I have just started this summer’s project, which is the creation of a wildlife pond especially for frogs
When I bought the property there was a circular area of paving stones in the middle of the front lawn surrounded by lavenders. I wanted a goldfish pond and bought the circular stock tank shown in the photo (2022) for that purpose. I figured out a way of adding plants and received a bounty of free mature goldfish one summer. However, the fish did not survive the winter and this summer the plants were struggling as well.
So I’ve given up on having goldfish and on using the stock tank as a pond feature. I looks more natural already. Next step is to design the build details and start digging. I am having fun!
We have been very busy since returning to Garden Bay. I had two weeks of gardening before Aimeé returned, after which we went to the cabin, attended the Vancouver marathon to support a Mexican runner daughter of a friend, and then just getting back into the routine here.
There is a lot going on in the garden in May, as I tried to illustrate in the photo. I find spring here thrilling but it comes with a lot of work. I don’t have lawn but grass does grow beteen the planting areas along with select weeds and self-sown flowering plants. I cut the grass twice a season, in May and in September. From experience I know that if I don’t cut back the grass around now then the yard quickly becomes a jungle. So that’s what I started after taking this photo.
In 2023 while in Guanajuato I developed the DGA TODO App to help manage my activities and it works really well. However, lately the app has made it obvious that there is too much to do and some activities are not getting done. Unfortunately, one of those activities is playing the piano.
In Guanajuato early this year I resolved to restart my piano studies. I did a lot of YouTube searching for instruction and motivation, and ended up buying a three month subscription to jazzskills.com. With lots of free time in Gto I practiced for hours every day and made a ton of progress. I am not going to renew the subscription because I can’t put in the practice time here in Garden Bay, but will rejoin when we return to Mexico. Until then I have lots ot practice (when I can) from what I have learned so far.
Aimeé will be employed again at John Henry’s this summer and starts tomorrow. She wants to take the driver’s road test soon and is working hard on that goal.
I fly to Vancouver on Sunday April 6 and should be home in Garden Bay the next day. Aimeé is staying a bit longer and returns on April 24. April will be full of gardening activities and there is much to do, weather permitting.
This year’s beach vacation is in Rincón de Guayabitos, Nayarit. We arrived on Jan 15 and return on the 23rd, eight nights in total. Our hotel is nicer than where we stayed at Isla Mujeres and is located in a quiet neighbourhood three blocks from the beach. On this our second full day we realize the Guayabitos is somewhat limited in scope and we are planning a few day trips to nearby beaches to keep things interesting. Most visitors are Mexicans but you also hear a lot of Québécois French among the foreign tourists.
December 13-15 we made a quick bus trip to Mexico City, staying in a basic airbnb in the very historicTlatelolco area close to a friend’s apartment. The purpose of the trip was to attend the debut of a short documentary film made by a friend of Aimeé’s family that dealt with the impact of the death of Aimeé’s nephew on the “survivors”. Aimeé represented her family at the presentation and spoke very well of her experiences.
The following day we visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and walked a bit around Tlatelolco, enough to realize we should return to discover the history in more detail. Getting to CDMX by bus was easy but we struggled at first being neophites at navegating the city by public transit. It will be easier next time.
it’s the season for illumination fairs in the streets
Aimeé received her Canadian Passport on Nov 8. We travelled to Vancouver/Richmond on the 12th, flew to Guadalajara yesterday, and took several buses and taxis to get the the family home in Guanajuato late in the evening. It was a long journey.
Today we are moving slowly and recovering. Unpacking and setting up the basement suite is easy fortunately. Our day has included walking to our favourite stores for supplies, and restaurants to reestablish our routine
I was very disappointed with the results of the 2024 US elections. The American people will get what they deserve. Trying not to get sucked into Trump news.
We are visiting my sister in Vankleek Hill, ON. While away the garage cam captured a local bear on his early morning stroll. We had planned to fly to Mexico from here on October 1st but Aimeé’s Canadian citizenship ceremony was held last week and now we must wait for her to obtain a Canadian passport. So we return to Garden Bay on the 1st instead.
