, too.

One of his Mexican friends asked him to go fishing up at the Mocusarit on Sunday. Senor went to pick up his friend early Sunday, and there were other friends of his friend waiting to go as well. Each of the friends had a six pack of Tecate and aluminum cans wrapped in fishing line with a hook. Senor had a coca cola, a bottle of water and his fly rod. Instead of driving to the lake, the friends decided Senor should drive over two hours to the river on the back road to Queriego where they caught six little tilapia fish and most of those were caught by hand when some of the friends of the friend walked out into the river after much Tecate and not much luck on their lines.

When Senor finally got home he went directly into the bedroom, turned on the fake mini split and laid down on the bed. I followed him and this was when he said he was so pooped because they drove to the river instead of the lake. So he had a little nap.

The next day I had to drive all the way across town, which is all of about five minutes, to visit a friend. New old car smelled strongly suspicious, a combination of beer, fish and muddy, slimy river water. There was so much mud on the windshield I could barely see. I pointed this out to Senor when I got home and tried not to act too unhappy about it all, but it was annoying to think my friend may have thought I had been drinking beer at nine in the morning because certainly the smell had permeated my body in those five minutes. It was then that he told me about the friend and friends and their Tecate, much of which spilled on the floor during the bumpy, rough ride out on the back road, the slimy river water and the fish. I smiled and went and looked under the seat for any left over fish.  I did see Senor's empty coke can sitting nice and proper there in the cup holder.

Overnight Senor left all the car windows open and I noticed when I left for a short while the next morning, which by the way just happened to be our anniversary, that the fish smell was gone, but the beer and dirty water were lingering on. I took out the floor mats and sprayed them down and left them in the sun to dry.

Later I was looking around for Senor and I found him outside with soap and water and rags and he scrubbed that car inside and outside for hours. It even has a little coconut smelly tree thingy on the dashboard and well, that's the story........., after thirty-six years he is still a keeper............. and now new old car is beer, fish and stinky water free, sweet smelling and sparkling clean and ready for a road trip to Texas on Thursday.
 YeeHah! Look out Texas, new old car is coming to town!!!!!!!!!!

A Little Trip Around Alamos

Buenos dias!

 

 At least every other week I ask Senor to go on a drive. Sometimes, I think we are really limited in places to go, because Alamos is somewhat on a dead end street. But going up to the Mirador always reminds me that there are dirt roads everywhere, especially on the east and north sides of town. Sure, some of them go to remote areas, but almost all of them are great for an hour or two of driving to an unknown destination.......or as I say, the drive to where ever. Usually these dirt roads are filled with light traffic coming and going to the market or to visit family, or say, to buy tecate, and we are guaranteed a lot of cows, horses, goats, snakes, roadrunners and jack rabbits.

 A week ago, on Sunday, after leaving the Mirador, we drove about an hour toward the town of Masiaca, The road, which is partially paved, is edged by roaming goats, overgrown trees and vines of pink and purple flowers. 

In these first three photos, taken from the Mirador, you can see some of the dirt roads that lead away from Alamos. You can also see the town's beautiful colonial Spanish and Moorish architecture, especially in the historic downtown, centro, district. You can see archways, several long portals, lush inner courtyards, and endless roof tops. There are narrow streets that connect, leading eventually to the caraterra, the highway, as it snakes off to the west, on its way toward the Sea of Cortez, and some of the mountains that surround us. In the second photo, looms the large Palacio, where the government offices are and the Mayor's balcony, directly beneath the tower, with the arched window. And, at the top of the first photo, the airport runway is in distance. You can also see, in another photos above, the single tower of the church, the two domes, and the lush, palm filled Plaza de Armas square in front of it.

Below we are looking toward the Panteon and a few of the dirt roads that we often take to somewhere, and the distant shadowy mountains that surround the western edges of the Copper Canyon.

 Some of the beautiful pink vines, the San Miguelito, that are in bloom everywhere now in Alamos.

More of the shadowy western mountains of the Copper Canyon can be seen below.

Just a few days ago, on Sunday, when we were in the upstairs of the Palacio, I stepped out onto the balcony that is off the vestibule outside El Presidente's, the mayor's, office. This is what he sees from his balcony. Beautiful lush hill sides, the church steeple and domes, and the Mirador.

Well, there it is, a brief round trip around Alamos, seen from the Mirador and the balcony of the Presidente. Now, Senor and I are over due for a drive on the Ruta Sierra Mar which will take us to the beaches, or maybe it is time to head up to little Lake Tetajiosa, up in the hillsides or maybe to Rio Cuchujaqui, which should be filled with flowing water from our rainy season. I will have to think about where I want to go. The really nice thing is....Senor always says.....sure, let's go..........que tengas un buen dia! linda lou

Dia de La Independencia in Alamos

 Independence Day arrived on the heels of  'el grito' from the new mayor of Alamos, and a colorful midnight fireworks show. The grito is 'the cry' for independence from Spanish rule, first made in 1810, on September 16, by the religious leader, Father Miguel Hidalgo. This proclomation began the war by Mexico, for independence, which lasted against Spain for another eleven years. Each town in Mexico has its own celebration, its own ceremony and its own proclamation for freedom. Ours coincides this year with a new government and a new mayor.

We have never stayed awake long enough to make it to 'el grito', but every year the fireworks wake us and we watch the display from the portal. Then it is always hard to get back to sleep because now, the fiesta really begins.

This is the 5th Independence parade I have shown you and by now, you are probably used to the marching school children, the drums and bugles that practice for weeks before the parade, the horses and the gallant white hat men, the balloons and candies, and the festivities that erupt at dawn and continue through out the day.

So Senor and I chose a new street from which to watch the parade, to take our photos, so you can see a little more of Alamos and a small portion of its captivating beauty.

Although the photo above is basically a blur, that is really what it was. A blur of skirts and sombreros to finish the Palacio festivities for the new mayor.

Below the drummers are spaced far apart from the rest of their school mates and their trr-i-ip, trr-i-ip, trr-i-ip echoed through the narrow street, setting the perfect stage for their classmates who followed behind with their festive ribbons. This street, Juarez, has beautiful views of the Palacio, the church steeple, the dome and then the mountains behind.

After the parade we celebrated Independence Day by eating at our favorite carne asada stall in the morning. Then a little gamisa cake, a kind of twinkie sized cake, topped with strawberries, cream and dark chocolate, then a few walks around town, and a quick trip to the arroyo where the tecate stands and music arenas were being set up. Late in the afternoon, after a short siesta, we returned to town where we caught the last of the new mayors inauguration and the performances in the Palacio and then we ate at yet another of our favorite taco stalls.
nothing fancy...............nothing late.................nothing too big...........walked back home..............listened to the street parties and the music from the arroyo for awhile........went to bed early because Monday morning was supposed to be a big work day here........................

No Humberto.
So, Senor went and mixed the cement and poured all morning, working alone on the area below...........the game room as we now call it. I like that, the game room. The niches in the wall will hold our games and one day we will have a nice round table in there and play..........games. This room will be on the back side of the kitchen wall, accessible by a short hallway that will go to the guest room/ library, a bathroom and the game room. A french door will open to the portal.
 
So, there you have the days, yesterday and today. And I suppose one of these days I will be into a blogging sort of mind and I will tell you more. For now I have to go, Senor is playing bridge and I have finally figured out how to work the dvd player...........going to watch 'the curse of the black pearl'....................
linda lou

Alamos Rain

 Hola.
I like that Senor likes my sense of adventure. He rarely complains whenever I suggest we do something. And if he did complain it would be to simply crinkle up his nose in an 'I'm not so sure about that' look, but he would still go.
So, a few days ago when it began to sprinkle, i said............let's go for a drive.............Senor drove and I took photographs. ...and soon the thunder and lightning and wind came along and it poured rain so heavily that we had to pull the car over to the side of the road.

These are certainly not the prettiest photos of Alamos. You cannot see the charming and magical colonial architecture. You can't see the bouganvillea and trumpet vines spilling over the walls. But you can see how the streets and the arroyos fill with water when it rains. And you can see what happens if you decide to cross the arroyo.

You can see the high curbs and sidewalks, which by the way, were not designed like that so folks could stay out of the water running in the streets. They were high so the men and, especially the ladies, could get out of their carriages and go directly into their homes and businesses without having to step down into the street.

 So that's how it is when it rains here in Alamos. We have been getting some good heavy rains and are not experiencing the water shortages we had last year. But we have only had about fifteen inches according to our rain gauge and record keeping here in La Colonia Barrio. That is less that half of our average, so we hope to continue to get more rain through the end of October when the season ends.

Today there is not a cloud in the sky. Senor and Humberto are working on one of the walls and making the frame for a door way. Each time he comes inside Senor says it is going to be a really hot day. Fat cat Cookies is sleeping in the shower stall, on his back with his four paws splayed out comfortably to the sides. I am going to go get some laundry done.

Hope you are having a good day wherever you are.
que le vaya bien....linda lou

Then and Now Photos

Hola.  I have been thinking a lot lately about how far we have come with this casa and I have put together a little picture story for you........and for me. It reminds me that we really have come a long way.

When Senor first stepped onto the grounds of this  place in November of 2007, I knew he had a vision for it. I was not so sure about it. I kind of liked the casa down the street. It only needed painting and some general work. But when Senor said..........and then, what will we do...................of course, I thought...............travel the world. But he was not ready for that. Pretty soon, I recognized I was not really ready for that either. And we wanted to buy a house in Alamos. So, we bought the casa.

In the photo below the realtor is walking away and leaving us there to walk through the knee high weeds, the busted out windows, around the burro poop and to the next stage of our lives......in Mexico.
 
The first big things to happen were the adobe wall and the gate.

 In the photo on the right, from 2007, I stood and watched Senor. I knew in an instant we were not choosing the house down the street or the one with the big concrete swimming pools that eventually would become filled with mud during Hurricane Norbert. We were not buying the casa on Rosales with the huge arched door ways, amapa beamed ceilings and a dining room big enough for thirty. This was it.

I think he stood under those old canalis for an hour and suddenly he took off, walking the casa, walking the grounds, pacing off his steps, putting every single detail in his photographic memory and  back home in Carnation, by January, he had the whole rebuilding plan drawn out on paper, and he has seldom swayed from those original ideas that came to him on that November day.



And here, below on the left, is that same side of the casa where he stood. Below that is the original East facing front with the tile inserts we knocked out and two photos top and bottom of what was behind the concrete. In both I have just knocked out the last tile and am taking a siesta. There is a small photo of how that looks now, with the wall gone, the huge support beam and the opening to what will be the front door in the back ground.

Below is a present view into that same area.The L shaped wall in the right background, right behind the white chair by the column, will come down and this will be the large sala, or living area, with french doors in between the background columns, enclosing the house.

In these photos you can see how the addition of the portal has changed the casa.

 Below the view is out to the yard, what could be seen of it then through the tiles, and then, the view as it is now from the same location, just about where I was sitting in the chair. The french doors that will enclose the sala will be between those foreground columns.

 

 The older half of this casa, which was a ranch house on the Rancho Colorada, is over a hundred years old and an enormous bathroom was installed at a later time. We took it out and it is now the closet in what will be the master bedroom. You can see the closet in the second photo.

 Below is the old stable and then, the remodeled stable. The following two photos are the old kitchen of the ranch house as we first saw it and how it looks now. It will be the master bathroom.

 

In the photo below is the newer section of the casa, built most likely in the sixties. When we bought the casa, these two doors on the left were the only livable rooms in the house, both being used as bedrooms, both with working bathrooms attached.

 And below you can see the change, and what will be the kitchen window on the right and the extension of the adobe wall at the very end.

And now at the opposite end. Eventually the wall to the left of the open door, where the fake kitchen is now, will come down and so will the adjoining wall to the right. This will make the sala one big living area. The wall on the other side of the ladder has already been removed and over it is where the huge support beam is now.

The door Senor is opening is the one on the right in the photo above this one. You are looking at the tile that surrounded the room where we removed the back wall (where the you can see the ladder).

Well, are you exhausted? I am. It looks like a lot of work to me. These days Senor and Humberto are working on the actual wall of the house at the north end, outside the bedroom door. As soon as this room is complete, with walls and ceiling, the fake kitchen walls will come down and the entire sala will be exposed as one big room and we will see how I feel about things then. Senor says we are very near the time when nearly all of the outside frame and support work will be done and that sounds good to me. Notice how that is worded, we are very near being near the time of the next step...............well anyway, I just wanted to share this with you.
I am pooped out from loading and moving photos around, but I hope it is all fairly clear to you. Senor is off at his bridge game and it is time for Cookies and me to siesta.
Maybe....hasta manana.........Linda Lou