Week #16, January 20th - 26th, 2019

Week #16, January 20th - 26th, 2019

We were awake for the eclipse of the Blood Moon 

on Sunday January 20th this year.

Now that we have an open roof top patio I am going to bring my tripod to Puerto Morelos so I can get better photos. It is not the same using the side of the building or a counter top for a stable surface to lean your camera when taking photos.

We needed to go to Cancun for hardware and groceries so we had our good friend and taxi driver Emilio take us. He is such a great shopper's helper. 

Howard and Theresa enjoyed their day too. It is a treat to shop at  Costco, it is interesting to compare the similarities and differences between ours in Sudbury and one in Mexico. 

Allan looks like he has shopped until he is ready to drop 

but Emilio looks like he is ready for more - 

no slowing this guy down.

When you stop at a restaurant don't be concerned if you have to share your spot with a sleeping cat. This black beauty never woke up during our entire stay for lunch.

The streets in the Port have all been redone and the electrical wires are under ground. A beautiful change for sure.

The fish are on display at Chedraui's 

Our second cat - this time a female for sterilization.

Our third cat was a feral male - man was he wild and ornery! 

We have several vendors going up and down the streets 

in the Colonia selling food, sharpening knives, delivering water, gas, etc. This one sells fresh fish, shrimps, crabs 

and any other seafood that is in season. Allan bought 2 fish from him for dinner.

Later in the afternoon and just prior to going to pick up our fixed cat a storm came in, 

it did end with a rainbow as seen in the next photo. You can see it faintly about centre of the pic.

Later that afternoon Allan BBQ'd our fish for dinner - They were very tasty. Fish tastes so different here than what we have a home - a much milder but larger flaked meat. 

I have not taken pics of flowers in a while, I must start carrying my DSLR camera more often. It is a bit heavy so I have been lazy and carry my small point and shoot - it just doesn't get the photos as sharp as I want them.

There has been an unusual amount of rain here this winter - it seems that every day there is a down pour - not too long but enough to get you drenched.

We went to Chedraui's for groceries without our umbrellas of course. When we came out of the store it was pouring cats and dogs, many customers were waiting in the shelter of the store entrance until it stopped so they could get to their cars.

We waited too but ordered pizza from the Italian pizza place and had our dinner there. When the rain stopped we caught a taxi home.

A neighbourhood cat, who has been fixed by its owner, comes by for breakfast in the early mornings.

He is a nice old cat who talks to us when he arrives.

I treated him to a small bit of sardines along with the oil from the can. He cleaned it up  and licked out the can. Then he had to clean himself of the smell. 

Have you ever seen a tongue that long on a cat?? 

OMG - too funny! It is so long he could clean his ears without the use of a paw.

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Oh Wow - I am finally caught up!

Time is certainly flying fast - hard to believe March 6th is such a short time away - 6 weeks I think and we will be home. We have had an enjoyable time here this year as always, and with no illness, both of us are doing well. Allan is looking forward to getting home, but me? Not so much.  All good things do come to an end though so I will drag myself home only to get ready to come back in 7 months. 😎

Take care, stay warm and stay safe. Keep smiling!

Thank you to everyone who sends little messages looking for my post updates. I am doing this blog for you but also for us as an electronic photo album/commentary of our time vacation away from home. One day when we are not able to travel any more we will always have this blog to go back and look at. So again I say thank you to each of you who give me gently nudges when my updates get behind.💓

Week #15 January 13 - 19, 2019

Week # 15, January 13 - 19, 2019

Is anyone else having trouble changing the year? It is hard to  convince myself we are in  the 2019th year.

 Sunday January 13th was the second day of the pet sterilization clinic here in Puerto Morelos.

Our sweet friend and neighbour Claudia was taking registrations for pets to be done. She is one busy lady working at her own business in graphics and design and volunteering within the community.  People like Claudia are so important to this village.

Pet owners patiently await their turn to have their pets neutered or spayed.

The veterinarians have also volunteered their time during this clinic. There were just a little over 255 pets done during the two days. Another clinic is scheduled for early in February with the hope of doing that many again.

Look at this big boy - hanging over  both ends of the ironing board having his surgery.

Nails were clipped and ears cleaned.

These wee angels are waiting their turn under the knife.

This exhausted lady is Diane - she is in charge of the Cause4Paws animal shelter and rehab centre here in Puerto Morelos. Diane is definitely dedicated to her volunteer work, often going without herself to provide food for her fur babies. She will help you arrange to have a pet readied for bringing back home with you if you like. They send many cats and dogs in particular to Canada. Can you imagine the temperature shock these animals must experience leaving Mexico and going to Canada? That first year must be very difficult for them. 

We had our friend Maurice (from Winnipeg, Canada) visit one afternoon and he treated us to a Coconut from our neighbours tree. The nuts are easy to access and it was a great treat - the Coconut meat and milk are both full of nutrients.

He drained the milk then cut the Coconut up for us to eat - tasty for sure.

We are on our own personal cat sterilization program again this year. Last year we spayed and neutered 11 cats, this year we are not going to be doing as many because last years fixing has certainly reduced the cat howling during the nights.

We set up a live trap, catch a cat, take it to the vet for surgery then we bring it back home and hold it in the cage until it is safe to release it. We don't want to release any too soon as they may still be under the influence of the anaesthesia and wonder out in front of a car or even get too close to a dog. Either way could mean death.

Up on the roof this week we saw something shining in the sky - looks like a weather station which came from the 

direction of the Cancun Airport.

We see a lot of birds flying overhead which will remain nameless for a while, at least until we get on the computer to find out what they are.

Then there are our Great Kiskadees - they put on quite a show in our pool. That novelty has not worn off for them, and we look forward to their many visits each day.

These photos are taken down from up on the roof - this one looks like a giant spider in the pool but it is a Great Kiskadee.

Drying off and preening its feathers after the swim.

There - done!

"One of Mexico's Most Wanted!" Perhaps it should read "One Of Mexico's Most Wanting." LOL What a funny girl!

Allan helping or neighbour and dear friend Claudia (the one from the pet registration desk) prepare a stand for her booth at the My Paradise Market where she sets up a table of crafts for sale to raise money for Cause4Paws.

Allan doing his morning chores. Those dang Chachalaca birds do poop a lot, as they fly over they let it go and it splatters down the walls. Quite a mess - some days more than others.

Time for the Great Reveal!

The circular stair case has been installed!

You step off the stairs and onto the roof top of our house.

The roof top has been covered in a patterned and coloured cement; we have installed a sunshade to keep the sun's rays  at bay during those hot afternoons.

There are chairs in the shade,

 chairs in the sun,

and loungers for lounging and/or suntanning.

It is unbelievable how much more living space this gives us along with a beautiful view of surrounding trees, skies and birds. We love it.

A view of the pool from our upstairs patio

and a view of our front yard - on the right the 

large set of doors is on our laundry 

bodega and the smaller door is our second bathroom.

The second bathroom is not large but it works and is such an added convenience when we have company.

It is complete with a shower and HOT WATER! 

I just love the talavera tiles and sink - friends come to 

visit and often take the opportunity to use this bathroom instead of the one in the house. 

Another week has passed, it has been a wonderful winter in Paradise - not looking forward to having to return home to those cold, cold temperatures.

Take care everyone, stay warm and stay safe. Until next time keep smiling!