The Accidents

We aren't really sure how this accident happened.  It was a one car, low speed roll-over.  Maybe the driver over-corrected?  Somehow the car turned on its side in just a short straight distance in a residential area,

Paul was at the scene not long after it happened and saw the neighbors helping the occupants from the available windows of the car and directing them to rest in the shade.  The driver was in her 50's and the other two were in their teens.  An ambulance arrived shortly after the accident with paramedics but no one seemed to be seriously hurt though we are sure they were visibly shaken.

A few days later we went back to the scene of the accident and took an "after" shot of the short, 100 yard stretch of road.  The road curves sharply to the right just behind the dark car in the distance. 

Then just a week later we passed another wreck in the other direction on the corner while walking to the temple.  

looking forward at the wreck on the corner

looking back after we had walked passed the accident

Speaking of Mangos

We are learning that there are many different kinds of mangos and each kind ripens at different times.  We walk by this huge mango tree on our way to the temple each day.

Just one branch of our neighbor's mango tree hangs over into our yard but it has provided us with all the mangos we can use.

We are daily picking up the mangos that fall into our yard and we either eat them or are peeling and freezing them for later use.  

Just when we think we have taken care of all the mangos, we walk outside and find a few more on the ground waiting to be picked up.

Mango trees grow to an immense height and provide shade so people like them in their yard.  But huge trees also produce a lot of mangos.

People are willing to share their mangos and some put them out for others to take

 or they may set out boxes or buckets of mangos for anyone interested.

Some trees are located in areas where there doesn't seem to be one particular owner or person responsible for taking care of the fallen mangos.

Some mangos just fall into the road and the cars take care of them.

We remember well the football sized mangos from Oscar and Teodora Meza's house.  They purchased the house in order to get the mango tree.  These delicious mangos are growing and will be ripe in a couple of months

Tidbits From The Produce Department

Jalepenos were on sale for 9.5 pesos per kilo [28 cents per pound] at H.E.B. They were a little more at Arteli since they cost 13.90 per kilo [40 cents per pound]

We wondered just how many jalepenos are in a kilo so we decided to find out.  We can make one jalepeno last for several months but we have seen the locals buy large bags of them.

We like mushrooms and enjoy the large selection available.  We bought some mushrooms stuffed with cheese and the girl working at the store told us how simple it was to cook them.  Put a little olive oil in the frying pan, turn the heat on low and add the whole stuffed mushrooms.  Put on the lid and let it heat until the cheese melts.  Yum.  

We didn't know what these colorful produce were and asked a lady standing there and she didn't know either.  So we all asked a produce worker and he said they were kind of sweet and filled with seeds...so there we have it.   

What we didn't get a picture of was the mangos selling for 1.9 pesos per kilo [about 5 cents per pound.]  Even at that low price we didn't get any since mangos are currently being delivered to our front patio at no charge!

Sharing our Bananas

We didn't take care of our first batch of bananas very well this year and they split and were ugly before they were ripe.  Our second batch of bananas were beautiful.  Paul cut them into several manageable sections while they riped.  From those, we were very happy to cut them into smaller batches and bag them to give to friends and neighbors.

Our third batch of bananas is on the tree and looking good.

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.

Our Banana Update

Another crop of bananas was ready to harvest and we are a lot smarter this time about how we went about it.

The entire stock of bananas probably weighs close to 100 pounds and was pulling the tiny plant right over though we have it wired to the wall.

To make things more manageable, Paul cut the stock into sections and hung them separately in the shade.  We put some where it wasn't always shady and they began to turn black so we moved that batch to the shade as well.  We are learning so much about bananas!

Now the fun begins--we need to distribute the bananas.  This is Paul taking some bananas to the Saldivars.  We have also taken some to Ruben and to the Marquez family who we home teach.  They were quite excited because our bananas can officially be labeled "organic."

BUT THAT IS NOT ALL!!!!!!!!  

The bananas we planted in the corner of the property are beginning to produce.  We have learned something is happening when instead of leaves unrolling, a green and purple clump appears (known as the banana heart) and begins to hang down.  Paul is touching it with his left hand.

Can you see it?  It is about in the center of this photo.

Then the "hands" begin to grow from the banana heart..  

So currently we have bananas in the freezer from our last harvest; green bananas that will be ripe within the week and a new batch just beginning to grow.  This banana business is rather fascinating!

Happy Father's Day to Paul!

Snooping Around Inside the Clinic

 We wanted to get out of the house this evening and began to walk up the street.  As we passed the clinic, we too photos of the outside and then decided to see if we could wander around inside.  Two young men were sitting on the stairs and they said it would be fine for us to take  a look around so we made ourselves at home.

 We found these drawings of the clinic and finally know it will be an endocrinology clinic run by a doctor who Hermana Briones is acquainted with and she said he is very good and a very strict doctor.

We looked online and learned the major endocrine glands include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, hypothalamus, gastrointestinal tract and adrenal glands

  

The walls have been painted and tile has been laid on most of the floors.  It is a two story structure above a parking garage.  People will be able to walk up the stairs from the enclosed parking area to the main and second floor.

This was the largest room and it has multiple electric outlets in the floor and we got the idea there were be many "stations" here for treating patients.

We have often walked by and seen the view from the street into the main floor of the building and this is that view in reverse.

We could make out smaller rooms for offices and rooms with plumbling for the bathrooms.

 We think this might be an elevator shaft with access from the parking to the second floor.

We went to the roof to take a look around just to continue our snooping for the day.   Paul went further up and got a look at the water tanks on the roof.

We liked the view.  If you know where to look, the temple is in the background peeping up from a gap in the trees.  Follow the center front light pole left of Paul's left arm straught up to the low spot in the trees on the horizon and there stands Angel Moroni.  Good luck!

We thanked the two young men who were guarding the clinic and mentioned we had been watching the construction work since it was a weedy lot.  They just laughed.