One day more………

Another day, another destiny This never-ending road to Calvary … “One Day More” lyrics from “Les Mis”

These are defining words as we try to stay amused in “Musings de México.” Surely your days NOB are not much different than ours SOB. We wake daily (with thanks and gratitude) and struggle to recall which day of the week it is and plan ways to pass the daylight (over 13 long hours now). Mi amigo mejor (BFF), Jim, from the UK, asked me if David and I were “… flicking cheese quesadillas at each other.” Luckily, not yet … fortunately we’ve enough room to space ourselves into far corners if need be to avoid flying tortillas.

Cinco de Mayo ~ as I’ve said before, is no big deal here. But ​May Day​, 1st de Mayo is. Cohetes awaken us before dawn to announce the start of México’s Labor Day. Virus or not, the boom, Boom, BOOM of fireworks must go on. May-June is the hottest time of the year here. It’s quite sultry between 4-6:00 daily; temperatures sizzle past 90 … time for Quarantinis! The locusts are in their gloriously loud, full throated high-pitched shrill. Think car alarms at full blast. And at our elevation, the daily UV scale hits the max. It’s the time when we yearn to leave town; sadly not.

Unfortunately, I’ve developed a terrible eye allergy during this spring renewal time and to whatever’s darn blooming around here. The likely culprit is the large, flowering plumeria growing right next door just over the wall. The throbbing, itching, and discomfort possibly started when my outdoor patio sweeping chores began (our housekeeper has been complying with stay-at-home orders). No problems last year with any eye issues, but I wasn’t a sweeper then.

• 

• 

• 

My situation got so bad that it required an emergency trip to the ophthalmologist in Guadalajara (in normal times she keeps a local office open). Oh, what a joy with traffic as light as a feather. As always, any trip into the city is maximized with a shopping stock up spree at Costco. Cardmembers only are allowed inside, masks are required, and “​Susana​ ​Distancia​” is strictly enforced. It’s all so civil – perhaps it’s a peek into the future?

Our next door neighbor, Judy, is so allergic to plumeria that when she goes into her screaming sneeze attacks, our house shakes – ​not,​ but grant me a bit of poetic license.

Lake Chapala is a weekend playground for Tapatios (Guadalajara residents), with lakeside restaurants, hot spring spas and the malecón filled with all sorts of street vendors and performers … all closed now. Alcohol is no longer being sold – OUCH!
Roadblocks have been setup at entry points to keep tourists O-U-T! This is good, but oh, the poor businesses …

Saturday dinners have become our weekly show of support for Teocintle Maiz restaurant. The roadblocks have arisen now on my drive into Ajijic ~ stop and answer some quick questions: WhoWhatWhenWhereWhy? Show my ID and have a temperature check. I’m grateful for the due diligence … last week I stopped at the local OXXO convenience store (like 7-Eleven) and bought snacks and sodas for the police and health workers. No, it was not a mordida (bribe), but just a way of showing my appreciation.

• 

• 

• 

“Kiss today goodbye … and as the crow flies …” I cook, read and binge on mindless tv; take leisurely afternoon naps; catch-up calls with family and friends. Next week at this time we’d be actually visiting family and friends en Nueva York. Qué lástima.

• 

• 

• 

• 

David, too is reading – he actually finished two books over the last few weeks (and onto a third!); a world record for him. He continues to bake and take pictures of all the flora and fauna surrounding us. I wish you can hear the multitude of birdsong melodies as the day progresses … with their ever changing tunes depending on who’s “in the house.” The birds are frantically mating and/or building nests with fathers holding guard against intruders. It’s “wild” out there, folks!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Since we’re temporarily without our housekeeper, household duties have been divvied up. David has been channeling my mother (and his, too) with his cleaning regiment. The house appears spotless and sparkly clean. Just stay out of his way or get smacked by the mop.

During our last dinner party (remember those?!), our guest, Gloria, chef/owner of the aforementioned restaurant, Teocintle, informed me that the big, broad, green leaves that cascade alongside the bougainvillea hedges are Hoja Santa leaves, piper ​auritum.​ Turns out they’re an aromatic herb with heart-shaped, velvety leaves that grow in tropic Mesoamerica. The name hoja santa means “sacred leaf” in Spanish. It’s also known as yerba santa, hierba santa, Mexican pepperleaf, acuyo, tlanepa, anisillo, root beer plant.

• 

• 

It’s an important kitchen element in Mexican cooking – the leaves are used to wrap or as a seasoning for meat, fish, mushrooms and tamales. It’s also a classic seasoning in yellow mole. My first cooking venture using this plentiful (and free!) cooking tool was a wrapped snapper … resulting in a moist, herbal-infused fish.

Wrapping up, I’d like to take a moment to wish all ​PB&J​ ~ Peace, Blessings and Joy.

​On the Menu …​ Let’s play a game and tell me what you think the following dishes are and their possible ingredients. I’ll create a blog with all your responses. Of course, names will be withheld to protect the guilty. The winner gets a home-cooked meal. Buen Provecho!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•