June 21, 2011

Well, today is the day we took Rebeca back to the airport, but fortunately her flight was later in the day so we were able to do things with her in the morning.
John Fardal met us at the house and we all drove out to Castroville to meet the Decker family who are fixing up our old house.  I didn't take any pictures but it was very interesting going out there and seeing what they've done to the house so far.  The weather was cloudy so that helped make the morning much more pleasant.  Anyway, Rebeca seemed to be impressed with where the house is now, seeing as it has a terrific view towards farmland.  She walked around inside the house which has been totally rewired, the red room being made into a study/office and the garage now going to be a master bedroom and bathroom.  They have added a huge porch onto the back and a nice deck off the master bedroom.  There still is tons of work left to be done on the house, but it was still interesting to see what they've done so far.

After we left the house we drove back to San Antonio and stopped at Rudy's Barbecue for lunch, which is always good.  Then, back at home, Rebeca wanted to walk one more time down to our old property and take some pictures.  By then it was HOT, but we got in a few good pictures anyway.

By the tree she used to climb

Standing where her room used to be

Guillermo where his beautiful garden used to be

It always used to be a showcase, now it's just an eyesore.

Standing outside in the front yard by where the basketball hoop was.

Rebeca helped make it a great Father's Day weekend for Guillermo.  Too bad Fernando couldn't have been here, too.

We took Rebeca to the airport that evening.  Her flight was supposed to leave at 6:45 but at 10:30 she was still in San Antonio.  First the plane went back to the gate because of mechanical problems, which couldn't be fixed so they had to wait while a new plane was brought in.  She got back to Tucson 2 hours late, but at least she got there!!!  Of course, we missed her a lot that evening and kept thinking we'd see her in the house somewhere.

Fun weekend!

So, as you can imagine, Guillermo and I were on cloud nine all day Friday, knowing we'd be picking Rebeca up from the airport that evening.  We spent the day fixing up the house and the yard and then in the evening headed to the airport to be pleasantly surprised that her plane was arriving early!!!  So, we didn't have to wait very long at all before being with her again!!  We picked up her luggage and the first thing we did after leaving the airport is the usual - we headed to Taco Cabana, picked up a few tacos and stuff and took them back to our house to eat.  How nice it was to be sitting at the table with her and just plain being with her again!!!

Rebeca had asked before she came to San Antonio if I'd be interested in getting a pedicure with her while she was in town.  I have NEVER had one in my life, but she was willing to treat me to this luxury so I figured it would be a nice thing to do.  So, early Saturday morning, we went to the salon and getting a pedicure is amazing.  The whole experience was such a pleasure - I sure can see now how pedicures are a really good way to keep your feet healthy and looking fairly nice.  The lady did an excellent job and I walked out of there so proud of how my feet looked.  It was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad Rebeca and I were able to share this FUN thing.

When we got back home, I decided to give Guillermo his Father's Day present one day early.  So, we got the bag out that had his gift and he opened it and he was so surprised to see an e-reader called the Nook.  So, it was good that we gave it to him early so that he could have time to figure it out and get used to it.

On Father's Day, we ordered two books for Guillermo's Nook!!!  He was excited about that!   In the morning, I made a peach pie and cooked some meatballs and then in the afternoon Mom, Linda, Kathy, and Ben came over for lunch.  The day was another day with the temperature in the 100s so we mostly stayed inside, but after we had lunch and before dessert, we decided to "drive" the few feet down to where our old house used to be.  Rebeca and Ben walked because they didn't think it was so hot, but we drove into our driveway and just stayed there in the shade of the tree and waited while everyone looked around a little.
Then we went back and had some great desserts!!!

Ben took this "interesting angle" shot.

Ben and Rebeca

That evening, Rebeca and I went to Kohls.  She helped me find some things to buy with the gift card she gave me for Mother's Day.  So that was a GREAT ending to this fun weekend!!

no rain here and too much in Costa Rica

Everyday I look at the radar for Central America, to see what might be going on in Santa Rosa where Fernando is and what might be happening in Boquete, where we used to live.

Today, well actually this evening, was pretty alarming to see the radar in Costa Rica.  The ENTIRE country is blanketed in dark orange and some very dark reds.   Which means it not only is raining there, it must be POURING!!   There was not one piece of  Costa Rica that looked clear of rain.   Where we lived for a little while in Samara, the radar showed very dark red, so that means Samara was getting pelted with rain.  Where Fernando is in Santa Rosa, it looked like it was only light orange, but that probably still meant anyway that it was raining.  And from looking at that radar for a while, it seemed those dark reds were heading up north to where Fernando is.  It even looked like out in the ocean off the coast of Samara, that there were some dark purples and even dark browns.  I can't even imagine how heavy those kinds of rains must be.

So, this is what the radar looked like at midnight Texas time.  Costa Rica is the country in the center, where all the dark red is.  Santa Rosa, where Fernando is, is in the upper left hand corner of the country around where the little sharp point is sticking out to the left.   And we can't get any rain here in San Antonio at all.

Happy Birthday to Guillermo!!

And as per tradition, Guillermo got a peach pie today with which to celebrate his birthday.  We bought the peaches yesterday and it just so happened that there was an article in the paper today about how the hill country peaches are smaller this year but more tasty.  And the proof was in the pie!!!  The pie that I baked today was one of the best peach pies ever!  Those little peaches may be small, but they are really good!

The peach pie

The Birthday Boy, probably thinking - "can't I just eat the thing, enough of this picture taking!"

Ok, last one......

Happy Birthday, Guillermo!!!!

Sunday evenings

This is how we've been spending our last 3 Sunday evenings - out on our back deck with our neighbors.  Actually, they are who we are renting this house from!!!  We started this as just a "let's sit out back and sip some Sangria" and now it has morphed into a snack event, too.  Yesterday evening was the hottest time out there so far, the other evenings had the lovely benefit of at least some wind.

Mary and Evan and rabbit.  We thought this rabbit was going to come right up to the deck, but it stopped at a pear that had fallen off the tree.  We watched it eat the entire little pear.

Matt and Mary.  Their backyard is in the background.

The mosquitoes aren't too bad yet, so we're taking advantage of that.  It may become unbearable later on in the summer - especially if it rains.

Jacob's performance

On Wednesday there was a talent show at Jacob's school which I went to go watch with Mom and Linda.  Jacob sang the song "Bother" by Stone Sour.  We were real proud of Jacob who bravely faced standing by the stage as the "next person to go on", and then getting up in front of the audience when it was his turn and doing his song.  Way to go, Jacob!  You did it!!!

As they were heading out the door to go to the school.

Take it away, Jacob!!  "But once I hold on, I won't let go till it bleeds...."

This is how it looked from where we were sitting.

Maybe wanting Scotty to beam him up?

Thursday, I drove to Elrod in the morning to watch the 5th graders graduate.  These are the same students that I worked with when they were in 1st grade, so I wanted to see what they looked like as 5th graders and see them go across the stage.  But there was no parking anywhere so I drove all the way back home and asked Guillermo to take me back and drop me off.  So, by the time that was all done, the graduation was over!!  I was disappointed but I still got to see many of the kids I had worked with.  Some looked exactly the same, only bigger and some were quite changed!  After milling about with the students and parents, I went into the office to chat a little with some of the people I used to work with.  As usual, that was fun.  Guillermo picked me up at our agreed-upon time and I spent the rest of the day SO glad I had gone to the school.  It was nice seeing and being around those kids again, it was nice seeing the people I used to work with and it was nice just being at the school. 

The weather here sure is something else.  It is so hot, dry and windy.  We are trying to keep a little bit of grass looking nice and green around the house here, but with this weather, it's a good thing that we're just watering a little section.  It'd be too much to keep the whole area looking nice and green.  They've always said San Antonio really is in a desert, and at times it did appear that way, but right now, we truly believe it.  And there's no rain in sight.