Happy Thanksgiving!

A visitor

This afternoon we had a visitor in the back patio. I was at the computer when I heard Titi scream and then she came running, very excited, saying there was a snake in the back patio. I went to see and this is what I found:



It was a small snake but I don't know anything about them and I didn't know if it was dangerous or not. Most likely not but I didn't let the kids get closer. The snake kept looking at us and then started looking for an exit. Fortunately it was able to find the door and went back into the garden. Carlos and Titi were dissapointed because they wanted to keep it as a pet.

The Omnivore's Dilemma and Fast Food Nation

Don and I have been listening to audiotapes and we just finished The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. We think both books were excellent and we learned so much from them. It has changed the way we see food and now we are trying to change the way we buy food and eat.

This year we were able to get a vegetable subscription at a local farm. It is a program called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and you buy a subscription for the growing season and you get a box with vegetables every week or every other week. There are very few in Florida but we were lucky and there was one 10 minutes away from the house. It is a very popular program and they have a long waiting list. Last year we were not able to get a subscription but this year we applied earlier and we got in. You need to (re)learn to eat and cook with what is available locally so it has been kind of an adventure. The first box had tomatoes, bok choi, arugula, cucumbers, herbs, different types of zucchini and a medium pumpkin. We ate the pumpkin as a side dish and we made two pumpkin pies. It was delicious. We have been eating some vegetables from our garden as well and I am trying to give up coffee and have tea from herbs from the garden. Not easy, I still miss coffee!

I also found a farm in Fort Pierce that raises animals in pastures and they are fed grass. I know that is the way animals were intended to be raised but it is not common anymore. We have been buying from them. We need to put an order and they come twice a month to a place nearby where we pick our order. They process the orders in the morning and deliver at night and we have to go with our coolers to pick it up. It is kind of an adventure as well but now I feel better about eating eggs and cooking meat for Don.

Happy Birthday Henny!!!

We want to wish you a very happy birthday. How are you going to celebrate? We hope you will do something fun. Have you won anything lately? Don is always amazed at all the trips you and Gosia had won. A very lucky family!

Enjoy your special day.

Love,
Carmen, Don, Carlos and Titi

Vero Beach

We spent the weekend in Vero Beach and it was very nice. Friday night we stayed by the outlet mall and ate at Cracker Barrel. It had been years since we last ate there. I think we ate at that same location with Mema and Grandpa. The kids loved the rocking chairs and the store.

We stayed at the Disney resort on Saturday night. We got there early in the day and spent the day by the pool. We were lucky with the weather. It was windy but not cloudy or raining like it was supposed to be. The ocean was rough and noisy, very impressive. Carlos and Titi loved the pool's slide and the miniature golf. It was a great place to go because they were able to play while we sat and read.

Titi lost her first tooth!

Well, she didn't loose it exactly. The dentist had to take it because the root had some problems but it is the first baby tooth that Titi is missing. She didn't want to leave it for the tooth fairy yesterday but she will definitely leave it tonight. Carlos is still missing that tooth so now they have matching smiles.

Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Death

In Mexico we celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day on November 1st. and 2nd. It is a custom to visit cemeteries and put an altar with food offerings for the people that have died in your family. It is believed that their souls will come and visit you on those days and will eat and drink the food that you leave for them. We always put an ofrenda for my mom, sister, grandparents and other relatives. My sister also puts one at her house.

I miss the special bread the bakeries make for this celebration. They also sell sugar and chocolate skulls with names on their foreheads and you usually receive some from family and friends. I also miss the smells associated with this holiday. You usually find lots of flower vendors in the markets and streets, and it smells like flowers, specially marigolds and amaranth flowers. It also smells like candles and incense, the one used at churches. I am going to try to buy some bread at a latin store or will try to make some next week.

More Halloween

Halloween is over but who knows when we will be able to take the decorations down. I told Carlos I was going to start taking them down and he became upset. He said he wanted to keep them for a long time... I will try taking them one by one and see how it goes.

This was a busy Halloween week. On Thursday Carlos and Titi had their first school dance. I helped decorate the school cafeteria and all the kids were very excited to see the decorations. The school has approx. 1,100 students but the cafeteria can only accommodate 500 people so the tickets sold fast. Carlos and Titi didn't really dance but they were happy to see some of their classmates and walk around. They also had a decorated pumpkin contest and we brought the pirate one. We didn't win but it was fun seeing it among the other pumpkins.


On Saturday we went to the parade in downtown Delray. After school on Monday we went to a nearby shopping center where the kids were able to trick or treating some more. They also saw a magician.

On Tuesday morning the kids had their classroom parties. Fortunately they were at different hours and I was able to help in both. They had a lot of fun and they got lots of goodies.

On Tuesday night Don took Carlos and Titi trick or treating around the neighborhood and I stayed home to give candy. The came back with lots of candy. I didn't have that many trick or treaters and we had lots of candy left. We convinced Carlos and Titi to leave all the candy
we had in the front porch and see if the Big Pumpkin would take it and would leave a toy in its place. It came and it left them a toy and a stuffed animal. They are happy about it and I am super happy because the kids won't eat candy and I won't have to see it around.