This and That for August

During the temple closure in August, they installed security measures and that included moving the taller shrubs that lined the sidewalk to the temple.  They put shorter grass and plants and it looks nice but it isn't nearly as colorful as it was..

We were looking for a "before" photo of the shrubs that were removed and these are what we found though they are not an exact match.

This permanent security camera resides on the front lawn where the annual Nativity Set usually sets.

We aren't exactly sure how this big truck ended up where it is but there is a new mall going up not far from the H.E.B.

Paul was discussing the water leak in the street with the two guys who were there to fix it.  

A not-so-simple way to fix a leak.

We aren't sure if we will still be here when our bananas ripen.  

When it rains....it pours!  We began walking to church in the rain but were happy when a taxi came by.

 Out the taxi window but the water is a few inches deep in the street.

At one point we heard that the church was going to buy this lot behind the temple and the stake center.  The idea was that they would build apartments for the temple president plus the missionaries and remodel the stake center.  Looks like someone is going to build on the lot but we have heard that it is not the church. 

This and That for July

 Someone gave this bag of candy to a worker and told her it was for Hna. Crockett.  How sweet but we have no clue who it is from.

They are painting the top of the sides of the clinic by rolling the paint down from the roof.

Oscar and Teodora Meza kindly gave us this picture that she had made by shaping and coloring aluminum sheets.  They said they gave the gift so we can remember them.  In reeturn we were happy they wanted to receive our growing avocado tree.

We gave away our largest avocado tree to the Mezas but still have three more that need a home.  

Hna. Meza told us it was the custom here to wrap a red ribbon around the branch of a tree so that it won't lose its fruit.  It is interesting that after we are told a tradition here, we can find examples.  While ducking under a tree for a little shade, we looked up and saw the red. 

Walking by the local store, we enjoyed reading the lettering on their signs that were a mix of Spanish 

and English

An elementary school is getting remodeled and a nice cover being added.

Hna. Barrientos from the Guerrero State in Mexico  and Hna. Morales from Mexico City now serve our Jardin Ward as well as the University Branch.

This and That for June

Blossoming shrubs leading to the temple.

Someone offered to take our photo for us so we gave them the camera.

After we had taken this photo, we mentioned to the workmen we were taking a photo
and they all turned around and smiled and waved.  Not sure what happened but
we missed that "Kodak moment."

We snapped a photo of the choir who sang at stake conference before our meeting began.

One day this pile of dirt was dumped at our corner.  A few days later, it had disappeared.
It is a mystery to us where the dirt came from or where it went...or why...

Paul took this early morning shot of the temple before he went to his 7 a.m. stake priesthood meeting.

This and That for May

We have good neighbors and they probably have parties once a month but they keep the music at a good volume and turn it off by 10 p.m.  These neighbors seem to have family and friends parties with kids and we don't mind at all.

This boy greets us with "vecino!" and we don't know his name and he is a bit hard to understand.  Today he asked us to check if their blue ball was in our yard but we didn't see it.  We actually think that we returned it a few days ago.

We received Tyler's letter of instruction and Flat Stanley on May 5 and he received our letter and photos as well about April 29,  The mail service from the USA to Mexico and from Mexico to USA takes about the same amount of time.  That makes sense but what doesn't make sense is that it took about 4 weeks each way using airmail.

Something was eating our bananas and we thought it was a bird.  We heard some chirping outside the window and were surprised to see something else snacking on our bananas.  Can you see what it was?

We walk to Bancomer each month to deposit our rent into the landlord's account.  We were surprised two months ago because the front of the building was gone but they have now replaced it and are continuing with the remodeling.  Here are the "before" and "after" shots of the bank front.

Hna. Ninel Silva, a young temple ordinance worker, in front of the terraced gardens in front of the temple.  She loves to practice her English with us.

This lovely flower on a prickly vine guards our water pump.

Here is the "little laptop" that Mireya loaned to us.   We can now use the full sized keyboard and a large monitor.  This little guy works well and keeps us from the need to share a computer.

This and That for March 2015

Much to our amazement, someone on a backhoe was cleaning up the lot directly across the street from the entrance to our house. We wondered if someone was going to build something there.

However....a month later all that has happened is that the backhoe work stopped, a fence went up and a "private property" sign was added.  There's an ugly mattress on the side of the heap with weeds making their way to the top.

The sewer line running down 3rd Avenida continues to be replaced.  

The crane had to lower the boom between the wires to get to its load.  

We went to the bank where we have paid our rent for the past 14 months and found that it was seriously closed for a while. 

On Good Friday while walking home we saw these folks lined up and we asked what was happening and they were remembering the Savior's crucifixion. We didn't see the front of the line to know if someone was carrying a cross.

The new sister missionaries in our ward are Hermana Wildung from Round Rock near Austin, Texas and Hermana Hernandez, just starting her mission, from Chiapas, Mexico.

February 2015 - This and That

A small house across from the temple added to the side of their house and opened up for business selling roasted chicken.  

Newly painted sign for Plancha Lux.  They wash and iron shirts.

We go to Ofelia's shop to get our hair cut.  She has a great laugh and answers our many questions about recipes or customs or traveling or whatever else comes to mind.

This car is curiously and dangerously jacked up and parked on a slope.

We go Home Teaching to the Guiterrez Family who live in this apartment building.

February update on our banana tree. 

Iliana made us a delicious "sandwichon."  

She said it was very easy to make so we asked for the recipe.  

The instructions that she sent us filled two full typed pages!  

Not quite our idea of "simple."