Saturday, February 20, 2016

CARNIVAL to VALENTINE'S DAY and......

   The big celebration of the year here is CARNIVAL.....

The traditions seem a little strange to me,  but it's huge fun for the Cuencanos....
Carnival lasts for 5 days -- Friday thru Tuesday before Ash Wednesday....there are some parades,  but the big deal is throwing water on each other....and the adults love it as much as the kids....

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We were invited to Deleg on Sunday with our neighbors......Mass at 9 am in the lovely Church .....

with Rogelio  (the Chief) and the family......afterwards we headed to the Mercado for Chanco with all the trimmings.....this is VERY CASUAL dining....you eat with your hands from plates of food put on the table.....oh,   it's sooo good!!!

Then to Quinta Esthelita - the big hacienda - where the girls start cooking a grand meal for everyone who comes.....family and friends....

Those that want to play "Carnival" which means throwing water and getting drenched!!   Lots of laughs and shrieks.....

Since this was SUPER BOWL SUNDAY  we left before the others to be home to watch the Super Bowl with Jean.....most of the family spends the night and the next day or two there.....

  Jean brought over some wonderful Italian food and Greek salad so we had a feast watching the game....

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On Tuesday we were invited next door to Eduardo's for a cook out....








Geovanny did the grilling - a variety of meats,  and there were the traditional Cuencano side dishes;  mote, potatoes, rice and salsa....I took a salad and a bottle of wine....    Good time....


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A friend who doesn't speak English came a couple of weeks ago and asked me to help sell their property --  a "Casa de Campo" near Descanso......I mentioned it to Susana and she wanted to see it....

 The house is high up and has a fabulous view overlooking the valley of Cuenca.....About 1.25 acres with fruit trees,  caretaker house, etc....
 This patio/balcony is so nice for enjoying the view....
 There are two working fireplaces -- one in the main room,  and one in the kitchen.....
They are asking $120,000.00 -- it's a lovely place with tons of potential!!  Room for horses,  a pool,  tennis court, etc....
Anyone interested,  let me know.....

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We had a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner at Terra Luna.....

I had the Terra Luna steak -- delicious steak covered with sea food -- Rick had Chicken Parmesan.....     Very yummy indeed...

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I had a blouse made from material I had purchased ages ago....Susana is also using the same dressmaker,  and she is having a lot of blouses made.....The seamstress is the mother of a little girl that Cristina took art classes with a couple of years ago...

I bought this lace material when I bought the flowered material for the jacket....





So this got me excited to have more things made -- Yolanda and I went to a big fabric store yesterday and came out with these .....
Now we'll get creative....these are mostly for Yolanda,  but the beige leopard print is a jersey I want made into a comfortable blouse that I can wear most anywhere.... Will keep you informed as things progress....

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And now to all you good people out there,  I have a request.....Our brother-in-law,  Steve H. in OKC  is in need of prayers.....he has a cancerous tumor in his back,  is in tremendous pain,  and has started treatments.....
PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM !!!....

The fat green candle is lit for Steve in front of the altar of St. Joseph in the Cathedral in Cuenca.....

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We're off to a HOUSE WARMING party now..... Cori and Norbert's new abode in Cuenca.....will report in full next time....


Meanwhile we are anxiously awaiting the results of the primary voting today in South Carolina.....praying that Trump is elected our next president because we want a country for our grandchildren -- without him the US is lost....

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Weather is fabulous right now.....sleep with the windows open enjoying the lovely mountain air.....

Ahhh,  life in Cuenca is great!!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

SUMMER in JANUARY.....


THE SEASONS HERE ARE THE REVERSE FROM THE STATES.......THE BEST MONTHS ARE NOW,  BEFORE THE "RAINY SEASON".......GORGEOUS DAYS WITH LOVELY SUN,  FLOWERS IN BLOOM EVERYWHERE......SO PRETTY

THE MONTH OF JANUARY REALLY FLEW BY.....


STARTING WITH THE FEAST OF 3 KINGS....
THE ADORATION OF THE CHRIST CHILD BY THE "REYES MAGOS" IN FRONT OF THE MAIN ALTAR IN THE CATHEDRAL.....SO LOVELY...


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HAD A "POZOLE" PARTY ONE SATURDAY WITH RENE,  HIS COUSINS PATRICIO & MARIA ANGELICIA & JEAN.....WITH COCKTAILS, OF COURSE....



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WE HAD OUR MONTHLY LUNCHEON WITH DEAR FRIENDS JOYULA, JOHN, & JEAN  (HERE WITH JERRY,  owner of TERRA LUNA)   
THE  DELIGHTFUL NEW RESTAURANT WITH EXCELLENT FOOD....


AFTERWARDS JEAN SERVED A FABULOUS DESSERT  (CHOCOLATE CAKE with VANILLA ICE CREAM) AT HER APARTMENT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY



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 NEIGHBORS EUGENIA AND FLAVIO CABRERA INVITED US TO THE GRADUATION CELEBRATION OF THEIR SON,   ADRIAN....


 IT WAS A LOVELY PARTY IN EVERY WAY  --- 


THEIR HOME WAS TURNED INTO A PARTY PALACE...


THEY CLEARED OUT THE FURNITURE AND HAD A LOVELY SIT DOWN DINNER FOR MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE.......









WITH DANCING,  OF COURSE.....BOY DO THESE PEOPLE LOVE TO DANCE!!!  
THE MEXICANS LOVE TO SING,   THE ECUADORIANS LOVE TO DANCE!



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GOOD FRIENDS CORI AND NORBERT HAVE MOVED BACK FROM  YUNGILLA...THANK GOODNESS!!   NORBERT HAS SOME HEALTH ISSUES AND IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO BE CLOSER TO DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS,  IF NEED BE.....
AND THEY FOUND YUNGILLA TOO HOT....CUENCA IS JUST RIGHT!!
THEY'RE ALWAYS FUN TO GO OUT WITH - CONVERSATIONS ARE INTERESTING AND FUN!!   AND SOME GREAT LAUGHS!!

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GARDENING CONTINUES TO BE A SPECIAL ENJOYMENT FOR ME....CAN'T GET OVER THE FACT THAT FLOWERS GROW AND BLOOM HERE ALL YEAR  ROUND.....
ON SUNDAY AT THE "MERCADO DE FLORES"  I FOUND THESE BEAUTIFUL CALLA LILIES,  ONE YELLOW AND ONE A TWO TONED WHITE & LAVENDER.....

THE GORGEOUS ROSE I BOUGHT FOR GEOVANY AND BERTHA WHO HAVE SUDDENLY TAKEN AN INTEREST IN PUTTING A LOT OF FLOWERS IN THEIR YARD....




SUCH A JOY.....

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THIS LAST PICTURE IS OF 8 YR. OLD GRANDDAUGHTER  CRISTINA with her daddy PHIL,   ALL DRESSED AND READY FOR THE DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE AT HER SCHOOL IN OMAHA,  ST. WENSESLAUS......

THEY (with our daughter DEBORAH ) WILL BE COMING TO CUENCA THIS SUMMER FOR 6 WEEKS.... and CRISTINA WILL BE WITH US FOR A WEEK  ALONE  WHILE HER PARENTS GO TO THE GALAPAGOS!

AND OUR OTHER DAUGHTER LINDA AND HER FAMILY  (NICOLAS 13 & OLIVIA CHRISTINA 10)  husband SCOTT,  WILL BE HERE FOR EASTER!!!

WE ARE VERY EXCITED!! ...IT'S GOING TO BE A FABULOUS SPRING/SUMMER FOR US HERE IN 

BEAUTIFUL CUENCA!!