5 Favorites - From where I'm sitting

I'm joining up with Grace (standing in for Hallie) and the gang for Five Favorites. These are my favorite things that I can see from where I'm sitting right now.


[1] Always first in my heart, my husband the Pirate.


[2] This lovely cross made of beautiful rocks. It was given to me by a dear friend for my birthday a number of years ago. She has always lived on the opposite end of the country from me, so I haven't seen her for several years. This cross reminds me to pray for her.


[3] The flower pot that I keep my cooking utensils and the mug I put the spoon or spatula in that I'm currently using (you know, the one covered in sauce!). This lovely type of pottery (called talavera) is sold in Mexico everywhere there are tourists. I love how colorful it is. (NOTE: I cheated on this one - I had to stand up to actually see this).


[4] The book holder I use for my cookbooks to follow a recipe while I'm cooking without spilling food all over the book. Sorry it's out of focus but I'm too lazy to get up and take another picture.


[5] This is a twofer. First, my favorite drink: red wine cooler using a medium-good wine (zin, syrah, petit syrah) and cranberry juice. It's really refreshing and the juice has the added benefit of keeping me from getting sloshed every night! Next to the wine, a great book I found at the only bookstore in town: A Full Life in a Small Place, by Janice Emily Bowers. It's essays about her garden of vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees in the desert of New Mexico (much like the desert down here).

Bendiciones a todos ustedes! (Blessings to all of you!)

7 Quick Takes, vol. 1

Oh boy! Now I'm in the big leagues, posting on 7 Quick Takes!


[1] I cut my left index finger really deeply yesterday while I was pruning a vine. I wrapped the finger in gauze & tape and now I'm afraid to change the bandage or take a shower because I'm a BIG wuss when it comes to looking at wounds of any kind.


[2] Although we finally got my wood cook stove - which doubles as our outdoor grill - set up we've only used it once since it's been so windy and cool in the evenings.


[3] What's with the weather anyway? I've been reading about how long and cold the winter was up in the States, and now we have had this seemingly unending cool weather here in my corner of Mexico. For me, that means wearing sweaters every day and having a blanket on the bed (both unusual for this time of year). For native Mexicans, it's a matter of getting out the polar jackets!


[4] I've totally changed the way I cook since I got this book. Now once a week I cook up a big pot of beans & another of rice, I roast a bunch of vegetables, and I'm ready for the week! Putting together pre-cooked items is quick and yet allows for last-minute creativity. I LOVE this book!


[5] I'm finding that just living here in Mexico has changed my color sense. I'm one of those people who is highly color-oriented. For example, all my notes are written in different-colored sharpies, on different-colored post-its. When we lived in the States, I was really comfy with my muted color combinations, both in our home and in my clothes. Now those colors seem too washed out, and I'm using brighter colors. This is a bought sweater that I am doing duplicate stitching on to get some color happening.

[6] WHOOPEE! I just found out that I WAAAY over-withheld on my taxes last year and we're going to get a big refund!

[7] Boy, SEVEN things is a lot, even if they're quick! I feel like I've just run a half-marathon (and I'm not even a runner!). I hope I get better at this!

Head on over to Grace's today for more Quick Takes