Monday, 10 February 2020: Merida then back to Casa Colibri

Top item on the agenda for today was a visit back to immigrations for Justin’s exit-reentry visa.  Silly us, we thought we were only picking up a paper.  Oh no.  We took our number and waited.  Then, we waited some more.  Finally, with a new number in hand, we waited at window number 3.  Just after 1:00 we were done and on our way to Home Depot to get one more 5 gallon bucket of roof sealant.  Lolita will be able to finish the entire roof.  Then to Sam’s for dog food etc. before our last stop at Chedrauri to return the set of pots and pans I bought a week or so ago.  That was a cluster.  First you must have the merchandise previewed by three employees then you must gain the signature of the boss, then, and only then do you get cash back.  No refund to your credit card.  Goodness.  

We didn’t know what time Tom and his crew were planning to arrive in Celestun and even though we really wanted to be on site to greet them, we knew we had to go to Merida.  Sure enough, we dropped off a few items for Peter we had purchased at Sam’s and about two minutes out from our house we saw Tom going the other way.  Evan and Robin told us they’d been here, unloaded all their luggage and set off for town to explore.  We headed that way too and found them in the square.  Yadira was interested in checking out the health clinic that was set up near the municipal building.

We took the opportunity to catch up with Tom and Yadira and get acquainted with Mike and Judy over a lovely dinner at Los Pampanos and then an ice cream before we settled in for the evening.

At Casa Colibri we are at full capacity for the first time.  Since the family suit is “under construction” and the other three rooms are “occupied”, that puts us at “no vacancy”. Wow!  That’s a first for us.  

In the rest of the world: the Corona virus continues to grow and to menace.  The debacle of the Iowa caucuses has an explanation (of sorts). New Hampshire will hold their primary tomorrow. 

Sunday, 9 February 2020: Casa Colibri

Brenda and Rick left yesterday. They didn’t have too far to go since they were only going to Celeste Vida for their the next leg of their vacation.  We hope to see them in town or on the beach before they depart.  

Justin and I worked together to get the rooms ready for Tom Parrins and his family.  I do not want to panic on Monday.  This will be Tom’s third visit.  I’m eager to see our house through his eyes.  He was here at the very beginning — right when we were dealing with Bijan and with Steve O’Malley...goodness that seems like years and years ago.  Tom’s wife Yadira and his brother, mike and sister-in-law, Judy will be here too.

Huevos Montado was on the menu for this morning.  I’d say I’ve mastered this dish... or at least my version of it.  Robin and Evan seemed to like it as did Justin and I.  “Mounted Eggs” are really enchiladas that are stacked rather than rolled layered with sautéed onions and cheese and topped with a fried egg.  The key is the homemade enchilada sauce.  This recipe is a keeper.  

Lolita was here before I was even up.  The dogs didn’t bark at all.  I have mixed feelings about that.  Isn’t that one reason we have all these dang dogs?  Shouldn’t they at least earn some of their keep by acting as doorbells?  Anyway, Lolita is almost finished with the sealant on the roof.  The turquoise we’ve selected for the exterior is next.  

Justin trimmed Gemma while I worked on books.  I made some chicken enchiladas for the workers for their lunch.  Justin and Evan and I went for a late afternoon swim before Justin and I went to El Palmar for dinner.  We’ve decided that El Palmar has the best margarita in town.  They don’t mind adding alcohol to the glass, and for $45 MXP, I think I’ll have another.  

While dining al fresco at El Palmar you can often see young dancers honing their craft.  It is almost like dinner and a show!

Friday, 7 February 2020: Casa Colibri

Somewhere around midnight the dogs just wouldn’t settle.  It went on for a while and as much of an annoyance is it usually is, it was most disconcerting since we have guests. At one point I headed out to try to shush them I saw Abraham walking back from the gate as he too was trying to see what was distressing them and trying to calm them. 

Well, all the questions were answered this morning.  When I went for coffee I saw that Chahook was home.  Guess she finally got motivated enough to dig her way out from Carole's and her four-footed-furry family was happy to see her and wanted her inside the gate.

Thursday, 6 February 2020: Casa Colibri

Cholulla joined pilates today

Today is exactly the kind of day we had envisioned for Casa Colibri.  Nancy arrived and got going, the dogs didn’t even bark.  Pilates went without a hitch; Robin and I got our work-out for the day.  Justin and Evan took the dogs for a walk.  He dropped off Chokopol at Carole’s after their walk but she was back home in record time. 

 

Antonio came to hang mirrors in two bathrooms and plane the bottoms of two doors. We also talked to him about fixing the doors on the kitchen cabinets. He wasn’t happy that we aren’t willing to pay more. He measured.  He’s the cabinet maker.  We caved and ended up paying him 1,000 pesos — about $50.  While he was here he told us he is also an aluminario.  We asked him to prepare estimates for the work we want done on the south side.  We will see for next year. He will come back in a few weeks.  

Four guests wiled away the afternoon in the guest kitchen drinking local beers and telling tall tales.  Mary and John Leinard have commented that they’ve met interesting people and made good friends on their cruises.  Perhaps Robin and Evan and Rick and Brenda will find they have lots in common as they enjoy their afternoon.

Justin and I prepared dinner for everyone.  I made a tomato risotto to go with the marinaded arrachara we get from the local maxi carne.  That, served alongside an avocado, tomato salad served as dinner.  Robin made a fruit salad for dessert.  We all shared stories over a bottle of wine or two.  This rounded out a great day.

I bought three containers of beans.  I'd planned a taste test, but now that I look at these containers, I think the one in the center needs to go in the trash can!

Wednesday, 5 February 2020: Casa Colibri

I went over to Carole's after Pilates.  I wanted to check on her and on Chahook.

Cholulla made her way home pretty early in the evening yesterday so that was a good idea but no cigar.

Justin and I scurried to prep one more room and we were ready for Rick and Brenda. All of our work was complete before Leslie and Jake came over.  Looks like we won’t be buying that property across the street.  That’s a mixed blessing in a way but Justin and I had a bit of egg on our face because there was a huge misunderstanding about the price.  Jake said he’d made some assumptions and we totally misunderstood.  Good thing we figured it all out before we got the lawyers involved.

Rick and Brenda arrived in the late afternoon.  Perhaps we met on the beach last year? Who knows...but what we do know is that Rick found this blog and he’s been reading it for a year or two!  OMG!!!  I knew Mary, Kim, Dellene, sometimes Charlsy and a few others read it from time to time but it never crossed my mind that potential guests might be reading my drivel.  OMG!!!  Now I feel compelled to go back and reread posts.

Dinner was a real treat today.  Robin made sour cream chicken enchiladas, rice and beans.  Rick and Brenda joined us.  Justin and I had talked about the idea of having visiting chefs; Robin fit right in to our plan and our dinner was delish.

Justin got his mail-in ballot but I didn’t get mine yet.  Impeachment is over.  Our president has been totally empowered.  It is frightening to think what may be coming.

Tuesday, 4 February 2020: Casa Colibri

Gemma was an active participant in 

Pilates this morning

Today was a big way and in a not so good way.  Justin left during Pilates to go back to Merida (please let his paperwork be correct this time...and, please let the office be open).  I had a list of twenty things to do.  Evaristo arrived to finish the screens in the kitchen but he didn’t bring the correct tubing to complete the shower curtain in Mimi’s room.  I thought Antonio was supposed to return today to put up four more mirrors (two in Steve’s room and two in the family suite) but he’s not coming until Thursday.  Rick Carpenter and his wife soon arrive so we will have to decide which room he goes in since neither are really ready.  Antonio says he’ll be back tomorrow at 1:00pm.

I made some enchilada sauce since I want to make the stacked enchiladas for breakfast and in the middle of that I dropped a jar of spaghetti sauce inside the pantry. Red junk and glass went everywhere!  Sandra came over just as I was finishing mopping and clean-up to drop off the items we need to take to Cuba for her mom.  Marilyn came over to see Justin about the catamaran.  It was nice to meet her so she and Justin 

will need to get together later to make a plan.  

Justin was successful at immigrations thankfully and after a stop at Home Depot he was on his way home. We’d ordered more distilled water and he was able to pick that up too.  Funny how something so readily available at almost every store in the US is such a hurdle here.   That may be something we need to keep on hand for guest.  Both Robin and Evan have CPAP machines and that may just be the way it goes with older guests.

Somewhere about 4:00pm Carole called.  Someone accessed her property through her fence on the beach, threw a large conch shell and broke a window into her home while she was upstairs taking a nap.  She was understandably shaken.  Abraham and I went over there.  Eduardo was there too; Katherine called the police.  I took Chahook over there to stay in the yard and Cholulla followed so I left her there too.

By now I was ready for a drink.  I think Justin was too. As soon as he got home, we headed to Las Palapas.  We missed sunset but the margaritas were great.  Robin and Evan were in town and they joined us so we all had a chance to tell our stories of the day.  

The State of the Union this evening was yet another exercise in fantasy.