To us nothing is more important than family. Both my husband and I come from very close families. We both have lost both our parents and for my husband the loss of his mother was very recent. We all went to Toronto for the Memorial Service and now most of our beloved family members are arriving for our son’s wedding this month.
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We do have almost perfect weather here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala. Occasionally, however, some storm on the coast affects our weather or we will experience Cabanuelas which is the word Mexicans have for January Rain.

It very seldom rains any time other than the rainy season from June 15th to October 15th so everyone is quite stunned that we have had light rain on and off since Sunday.
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This year the highly anticipated local event, The Mexican Chili Cook Off, will be held February 10th, 11th and 12th, 2012.

This is an event that everybody seems happy to participate in was originally started by the late Morley Eager of La Nueva Posada 35 years ago.
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Ask any real estate broker/agent and they will tell you that the best security for your property is a barking dog.

We have had dogs since we moved here in 1994. We rented a house that had in its garage a mother dog and her five new puppies. One of the conditions of the rental was that we allowed the dogs to stay until the person looking after the house for the owners could find the puppies good homes. As we had 2 children aged 10 and 12 we readily agreed.

Our son fell in love with the mother dog a beautiful cross between a Doberman and a Lab and I knew we would probably take a puppy too. We did and they had full happy, healthy lives with us until they passed away. The puppy was almost purebred Dalmatian and impossible to train. She was, however, the smartest dog we have ever had.

The maid had accidently left the gate unlocked so our puppy opened it easily with her paw and she and her mother set out on an excellent adventure. The mother dog was brought back by the person who was looking after our rental house but the puppy was missing for 2 and ½ days and we thought she was gone.

Late one night I heard scratching and crying at our front door and I knew our clever puppy had found her way home in the pouring rain in the dead of night. There was elation all around.

A few years later our daughter had become attached to a little miniature Schnauzer that was living on the street outside her school in Chapala. Our daughter had been feeding this feisty little puppy and lined a cardboard box with an old sweatshirt and fed her every day she was at school. I broached the subject of a third dog with my husband who said “no” without hesitation. I explained that this situation was different and our daughter had become attached to this animal.

To my great delight my husband went to my daughter’s school and picked up this puppy (who he hoped was the right one) and brought her home. The next day we took her to be shampooed, clipped, rid of fleas and dosed with all the appropriate shots and picked up our daughter who had been staying overnight with a friend. I will never forget the look on her face and the puppy was jolly happy too.

When our first mother and daughter dogs were getting older we were lucky enough to get a wonderful street dog a baby girl Lab who we all love to pieces as we have loved all of our dogs. She is an amazing watch dog and takes her job of protecting the family very seriously.

Last year we lost our little Schnauzer to a heart condition and so we were down to one dog. I could not even think about getting another dog.

Then another street dog this time a little boy Bichon Frise/Poodle mix came to my husband’s office. We put up signs trying to find the owners but when no one came forward we adopted him happily and he soon took the pain out of our hearts from losing our little Schnauzer.

Aside from the immense pleasure our dogs bring to our lives with their unconditional love we also appreciate the fact that they protect us and our house. I am not saying not to look into various security systems but the best security is a barking dog.

4 out of the 5 dogs we have adopted over the years were or are street dogs and I highly recommend these animals as they are so appreciative to have found a good home where they are loved and looked after that the reward is tenfold.

Call the Animal Shelter at 765-5514 to see about adopting a security system today.

La Nueva Posada has long been the centerpiece of Ajijic, Lake Chapala. This family run business has been serving the lakeside and Guadalajara communities for 35 years. Now third generation family members are running the show overseen by Michael Eager and the original owner, Judy Eager.

La Nueva Posada is located in the village of Ajijic on Donato Guerra # 9. Tel. # 766-1444 and you can reach them by email at: nuevaposada@prodigy.net.
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On Sunday night January 15th the 2012 Golden Globes took place. It was once again hosted by Ricky Gervais who did a wonderful job. It is a surprise to some that he was invited back after his irreverent performance last year but it is a credit to the producers that they were brave enough to have him host again. Although he seemed perhaps a little less outrageous in his attacks on the stars he is very funny and certainly brightened up the format of the show.
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Last night we attended a dinner party in the spectacular penthouse of our friends for their friends visiting from Brighton, England.

There were 29 people in attendance and there was plenty of room for 29 more.

It is a beautifully finished condo with a 180 degree view of Lake Chapala from the master bedroom, den/guest room, open concept living/dining room and kitchen. Our friends amazing artwork adorns the condo and complements the formal style.
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My husband and I seldom agree on what to watch on television which is why we have Star Choice with about 100 channels and local cable.

Last year we did happen upon a program on PBS (388 on Star Choice) which we both enjoyed very much. We were sad when the announced the season finale and delighted when Season 2 of Downton Abbey began January 8th, 2012. Other episodes are to be aired January 15th, 22nd, 29th, February 5th, 12th and 19th.
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I am sure some of you have an idea of my feelings that good health comes first and it is very important to grab the reins of your own health.

This morning at Superlake, while doing my daily food shopping, I have had to avoid hugs and kisses with many friends wanting to wish me Happy New Year because I have an almost cold. I say that because I am still managing to fend off a full blown cold with daily doses of Echinacea and, of course, I did have my flu shot.

My husband got sick first in Canada and I did manage to get him better when I arrived there a week later. Then he has relapsed twice but is hanging in there as he has clients from out of town here so one soldiers on.

My son has been sick since December 19th and a seeming cold has turned into pneumonia and, as it is not any better after several courses of antibiotics, jarabes, (cough syrups) a series of injections and oxygen treatments, we are now awaiting the results of a culture text taken yesterday. I forgot to mention the Vick’s Vapor Rub thrown in for good measure.

His fiancé has a cold of course and so does my daughter and her boyfriend has bronchitis. He is a little better after 2 days of bed rest and nobody is laughing at me now that I bought the giant family pack of Tylenol Cold and Tylenol Cold Complete when in Canada. This is a wonderful product (only available sporadically in Ajijic, Lake Chapala) which works for all of us except those with pneumonia or bronchitis.

I am dosing myself daily and getting on with it as we have a houseful of people to feed and a wedding to plan which is bearing down on us with lightning speed. Also as of February 3rd the Canadian and American relatives arrive for the festive occasion.

All of these things are usually cause for great joy but when one is under the weather reaching for the remote can be too much to deal with. The other night I went to bed early which I am trying to do most nights without taking my Tylenol Cold pills. I lay there in bed hoping someone would come and get them for me as the thought of getting up to travel the 6 feet to procure said pills was not something I could entertain.

Fortunately, my almost daughter-in-law came to check on me, waking me and the dogs happily sleeping on the bed with me, and got my pills for me. I will be forever in her debt.

We are all working very hard on getting healthy again and appreciate always that we live in paradise with wonderful warm sunshine which not only is good for the soul but is also good for recovery.

Salud!

All the festivities of the season are over or at least winding down. People are getting back to normal as house guests head back up north. Christmas trees are soon coming down if not down already. Fridges are being cleaned out and sheets and towels laundered.

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years with family and very good friends but I am delighted the season is over as it seems to be a very hectic time of year.
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