“I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up – they have no holidays.” Henny Youngman
Everyone who knows me knows that I 💕 Christmas … the lights, decorations, packages, bows, glitter, cookies, the family gatherings … including its frantic pace. Our home is decorated top-to-bottom with old decorations brought south and new ones added. As we like to say … it’s like Macy’s Christmas Dept. exploded inside here.
But our first holiday season in Mexico is bittersweet with missing family and friends back home, but happily we’re creating new traditions with new friends. I miss hearing Christmas music everywhere you go, but not Jose Feliciano or Mariah belting their standards incessantly.
Last Sunday La Familia arrived ~ Sister Beth and 13 yr. old nephew, Jake, who lobbied and negotiated with his parents until permission was granted to come to Mexico and spend Christmas with us. David was especially thrilled with his care package of his precious, rare Mallomars.
. . . and what a week we had . . . It’s Christmas morning … we’re in our jammies opening our presents by the 🔥 place – it was cold enough for us to have it on.
The Kid made out as a bandit … and his favorite gift? … a hand forged chef’s knife, created by a local artisan family that have been making knifes for over 300 years. We received gifts especially bought by our nephew, but he was so excited that he blurted the contents of the package before we had completely opened it, making it one of my best presents experience
It was a busy week showing our guests Lakeside: an introduction to the tianguis (outdoor market); followed by a private class on Mexican cooking and a trip out into the country to the 🐐 farm. Jake held Bobby, a baby goat, with his Santa hat and ate his weight in goat cheese & yogurt ~ oh what a 13 year old eats:
Breakfast…… pancakes, waffles, 🥓 Lunch…..burgers, burgers, burgers, grilled 🐙
Dinner…..beef medallions, skirt steak, sirloin, petit filet and yes ~ sesame grilled tuna!
Snacks … he’s just like his Uncle David………a sweet hunter, so David shared the location of his sweets drawer in the kitchen and a good time was had.
We also headed into the city with a trip to Tlaquepaque … a local favorite locale where families stroll, dine and shop. Jake bought a few gifts for his friends back home – so thoughtful of him – after all he takes after his Uncle Sergio 🤭. We also discovered a new restaurant that had the best Queso Fundido ever (cheese fondue) … future visits now will be torn between our two favorite restaurants there; maybe we can solve it by having appetizers and drinks in one and then main entrees in the other 😆.
David made a lovely Christmas/Hanukkah dinner ~ his mother’s brisket and 🥔 latkes recipe, roasted Brussel sprouts and a lovely salad……..I ate enough latkes to last me for a year.
On Monday we pick up our new 🚙 finally ~ yay!
