* Art class Thursday ...

Had a great class today with Nina.  I never want to stop studying with her.  At least not for a very long time.  I am leaning so much.  A lot still to be done on this piece, however, I am determined to finish her before I return to Canada.

Just got home from dinner with Kathleen and Ivan.  Entertaining seems so easy here.  Drinks on the terrace ... absolutely no rush.  Chatting about metaphysical and spiritual subjects so dear to our hearts.  Where we've been, where we think we are headed. The work which has been done and continues to be done.  As Ivan said, it's so wonderful to meet a fellow traveler.  I agree.  A huge gift.  A variety of peppers and onions simmering on the stove. Cold chicken and pork, ... help yourself and heat if you like.  Baked potatoes.  Avocado and apples cut and put on the table.  Viola.  An absolutely wonderful evening ... no one fussing around .... everyone enjoying each others company.  A thoroughly enchanting evening.

Yesterday had a meeting with Carlos the Contractor.  Gave him the tiles I had chosen for the bathroom.  We also went and chose fixtures for the kitchen and bathroom, so that is all done.  I now am going to choose paint for inside/outside.  They don't have sample paint chips as we know them.  I have to go into the paint shop on Saturday about noon,  give them a deposit of $30.00 and they will loan me their sample book until Monday.

This morning at the crack of dawn I had to revisit the photographer, as my photographs for my FM3 visa were rejected by immigration.  Today, I was told to 'gel' my hair back.  Every hair has to be off your face, you cannot have any ornamentation on, jewelery, glasses, etc.  After I saw the result of those photos, ... well, they say plastic surgery is very reasonably priced here!  Cancel the roof on the house and take care of my double chin!!!  I think the photo's were accepted, so hopefully, I will have my FM3 in about 5 days.  Cutting it close isn't it!

The concrete roof for the rest of the house is going to be poured next week which will be very interesting to watch.  All hard labour.  I will be there with my camera. 

Yesterday I took a few photos of the progress.

My cantera pillar is being erected on the terrace.

The pillar comes in pieces.  It is made of cantera stone.  It's assembled, tied together and manually filled with cement.  This stone is local and used in abundance here.  It is quite expensive.  I was going to have a concrete pillar here, and have it plastered.  This is Juan Carlos' house warming gift to me.   Such a beautiful gift.

This is the view of the house from the garden side.  There will be two juliet balconies with double doors where the big opening in the wall are here.  The doors will open out so as not to impede space in doors.  The balconies will have wrought iron railings.

This five gallon pail is full of cement.  Not an easy task.  They are filling up the corner supports for the house, one five gallon bucket at a time.

Grumpy Marshall Weather Report for San Miguel de Allende for Thursday, March 18, 2010

❤  I can't find the weather forecast for tomorrow, however, I do know it's going to be another perfect day in San Miguel.  nite nite everyone .... too tired to look for a quote!

* Shop 'til you drop ...

This is Richie Green Or Ricardo Verde as he is known in SMA.  Richie is my official driver when I have too much to do to take taxies.  He drives us to Delores and Commonfort for pots and dishes and tiles.  We are becoming attached to Richie.  Unfortunately, he is going back to New Mexico in about 9 days.  He lives in Taos, one of my favorite places in the world.  Builds ecological friendly recycled houses, and is now going back to university in Tucson to study film.  He looks 20 and is 40.  Now, if we could only figure out how he does it we could patent it!

Busy day!  Looked at and bought some appliances.  Purchased a stove.  Had my eye on a Boche, however simply couldn't justify the price.  Ended up with a very similar 'made in Mexico' Mabe.  One of those compact appliances which are very hard to find where I come from, this 21" wide 4 burner gas stove will be incredibly efficient in my small kitchenette.  Most mexican stoves do not have temperature control for the oven.  This one does.  It is self cleaning.  What more do I need.  PLUS, it is 'cute', and probably needs a name to feel at home with me.  I'll have to think on that one!

   Also purchased an under the counter fridge.  Butcher block will be placed on top at counter height.  Went to explore washer and dryers at several places.  Have come to the conclusion a stacker unit is the answer.  In the rainy season, it will be nice to have a dryer.  Normally I will hang my washing outside, probably on the roof.

After that we (we, being Richie and I) enjoyed a lovely lunch on the patio.  Then off to look at appliances in other stores.  Purchased groceries.  Went to the carpenter shop where I am going to have a bed frame made with drawers in the bottom for storage.  I will purchase the mattress first, then order the bed frame.

I'm feeling a tinge of a soar throat, and refusing to 'accept delivery', Richie drove me to a shop named 'Moon Rise' where you can buy every herb known to man.  I stocked up on echinecia, an immune booster and vitiman C.

By the time I returned home it was almost time for the cocktail party on the upper terrace.  Some photos.

Left to right.  Bev from Toronto.  Has been coming here for 15 years.  Bev is an Artist.  Kathleen, a very interesting woman of Chigaco and Indiana, involved in career coaching.  Her husband Ivan, a Therapist and Teacher of Spiritual and Personal Growth.

From the Left.  Katrina.  She and her husband own a tour company in Ketchican Alaska.  They work there butts of as long as the tourist season lasts there and then winter in SMA.  They bike all over the world in some very interesting places.  Next stop, Burma.  The next woman is Karen.  She and her husband Robert are from Minnesota, have been here since October.  Next is Rocky.  Unfortunately, my memory is blank there ... don't think I had a chance to speak with her.

On the left, Doug ... the other half of the Ketchican, Alaska couple.  He once was a commercial fisherman.  On the right Cav.  An artist, however I don't know any more details.

Cav on the left, Pat, just back from three months in Thailand, the owner of this place, Katrina on the right.

Myself, Bev, Kathleen, Marijo and Dr. Seus.  Bev was the lady who invited me to dinner last night.  She has painted quite a lot while shes been here.  Has her degree from Toronto College of Art.

A spectacular sunset to close the day.

Tomorrow I have a meeting at the house with Carlos the contractor.  Will keep you posted.  For now, hope you are making yourselves a great day.

Grumpy Marshall Weather Forecast for San Miguel de Allende for Thursday, March 18, 2010

Mar 18	PM Clouds Hi: 80°  Lo: 52°	Day: Mostly clear skies. High 80F, humidity 15%. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: 11
		Night: Clear skies. Low 52F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

"How far we travel in life matters far less than those we meet along the way."

* Another Monday ... Sheesh!

Another week gone.  A new one begun.  Faster, Faster, until there was none! Yesterday, Pat (owner of this place) Marijo (manager of this place) and I went on a lovely tour of each others property. 

Sitting just outside of town, within walking distance to major facilities, Pat and Marijo's property lies at the foot of the mountains overlooking the part of the dam.  In front of them lies Federal Land, never to be built on.  They bought a lot together and plan on splitting it into two.  A lovely large lot, plenty of room for two homes.  What a great idea.

Look at that view!

Pat is trying to explain in broken Spanish that it is alright for Senor to ride on this land anytime he wishes.  (HELLO PAT .... this is his land!)  We couldn't get her attention so she babbled on while we giggled.

Then off to my house which now has a name.  "Quinta de Luz"  of Villa of Light

Quinta de Luz has not changed much since my last photos.  It's the weekend, today is an official holiday and tomorrow there will be no work done as the city is coming one more time to make sure the measurements of the subdivision are correct.

Pat has just returned from three months in Thailand.  She's still got jet lag, so we dropped her off at home while Marijo and I continued on to MamaMia's for an evening of dinner, drinks and some great entertainment.  A duo, guitar and base, singing Spanish music, great food, interesting company and HUGE margaritas.  What more does one require in life.  This next photo taken without flash, however, note the size of the glass!

It is now Monday.  Ivan and Kathleen (from Chicago) have been planning a trip out to Quinta de Luz for awhile now.  We then decided to spend the afternoon having a lovely long comida.  Which we did.  So very enjoyable.  Such lovely people to have met - we have a lot in common and I would say we are stuck with each other now.

They shared with me, this has been their official pose for photographs for 35 years!  How absolutely magical.

Since it is Benito Juarez's birthday this weekend, Ivan chose a revolutionary t-shirt to wear!  We spent the rest of the afternoon over wine and shrimp.  Delicious.  Home to refresh, then off to dinner at Bev's, a lady from Toronto who has invited me over.  I'll fill you in on this tomorrow.

Grumpy Marshall Weather Forecast for San Miguel de Allende for Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Mar 16	Clear Hi: 80°  Lo: 46°	Day: Sunny skies. High 80F, humidity 20%. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: 7
		Night: Cloudy skies. Low 46F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph

 "A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams."

* A Day of Rest

Relaxed and didn't do much today.  Restless though!  What's that all about?  I think it's because I am now two places at once.  I'm not totally present in SMA.  Part of me has gone home to prepare for my return.

Friday was a busy day.  Picked up new (and hopefully final) plans at Juan Carlos' office.  Popped into the house to see that all was well and pick up my very own key from Mistro.  Everything is humming along.  Walls coming down, walls going up, old cement floors coming up, new ones being poured.  A little bee hive of wonderful activity!  Some photos.

 Arch through to the kitchenette structurally complete.

The remainder of the 'outside' wall coming down.  The new wall for outside of the extention has begun.  

The building has been extended ten feet further out.  The outside wall is now up.

This will be the main entrance door off the little terrace.

After checking on the house, we were off to Delores Hildago to pick up the rest of my dishes and look for tiles for the bathroom.  Lost, lost, lost, in DH -- a lovely site seeing tour was had by all.  Eventually discovered the shop where my bowls had been 'special order'.  Picked them up.  Couldn't resist the calling of a candle holder.  Also televara, long and narrow to go on my table, same colour as my dishes, holds eight candles.  Delicious!

On the way home we were passing some particularly inviting country side.  I exclaimed -- "How lovely it would be to walk there!"  Richie made a hard right off the highway and we found ourselves meandering through fields, down to a tranquil stream amidst rolling hills.  Couldn't resist getting out for a stroll, dipping my hands in the water, enjoying the bird song, the exquisit landscape bursting with the coming of spring.  Inspiring.  Photos follow: -

She stood alone on the hill overlooking the stream.  New growth poured through her veins and burst forth in every direction.  She was unable to contain it any longer.  There was too much inside her not to let go.

Come further into the hills my children.  Listen.  Feel.  I have known pain as well as joy.  Know I am here for you.  I will show you where to step.  Come closer my children. Take care of that which has given you life.  Be kind and tender.  We all need to be loved and cared for.  Listen.  Become still.  Go within.  The depth of my message will amaze you.

Grumpy Marshall Weather Report for San Miguel de Allende for Sunday, March 14, 2010

Mar 14	Partly Cloudy Hi: 81°  Lo: 54°	Day: Mostly clear skies. High 81F, humidity 20%. Winds WSW at 15 to 20 mph. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: 13
		Night: Cloudy skies. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

"We're sitting on our blessed Mother Earth from which we get our strength and determination, love and humility - all the beautiful attributes that we've been given.  So turn to one another; love on another; respect one another; respect Mother Earth; respect the waters - because that's life itself!"  ~ Phil Lane Sr., Yankton Sioux

* If it's Thursday, it must be Art Class ...

When I took it to class.

After two hours of work.

It's coming.  A huge change from the beginning.  I hope I'll have some down time to work on it this coming week.  I really want to finish this before I depart.

Photos from the house yesterday when I met Carlos.

Still shoveling all that cement ... no need for the gym here.

Mistro making the cement pretty.  I had him teach me "You are all doing a wonderful job." in Spanish.  (totally forgotten now!)  I turned around to all the helpers shoveling the cement and repeated my newly acquired Spanish sentence.  Then I threw them all kisses, and kept repeating 'Muchas gracias, muchas gracias', inbetween my wild contortions of throwing them 'love'.   They obviously thought I was completely mad and giggled like school girls.  I would have loved to know what they had to say when I left.  "Senora Loco" .... something like that I'm sure.

Have to pick up the plans and drop off my sketches for the fireplace and bathroom tile layout pattern tomorrow.  Sketches:

I know, bad sketch!  However who has time.  The draftsman will draw up a good one for my approval.  Bathroom tiles layout pattern is going to be very very simple.  Just one row of hand painted tiles about a third of the way down the wall.  Same for the backsplash, just one row to accent.

Going to Delores Hidalgo tomorrow to pick up my dishes and search for tiles for the bathroom.  Wish me luck.

Grumpy Marshall Weather Report for San Miguel de Allende for Friday, March 12th, 2010

Mar 12	Clear Hi: 79°  Lo: 46°	Day: Sunny skies. High 79F, humidity 10%. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: 9
		Night: Clear skies. Low 46F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.

"Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart."  ~  Washington Irving.

Now, if only I could grasp that and believe it!

* Too tired to blog...

I'm not quite sure what went down.  I simply couldn't do it.  Had to go to bed.  Even this morning when I had an early meeting at the house, it was very difficult to get up.  Tonight I am still tired.. blah, blah blah.

My very first comida was so much fun.  As you already know I simply adore Blanca and Cavanaugh.  I would say we are 'stuck with each other' now.  They will be here until June, so will be able to attend my house warming party!!  I took photos.

Blanca and I.  Isn't she lovely!

Cavanaugh.  The sun was really really in our eyes!

They arrived bearing gifts.  Beautifully wrapped in bright orange and pink with ribbon of black with enormous pink poka dots.  That nearly did me in, 'cause you know how I am about colour.  Inside was a crystal ice bucket with "Our Lady of Guadalupe" on it.  Little did they know, Our Lady is very close to my heart, ever since I saw the shroud in the Basilica in Mexico City 20 years ago.  It is indeed a very special gift.  And .... the first thing I have received to take with me to my new home!

It will be gorgeous for many things, ice, flowers, candy .....

I made a new salad to go with the Tunisian garbonzo stew and brown rice I was serving.  Cooked beets, chilled, peeled and sliced thin.  Avacado sliced thin.  Pecans scattered here and there.  Chunks of goats cheese everywhere.  Do not toss.  Just layer it.  Drizzle balsamic vinegar and olive oil over the top.  Delicious!

Well, I had a whole bunch more written, however, due to 'technical difficulty' it has disappeared.  So, that is all for tonight folks.  See you tomorrow.  Hopefully, I will be back up and at it.  Art class tomorrow!  nite nite.