Sunday, February 8, 2009

Mexican Weekend

Colors like these on houses are associated with warm places, as far as I know. I have seen brighter ones in Nova Scotia, however. They knock me out day after day.


Many streets lead to the Jardin and the Parroquia, which you can see at the head of the street.


On Saturday, the caballeros seem to be out on display.


I bought this hand embroidered tapestry from a local folk artist, a sweet woman who had dozens of these, each one different. They all seemed to be of a religious nature. I'm tempted to go back to the craft fair today for more. Write to me soon if you want me to choose one for you.


I have finally passed the half way mark on my knife edged wrap. It took me about a year to complete the first half. It's 38". I am determined to finish the second half sooner. I timed myself and found it takes five minutes, app, to knit a row. Twelve rows to each knife edge, one hour per edge, 58 edges in all, 29 in each half. If I do two edges a day, I can finish before I go home. I'd like to go home with a new wrap and no balls of yarn. That's two hours of knitting a day, however.


At the half way mark, one changes instructions so that the edges point in opposite directions. Here you can see where I changed over. The knife edges on the first half have all curled under whereas the new edges are sturdier and stay knifey. I hope that blocking will help the first half to look like the second half. If not, there are tears in my future.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Friday in San Miguel

This may well end up being my favorite photo from the trip.



Everywhere the colors are luscious, even when the houses are falling down and in acute disrepair, still ! the colors are subtle, soft, seductive.


We had planned to have a drink at the Hotel Sierra Nevada last night, but we had a meal instead. It was mouth-wateringly delicious and the surroundings were elegant.


The moon was up.


The courtyard was glorious.


Our outing for the day was to an orchid garden, the largest collection in Mexico with over 200 varieties.


This one is carniverous.




Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Parque Juarez

We walked to Parque Juarez today to see the plants on sale during Calendario festival, the beginning of Spring. You know I'm a sucker for a cute face.

I don't really like wearing hats but I know I have to protect my fair skin from the sun. I can't put sun screen on my head and my hair is impossibly thin. Hence the kippah I knit, thanks to Patricia's idea on Ravelry.

The top is NOT Mexican, but an antique Guatemalan huipil from my collection, perfect for this weather which is cool in the shade and hot in the sun.

Mexico is such a country of contrasts. I love these planters for ferns!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

We're in MEXICO now!

The welcoming committee on the roof

First View of the Day from K and G's casita

In Boston, just before our departure, we saw the grandkiddies. Sophia can get Dylan out of his snowsuit! Isn't she something?

And she has her own little digital camera to snap Zadie!

Dylan loves to choose oranges, over and over, and take them to adults to peel. He then hands each section to that adult to eat. It is a very focused activity. Here he has pulled over a chair to climb up to the counter to get his project going.

Twin Twizzletop hats on Gramily and 'Fia.

Bedtime for Dylan and hugs for Gramily

Zadie reads Gramily's old storybook to Sophia.
Dad Ethan reads the very same book to Sophia that was Emmy Lou's/Gramily's in 1948.
Booo Hooo, I missed getting a photo of Cindy this time.