The Serch For the Perfect Virgen......... etc!

This is an image of Mary, in what some would call the classic Virgen del Rosario pose.  This one was taken in a small church in San Miguel de Allende.  My favorite description of her comes from Beverly Donofrio's book Looking for Mary, or The Blessed Mother and Me.  She wrote that this statue, with a golden haired Mary (and golden haired Jesus) and puffy dress looks much like Glinda, in the Wizard of OZ.  And so she does.  The chapel is small and cozy, and it has a feeling of spirituality that the larger chapels don't impart. 

Chop Wood, Carry Water Part 107.35 Still waiting for the rains.

     Because we chose to make a conscious effort of live a sustainable lifestyle, we built our house to function simply.  Our water is "captured" when the rains hit the roof tops and are directed to our cisterns.  The water is pumped up to a tank on the roof.  From there, gravity does the work and sends the water back down to the faucets and shower head, and outdoor spigots.
     Because we have a compost toilet, we don't use water to flush out human waste products.  These compost into a dry material which we use as a safe material to supplement the green and kitchen composts that we spread under trees.  By using a composting system for human waste, the water saved can be directed elsewhere, as needed.
    Besides saving water, we also reuse water.  All shower, dish and laundry "gray-water'' is directed on to plants and trees and bushes.  This second usage, save water (by not having to rely solely on first water usage) and time (the gray-water and gravity do the work; the water flows directly onto the intended area).
     While we are waiting for the rains, we are careful with our water usage, to avoid, where possible, supplemental water purchases.  Still, May is a month that we want our plants to get through without stress, so we are giving them what we can.  According to one of our campesino (a person who lives in the countryside) neighbors, Genaro, the rainy season has started, even if the rains haven't appeared, yet.  At first I thought that this was some country wisdom that he was passing on, but he clarified it and told me that he had heard it on television.  So much for romanticizing country living.....

Waiting for the Rains!

     It's May in the Campo, the Countryside, here in San Jose de Gracia.  As you can see from my last post, I have been neglecting my "Corazon" of Mexico; this, having abandoned it for the quicker Social Medium of Twitter. [See my Twitter Feed on the Right Hand Side]  Still, as we wait to sell our houses (visit our Website Our Homes For Sale!), we are enjoying our time here and have declared a creative sabbatical.  To that end, we are following our own creative urges.  Each of us has different "art" forms that we like to pursue.  Two areas where we come together are cooking (and eating, of course) Mexican and Mexican Fusion Cuisine, and Gardening.
     In terms of cooking, for example, tonight we are having one of our favorites, Stuffed Chile Poblanos.  When the the Chile Poblanos are filled with cheese, dredge in an egg batter and fried, they are the well known, served in every restaurant, Chiles Rellenos.  But Poblanos and other chiles, both fresh and dried, can be stuffed with a variety of fillings and baked, or fried with or without a batter.  A few nights ago, we had Poblanos stuffed with shrimp and goat cheese and served with a Chipotle reduction sauce.  Tonight, the chiles are being stuffed with a mixture of fried potatoes, sauteed onions and garlic, goat cheese, and the ubiquitous and delicious sausage called chorizo.  To complete the plate, we are having slices of mango, black beans with feta cheese, and a roasted tomato/serrano chile marinara.
     Gardening at this time of year is mostly watering our trees and plants, and planting and growing a limited food garden in the sheltered areas that are shaded and have walls blocking the fierce winds.  Our fruit and olive trees are all trying to hold on to their fruit, until the rains; these are due anytime between now and the end of June.  Our prodigious Fig tree is in a holding pattern, with numerous figs ready to spring forth at the rains.  Even though it is getting regular water, it requires that extra measure to encourage it to make its final push.  Until the, we'll wait for the rains and dream of fresh figs and fig chutney and fig bars and..........

And Check out Spring in Our Garden: Spring 2012