Saturday, January 30, 2010

Mantra - Marcela's boutique in Mexico


Welcome to "Mantra" - our daughter-in-law's boutique
in Mexico

The shop was brand new in these pictures in 2005
She kept the windows covered with butcher paper until opening day.
What a delight it was to see her lovely, decorated shop windows!

My husband and I dropped in to visit our daughter-in-law's boutique this evening. Her shop is in Tecoman, Colima, Mexico. Four or five times a year... and more often if she can manage to break away Marcela flies to Los Angeles where she finds the most fascinating fashions. She has a real knack for what women like to wear. She even shops for certain ladies in Tecoman and then sends a "runner" to their home with three or four garments, ready to be tried on. Rarely has any outfit come back.

As I watched Marcela talk to her customers I felt a little like I was transported back in time... to my grandmother, Jean's store... the Treasure Shop. Marcela's sisters, mother and two aunts were in her shop along with several customers. It was fun to watch the action. Marcela was clearly enjoying her profession. I am in awe of her fine sense for fashion, her business skills and ability to sell.

Not much has changed in Marcela's shop since the pictures were taken other than to enlarge it. It's an exciting and demanding journey for Marcela. We are so proud of her!

Carmen turns 6 and does a good deed!

Our son, Lance with his family: Marcela, Carmen and David

We are so proud of our granddaughter, Carmen. Instead of birthday gifts she asked that her little friends bring a donation to help buy shoes for underprivileged children with foot problems. Nearly $1,000 was collected. Last year she asked for her friends to bring clothing for the children's orphanage in town. What a great gift Carmen's parents are giving her! The joy of giving!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Friday is for Father and "Foodie Friday" in Mexico

Cal

   My father was my "Indiana Jones". A WW II Veteran, married my mother, completed his education, fathered four children, traveled and worked all over the world, was a writer, taught writing, was a WW II historian (his latest book .. now out of print.. is valued by some at $325) and a wonderful, loving man. He was passionate about history and world events.
   Born in Roswell, New Mexico, he spent some memorable years living in a hotel in Big Spring, Texas that his father managed and was a part-owner. After a stunt where after seeing a movie about Super Man (or some such flying actor) he made a parachute for himself, a box for his cat with another homemade parachute and was prepared to drop the cat first off of the roof of the hotel to study the art of flying. How this turned out is unknown, however, my father and his younger brother were shipped off to live with their grandmother on a farm near Rochelle, Texas. These were considered some of the best years of his life until his grandmother passed away and the boys went back to Big Spring to spend their high school years.
   My father was the most impressive man in my life. His high standards and devotion to family showed me that this was the sort of man I wanted to marry. And I did! Thank you, Daddy. I miss you!!

If you enjoy this type of posting be sure to visit Celestial Charms at http://celestialcharms.blogspot.com/2010/01/fridays-with-father-partie-huit.html. Fridays with Fathers is her creation.



It's Foodie Friday
at the Fair in Tecoman, Colima, Mexico!

   This posting may be a little long. If only I could figure out those photo mosaics. Someday!
   We are here in Mexico on business... and most importantly to be with our granddaughter, Carmen who has turned six. Pictures of her party will be posted soon.
   The fair in Tecoman is always an event to enjoy. It is the same sort of state fair that we enjoy in the U.S. There are all sorts of exhibits displaying pens of local livestock and boxes of fruits and vegetables . Mini-restaurants are everywhere and carts of local foods are situated every few feet. Here is a little of what we saw Wednesday evening...

What is the fair without cotton candy? Carmen was thrilled to have this gigantic treat that for some reason, disappeared within minutes. I think her dad and grandfather helped her out a little bit!

We are not sure what this really is, but they are not pancakes. They are bread ("pan") that is very yeasty and also has a very light sweetness to it. I am hooked on these. They need to be eaten warm though.
Cucumber slices ("pepitos y jicima") jicima are a delicious and cool combination on a hot sultry evening at the fair. Of course it is sprinkled with sea salt and a hot chili sauce is doused over that.

Hot dogs (salchichas) are such a favorite of everyone in Mexico They're delicious! They a trimmed and creatively displayed.
 
"Sopitos" are my ultimate favorite fair food. They are not to be confused with "chalupas" even though they look similar. The meat, usually ground pork, is boiled in beef flavored water. Thinly sliced cabbage is used on top, mixed with a little onion. It is topped with hard, grated Mexican cheese... of which the name excapes me. The sopitos are seved nestled close together, sitting in about a cup of the broth. To eat these you spoon the broth over the sopitos and pick them up with your fingers to eat. So good!

   These are just a few of the foods. There were carts of strawberries and cream, grilled, spicey shrimp on a long stick, and flan. It was an evening of heavenly foods!

Enjoy Foodie Friday at http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/  where we get to read about excapades with food that will tickle your taste buds or at least your fancy!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Feliz cumpleaños, Carmen



Happy Birthday, Carmen!
2006

Carmen, you are so precious to your "Abuela" and "Pops"! We can hardly wait to see you on your birthday... this Wednesday.
Hard to believe that you will be six years old.
Feliz cumpleaños, Carmen




"Leaving, on a jet plane" -- Adios!!



    Early tomorrow morning my husband and I will hop across the border into Mexico (we just live a few miles away) and drive to the local airport for a flight to Manzanillo, Mexico. Just the sound of Manzanillo sounds probably a little romantic (the movie "10" was filmed at Las Hadas there) but we will then drive to Tecoman, Colima about an hour's drive inland. Look on the map, find the words MEXICO in red and just slightly to the left you will see COLIMA. That is the area we will be in for the next several days.
    Our oldest son and my husband are business partners in a farming operation in the state of Colima... one of the best states in Mexico. We grow honeydew, papaya and personal size watermelons. Right now is our harvest season... and, boy, does it get hectic.


   
This is our son with his wife and two children. Carmen takes Hawaiian dancing and is shown in one of her costumes. The "county fair" is going on right now in Tecoman and her dance group will be dancing for the event. Our first "recital". Cannot wait.
    We will also celebrate Carmen's sixth birthday. She is such a sweetheart. Hopefully I will have good pictures of her party.
    Unless there is a glitch with our internet I will try to post pictures of our trip this week.
    Adios!


Monday, January 25, 2010

Monday is for Mother and "Boboti"



Rosemary

I am taking this idea from Celestial Charms  http://celestialcharms.blogspot.com/
who writes about her mother on Mondays and her father on Fridays. I really like this idea for this week, I will do the same. Thanks to "Nana" at La Table De Nana
http://latabledenana.blogspot.com/ for suggesting Celestial Charms. Nana has a wonderful photo her blog right now. Thank you so much, ladies!

Her name was "Rosemary", one of the most creative, talented and loving women I have ever known. She was very intelligent having graduated from SMU. And after all... she married my dad! (Visit me on Friday and see what a handsome fellow he was.) My mother worked in the Oceanography and Meterology Department at Texas A&M University and later the Sterling Evans Library. She loved to cook and was especially adept at preparing foods from her mother's native country, Italy. I've posted several of her recipes in the past. She and my father lived in the country of Botswana in Africa for four years and she mastered several of the local recipes. Here is one of them:

Boboti

2 lbs. ground beef
1 slice white bread
1 c. milk
2 onions, chopped
2 eggs
1 tsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. curry powder
2 Tbsp. vinegar
2 Tbsp. oil
1 grated apple
Few dried apricots
2 Tbsp. currants

     Fry onions in oil until light brown and add curry powder, salt, sugar, vinegar, ground meat, and fruit. Soak bread in milk and pour off milk which should be added to the onion and meat mixture. Add 1 beaten egg. Mix and put into casserole. Beat other egg and milk, pour over dish and bake for 30 - 40 minutes at 350 degrees. This may also be topped with mashed potatoes. Serves 4-6.
     Mother's note: This is a traditional dish of the Boer families of South Africa. This particular recipe was given to me by a South African nurse from Pretoria.