Season for Angels-just look around
Children’s Christmas Choir
Last week I walked to town for my weekly facial and stumbled upon children singing Christmas songs in front of the Municipality. Such darling children and such sweet music. They must have had a Christmas party since some of the children were carrying Christmas gifts. Little girls wearing Angel wings as they walk down the street.
Most of the gifts given to the children are candy and animal crackers. This is similar to what we give out at Halloween. The stores carry huge bags of animal crackers. The bags must be 50 pounds of cookies. We have never seen anything like it!
Yes, these are the bags of animal crackers!
Christmas Party
We were so privileged to receive an invitation to attend a Christmas Party hosted in the home of the owners of La Mirage. We asked Raphael to drive us since we sure we would get lost. The large beautiful home was located behind gated walls and was as grand as La Mirage. We were given a glass of wine and taken on a tour of the home and grounds. I felt like we were in a museum with the collection of fine art and beautiful antique furniture. The home was decorated in full Christmas delight and for the first time I really felt the spirit of Christmas this year.
(pic of Bill and Senior Michel)
The party was small with only 10 other guests which are now new friends. We were the only guests from San Miguel invited. There were elegantly attired wait staff that brought us wonderful h’oderves of coconut shrimp, little crab cakes and so much more. Our hosts also waited on us and kept our wine glasses full all evening. Later we were invited to a buffet table loaded with delicious food so typical of the La Mirage style. We had white chocolate with lemon mousse as well as chocolate mousse, cevichie served in delicate little china spoons, prosciutto wrapped around melon balls, spice cake, roast beef served on toast, pate, tiny potato cakes, olives and so much more. After several trips back to the buffet our host starting bringing trays from the buffet and serving us. We were treated as royalty. Later we were served an after dinner drink which was similar to a fine port. A toast was offered to us by our gracious hosts thanking us for our support of La Mirage. What a wonderful evening.
(New friends)!
Raphael came to pick us up and I requested that we drive to the park near the church to look at the Christmas lights. There were groups of teenagers stepping over the little fences to have their pictures made with the lighted Christmas figures. One figure was of Santa and his reindeer and a group of silly girls were laughing as they posed kissing the reindeer with their tongues sticking out. They were so embarrassed when they realized I had been watching. We all started laughing no language barriers. They offered to take my picture but I laughed and said no….to old. So even though I did not speak Spanish and the young girls did not speak English we communicated in fun and again my heart was warmed with the Christmas spirit. Teenagers are teenagers no matter what country.
WOW New Mall
(Raphael (our driver) Bill, Bob and Diane)
I had heard that Laguna Mall in Ibarra had opened which is brand new. So we went with friends on a day trip. Oh my, the mall is splendid and equal to what we have in the U.S. Three levels which include a new movie theater opening next month. There is a Pizza Hut, Chinese Food and will be adding a fast food Mexican restaurant in the food court. What always surprises me is that Christmas music us playing in English! They had 3 appliance stores, computer store, lots of shoe and clothing shops, grocery store and so much more other shops that have not opened yet not opened yet. My friend Diane and I will be going to the movie sometime next month just to try it out!
Looking For A Bell
We also went to an antique shop to look for bell that we had seen before. Our casa the Alamo needs a replacement bell for the outside of our gate. There is a little indigos man that comes into San Miguel to cut grass by hand and takes the large bundles back to Marie’s farm to feed the cows. He is just a hard working older man that is deaf and does not speak. He comes to our casa and used to ring the little bell before it broke so we could let him out the locked back gate. With the bell gone he now comes and knocks on the gate hoping we will be home to let him out. Otherwise he just sits by the back gate waiting for someone to come by and let him out. So a new and better bell was needed. We found the bell and after much haggling we bought it. Our friends also found a large wagon wheel that they plan to make a chandelier for their new casa.
Great Food Plus Orchids!
We then went to Patio y Jardin located in a small country town outside of Ibarra. A new friend had recommended this little restaurant that also raised orchids. The food was wonderful and we will be going back. I had shrimp in a coconut sauce with rice that included sweet red cabbage like a cold slaw with raisins, little salad, fried plantain chips. Of course we ordered cerveza with lemon that was served with the standard popcorn, corn nuts and had hot sauce. For dessert we had rum raisin ice cream with a drizzle of chocolate. We then toured the orchid garden and Bill bought 3 lovely orchids for me as a Christmas gift.
Kitchen Cabinets
Today we went with friends to meet with another couple at their home. Bill and I met them from the Christmas party and they told us about the kitchen cabinets they had installed in their home. Since we will be adding on to our small kitchen we were very interested. The cabinets were wonderful! He was from California and his wife from Norway. Their home was beautiful and gave us lots of ideas in our redesign of the kitchen.
Invasion of Flies Everywhere
This morning hundreds of flies entered our anti- room. We have no idea where they came from but they were mating! Diane had told me she vacuums up the flies so that is what I did and it worked great. But I have not tried to empty the vacuum bag yet! Later I found out we were not the only ones that got invaded by the flies.
