Mom is on her way back to Vancouver (as I write) after almost a month in sunny Mexico. I think (hope) she had a nice visit, and a chance to re-charge her batteries and rest.  We will be back in Vancouver for the summer in another 7 weeks (unbelievable). We have had some offers to house sit, but are still looking to add more to the calendar. Let us know if you hear of anything.

All is well here - the weather is perfect and the solar panels for the pool are working beautifully. We still have lots to do around the house, but it is coming together bit by bit.

We have had some fun 'pizza parties' here with friends and Paul is getting to be an expert. It seems the pizza oven is not only providing great food, but also great entertainment.

Paul played a few gigs last week, and is looking forward to the The La Paz Jazz Festival this Saturday. 

It is Ed’s 96th (!!!) birthday party on Sunday, so next weeks blog should be more exciting than this one!  Ed says the only thing he wants for his birthday this year is a “Trump” Piñata - our friend Raul is working on that!

We are starting to get really excited about Jonathan & Kendrianne’s wedding in August, and also baby Cowan arriving in September. How lucky we are.

Shirley enjoys her tacos!

Desperate times, desperate wine.

Assistant chef Townson 

Wide shorts, bad hat.

Cuban dominoes at Ed's on Sunday. Leanne wins big.

No idea why Santa is nailed to a cactus... weird. 

Gig at Ruby's with Terry

Listo! With the new table decoration from Guadalajara 

No words are needed. (Jonathan & Phil)

Dove nesting in the palapa

Spring is here.

More helpers in the pizza kitchen 

Navarro pizza especial

La Morante gig Friday. (Photo: Norm Stang)

Carlos and Ramon releasing the palm

Dinner at Ed's with the Kansas visitors

It's always good to check Google translate before you press send

It’s been a few weeks since our last blog. I was in Ladner with Mom for 2 weeks until last Monday, and Paul was here in La Paz with Molly. Mom and I flew down a week ago, and since then it has been a busy time.

Big news… we finally caved and bought a TV… We have enjoyed watching “The Crown” on Netflix this week.

This last weekend was birthday celebrations for Raul - all weekend!  Saturday night was the surprise “Cowboy” themed party out at his Ranch.   He had no idea - it was great fun -  even Gregorio (Carpenter by day, Cowboy by weekend) brought his horse Zarco!  Lots of rides - so much fun!

Sunday - more birthday celebrations - a tennis tournament, followed by Quesadillas, a Piñata, and Mexican folk songs from “Eduardo” on the guitar. So nice to be included.

Today “we” (Carlos and his helper) planted 2 new Coco Palm trees in our yard. We drove out with Carlos yesterday into the “hood” to see what was available. We found some in a local Mexicans property who is moving, and they were happy to be selling them.  Carlos and his helper worked so hard in the blazing sun to bring in and plant the 2 palms - the large one is about 20 feet tall, so it was a challenge.  They had access to the beer fridge which helped!

We are starting to think about the summer and where/how to be closer to Mom in Ladner, Nicky and Phil in Steveston, and the excitement and plans for the Jonathan and Kendriannes’ wedding in August.  If anyone knows anyone who would like “house sitters” (with a dog) we would love to chat. Please spread the word. We are good nomads! We are back May 13th.

The La Paz Big Band - nice people

McFisher's for lunch

Shirley is serenaded

Raul was totally surprised by the party.

Not a natural

Leanne's new best friend, "Zarko"

Raul & Rick challenge each other's 'macho-ness'

This was approximately the 5th or 6th round...

New tables. (Made by weekend cowboy Gregorio, who owns Zarko the horse!)

New Coco palms going in.

Ed helping to demolish Raul's piñata

Singing mexican songs at the end of the night

Traditional tennis and 5 beer breakfast to follow...

And... in case anyone didn't know. We are going to be Grandparents soon. Wow!

Jonathan, Kendrianne and Leanne have left on the shuttle bus to the airport. So it's just me and Molly writing the blog this week. Leanne is back visiting her Mum in Ladner for the next 2 weeks.

It's been a busy one and I think J & K had a good time. Unfortunately their last full day yesterday was a wash out with a rare winter 'storm' bringing a load of rain in the afternoon. So we played Exploding Kittens to pass a few hours before heading down for a couple of IPAs and a last Margarita from Jorge.

The previous week contained lots of good food. We had the pizza oven going again with spectacular results - we learned a lot from the first go and it didn't stick this time. Valentine's Day we stayed at home and had some great steaks on the bbq from our friendly (3 fingered) butcher. Lunches at McFisher and dinner Friday night at Sortis were both highlights too. Last night we managed to get the bbq going despite the dampness and cooked a whole flattened chicken, with fresh tuna tostadas to start. But we had to move the table in because it was a bit too chilly to eat outside! I may have to go on a diet this week - probably not.

Here are the photos, there are a couple from the week before that we didn't get around to posting - disco night at El Rollo was great fun for Georgina's birthday.

getting the fire going for Monday Night Pizza

Add caption

it had to be ham & pineapple!

Where's the beer?

Jonathan's got it all!

Riding the "collectivo" down town

Nice game of golf at Paraiso del Mar

Inspiring food at Sortis

Sortis - #1 in La Paz

typical breakfast moment

Count the fingers...

we were first to leave at 1am

The only 'gringa' in the room

The Pistralian Open made it into the local magazine (that isnt V for victory BTW)

A memorable last day of their holiday