We are very fortunate that we have known Spencer Shulman, the owner of S and S Auto for 18 years. He is a great friend of ours and we have conducted all our automobile business including insurance with S and S Auto.

S and S Auto is located on the Chapala-Jocotepec Carretera or Avenida Hidalgo # 101 right beside Puritan Poultry in Riberas del Pilar. Tel. (376) 765-4800 Fax (376) 765-4806. You can also send them an email at: ssauto@laguna.com.mx or go to their web site at: www.ssauto.com.mx
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Today is Mother’s Day and I would like to take this opportunity to say “Happy Mother’s Day” to all the amazing mothers that we know.

I miss my mother every day and she has been gone since 1996. I would give anything to have her here for one more day to talk to and to thank and to hug. She was a wonderful mother and my best friend and she never judged me and loved me unconditionally. I was so lucky to have her in my life for so long.
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Of course, in Toronto, Canada we had a selection of vacuum cleaners over the years which worked very well and when we needed a new one it was a simple case of making a selection from several choices.

When we moved to Ajijic, Lake Chapala in 1994 the last thing on our minds was a vacuum cleaner. All the floors were tile, slate, cured cement or marble and mops were all that were required to keep them looking great.

Our first and second houses did not have broadloom but our third rental had broadloom in 4 of the bedrooms and throughout the casita. There was a small vacuum cleaner in the closet which clearly was not going to get the job done.
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Most of us have pets and some of us are lucky enough to have pets like labs that do not need clipping, and snipping to keep them looking great

Our first two dogs here had the decency to require no extra grooming but when we got our miniature Schnauzer she grew fur very rapidly and could not see so we realized that something was going to have to be done about her.

Fortunately, she had a wonderful temperament and would allow anyone to clip her which took about an hour. She would like on her back paws up and then turn over for you to do her back and sides. What a peach and what an easy job.

Nail clipping was still a challenge and, although we did have a selection of professional nail clippers all our dogs would run screaming out of the room when said clippers were produced.
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We all have mixed feelings about Walmart being in our village in the sun of Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

As I am fond of saying I would not have voted for them to be here but now that they are I do use it not exclusively but I do use it nonetheless.

There have been a few issues with scams going on inside by perpetrators asking other shoppers for help and while they are distracted an accomplice steals their purse or wallet. My advice to that is if someone asks you for help refer them to the manager and move one clutching your purse firmly. I keep my pursed zipped and strapped into my basket when I shop at Walmart as an added precaution.

There has also been the issue of expensive items such as meat not finding their way into your basket after checkout. So I now watch that everything is, in fact, put into my basket before I head for the parking lot.

There have been complaints about some people working the parking lot with various scams so keep your wits about you and do not engage with anyone you do not know.
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Our friends live just outside Ajijic going west towards Jocotepec. Last night they heard the first rain birds of the season.

Rain birds are not acutally birds but are large insects that herald the rainy season will be here in 6 weeks.

This is always very welcome news and it is always very exciting to hear the first rain birds. This year April has been a beautiful month and the weather has been fantastic. Very often April and May can be a little hot and dusty as we all eagerly await the rains and the most beautiful season of the year here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, the “Rainy Season”.

Most of the snow birds have headed back north and I always think it is a shame that they do not get to experience this amazing time of year from June 15th to October 15th.
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Oscar Ibarra Mendoza offers more than furniture at his store on the carretera Chapala-Jocotepec # 119 A&B in San Antonio Tlayacapan near OXXO. Telephone (376) 766-4972.

There is a large selection of sofas and chairs and all brand name mattresses at very good prices. They also have lots of sales to watch or throughout the year.

The main reason I am writing about them today is the fact that they have sheets, duvets, mattress covers, comforters etc. in a very large selection.
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We have been here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala for almost 18 years and, as many people do, we have a pool.

We had a wonderful pool man at our house in Villa Nova that we had come to us here in our new house 12 years ago but he, sadly for us but happily for him], went on to be a successful contractor.

We then hired a person who had gone to school with our kids and were happy with him for many years.
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Two Spoons Bistro and Bar is a relatively new restaurant located in the heart of Ajijic on Ocampo #2. Tel. (376) 766-5089.

Their specialty is French Onion Soup which by all accounts is delicious and authentic.

Also to start there is a Chipotle Raspberry Sauce over Cream Cheese on Multi Grain Crackers and a daily soup.

They have three fresh tasty salads as well.
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There is a restaurant that everyone has been talking about for breakfast and lunch and recently they opened for dinner.

This is very good news and jolly good timing as we have lost one of our best chefs, Laurent, to South America.

My friend (who had enjoyed an amazing brunch at La Una) and I decided to try it for dinner and we were not disappointed.
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