Dia de los Muertos, 2017

A little late with this post as usual, but we would like to share with you some images of our favorite holiday in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos. (click the pics to enlarge)...

The vivid colors and textures of the culture here never cease to amaze us and Day of the Dead stands out as the ultimate display.
The big day (Nov. 2) culminated in a competition of The Walking Dead themselves.... school kids coming from all around the municipality set up altars in the plaza. They arranged ornate offerings to family and friends who have passed on from this life. A speech was given at each altar explaining the significance of the items presented. things like beer, flowers, palm leaves, even cigarettes, all things that the loved one enjoyed while alive.

Some of the more prominent flowers used are the Moco de pavo (a type of Amaranthus) and Mexican Marigolds...

There was also a competition for the best dressed dead girl.
This one was made of newspaper....

this one was made from corn husks

some more traditional

some more indigenous

as the Old Clock Struck Two...

the winner was announced............ it was Miss Newspaper!
But what a hard one to judge!

For certain, all were a work of art,
but this little dead girl was probably my favorite....

but so many....

Afterwards it was time for handmade flower tacos and memelas at our friends joint where the ladies work long hard days....but enjoy them.....

It was a another great event for the little town with the newly remodeled centre.
The trees and palms growing fast and for sure..... the Dead, Alive and well.....

Hasta luego.....
KnJ

Greetings all!

Just a quick Garden post here....

We've been so impressed with our Kale and collards.  Here's a video of a portion of the garden.

Kale (and Collards), as we've come to find out, grows all year here. I just wonder if it will ever flower so that we could get more seeds?? The large Blue Curled are now a year old.

I help out at my friends jicama and papalo farm. The tall stuff is papalo, a strange tasting herb popular here in sandwiches called cemitas. In exchange, all the jicama I can eat. Should be ready in Nov. ....yum.

Till the next post....
over n out....

Summer in Veracruz

Summer is upon us here and with it brings the cooler weather. Drizzly 60's at night, sunny 80's in the day.
Perfect if you ask me. The garden is growing fast and I'm still surprised to see the Kale and Collards just cranking like winter in Florida.  I guess they'll go all year here and turn into small trees.
Click the images to enlarge.....

The neighbors Haas and our criollo avocados are in full swing with hundreds of fruit each. The criollo is like a creamier Haas with a thin skin, delish!

Another kink of avocado here is another native tree call "El Chinene". I don't know how to describe its flavor except for maybe a smokey light haas. The town is full of these and so we gorge daily on them. Jane has a new recipe for a Alfredo sauce made with avocados, so we'll be trying that real soon.
Here's the chinene...

We also have found the odd melon-tasting fruit called "casabanana" or "Calabaza de Melon" growing around here. I was thrilled to find them here after first seeing one at my buddy Barry's in Fla.
Here they make them into a dessert-like sweet dish. These fruit are great for hanging in the house because they give off a sweet aroma....and they last a long time.

I found them near my buddy Enriques' place here.....

We finally made our way over to the state art museum here in Orizaba a couple miles from the house....

Also made a new Rocket stove a few months ago and have been getting good usage out her......
It's a pretty efficient cooking device for sure....

Till the next post everyone!
Saludos.....
KnJ