Moving On Down That Highway...

Mi Casa es Mi Casa - Finally!

We're in.  I won't bore you with the agony of moving.  Just fill in your own worst move and you've got the story.  But we emerge victorious.  The secret staircase has been filled in with appropriate tile, the non functioning water heater is replaced and the pool slime is minimized.  Just back from Tonala where we ordered two custom headboard/frames to be created.  Of course it's not that simple... While struggling with my Spanish to confirm what we wanted, a Pandora's box of conflicting "standards" emerged.  Did we want an American king, a California king or a Mexican king?  Okay, I get the first two. It turns out that a Mexican king is 78" wide X 75" long (testimony to the differing physiques of the two countries).  Well, we didn't know.  We'd pushed the two twins together and were going to force our son Justin to bring the "King bridge" that units them and that is completely unknown in Mexico.  But when we measured we would end up with 80"X 73" which fits no standard in the modern world.  So, now, it looks like a new Mexican King mattress is demanded which, when delivered, will no doubt be yet another size.  No moaning Deirdre.

On a bright note, you can get anything made here.  Very economically.  Just bring them a picture, a rough drawing or a poorly articulated thought and two weeks later (the magic timeframe) it is done.  Almost always.  Included will be a photo of our desk (designed by Michael) and crafted by Jose Esperitu with which we are very pleased.   May include a couple of other house photos since NOB friends are requesting.  (Nope, not doing it.  No room.  Maybe next time.) But enough boring moving news. Much has occurred since last we posted.

Deirdre's side of the desk.

The two printers are concealed behind drop down drawers with slide out shelves.

Michael's side of the desk. The desk is made of oak.

Fiesta Update

It is so busy fiesta-wise that I'm just clumping them together now.  November 20th was Revolution Day.  I know, you're thinking, didn't they just have one of those?  No.... That was Independence Day in September.  It is very confusing because Mexico seems to have had multiple insurrections, revolutions and coups that lasted for years and years with people fighting not just to unseat the established power but also fighting among themselves.  I am really going to study it and get it straight.  Soon.  Right after I figure out the mattress thing.  But I really love the Revolution Day parade because it features all the children.  Thousands of them.  I believe they must import some from Bolivia since all those children cannot JUST be from Chapala.  Not if you believe Mexico has achieved a birthrate of 2.3 children per family.

No parade is complete without the drum corps...

the balancing acts...

the streamers...

and even the very little ones.

Then there are the themed groups, like Tae Kwan Do...

Football American style (complete with cheer leaders)...

and even basketball.

The big headed revolutionary is in the parade also.

Even the ballerinas are represented...

with some showing off their improptu dance moves.

What better way to educate people about aids & safe sex, then with these two characters.  I think they are very creepy - Deirdre comment

Even more daring acrobatics were on display...

along with acrobatics with balls (note the face on the red ball).

This group decided to go with a Western theme for their costumes.

Hard on the heels of Revolution Day, we are now in the throes of the Celebration of Ajijic's patron Saint Andres.  Last year we celebrated  while living in the Village close to the Plaza and for nine days were awakened at 6 AM by the requisite barrage of cahotes seemingly exploding in our bathroom followed quickly by the pealing Church bells.  Having moved to the "suburbs" we were sure that the brouhaha  would be diminished.  Not so!   The mountains directly behind us serve as an excellent echo chamber and here's the big bonus! When I lurch from sleep at the first onslaught I can look right out my attractive French doors and see the cahotes streaking across the sky!  I can count "One Mississippi, two Mi.." and calculate that they are exploding approximately 1.1 miles away from me while swearing they are once more exploding in my bathroom.  For nine days the explosions, processions and partying in the Plaza will proceed.  The reality is we love living amidst the chaos.  Walking through the Plaza in the evening with all the families out strolling and the terrifyingly unsafe carnival rides churning and the castillos of fireworks erupting is way more fun than going to the Mall.  Really.

From now until Three Kings Day it is pretty much nonstop fiestas, posadas and Official Holidays.  So more grist for the mill.  Will keep you posted (no pun intended).

Yahoo!  Another House Tour

We are addicted to the charity sponsored House Tours.  We have been in withdrawal since Spring because they only run them when the well heeled Snow Birds drift back into town.  And they are here.  Buckets of them.  Jamming our roadways, forcing us to get reservations at restaurants and tickling our ears with their "eh?"s and "aboooouts".  But we forgive their disruptions because NOW we can go on house tours again.

As usual there were four houses.  The first was ubber-Modern.  Loved the lap pool.  A little cold feeling but very impressive.  The second was the complete opposite of #1.  Sprawling doesn't exactly capture it. This place was vast, traditional, beautiful-- and yet cozy/friendly.  Pools, tennis court, multi-casita, several bars (nice touch) and VERY interesting collections of wildly disparate items.  Now I had a problem with House #3.  It is why you probably shouldn't go on house tours once you've BOUGHT a house.  The problem was envy.  You may remember our exhaustive list of criteria for house purchase.  Well, this house had every box checked.  AND, it was on the market when we arrived.  But it was $550K (a good price) but needed all fixtures and was completely unfurnished so, probably, more like $650-$700 K.  But I don't care.  It was marvelous.  But I'm getting over it.  Words fail me on House #4.  It was in a gated community and the entry point made Check Point Charlie look lame.  You were NOT getting in there without an invite and perhaps an exhaustive background check. The owner has a business geared to decorating houses for Christmas.  Clearly she is into it.  You'll see.  Not exactly what we had in mind when house shopping.

House #1 Fully tricked out indoor outdoor barbecue grill (complete with a wine refrigerator).

Looking down on the second floor mirador from the third floor.

Looking down on the lap pool.

Note the mirror feature at the end of the lap pool.

A good view to see the modern lines on this first house on the tour.

House #2 The outside of the second house on the tour does not begin to reveal what is inside and around the property.

The pool by the main house...

and the whirlpool.

Every home needs their own private tennis court...

and if you tire of tennis, you can play a little basketball.

This is one of the two casitas on the property.

And of course a house like this needs an appropriate kitchen for entertaining...

with a couple of ovens and multiple burners...

and a super-sized refrigerator freezer.

This house also comes complete with an Efren Gonzalez mural...

and a grand piano.   And very mellow dog.  Lucky dog.

The downstairs bar is very well equipped.

This is just one wall of the library/reading room. The shelves are labeled by subject.

Then there is the collection case room...

and another "smaller" bar upstairs.

This chest with the birds appealed to Michael.

Even the windows and furniture are pieces of art.

This third house has some unique fans inset into the boveda ceiling.

Like many of the houses here there is no heating or air conditioning, but there are fireplaces to take off the very occasional winter chill.

The three ballerinas on the wall are the daughters of the owner. Also note the ornate entry way in the background.

Note the ornate light fixtures inset in the boveda ceiling and a more complete view of the entryway in the previous photo.

A well equipped kitchen was also  part of this house.

The pool complete with a gardenia inset into the pool bottom.

A view of the back of the house with the stairway to the mirador and upstairs casita.

A view of the pool area from the mirador.

A creative fan display on a desk in the casita.

The final house was totally Christmas themed, as the owner specializes in doing Christmas decorations for others.

Apparently the owner feels there is no such thing as too much Christmas...

and yet even more Christmas decorations at the entry...

and inside...

and on the door.

A Trip to the Foundry or Why We Love Living Here

I'm really not sure how we ended up there.  But way glad we did.  Wes said something to Bob at bridge. The next thing I knew we were on our way to Guadalajara following Bob, who is a very good sculptor, to see this complex which houses a gallery, studio, showroom, bronze foundry, artist retreat, a very shaggy horse and two dogs.  Like most of our experiences here, the people we meet are as interesting as the direct experience we're having.

This complex is overseen by Francisco Quiroz and his wife Ingrid Mattson with their son Eduardo lending an important hand.  While Ingrid is an artist and sculptor, Francisco started out as a chemical engineer.  The complex isn't exactly a business but, according to Francisco, more of a foundation.  Profit isn't easy or perhaps the most important component of what they do.  When we first walked into the open area outside the gallery we couldn't believe the size of the sculptures that were surrounding and towering over us.  You'll need the pictures to get the idea. As we walked the complex you'd turn a corner and see a terrific piece just propped up against a tree or see an army of headless people standing in line inside a chicken wire room.  I don't know.  Very cool.

It is very safe to say that Michael and I know NOTHING about what is involved in casting a sculpture.  Or at least we didn't.  Bob took us through the entire series of buildings and explained step by step what was involved.  Which was a lot.  The thing that makes this enterprise so unique is their willingness to cast really big works.  Really big.  Most foundries want to only make smaller works which are more profitable.  Francisco is like a mentor to the artists guiding them in many ways and sharing his knowledge of technique and materials.  The organization deals with about 300 artists including Americans, Europeans, Koreans and others from outside of Mexico as well as within.  They employ 13 people and they can spend literally years in creating some of the pieces.

When we met Francisco, Bob handed him three copies of the Guadalajara Reporter which had done a feature story on the Foundry in the November 16th issue.  He asked if he'd seen it and Francisco said no.  See-- this is what I mean about how interesting the people are here.  Francisco didn't run out and get the paper to see what kind of great PR he was getting.  He's about what he does.  Not the externals.  So refreshing.  When I asked Bob how much he works each day he lamented "Well, now that I'm 85 I've cut back to four hours a day but I might come up to the Foundry and live in the artist cottage for several weeks and really get going on a project I want to do."  What can I say.  For our local pals you may want to get the Guad Reporter issue and read more.  And you might want to go up and see the Gallery.  Terrific stuff.

Note the balance on the sculpture. This is being cast as a much larger piece.

The variety of sculptures was both fascinating and amazing.

The maid kept covering up the vital area of this statue when it was in someone's house.

The sculptures varied from the whimsical..

to the contemporary (as in this homage to Avatar).

This gives you an idea of the size castings the foundry will take on.

This is a smaller version of the large sculpture being cast, and is shown next to the large version in the photo above. To give you an idea of scale, this piece is as tall as I am at its highest point.

This is the mold for the casting of the bow in the larger version of the sculpture in the first photo. This is going to be substantially bigger when it is complete.

The molds into which the molten metal has been poured.

This is a piece which has come out of the mold. the tubes connected to the piece are where the molten metal flows in and the air escapes. These must be cut off, the metal burrs removed from the piece and a lot more work before this sculpture is completed.

The crucible from which the molten metal is poured.

A sculpture in wax, from which a mold will be formed.

Sculptures in acrylic resin.

These next photos will show the sculptures on display in the gallery.

Each one in a different style depending on the artist.

This sculpture was one of Bob Wilson's pieces.

Deirdre really liked this whimsical piece.

While Michael found this piece fascinating.

This is one of Ingrid Mattsson's pieces (the wife of the founder).

And finally here is the founder Francisco Quiroz framed by one of the sculptures on display.

So, that wraps it up for this time.  More soon.  As we move into the Holiday Season we hope you're all having fun. And for those of you on our Christmas Card list I will try to avoid the electronic card nightmare that I visited upon many of you last year.  Hope springs eternal.