Category Archives: Uncategorized

Mar12

Thursday

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Thursday

Thursday is the tianguis on my street. I enjoy strolling through this market and engaging in conversation with the vendors. It’s an excellent way to practice speaking Spanish. And of course I buy fruit and vegetables. I’m always fascinated by all the used clothing and occasionally I discover a treasure, such as a Liz Claiborne in a petite size in excellent condition. But more often than not, I pass on the clothing. Sometimes I sit on a plastic stool around a table with several others, feasting on tacos pastor or tacos bistek.

From the tianguis I head toward Chavez to the panaderia and the chicken rosticeria. I pass by the elementary school where parents impatiently wait for their children to be dismissed. Numerous vendors fill the sidewalk displaying after-school snacks. Tables are filled with candy, gum, potato chips and sodas. Mexicans love their sugar.

I think back to when I was in elementary school in Winnipeg, Canada. There were no vendors selling junk food back then. The only one I remember is Pop Kelly who would park his truck outside my junior high school on Friday afternoons and sell popcorn. And that one little bag would last throughout the one mile walk home.

I returned home as it’s siesta time. Not really. I just want to get out of the sun and heat for a while. Although rain is in the forecast, at the moment there isn’t a single cloud in the sky.

Time to listen to an audiobook, in English. Thank you Libby and North Central Washington Libraries.

Enjoy your day!

Mar4

Stuck In My Head

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Stuck In My Head

Good afternoon! It’s a balmy 80 degrees headed for a high of 85 degrees today. And I’ve had this song stuck in my head since I got up early this morning. The Lonely Goatherd. It’s from The sound of Music, a delightful musical I see every summer up in the hills at the amphitheater in Leavenworth.

I had planned on walking down to the pharmacy, but we know what Robbie Burns says about plans. So I’ll leave that task for another day. Besides, I have a Bible Study this afternoon and a student coming after that. But I am going to walk down to the chicken rosticeria in a few minutes before it gets too hot.

The above was on Monday. And it’s now Wednesday, Humpday.

Monday night there was a Shelter In Place. No. Not here in Aguascalientes. Not even in Mexico. This one was back in East Wenatchee, Washington in my neighborhood.

Last night was Conversation Club. This is a group I facilitate for adults who want to improve their English skills. We meet at 5 pm Mexican time and are usually done by 6:30 or 7 at the latest. But last night we went for almost 5 hours! It was really amazing and most gratifying for me. Topics of conversation ranged from bereavement to broken bones to health insurance to music to cruising to meditation and more.

My order for capirotada was just confirmed on What’s App. I can’t wait until she brings it on Friday! Up north my favorite bread pudding usually has pecans and a caramel sauce. But down here the Mexican version available during Lent is my favorite.

Tomorrow is Thursday and that means there is a tianguis on my street. I will go in search of pineapple, watermelon and other fruit. And of course I will browse through the clothes, knick-knacks, jewelry and other miscellaneous items.

I registered for another online program with NCW. This one is related to Women’s History Month. And this coming Sunday does mark International Women’s Day.

I’ve been reading about the controversy in Canada right now about changing the clocks in spring and fall. We don’t change the clocks here in Mexico. That makes it less confusing. I hope Canada does away with it too.

How is your humpday going?

Feb24

Tuesday February 24 2026

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Tuesday February 24 2026

Earlier this morning I walked down to my new favorite gordita stand. As I ate my shredded beef gordita and sipped my agua (today’s flavor is mango), I watched the children playing outside at the elementary school. I saw people stroll by carrying bags of produce and baking. The fruit store is next door and the bakery is down the street. I noticed a man selling burritos on his motorcycle. People lined up at a taco stand across the street.

Although Aguascalientes has a population of close to 1 million, my neighborhood of Las Flores feels more like one of the sleepy little towns I’ve traveled through in the years since I first started coming to Mexico in the winter. Walking the streets here is safe, day or night. People are friendly and greet you with Buneos Dias, Buenas Tardes or Buenas Noches. My neighbors sit outside every day greeting everyone who walks by.

I adore the quaint tiendas. It is so different from filling a shopping cart at Costco or Walmart. I often go into my corner tiendita and buy 1 tomato or 1 potato. I can buy 1 bolillo or 1 pastry. A frequent purchase is 1 egg and 2 strips of bacon on mornings when I’m so inclined.

There is a small gift shop down the street. For less than one dollar, she giftwraps with colorful tissues and shiny bows. Her little tienda boasts everything from children’s toys to women’s handbags. Even when I just go in to visit and browse something always catches my eye and I often leave carrying a treasure in my hand.

And then I think of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. And I think of ICE running through my neighborhood in East Wenatchee. And I think of my hometown of Winnipeg, notoriously labelled as the murder capital of Canada.

And I think of how blessed I am to be living in Aguascalientes today.

Feb22

Sunday February 22 2026

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Sunday February 22 2026

So I’m sitting here wondering why I haven’t heard a word from Canada while the USA has been quick to issue warnings and provide updates on Cartel activity today. Oh, wait! I forgot! Canada is always in the shadow and takes a while to catch on whenever there’s a crisis.

Please pray for everyone in Jalisco, especially Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Here in Aguascalientes it’s quite tranquil as I write this. I was out for a walk earlier. Restaurants and shops all open as usual. A typical day here in my neighborhood.

I have the Olympic figure skating on in the background. I missed the Canada USA hockey game earlier. Maybe the Guatemala channel might show it later on. Another hockey game that went to overtime. But they actually streamed some bobsleigh finals this morning. First time I’ve seen it on TV and not just on You Tube.

This is a short post but I wanted to let everyone know that I’m okay.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Feb16

This Week in February

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This Week in February

Has anyone else been glued to the TV lately? It all started with the Super Bowl last weekend. And now it’s the Winter Olympics. It’s been exciting seeing so many new world records set. These athletes have incredible determination and drive. I can only imagine the grueling training and other sacrifices made in order to qualify and participate in this event.

Yes, there’s been the usual complaints about judges and accusations about cheating. Athletes have been disqualified over petty little things. Politics has reared it’s ugly head. But there’s been a lot more positive things going on.

It was interesting to see that Mexico sent a delegation this year. Both men and women had a presence in Alpine skiing as well as in cross-country skiing. Donovan Carrillo skated his heart out in the men’s single event. Sarah Schleper set a record as not only the oldest Alpine skier but she is also skiing alongside her son.

Years ago I never enjoyed watching the figure skaters. I always worried that they’d fall and screw up their routines. But now I find it quite relaxing compared with watching some of the other sports. Serious injuries involving broken bones have occurred in skiing and in the halfpipe. There have been many crashes in the speedskating races. But I still marvel at those competing in these events, especially the halfpipe and the big air. And I have always enjoyed watching the luge and bobsleds.

Aside from sports and my usual English teaching this week, seeing as the mindfulness series has ended I’m starting a new program with a church in Canada tonight. This one deals with bridging broken bonds. It deals with avoiding and healing estrangement with adult children. This is always a hot topic of conversation with friends and I’m curious to see how Rick Warren approaches this.

And now I’m going to be mindful. I’m putting away my computer and I’m going to turn on my TV to watch the Winter Olympics. By the way, I’m watching it in Spanish on a channel our of Guatemala.

Feb10

WAY TO GO SEAHAWKS!

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WAY TO GO SEAHAWKS!

Around the world people are excited about the winter Olympics. But I’ll leave that for another post. This post is dedicated to my Seattle Seahawks.

While all my Mexican friends were watching soccer on Sunday, I was watching the Super Bowl. I’d watched the NFL playoffs in Spanish. To my surprise and delight, ESPN streamed here in Mexico in English! What a treat!

It was a great game and I thought the choice of Walker as MVP was appropriate. Of course once they won, it was a bit of a letdown to be here in Aguascalientes while all my friends were celebrating back in Washington. Oh well. Maybe another time.

I can’t even begin to describe the team spirit for this beloved football team. On game days when I was in Washington, everyone in church was always decked out in their Seahawks jerseys. And I expect it to be the same next season.

But for now, I’m content to talk about Sunday’s game with my friends back in Washington on my cellphone.

Feb1

It’s Been A While

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It’s Been A While

Yes. I’m still here. I know it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted. The truth is that I haven’t been inspired. No. It’s not writers block. It’s completely different. I’ve still been working on my WIP. My characters are still talking to me. Actually, I think it’s the world. The uncertainty. The tension. The chaos. There’s no escape.

In my newsfeed this morning I was reading about the protests in Puerto Vallarta. The locals are demonstrating regarding injustice for a change. Apparently it now takes hours instead of minutes to access the airport, if you are able to at all. Tons of complaints about people missing their flights.

The situation in Sinaloa is worse. The government is now deploying even more troops to Culiacan in a feeble attempt to bring peace to the area. They’ve been unsuccessful so far and I doubt that this action will have much of an impact.

There are blizzards in Florida. Iguanas are falling out of trees. Other local wildlife are struggling for their lives in this rather unusual climate. Disney is closing rides involving water and reducing hours in the theme parks. There are a lot of red flags on the beaches.

And I won’t even touch on the political climate in Canada or the USA. Or anywhere else in the world, for that matter. It is what it is.

January was a great month for my Seahawks. They annihilated the 49ers and beat out the Rams in a close one. On to the Super Bowl next Sunday! Go Seahawks!

I’m looking forward to watching some of the Winter Olympics on TV. I wonder how you say “bobsledding” in Spanish.

I’m off to Wateke Weekend later this afternoon. I’m craving a Jumbo Dog smothered in onions and tomatoes and salsas. It will be a nice change from cochinita pibil.

Jan14

Brrrr. It’s Cold.

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Brrrr. It’s Cold.

Apparently we are in the midst of a cold snap here in Aguascalientes. This morning I went to Costco wearing a long-sleeve top and a hoodie. The temperature was a balmy 59 degrees. The expected high today is only 70. But I won’t complain. Besides, who would listen?

Costco. Such a different array of products on the shelves and in the freezers here. But I have a small fridge and no freezer. The container of cottage cheese and the carton of hard-boiled eggs take up an entire shelf. And I have to leave room for the cheddar cheese. Those are my staples here in Mexico and is why I have a Costco membership. These items are always available whereas they aren’t usually stocked at other grocery stores here in Aguascalientes and definitely not at my tiendita. The cost of a Costco membership here is also less than half of what it is in the USA and it’s valid in every country.

I’ve started thinking about flights. I plan to head north after Easter. Usually the only stress is how long a layover. But now we have atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones to contend with. Will LAX even be around in April? At the moment the relationship between Mexico and the USA is a little on the unsettling side. So that’s another stressor. And then there is the where should I go and where will I stay issue. However, seeing as this is all pretty much not in my control, I’m going to be mindful and enjoy my time in the sunshine.

Speaking of being mindful, I registered for a series of programs on Zoom offered by North Central Washington Libraries on this very topic. And my Sage Hills group began a Bible Study this month on Revelation. I also read books online on Libby. I’m so very thankful for the Internet.

The Wateke Weekends have begun again after the holidays. I was delighted to find those amazing cinnamon rolls again. This time I passed on the peanut butter and chocolate frostings and went for the cream cheese. Delicious!

Tomorrow is the tianguis on my street. I’m looking forward to buying some fresh fruit to go along with the cottage cheese. I’m still on the hunt for celery. I’ve only seen it once at the tianguis and Costco didn’t even have it today.

Conversation Club starts up again next week. We’ve had a long break and I hope the participants haven’t forgotten all their English. While it’s easy for me to practice my Spanish everywhere, opportunities to speak English are quite limited here.

I’ll close with this. Today is Wednesday. It’s also Humpday. And it’s the middle of the week. Monday and Tuesday we are climbing. We get to Wednesday and then begin the slide down to the weekend.

WTF? Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. So get your minds out of the gutter.

Have a great day!

Jan6

Remember This One?

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Remember This One?

Who remembers their mom baking a birthday cake with a coin in it? My mom never did but I remember going to birthday parties where other moms did. As if a birthday cake in itself wasn’t exciting enough, now there was the added element of surprise. Who would find that lucky coin that symbolized good things in the year to come? Okay, so it was just a superstition, but it sure added to the fun at a birthday party.

Today, January 6th, is King’s Day here in Mexico. That is synonymous with Rosca de Reyes. And it is every bit as delicious as it looks in the photo. This amazing oval loaf of bread doesn’t contain coins. But it does have small figurines of the baby Jesus baked inside. If you are lucky enough to find one, then you bring the tamales and the atole to the celebration on February 2nd, Dia de la Candelaria. And adults are just as gleeful about this as children.

When I lived in Mazatlan, I took a cooking course where I learned to make a variety of traditional Mexican foods. And yes, Rosca was one of them. But like many other dishes I learned to cook or bake, it is far easier to buy this wonderful delicacy than to make it yourself. At this time of year bakeries are filled with Rosca. And speaking of filled, there are lots of variations. Fillings of cajeta, Nutella, cream cheese, almond paste, fruits and nuts are quite popular.

Buenelas move over. Rosca is here.

Dec29

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year!

It’s almost December 31st, New Years Eve, which will bring 2025 to a close. January 1st will then mark the beginning of 2026. But the New Year wasn’t always celebrated on these two days.

In ancient Babylon, thousands of years ago, the vernal equinox in March marked the new year. An eleven day festival was held honoring the god Marduk. In 46 BC Julius Caesar established the Roman calendar honoring Janus, god of beginnings. January 1st was then designated as the start to the new year although many medieval Christians continued to celebrate on other dates. Then in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII established the Gregorian calendar which officially restored January 1st as New Years Day and was then adopted globally. However not all cultures recognize this date, such as those who celebrate Chinese New Year and Jews who celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

While New Years is seen as a time of reflection and renewal, traditions vary. In Denmark plates are smashed and in China firecrackers are lit. The intent is to ward off evil. In Mexico and Brazil, wearing red enhances your chances of finding love while wearing yellow is associated with money. In Mexico and Colombia, walking around the block with a suitcase suggests the likelihood of travel in the coming year. Eating Grapes is considered lucky in Mexico and Spain.

Interestingly enough, the first Times Square ball drop dates back to 1907.Other popular traditions include making resolutions and toasting in the New Year with a glass of champagne at midnight on New Years Eve. And one of the most popular traditions has become the elaborate fireworks displays worldwide.

Wherever you are in the world, and whatever way in which you choose to celebrate, best wishes for a Healthy and a Happy New Year. May 2026 bless you with love, peace and happiness.