I was finally settled in at Casa Vista Pacifica, and then it started to rain! Recalling that this is the tropics, we kept having tropical downpours which resulted in a lot of muddy side roads (of which we are on) and a lot of mildew and mold. There was also a leak in the roof which required several buckets being placed strategically!

Guess I should back up a bit with my timeline...

We packed up the truck, but David wanted to spend time on our property for the first 2 days of the Deer Hunt (saw tracks!), we then winterized and closed up the house and headed for the Border on November 4th. We were able to get to our place in 3 nights, which put us at Casa Vista Pacifica on Saturday just before siesta usually closes up the shops and businesses. A good thing too since we had to buy a new hot water tank!

Once the keys were found, the doors and windows opened, all the dishes etc washed and replaced into and onto cupboards, bed and bedding aired and made up, we were ready for a beverage and a bite to eat then bed! So good to be home!

David began early the next morning with the weed cutting and burning. He had three machetes on the go! I swear he drank gallons of water that first day alone. The humidity was high as well which didn't help with the burning of the weed piles. Then, the windows all had to be washed and the screens put back up. I keep telling myself we really did want big windows for The View but were we ever cursing having them those first couple of days.

Every day we would drive into town for supplies and for the all important checking of the email. We were waiting for the ok to start a renovation job that was taking forever for the paperwork to be finalized and David said we could wait in Mexico just as easy... who was I to argue? After 2 weeks the wait was over - David flew back to Ontario, missed his first flight (that's a whole other story!), got on the next one 3 hours later, at no charge, and has been there ever since.

While David was gone I vowed to cut down more weeds, put up the pool, wash the truck at home, clean more windows (the dreaded upstairs ones), slash the sides of the roadway etc etc.
Got weeds cleared from the pool area and cleaned out my flowers and shrubs from last year. Killed lots of scorpions and even one Black Widow spider. Saved 2 little snakes from the clutches of Blanca and Bob (cat and dog), released lots of moths and butterflies that kept coming inside through the wide open doors and windows (yeay, no mosquitoes!). Visited with friends in town for happy hour and dinner several times. While washing the truck at home I got 'chiggered' again. Man, do they itch! While having happy and dinner in town I got bit by mosquitoes. Three days later I came down with Dengue Fever. The only good thing about that was it was the mild form. The rain started the same day that the fever and chills and aches and misery came upon me. I couldn't have left the mountain even if I had been capable of driving! Thank goodness that my cel phone worked and I could keep in touch with friends who even offered to drive up to get me but I toughed it out. Bobbi and Blanca kept me warm and company that first miserable night. Couldn't believe I had to have on sweatshirt and pants, 2 blankets and a hot drink! This is where the story began, with the rain and drips. Enough of that. I recovered and am feeling much better.

Friends have gone to Copper Canyon for a week and I am housesitting for them in town. The dogs and Blanca the cat and I are readjusting to living in amongst people and cars and noise and firecrackers and buses and music and garbage all over again. But, its a nice change, a nice place, and a needed break from the mountain! Oh yeah, forgot to mention the generator going out on me up there too! It was an oil thing but got it straightened out with a phonecall to friend Charlie. Thanks Charlie for the logical and concise words of wisdom! Yuck though with all the spewed oil. While we enjoy living off the grid, its really good to have electricity on demand every now and then!

The long awaited first day of Painting Class was just this past week. I was thrilled to see dear and familiar faces once again. We have our Annual Christmas Show and Sale this Sunday already! Then, there is going to be a Mermaid themed Show at the local Gallery to which we have been invited to participate in. I have started several pieces for that and will post photos of the finished ones soon.

I am now into week 3 of waiting for my internet stick so I don't have to come down into town for emailing and writing in by Blog. The hoops to get this well advertised product is amazing. I won't jinx myself so suffice to say that the Manana mentality is alive and well down here still!

I am signing out here with wishes to everyone for a save and not too frustrating start to the winter season. Hear its a good one!
Hasta Luego Muchachos!