Month: September 2022

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A Gaggle of Geese

Now it is fall. A totally  different season for me to admire from my balcony and my daily walks through the golf course.

There are still leaves on the trees, although they are beginning to drift toward the ground.

There are still golfers, although a lot fewer of them every day. Their days start later and end sooner. Instead of wearing bright shirts and cute shorts, they arrive in sweatshirts and long pants..

Squirrels still chase each other along the paths and tease the dogs. A few ducks still swim in the ponds. Some things never change.

 

Something else that doesn’t change are the geese that peck their way through the grass and poop on the sidewalks all day, every day. Legend  is that there are about seventy geese that make Heather Gardens their permanent home.

I like the geese. I like their bad-ass ways. I like their swagger and the fact that they own the place. The own the sand traps and the putting greens. They own the roads and the ponds. Although they still prefer to waddle and swim in follow-the-leader lines, they aren’t practicing for a flight to a warmer climate. They have found a warmer climate and they are staying put.

I will miss the geese and this beautiful view while I am in Mexico. I will miss the smell of fresh-cut grass, and greeting the dog-walkers on my path.  I will miss the crisp early-morning air.

But I won’t miss dodging goose-poop.

Photo by Joan Obeslo, Bldg. 210, Heath Gardens

 

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Mexican Brownies

When I lived in Mexico, I couldn’t wait until the weather cooled enough to light the oven. I made these brownies as a special treat for two Finland boys who lived with us for nine months while they attended Spanish language school. Mika said they were the best brownies he’d ever eaten. The cinnamon gives a Mexican flavor to the brownies. There wasn’t be a single brownie left in the pan the next morning.

 

1, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8 x 8 inch baking pan.

2. Cut into small slivers: 3 ounces of semi-sweet baking chocolate.

3. Melt in the microwave: 1/2 cup butter (1 stick.) Add the chocolate and stir until melted and smooth.

4. Stir in:

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

5. Add and stir until combined:

  • 2 large, beaten eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

6. Add and stir until combined:

  • 2/3 cup all purpose flour 
  • 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

7. Fold in: 1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

Scrape the batter into the prepared pans. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

 

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The Things I Carry

I’ve started packing for my trip to Mexico in two weeks. It’s my nature to do things early. Some of the things I pack might surprise you.

For example, one time I took a water pump for an old Ford pickup. I put it in my backpack, so of course I had to explain myself when I went through TSA Security.

“Ma’am, exactly what is this?” asked the TSA guy.

“It’s a water pump for a Ford pick-up truck.”

“Why is it in your backpack?”

“I’m bringing it to a friend in Mazatlán.”

“Don’t they have water pumps in Mexico?”

“I guess not. He asked me to find one for him in the auto salvage yard.”

The TSA guy softened right away. “You must be a good friend,” he said.

“I bet you are a good friend, too. I think you would have done the same thing.”

“You’re right. I try to help my friends whenever I can. Have a good day.”

Actually I wan’t thrilled at having to carry a heavy water pump in my backpack, but the TSA guy made me feel a lot better about it.

Another time, I carried fifty yards of fiberglass fabric in a roll inside a very tall box. The box was 5’7.” I am only 5’2. It weighed about as much as a water pump. Ernesto needed it because he was building surfboards and couldn’t find any fiberglass in Mexico. He ordered it from a surf supply shop in San Diego and had it sent to my house in Denver.

After being dropped off at the airport, I maneuvered my bulky box inside, along with my purse, a large suitcase and my backpack. I d watched my box, tagged as “oversized luggage,” as it went down the conveyor belt to the airplane. When I got to the airport in Mexico, I  claimed my box and headed for Customs.

“What is in this box?” The Customs official wanted to know. She wasn’t as nice as the TSA guy.

“It’s 50 yards of fiberglass fabric.”

“Why do you have it?”

“My friend needs it for building surfboards.”

“Don’t we sell fiberglass in Mexico?”

“I guess not.”

“Do you have a receipt showing how much you paid for it?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t have a receipt. But it wasn’t very expensive.”

I was taken into a small room. I was told to leave my box outside but I could bring my purse, my backpack and my suitcase with me. The Customs official interrogated me and told me I would have to pay a “tax” to bring the fiberglass into the country because I didn’t have a receipt. 

We’ve been through this before, dear reader. Of course, it wasn’t a tax. It was a bribe. I didn’t care. I paid $25.00 and was on my way.

The Customs official also searched my purse, to make sure I wasn’t bringing any contraband into the country. When I got to my destination, I found that a beautiful rosary I brought for Ernesto’s mother was missing. I think it ended up in someone’s pocket. And, yes, they do sell rosaries in Mexico.

So now I know the drill. No more water pumps or rolls of fiberglass. Instead, I bring smaller gifts for Ernesto. I bring things that are expensive in Mexico and that I can easily purchase at the local thrift store for almost nothing. Here’s a list of things I bring every time:

  • Board shorts
  • Sunglasses
  • Reading glasses
  • Razors and extra blades
  • Dress shirts
  • T-shirts with surfer logos
  • Swim goggles

And I also bring things for the kitchen:

  • A couple of sharp knives
  • Dish towels
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Spices for making chai tea
  • Instant tea without lemon
  • Nightlights and flashlights

I don’t bring many clothes. I don’t have room for them in my suitcase.

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Homemade Chai Latte Mix

I start every day with a cup of hot chai latte. It’s my guilty pleasure. Because it’s not available in Mexico, except at Starbucks, I’ve learned to make my own.  

Directions:

Grind these ingredients in a spice grinder, 1/4 cup at a time.

Put into a medium-sized bowl.

  • 1/2 cup powdered milk
  • 1/2 cup regular coffee creamer
  • 1/2 cup french vanilla creamer
  • 1 + 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup instant tea, without sugar or lemon

Grind together and add to the bowl:

  • 1/2 teaspoon cardamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon nurmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice.
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ginger

Whisk everything together and store in airtight container.

¡Buen Provecho!

 

 

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Molletas

Molletas are my favorite Mexican breakfast. It’s an easy hardy breakfast, made of an open-faced roll topped with refried beans, cheese and pico de gallo. Heavenly!

Start with a fresh bolillo. Look for bolillos in the bakery section of your supermarket. If you can’t find bolillos, use any kind of thick bread like French bread or a baguette. In Mexico we buy them fresh from the panaderia, or sometimes from a street vender at the end of the day.

Slice the bolillo in half. Remove some of the bread from the middle of the roll, to make room for toppings.

Spread butter on the cut side of the bolillo and place buttered side down on a hot skillet or griddle. Toast the bolillo for a couple of minutes until it’s nice and brown.

Remove the roll from the skillet and place it on a serving plate. Spread with a layer of warm refried beans. I love these mayocoba beans, available from Amazon. Isadora is an authentic Mexican brand. Maycoba beans are also known as peruano beans or canary beans.

Then add then a layer of shredded cheese. I like Queso Fresco or Oaxaca cheese on my mollletes.

Microwave for 30-45 seconds  until the cheese is melterd. Top with pico de gallo (salsa fresca.)

Pico de gallo is made of fresh chopped tomato, onion and jalapeño pepper.

¡Buen Provecho!

 

 

 

 

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¡Viva Independencia!

Dia de Independencia (Independence Day) was my introduction to over-the-top holiday celebrations in Mexico. I had just moved to Mazatlán and my furniture hadn’t arrived yet. I carried a sauce pan, a frying pan, and a few plastic dishes in my luggage. I bought a small bed, a tiny outdoor table and two plastic chairs at Sam’s Club. I went to the used appliance store and bought a stove and a refrigerator. I had enough to survive but I was eager to get my belongings.

My moving truck was stalled at the border because the inspector found a package of new sheets in one of my 250 boxes. Because I couldn’t prove that I paid sales tax in the U.S. for the sheets., I had to give the inspector $200.00 to approve my move across the border.

I know it was a bribe. I know the bribe cost more than the sheets were worth. I was lucky. He didn’t open the box that contained the digital grand piano. That didn’t have a receipt either.

Truly, I felt trapped that day, September 16, 2005, as I watched Neto and his friends install a fountain in my courtyard. There was nothing I could do until the moving truck arrived.

And then I heard a police siren announcing a parade. The most wonderful parade I’d ever seen.

That’s when I knew I made the right decision. My home was right on the parade route. For the next five years, I watched every parade, (and there are a lot of them!) from my plastic chair placed right in front of my doorway.

Día de la Independencia marks the moment when Father Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic priest, made his cry for independence. His chants, ¡Viva Mexico! and ¡Viva Independencia¡ encouraged rebellion and called for an end to Spanish rule in Mexico.

The Spanish regime was not prepared for the suddenness, size, and violence of the rebellion. From a small spontaneous gathering at Father Hidalgo’s church in Delores, the army swelled to include farm workers from local estates, prisoners liberated from jail, and a few soldiers who revolted from the Spanish army.

Farmers used agricultural tools to fight. Rebel soldiers had guns and bullets. Indians, armed with bows and arrow, joined the cause. The revolution rapidly moved beyond the village of Dolores to towns throughout Mexico.

Father Hidalgo was captured and executed on July 30, 1811. Father José Maria Morelos, a seminary student and friend of Father Hidalgo, took charge. The movement’s banner, with an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, was symbolically important. She was seen as a protector and liberator  of dark-skinned Mexicans. Many men in Hidalgo’s forces went into battle wearing the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe on their clothes. The War of Independence was won on September 27, 1821.

Much like the Fourth of July in the U.S., Mexicans celebrate their country’s Independence Day with fireworks, parties, food, dancing and music. Flags, flowers and decorations in the colors of the Mexican flag – red, white and green – are seen everywhere in cities and towns throughout Mexico. Whistles and horns are blown and confetti is thrown to celebrate the occasion. Chants of “Viva Mexico” are shouted among the crowds. And school children, dressed in Mexican themes, march through the streets of their neighborhood.

The following day a moving truck with all of my belongings pulled up in front of my house. Out jumped six strong, handsome Mexican men, ready to unload everything. Boxes containing everything I thought I would need and some things, like Christmas decorations and recipe books, I wasn’t yet ready to part with. And my piano!

¡Viva Mexico!

 

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A Big Decision

You might think I’ve lost my mind. You won’t be the only one. 

About a month ago I had a conversation with myself.

Me: “Self, what would you do if you didn’t think you were too old?”

Self: “I would spend next winter in Mexico. The whole winter. You know how much I hate the cold.”

Me: “Just do it. Figure it out and do it. After all, you bought this condo so you could go places. That’s the beauty of living on the third floor. Just lock the door and go.”

And in my typical, impulsive fashion, I immediately went on the Airbnb website and booked two stays in Mazatlan: October 2 – December 6 and again from January 15 – March 15. It felt good.

About a week later, I had another talk with Self.

“Self, what should I do about my car if I’m in Mexico all winter.”

Self scratched her head and noted, “Hmmm. I wonder. I don’t think it will be safe in the parking garage. Cars are vandalized and stolen every month. Maybe you should just sell it. You drive less than 6000 miles/year. See what it’s like to go without a car. You can always buy another used car next spring if you really want to.” That felt even better!

I learned to drive when I was sixteen but I never loved driving the way a lot of people do. It took me an entire summer of driver’s ed to pass the test. Mr. Norberg, the school’s basketball coach, was my driver’s ed teacher. He yelled at me three times a week as I got behind the wheel and practiced nothing but right-hand turns. The only person who was a worse student driver was my friend, Linda Lawrence. Linda jumped a curb and smashed into a house during one of her driver’s ed sessions. I think she’s still driving, albeit in a small town in northern Minnesota.

Finally I graduated to left-hand turns and eventually to parallel parking. This was in North St. Paul, MN ~ a town of 2000 people. Now I’m driving in Denver, where about a million new drivers are on the road every year. Hardly anyone takes driver’s ed any more. A lot of people learn by watching YouTube videos. It’s simply terrifying.

This spring, when I broke my leg, I discovered the joy of taking Uber. The drivers, mostly from Ethiopia and Eritrea, are kind and polite. They drive better than I do. Most of my trips cost less than $10.00. I relax and enjoy the ride.

Last week I put my car up for sale. Because used cars are at a premium, I’ll earn enough money for a lifetime of Uber rides. I won’t have to buy gas, pay for car insurance or renew my license plates. I can take an Uber to meet friends for dinner and  I can order a margarita because I won’t be driving. I can go places at night, if I want to, without worrying about headlights blinding me on the way home.

My car is listed on Craig’s List and I put up posters on our community bulletin board. Jason is handling the sale for me because he’s a much better negotiator. And he knows how to talk “car talk.”  

My car, a 2015 red Nissan Juke, has less than 39,000 miles on it. It gets good mileage and has brand new tires. If you know someone who is looking for a great car, give me a call.

Or better yet, call Jason: 720-334-4896

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Lemon Drizzle Cake Recipe

This easy Lemon Drizzle Cake is a beautiful recipe, perfect for days when you’re craving a decadently tender dessert with abundant lemon flavoring. I got this recipe from my friend, Agnus Dunn, who lives in California where lemons are fresh and plentiful.

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8″x4″ loaf pan. Set aside.

2.  Cream together until pale and creamy:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened 

1 cup granulated sugar 

3. Beat in, one at a time, 4 large eggs

4. Stir in the zest of 1 lemon. For best results, use an organic lemon.

5. Sift together and fold into the butter mixture:

1 cup all-purpose flour  

1  1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

6. Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan while making the drizzle.

8. To make the drizzle, mix together

3 Tablespoons lemon juice (about 1  1/2 lemons)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

9. Prick the warm cake all over with a skewer or a fork. Pour the drizzle over the top of the cake, allowing the juice to seep into the cake.

10. Keep the cake in the pan until completely cool, then remove, slice and serve.

Buen Provecho!