Bees Left, Cold Weather Came, and Betty Skedaddled Back Home!

Hello all! Haven't updated in a long time. Cold weather came to Mexico and my house didn't have heat -- my bones froze and I was so darned uncomfortable that I decided to come back to Texas where I have access to central heat, coats, flannel shirts, and plenty of blankets! I have to admit that the Canadians didn't think it was very cold but they must have ice water in their veins instead of blood! I had a wonderful time while I was there but decided that it was not to be the place where we will move for our retirement. It's going to have to be a more tropical climate year round! DH thinks that Costa Rica will be a good place to check out. I probably won't be able to get back into card making mode because most of my "stuff" is packed up and in a storage facility. Hubby thinks we should still try to sell the house so I can't set my craft room back up. (insert sobs here) I'm trying to talk him into setting up a storage room back behind the house and I can use it for a craft room and we can store the other "stuff" in it too and won't have to pay storage fees. Don't think there's much chance of that happening but I'll keep mentioning it!!

Betty

Bees are Gone!

The bees are gone and I got back in my house on Monday afternoon. Well, actually, Monday evening -- I had to hang out at the pool (it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!) Monday afternoon because of the strong smell in the house. I saw one very sick bee today but I quickly put him out of his misery and I haven't seen any more.

I did a little coloring yesterday. The butterflies are from Layers of Color and the flowers are from Isabella's Sketchbook. I stamped my inkspots on a piece of acetate and then picked up the ink with my reinker.

A couple of more pictures to share of my friends' papaya tree. Their helper planted the seed back in June and look at what it has produced! I have been promised any ripe papayas because they don't think that they taste good at all! I love 'em -- particularly with a little lime juice squeezed on them! And they're supposed to be very good for your digestion too!



Later,
Betty

A New Adventure

I've had another adventure, friends! I had to vacate my house yesterday because bees decided to move in. Now, I realize my grandma name is "BeeBee" but there were more than two bees buzzing around my place yesterday. It started with two, and ended up with a swarm! At first I was just shooing them out the window, wondering if I should call my property management lady (Sarah). When the bees really started swarming I just wanted to holler "HELP!". The Lord smiled down on me though, and I saw Sarah's car coming down the street. I ran outside and called her name -- she heard me and backed the car up and I said "They're everywhere!!". We stood outside and watched the bees swarming, just as thickly as inside the house! She told me to pack up quickly and she'd arrange for a taxi to take me to a bed and breakfast. So, that's where I am now. The bee exterminator cannot come until Monday morning and then it will be several hours before anyone can go in to clean up and then I'll be able to go back.

My sister is coming next Friday for a visit -- sure am glad this happened before she arrived! Hopefully, all will be back to normal before your visit, Barbara!!

Later,
Betty

A Butterfly Comes to Visit

Captured this picture of a visitor outside my front door today. I actually took about five pictures but decided not to make you look at all of them!


I spent some time at the pool today on a lounge chair with a good book. You can see what I saw as I was looking up into a palm tree. It was a little cool in my house this morning so I went to the pool so I could sit out in the sun and warm up. It worked!


As I was leaving the pool I spied these decorations on one of the houses. Aren't they cute -- you can almost hear the music! (you'll have to click on them to get a better view.)
And the last picture is of the BottleBrush Tree at the rear of my house. A very interesting plant/tree if I do say so myself!
Hope you enjoyed the pictures from the complex where I'm living. It's a very pleasant place and I love walking around and seeing all the interesting plants and ways that folks have their homes decorated!

Out and About in Chapala

Well, I didn't manage to get a picture of the local buses, but here's my bus stop! The one in the foreground is where I wait when I want to go to Chapala and the one in the background will get me to Ajijic! I went to Chapala this morning for a session with my acupuncturist and since I allowed plenty of time I was able to walk to the Malecon (a parklike area along the shore of Lake Chapala). Tomorrow (Saturday) it will be busy, busy with lots of vendors selling most anything you could want and people everywhere, enjoying the market, the beautiful weather and time with their families. But this morning, it was very quiet as the following pictures will show.


Just have two more photos to share -- these were taken from the malecon and show the mountain in the distance. Can you see the chapel(?) with the cross on top of the mountain? To keep you from squinting and having wrinkles set in, I got a closeup shot too -- cause we don't want any more wrinkles, now do we????

Catch you all later,
Betty

Missing the Birds in my Back Yard

I've been missing the birds in my backyard in Conroe, Texas. I've heard lots of birds here but I caught a glimpse of a really pretty one several days ago. It had a bright red head and breast with brown wings. Today I saw him again and had my camera at hand.

My latest adventure has been riding the local buses. My rental house is in San Antonio, a village that is east of Ajijic; I rode the bus into Ajijic to meet at friend at the Wednesday Street Market. Didn't get any pictures -- will have to share some another time. We went to a "Mom and Pop" restaurant and had chili rellanos (spelling?) that were very good. Then spent some time walking around, looking at shops, and having a good time chatting until I had to get back home.

Will try to get more pictures while I'm out and about tomorrow!
Betty

A Trip to Domino's Pizza

Well, guys, I couldn't stand it -- I had to find out if Dominos Pizza in Mexico tastes the same as Dominos Pizza in Texas. Many, many years ago when we lived in Indonesia, we went to Pizza Hut but it just wasn't the same. However, I am happy to report that Mexican Dominos pizza tastes just like Dominos pizza back in the States. I had a very pleasant and interesting experience while waiting for my pizza. I sat down at a long table with a Mexican family and came to find out that they had lived in Pasadena, Texas and their oldest son spoke very good English. It was nice being able to chat with them. After I got my pizza, a little boy from another table brought me a disposable plate (see picture)to put my slice of pizza on. I had noticed that everyone else had one but I didn't -- it was really thoughtful of this young family to notice and provide for the "gringo"! I've been made to feel so welcome by everyone I've met, foreigners and locals alike -- even when we can't communicate well, the locals I've met have gone out of their way to be very helpful. For that, I'm truly thankful!
Betty