Days of the Heart

February... "Days of the Heart"

(Sounds a little like a soap opera, right?!)

I rarely do much decorating for Valentine's Day

or St. Patrick's Day, even though I do love those

special occasions. I guess it's "jet lag" left over from

Christmas! lol

Well, looka there... it's a rabbit on the hutch mixed in with

the red and white theme with the hearts!

I just bought it at an estate sale and love it.

So how is your decorating coming along??

I'm linking to "It's a Very Cherry World" for

"Rednesday"

http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/

and

Between Naps on the Porch for

"Tablescape Thursday"

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Little Red House for

"Mosaic Monday"

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Redecorating my kitchen counters!

I try to redecorate my kitchen countertops periodically, but

when I get really serious about redoing...

I remove everything!

This is phase 1

I flipped the "coffee corner" and moved it to the opposite

side of the counter. Tomorrow morning is going to be

r-e-a-l interesting when I wander into the kitchen in

my early morning stupor to concoct our morning

cuppa joe.

And here is the new coffee corner!

I think I'm really going to like it.

The little lamp will remain on  24/7 as

I like a little light on at all times.

It's just a nightlight bulb.

Phase 2 is still to come.

Oh... and if you think that white can opener needs to be

removed... I'm getting there... my three sons gave it to

me one Christmas 10 or 12 years ago.

Funny the things you can be sentimental about!

Stay tuned...

This week I will be linking to...

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Día de la Candelaria in Mexico

A very special time of the year in Mexico is the

celebration of

Día de la Candelaria

In Mexico this holiday is celebrated as Día de la Candelaria, known as Candlemas in English, because candles were brought to the church to be blessed. 

Día de la Candelaria is a follow-up to the festivities of Kings Day on January 6th, when families and friends break bread together, specifically Rosca de Reyes, a special sweet bread with plastic figures of the baby Jesus hidden inside. The person (or people) who received the figurines on Kings Day (January 6th)  are supposed to host a party on Candlemas Day. Tamales are the food of choice.

This is particularly a special time for the family of our daughter-in-law, Marcela.

For years her mother has "hosted" the event of clothing

the statue of the Virgin Mary for the celebration of

Día de la Candelaria.

The fabric that is used is exquisite.

The dress has been made by several different seamstresses

but it is always a creation to admire.

Before we left Mexico last week we were invited to

view the dress before it was placed on the statue.

This statue is several hundred years old and came from

Spain. As you can tell by the pictures, it is beautiful!

I am linking to

My Romantic Home
for Show and Tell Friday

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

 

Breakfast in Mexico - "Las Cazuelitas"

Breakfast at Las Cazuelitas...
fast food in Mexico!
(Hard to believe these pictures were taken just last Friday.)

My husband and son consider
Las Cazuelitas
the fastest and tastiest breakfast in
Tecoman, Colima, Mexico.
After my opportunity to "dine" there
 this past week, I will agree...
it IS fast... and oh so tasty!

A typical breakfast at this popular establishment is

Beverage
* jamaica - a sweet-tart tasting beverage made from the
the flower of the jamaica plant - which may look similar to a hibiscus flower
* horchata - a sweet rice water drink

Tacos
* shredded cooked chicken, chilies, onion, tomatoes, and Mexican cream stirred into it after the first
ingredients are cooked
* shredded cooked chicken with cubed squash, tomatoes, onions, white shoe-peg corn all cooked together
* shredded cooked chicken, slivers of nopalitos (cactus), onion, tomatoes, shoe-peg corn
* cooked "chicharron" - pork skin, diluted tomato
sauce, slivers of cooked onion

Toppings for tacos
* chopped cilantro
* chopped white onion
* thin sliced radishes
* fresh limes for juice
*sea salt

These taco ingredients are served in thin corn tortillas made right there on the spot. They double the corn tortillas to add
a little more substance to the meal as well as to help hold
the ingredients inside.

Yes... Las Cazuelitas is fast,
but it is also
soooo goooood!


I'm linking to
WOW Us Wednesdays

At Savy Southern Style
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

and

What's It Wednesday
at

Ivy and Elephants

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

and

This is new to me... "Your Cozy Home Party"!

I'm so excited. Shannon just told me about it.

So here I go for the first time.

Come check it out.

http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com/

It looks like a lot of fun and it's

my kinda place!

and

http://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Check out Full Plate Thursday!!

Home from Mexico

Lance, Marcela and Family

We had a wonderful time with family

in Mexico. Business might be only one of the forces

that takes my husband and me down South...

but celebrating our granddaughter's 8th

birthday was the true reason.

It is always a blessing to see your grown children

handle the challenges of work and family

(and I have to add... in a foreign country)

and see how they manage simply single-handedly.

Pictures will be posted later as we recoup from a

long day of travel...

but just had to post this picture!

I"m barely getting in on time for

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House.

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday, Carmen!!

Our precious Carmen was born

January 27, 2004.

She has always been such a ray of sunshine

and has given us so much joy.

Carmen is our first grandchild, but she is

also the first girl in our family.

Her love of fashion...

Her love of sports...

Her energy and sweet beauty

has been such a gift to my husband and me.

Carmen's grades are excellent and she is fluent

in English and Spanish.

She is active in her church.

She loves to help in the kitchen.

Having Celiac Disease is not easy, however,

Carmen has mastered the diet and is careful to follow it.

I love this picture. Carmen is in my kitchen and is wearing

an apron that my grandmother made for me.

 

We will travel to Mexico on Thursday where

our son and his family live

so that we can celebrate Carmen's eighth birthday.

We can't wait to see our girl!

Love you, Carmen!!

"Abuela"