Christmas 2012 is going to be a very special time for this family and we are going to spend it together in Virginia at a magnificent cabin in the woods. December 26th is also another brother’s 50th birthday and big birthdays are a big deal in our family. So our celebration will be twofold.

This is what my husband’s mother would have wanted – for us to be together and not lose track of each other. We would have been together regardless because both she and my husband’s dad instilled in their five children the love and respect of family and the joy that comes from being a part of a wonderful family.

I too had this love and respect in my family and I am so grateful that our children had such loving, caring grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins.

Most of us will be together for our son’s wedding in the garden of La Nueva Posada and we rejoice in our family’s closeness.

Many people grow apart from their family members because of distance or, in some cases, a perceived slight. In fact, in England my father’s brothers did not speak to each other for 40 years despite many efforts by my dad to reunite them.

We also are lucky enough to have the Eager family as our Mexican family and they are always part of any of our family celebrations.

Family is a source of strength and joy and sometimes they do not always get along. Some people think they might be better off without their family. What I would suggest is when things seem difficult or there are differences of opinion just love a little more which works miracles.

This piece of advice was from my husband’s mother who we will all love and miss for the rest of our lives as I will my wonderful parents.

If there is a family member you have not seen for a while give them a call and tell them that you love them. Nothing can replace family and, of course, dear friends.

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.

Imagine people talking about the weather. Up north people incessantly talk about the weather with jolly good reason but here in our beautiful village in the sun the weather seldom is a topic of conversation.

We wake up every morning to beautiful sunshine which is good for the soul and our amazing gardens.

We plan outdoor activities with confidence all year with the possible exception of the rainy season. Even during the rainy season it usually rains only at night and the days are filled with sunshine but some picnics or other outdoor events might possibly get rained on.

Golf and tennis and all boating are year round activities which is very good for one’s handicap in the case of golf and for one’s backhand in the case of tennis.

I walk the dogs five days a week and never have to worry about getting caught in the rain and having to scramble back to the house.

People enjoy their meals outside and smell our beautiful flowers and flowering trees every day of the year.

This is winter and we do not have to worry about digging our cars out of mounds of snow or having snow removing vehicles crash into our vehicles or scrape the ice off the windshield with a credit card or try and find warm clothes to wear to go out the door.

It is true we may need a sweater or sweatshirt in December or January but come February which is tomorrow the sun will come out again. This was a particularly mild winter and we did not even put the quilt on our bed or use the heater in our living room once.

So we will survive this off and on rain and grey skies knowing that the sun will, in fact, come out tomorrow. Well maybe not tomorrow because it calls for rain but soon all will be bright and warm and sunny again.

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.

There is a new addition to the Chili Cook Off this year and that is the Best Lakeside Margarita Contest which will be held on Friday, February 10th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Ten restaurants are competing in this contest among them #FOUR Restaurant and Adelita’s of San Antonio. Also on Friday is the Salsa Tasting Competition with both professional and home cooks competing. There is a $200.00 entrance fee for the Margarita Contest and you can apply by going to their website: www.mexicanchilicookoff.com

There is also going to be a Duck Race sponsored by the Cruz Rojo in the large pools on the grounds and the first place winner will win a 32’ flat screen TV.

There will be many booths selling everything from clothes and jewelry to food, drinks and arts and crafts. The full schedule for each of the three days will be posted soon on their web site.

On Saturday, February 11th the home cooks compete for the People’s Choice Award in Chili and on Sunday the restaurants compete for the coveted first place prize.

All proceeds of the Chili Cook Off go to local charities.

Volunteers are needs to sell tickets at the gate, control traffic within the grounds, to sell raffle tickets during the cook off and to help handle the ticket money. To volunteer contact: donandjim@hotmail.com

This annual event is a lot of fun for the whole family and there is entertainment for all ages.
Plan to attend to support our very worthwhile local charities.

See you there!

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 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.

La Nueva Posada is always looking for new and innovative ways to serve their customers and they change their menu often in the lovely dining room with the outdoor patio overlooking picturesque Lake Chapala.

Here are the new Daily Specials:

Monday – Swiss Enchilada Platter served with rice and refried beans. The sauce is made from fresh green tomatillos.

Tuesday – Wienerschitzel Holstein served with herb mashed potatoes and red cabbage. (This dish is a personal favorite of mine.)

Wednesday – Chopped Sirloin Steak topped with caramelized onions, herb mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. (Order early as this dish sells out quickly.)

Thursday – Sizzling Chicken Fajita Platter served with guacamole, sour cream, salsa and tortillas.

Friday – Their Famous Fish and Chip Platter served with Tartar sauce and coleslaw.

All daily specials are $65.00 pesos.

Also on the regular menu you will find the very welcome addition of Sea Bass al gusto (as you like it).

For breakfast, lunch or dinner La Nueva Posada is consistently good with excellent service and an unbeatable location with a magnificent view.

See you there! Buen Provcho!

Motion Picture Awards:

Best Picture Drama – The Descendants
Best Picture Musical or Comedy – The Artist
Best Performance by an Actress Drama – Meryl Streep “Iron Lady”
Best Performance by an Actor Drama – George Clooney “The Descendants”
Best Performance by an Actress Musical or Comedy – Michelle Williams “My Week With Marilyn”
Best Performance by an Actor Musical or Comedy – Jean Dujardin “The Artist”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Christopher Plummer “Beginners” (A nice Canadian boy.)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – Octavia Spencer “The Help”
Best Director – Martin Scorsese “Hugo”
Best Animated Film – The Adventures of Tintin
Best Foreign Language Film – A Separation
Best Screenplay – Midnight in Paris
Best Original Score – The Artist

Primetime Television Awards:

Best Television Series Drama – Homeland
Bet Performance by an Actor in TV Series Drama – Kelsey Grammar “Boss”
Best Performance by an Actress in TV Series Drama – Clair Danes “Homeland”
Best TV Series Musical or Comedy – Modern Family
Best Performance by an Actor in TV Series Musical or Comedy – Matt LeBlanc “Episodes”
Best Performance by an Actress in TV Series Musical or Comedy – Laura Dern “Enlightened”
Best Mini Series or Motion Picture made for TV – Downton Abbey (A favrorite of ours.)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini Series or Motion Picture – Idris Elba “Luther”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini Series or Motion Picture – Kate Winslet “Mildred Pierce”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Mini Series or Motion Picture – Peter Dinkage “Game of Thones”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Mini Series or Motion Picture – Jessica Lange “American Horror Story”

Cecil B. deMille Award Recipient was Morgan Freeman and the award was presented to him by Sydney Poitier and Helen Mirren.

One of Ricky’s funnier lines was the Golden Globe Awards were to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton. Be that as it may it still gives us a pretty good idea of who is likely to win an Oscar. Stay tuned in as award season get into full swing.

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.

There are three bathrooms in the unit and the terrace goes right around the condo offering a spectacular view of Lake Chapala. Last night the view was beautiful in shades of grey which looked like a painting.

There is rigid security in this building and many common areas offering outdoor living. Tennis, swimming, barbequing, party rooms along with hairdressing and spa facilities are offered to name a few.

My tablemate was noting that one could not distinguish this condo from a fabulous one in New York
City but, of course, for considerably less money.

The kitchen had three cooks preparing our delicious supper. To start there were beautiful fat shrimp and almond stuffed Greek olives. Then we had Chiles en Nogadas which is the traditional chile served on Mexican Independence Day as is sports the three colors of the Mexican flag. Also a cheese filled chile relleno was on the plate and chicken fajitas with spicy beans, guacamole and flour tortillas.

For dessert we had individual mincemeat in artful pastry packages with whipped cream and a chocolate truffle.

Naturally, there was white and red wines and champagne.
It was a terrific mix of people both expats and Mexican and I am sure everyone had a lovely time in lovely surroundings. Also the visiting friend regaled us with stories and songs after dinner.

The point of this story is to illustrate that there is something for everyone here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala in terms of property to suit every taste and pocketbook. Quaint village homes are available right up to high end carefully guarded condos overlooking our beautiful Lake Chapala and many other opportunites in between. Select a broker who knows the area and ask them to show you the many faces of Ajijic.

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.

We happily curled up in bed on Sunday night to watch the 2 hour Season Opener and enjoyed every minute of it uninterrupted by commercials.

Downton Abbey is a wonderful story about a rich family, the Crawley’s of Yorkshire, England and their extensive staff. For those who may remember Upstairs, Downstairs, this is a similar story line but with a wonderful cast, magnificent scenery, costumes and a spectacular country house Downton Abbey.

Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham and his wife Cora have three daughters and no son. At that time only a male heir could inherit so a cousin, Matthew Crawley, is being groomed for the post which will put the family out of their home when the present Earl, Robert, dies.

Season 2 opens 2 years after Season 1 and it is the Fall of 1916 and England is at war. Things are changing with the Crawley family and with the staff and will subsequently never be the same. The lines between the classes are blurring and there are many wonderful subplots taking place as a result.

Two of the daughters Isobel and Sybil take on jobs as a driver on a neighboring farm and nurse which, of course, is unheard of but, as I mentioned, the war is changing everyone’s role.

There is intrigue above and below stairs and every storyline is fascinating.

Maggie Smith plays the dowager Countess of Grantham and Elizabeth McGovern plays Cora Countess of Grantham.

You will also find many other wonderful English actors who you will recognize from Coronation Street, Lark Rise to Candleford etc.

This wonderful miniseries has won six Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie, Outstanding Writing – Julian Fellowes, Outstanding Supporting Actress, Maggie Smith for Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, Outstanding Cinematography, David Katznelson DFF, Outstanding Costumes – Susannah Buxton and Outstanding Direction – Brian Percival.

At the end of Episode 1 it is being discussed that Downton Abbey may be pressed into service as a convalescent hospital.

We highly recommend this miniseries. It is a wonderful illustration of kinder, gentler times and a pleasure to watch.

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!

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.

Last night our friends had a magnificent dinner at their beautiful home here in Ajijic for our son and his fiancé who are getting married in February. Unfortunately, our friends will both be travelling at that time so very generously hosted a catered dinner by Laurent which was spectacular.

Their home was beautifully decorated for the occasion and the food was amazing. They very graciously had invited the bride’s family and there were a total of 14 people around the gorgeous table with napkins in the shape of roses and what seemed like hundreds of cream candles shimmering brightly on crisp white linen.

Everyone had a wonderful time and everyone got along beautifully with a great deal of laughter. The appetizers were varied and succulent and the excellent wine plentiful. There was a French Onion Soup or Caesar Salad to start and a choice of Herb Crusted Lamb Loin or Salmon with a Castor Sugar Glaze for the main. A traditional Croquembouche was served for dessert which was particularly considerate as the bride’s family is French.

I think the best ingredient of the evening was the appreciation of my son and his fiancé that such a beautiful, spectacular evening had been held in their honor. In fact the appreciation went beyond them to all of the guests who had a splendid evening in a fabulous setting, with wonderful food, wine and the company of both families and our very dear friends and their beautiful daughter.

Another surprise was ad trio of live music of an amazing young violinist that we knew from La Nueva Posada.

It was a great way to end the festive holiday season and open the next happy phase of the wedding.

Our thanks go out to our dear friends and great hosts for their love, warmth and incredible generosity. We are very lucky indeed to have you in our lives.

We wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.