Lifestyle

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Summer diversions

I love summer. Yes, it’s hot, but it’s also quiet and mostly relaxing. I thought I’d give you some idea of what I’ve been up to. I made myself a messenger bag/purse using the tutorial here as a guide. I used an old pair of Paul’s cargo shorts and couldn’t be more pleased! What do you think? That’s the bag at the top of the post. I had gotten inspired to do some sewing from this wonderful website ReFashionista…. she...

Nancy’s New Media Do’s & Don’ts

The internet is amazing, isn’t it?  There is so much out there that part of the issue for most people is filtering what gets through to you.  A few years ago it was all about filtering spam – but the technology has gotten better and better and far less spam lands in my inbox these days.  Now we need to filter social media.  Sometimes there’s just too much coming at you! I’ve been accumulating some do’s and don’ts for new...

Tropical flowers

  Yes, I am playing around again taking pictures of the plants in our yard and goofing around with Photoshop.  In the center picture you’ll notice the Mexican Flag Vine doesn’t look like it normally does – it is making seed pods! Hope you enjoy the photos, I will move on to another topic soon, I’m sure....

Flor de Mayo (Plumeria) in my Mazatlán garden

I am in love with some of the plants that are just ordinary plants around here. But to me they are spectacular – especially the lovely flor de mayo – or to most of you – plumeria. I suppose if someone from Mazatlán moved to Washington State they would be similarly stunned by the rhododendrons and azaleas seen everywhere! I have been playing around with my camera and working on making my photos a bit more memorable.  I hope you...

Life in Mazatlán

Life here is good.  For the ice cream seller every Sunday on the beach to teenagers enjoying the water on their boogie boards.  It’s all good. The video below is from last Friday.  It was around 6 pm and the schools were going to be closed both Monday and Tuesday.  A large group didn’t waste any time getting their boards and getting into the water.  Pretty nice.  As with any videos, you can adjust the quality once you’ve clicked Play...

Mazatlán garden report

We enjoy spring in the garden. It is wonderful to see the new growth and change. Of course, learning a new climate, plants, bugs, and chores makes this a work in progress for us. At the top of this post you’ll see our pot with three cantaloupe plants. They haven’t even bloomed yet but we are very hopeful that we’ll get a few lovely melons. They love the heat, and that’s one thing we can promise them! Below is a...

My Mexican Textiles

I love Mexican textiles.  I love that they are hand made. As a knitter, I know how much attention and caring gets incorporated into each item I make, and I’m sure it is the same for the creators of these lovely blouses. Whenever I travel, I always enjoy looking at (and probably buying) blouses, wraps (called rebozos) or knitted items. A huipile (or huipil) is an embroidered blouse or dress.  I am not an expert, for that I will refer...

Knitting Oaxacan Wool in Sinaloa

Hi all!  It has been a busy time lately, but lots of fun.  We’ve been involved in a project that is almost ready to be blogged about, but not quite.  So hang on a bit longer, and take a look at the table mat I finally finished using the wool I bought in Oaxaca last June. I had intended to felt it but I think I might like it just the way it is.  Plus, when it is felted it...

Just Regular Life in Mazatlán

Life here has finally settled down a bit since the holidays.  I always love the crush of parties and visiting and the festive feeling but I am often ready for life to calm down a few days before it does! Now life is normal for winter – I am just the right amount of busy. I wrote a new column for January’s M! Magazine – on food treats from around México. Last Saturday was the first weekly Organic Market at...

My Favorite Books of 2011

I have been reading a lot of “best of” lists for the last week or so and thought I might share my favorite books of the year, too. I hope you’ll take a minute and enter your top book of the year in the form at the end of the post which should give us all more great reading suggestions! My list is not in any particular order… The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown – I love books about sisters,...

Vogue Knitting in Mexico!

Several months ago I received an email from Rebecca Klassen, a writer for Vogue Knitting.  She was writing an article on México for the World section of their Holiday issue and asked if I’d be willing to talk.  Por supuesto! Of course I would! Rebecca had found me through the Ravelry group I started – <ahref=”http://www.ravelry.com/groups/english-speaking-knitters-in-mexico” target=”_blank”>English Speaking Knitters in Mexico – and wanted to hear about the knitting scene here in Mazatlán and about the gorgeous yarn I had...

Mazatlán sultry summer Sunday

After our big rain last week (NINE inches in just a few hours!) it has cooled off a lot here – today the temperature in my kitchen hasn’t risen over 78 degrees! We don’t expect to see temperatures this cool until November!  We know it’s just a little break, but the whole city is enjoying the cool.  I think it’s probably perfect for surfers, with nice waves and some clouds to shield them from the sun.  The picture above is...

Guess what I saw at my tropical hummingbird feeder…

Last night I passed by the back yard hummingbird feeder in the dark.  It looked like something was on it. Check it out, above! Geckos are on the hummingbird feeder! I crept over for a look thinking it might be a bat.  You can see what I saw, above! Geckos! A trio of geckos hanging about on the empty feeder. Are they drinking the last of the nectar?  Or were there bugs by it that they were eating? I’ve written...