Awww Monday! October 24, 2022

Here we were on Playa la Ropa in

Zihuatanejo Mexico several years ago.

Having a lovely dinner.

Our plan this fall was to return to Zihua-

but Alaska Airlines kept changing our

reservations - sometimes not even notifying us!

So, alas we ended up cancelling our trip and 

hopefully this won't happen again as we

have another trip planned for early March 2023!

~~~~

 

Wordless Wednesday! August 17, 2022

Playa la Ropa

Zihuatanejo, Guerro Mexico

ZihuaRob

~~~~

 

Wordless Wednesday January 19, 2022

~'~,~'~,~'~

 

Wordless Wednesday October 6, 2021

Those were the days my friends...........

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Feline Friday July 16, 2021

One of our favorite cats in Zihuatanejo!

Lola lives at the Hotel Catalina and is our all time favorite!

Have a lovely day every day!

~~~~~

 

2021 A to Z Challenge and Feline Friday!!!! April 23, 2021

Thanks to Sandee we have Feline Friday!

Our dear sweet Catalina cats !

Back in 2014 we spent several weeks in Zihuatenejo!

We had such a sweet time with their cats.

Have a lovely weekend!

And once again....here's today's soup!

Tortilla Soup

A traditional Mexican dish, tortilla soup is a spicy blend of tomatoes, vegetables, and crisp tortilla strips. This is an easy plant-powered version that you can whip it up in no time. Best of all, this dish relies on preserved goods, such as canned tomatoes, frozen corn, and canned beans, so you can make it year-round from your pantry. And it’s a great complement for a simple sandwich, burrito, or vegetable salad for lunch or dinner. 

Ingredients:

For the tortilla strips:

3 six-inch corn tortillas, 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil and 1/2 tsp chili powder

For the soup:

4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

1 medium garlic clove, minced

1 medium green bell pepper, diced

1 small jalapeño pepper, finely diced

1 small zucchini, diced

1 cup frozen corn

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 teaspoons cumin

4 cups water

1 tablespoon reduced sodium vegetable broth base

2 fourteen ounce cans diced tomatoes, with liquid

1 fifteen-ounce can black beans, with liquid or substitute cooked or canned white beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, or kidney beans for black beans, or use a combination.

2/3 cups plant-based cheese, optional

2/3 cups green onions, white and green parts, chopped

Directions:

For the tortilla strips:  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Slice the tortillas into thin strips. Place them on a baking sheet and drizzle with 2 teaspoons of olive oil, then sprinkle the chili powder on top. Bake for about 5 to 8 minutes, until brown and crisp. Remove from oven and set aside. Turn off the oven. 

For the soup:

Meanwhile, prepare the soup by heating the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, bell pepper, jalapeño, zucchini, corn, crushed red pepper, and cumin and sauté for an additional 5 minutes.

Add the water, broth base, tomatoes, and black beans. Stir well and cover. Simmer over medium heat for 25 to 30 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

Ladle about 1 cup of soup into soup bowls, and garnish with a few tortilla strips, 1 tablespoon of plant-based cheese, and 1 tablespoon green onions. Serve immediately.

Thanks everyone for all your lovely comments!

I will be responding to all of them by tomorrow!

I promise! xoxoxo

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Awww Monday November 30, 2020

        We have been coming to Zihuatenejo, Mexico                            for well over 20 years. We would usually stay for 2-3 weeks. Unfortunately we had to cancel this years trip because of the Covid pandemic. Two of our good friends did go and this is what they saw happen on last Thursday November 26, 2020. One of our friends sent me the photo plus his notes from observing this event. We hope the crocodile is okay. You can click on my links HERE  and  HERE  and HERE to see my 2018, 2016 and 2014 blog posts with  photos of the Zihuatenejo crocodiles and other reptiles plus lots of birds!

"At approximately 10 AM a crocodile made its way out of the sanctuary at the south end of the beach.  From there it leisurely swam north.  At 11:45 it was spotted in front of the Hotel Catalina.  From there it went further north to the EMBARC before turning around. 

  A Blue Flag lady and a kayaker were keeping an eye on it.  The kayaker would spot the croc, race toward it while banging his oar on the kayak, presumably to get it to move along. Yup, the croc emptied the bay of swimmers.

  

Croc kept enjoying a swim around the north end of the beach. 

 

  At approximately 12:30, a group of beach vendors and one tourist wrestled the croc into a net near the rocks below the EMBARC.  

No idea if it was taken for croc steak or rehoused. "

P.S. Just got another email from our friends: 

"Croc was taken to one of the Ixtapa lagoons for further instruction on beach compliance and access rules."

So all is well! 

~~~~~

Awww Monday November 16, 2020

 Normally we are in Zihuatanejo, Mexico

for 2-3 weeks. Unfortunately because 

of the Wuhan Flu we had to cancel 3 trips

planned for this year. Only 2 of our friends have

 traveled down to this lovely beach-Playa La Ropa.

Thanks to them we have this gorgeous photo 

taken by Ted just a few days ago. 

Hopefully next year we will be there.

Have a great week! And thanks Sandee!

~~~~

Paint Party Friday May 3, 2020

I am a bit late to the party

but just discovered this fun blog!

So, I'll be playing from here on!

 In November 2018 we were in Zihuatenejo Mexico.

We usually go there every November, but missed going

 this past fall. I always take my watercolor pencils 

with me and make up images as I sit under the palapa.

 You can see my beach towel under the drawing. 

This next week I will pretend I am sitting under

 the palapa and will draw another

 imaginary place perhaps in Mexico.

Thanks Kristin and Eva for the Paint Party Friday!

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Happy Tuesday! April 14, 2020

 

Happy 30th Anniversary to us!

Happiness is being married

 to your best friend!

 

 

~!~!~!~!~!~

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday November 28, 2018

From Sandpipers to Roosters

Mexico has very entertaining birds!

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #296

 

While relaxing on Playa la Ropa we enjoy 

watching all the Sandpipers ........ 

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #297

 

And this rooster was hysterically funny

trying to peck the "other" rooster!

Have a great Wednesday!

Happy Tuesday! November 20, 2018

When we travel to Mexico I always take

time each day to draw with color pencils.

I sit under my palapa on the beach and

draw images from my memories or

 my imagination and not

from what I see in front of me.  

It's the only time I do this and I'm not sure

why that is. But, it's fun and relaxing and

I usually give some away before we come home.

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #287

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #288

 

This one I gave away to Jorge who is a

wonderful artist who paints on the beach

using his fingers as paint brushes.

The banner photo above shows his set up

that was in front of me right before the surf.  

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #289

 

Totally made up with ridiculous perspective

but I had fun with it!

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #290

 

Seriously silly! Jorge wanted to know

how I came up with this! I had no idea.

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #291

 

This was the first drawing for this vacation.

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #292

 

Before we left for our vacation I finished this

baby quilt. Good thing, because when we got home

the baby had been born the day before we came

home. So, it got mailed a few days ago.

The baby quilts that I make are like my drawings;

other than choosing the fabrics to use,

I never know what they will be like until I am done.  

It will be fun to see photos of the baby with her quilt!

Have a fun day whatever you do!

~~~~~~

Early Post For Awww Monday November 19, 2018

2018 Photo Project

Photo #286

 

Lucy can always find a sunny spot!

 

After a lovely 3 weeks in Zihuatanejo

we're back home!  Tan, rested and ready

for our next adventure! In just a month

we will be moving from our beautiful mountain

home and going back up north to a new home in

Vancouver, Washington. We will miss all the

lovely animals and all our good friends here.

But it's time for us to downsize and have more

free time to travel and to spend more time

with our Northwest family members.

Plus ten and a half acres is a huge responsibility

to take care of when one is over 70 years old!

We've accomplished a lot in the almost 7 years

we've been here and our home and land

are better for all our hard work.  

So, that said I'll try to keep blogging, 

but there may be days I just won't have the time.

We have a lot to do before leaving....! Cheers!

Awww Monday! November 12, 2018

2018 Photo Project

Photo #281

2018 Photo Project

Photo #282

 

While shopping with a friend in

downtown Zihuatanejo near the Zocalo

I spotted this quite lovely "shop cat".

It is run by Christina who also is in

charge of the local Humane Society.

~~~~

100 Year Anniversary Sunday November 11, 2018

 

Remember Democracy?

Remember Peace?

 Don't take them for granted.

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #280

 

 

Thankful Thursday! November 8, 2018

 

We've been coming down here for over

twenty years and I am amazed how

much care is given to making sure that

the baby turtle eggs are safe before hatching

and when they are released.

Even with all that care only 1 in a 1000

will survive to sexual maturity.

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #278

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #279

 

Here's the link to Brian's blog...

have a lovely day.

~~~~~

 

Happy and Relaxing Tuesday November 6, 2018

2018 Photo Project

Photo #273

After breakfast Russell always takes a nap

under our palalpa!

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #274

 

Later on he relaxes on our terrace

 and reads a bit....

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #275

 

One of the local artists who paints

on the beach taking a break... 

 

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #276

 

and one of the Catalina cats snoozing

in the restaurant....

~~~~

Early Awww Monday ~~~~ November 4, 2018

 

Posting on the internet can be quite problematic

while in Mexico.....so I'm early while the system

is up and running! Have a great day!

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #269

 

Yesterday we strolled down the beach.

It was quite busy as it was a holiday weekend.

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #270

 

It was also a sleepy day for some...

2018 Photo Project

Photo #271

 

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #272

 

The most exciting thing we saw last night

was a mother turtle burying her eggs

on the beach! We've helped with baby turtle

releases, but had never seen the mother come up

on the shore.  Such a sweet sight.

Tomorrow morning one of the hotel workers will

dig up the eggs and rebury them in a secure place so

that no animal or human will disturb the eggs.

I don't know how long it takes for the eggs to hatch.

 

~~~

Feline Friday November 2, 2018

2018 Photo Project

Photo #265

 

These two cats are siblings...

I think the kitty below is older by a few years.

Needless to say they do work the guests

looking for handouts! I brought some

packets of "kitty treats" to share!

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #266

 

~~~

Sailing with Jose Luis! November 1, 2018

2018 Photo Project

Photo #265

 

Another lovely day....

2018 Photo Project

Photo #266

 

Perfect wind for sailing....

2018 Photo Project

Photo #267

 

Russell and Jose Luis went sailing for

over an hour outside of the bay....  

 

 

2018 Photo Project

Photo #268

 

They had a great time!

 

~~~