Billet Doux : Cherchez La Femme

:: Is there anything, apart from a really good chocolate cream pie and receiving a large unexpected cheque in the post, to beat finding yourself at large in a foreign city on a fair spring evening, loafing along unfamiliar streets in the long shadows of a lazy sunset, pausing to gaze in shop windows or at some church or lovely square or tranquil stretch of quayside, hesitating at street corners to decide whether that cheerful and homy restaurant you will remember fondly for years is likely to lie down this street or that one? ::- Bill Bryson

The last two months have been crazy busy.  I'm spending as much time as possible with dear friends that own homes in the Yucatan yet, do not live here.  They explore expatriation for snippets of time, some just long enough to forget the purpose of socks, and others just long enough to taste the fruits of their encore professions.  Our hearts are warmed by the reunion and when they return to the Northlands, wherever the conversation trailed off, it will be picked up again this time next year.  

Still a tourist in my new home, I tag along on their adventures to discover the rich offerings of Mérida and the Yucatán.  When my next visitor, author Mary Helen Lagasse, arrives from the States in late May, I will greet these now fresh places with a gaze reserved for a long ago lover. 
 

[ Viviana Hinojosa :  Studio of Melva Medina & Abel Vasquez  : Samuel Barrera ]

The Mérida English Library has added an art studio crawl to their already successful home tour.  Both have ignited the propane flame in my heart and soul.  I may be wondering an immense landscape without a map but, I have a history of making things come true!  Plans are already being discussed with the SoMe (South Merida) Social Club members of La Ermita.

[ LA68 :: SOURCE :: revistaorigama.com.mx ]

Just as I was missing SXSW in Austin, Miss Bella Bell, a precious Southern prize from Auburn, AL, invited me to a documentary screening at LA68, a cultural center dedicated to Elena Poniatowska.   Everything, and by that I mean every inch of this property and what it offers, was on par with love gushing!  Poniatowska's daughter and son-in-law have created a fantastic tribute to one of Mexico's best known feminist activist writers.  I cannot wait to go back for a meal, a reading or lecture and of course, another film.  

[ Celestun in January ]

Yes, that's me wearing a flaming red bathing suit on a deserted beach in Mexico (in January).  I changed the font size on purpose.  I don't really like to brag but geez, could it get any better than this?  I don't think so!  G and I spent several hours walking up and down this pristine beach collecting shells followed by a delicious seafood mid-afternoon lunch.
 

[ Uxmal Ruins ]

I really do work here.  In fact, I often work so many hours that I can't attend social events that are truly important to me.  However, work must be balanced with play so, for my birthday my very lovely friend from Maine took me to see the Uxmal ruins.  They took my breath away.  I was unprepared for what influence 1,000 compact buildings, begun in 850 A.D. would do to my perception of humankind.  I am profoundly thankful to all the generations that have come before me, showing us all that the sacred is alive today.  

As we approach their departure dates, I will dream of our future adventures.  Next time the snowy egrets land, my greeting will include wrapping them in a well worn suntanned map.  Gracias!

Create the life you want!
The Broad

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The Sunday Morning Edition, 1, No. 1 (2012) : Meet Tom and Martha

Uros Ravbar © Copyright Lonely Planet

Tom: "Sweet Tea, you've gone and done it!  You have turned our casa grande into a real Mexican home!"

Greg Johnston © Copyright Lonely Plan

With spray on tans and drinks in hand Tom, aka Honey Bubba, and Martha, aka Sweet Tea., welcome you to the latest News From A Broad feature, the Sunday Morning Edition, where we explore living in paradise through the eyes of Tom and Martha. 

On their first all-inclusive vacation, and with the generous help of Vickie Vega, a former school teacher turned real estate agent, Honey Bubba and Sweet Tea are now enjoying the exciting and curious expatriate life.

After living their entire lives North of the Boarder, the Smiths' have taken the plunge and invested big time in a new life in paradise.  They have met some interesting characters along the way, had a few close calls, and one to many good times!

To all you newbies, Sweet Tea says, "Good-bye winter socks! Hello muy grande swimming pool!"  

With that, Honey Bubba adds, "Good-bye junk mail, and hola 24-7 cars with stereo systems on the roof!  Enjoy the ride Amigos!"

Create the life you want!

The Broad

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I'm Starving :: Bringing Nawlins' flavor to Mérida

:: But during all these years I had a vague but persistent desire to return to New Orleans. I never forgot New Orleans. And when we were in tropical places and places of those flowers and trees that grow in Louisiana, I would think of it acutely and I would feel for my home the only glimmer of desire I felt for anything outside my endless pursuit of art.::

- Anne Rice

Many years ago, early in my career as a therapist, I worked on a unit for clients who had in one way or another sustained a traumatic head injury.  Katherine was one of my youngest clients.  She happened to be from South Louisiana and our relationship was truly good for both of us.  The hospital nutritionist was extremely concerned about Katherine's significant weight loss and asked me to address it with her in our sessions.  Well, I knew what was wrong without asking.  Katherine was missing her mama's cooking!  With permission from her parents and the hospital, Katherine and I started having her sessions at my house.  We made turkey gumbo just after Thanksgiving.  In January, for Epiphany, we baked a King Cake.  With her favorite recipes from her "momma and dem", we had ourselves a good time in the kitchen!

When I arrived in my little fishing village in August 2011, I weighed 150 lbs. and had three sets of clothes.  I packed my car so well that I didn't have room for clothes!  By early November I returned to Austin to grab as many articles of clothing from my storage unit that would fit into two suitcases.  By the end of November I gave most of those away as they no longer fit.  When I went back to Austin in July I went shopping for new clothes.  In less than a year I went from a size 12 to a 6.  

It wasn't my intention to lose 35 lbs..  Between reducing my stress level, initial difficulty finding suitable products to substitute for brands I was accustom to using back home, and adjusting to cooking for one person in my tiny casita kitchen, it happened that I lost a whole other self!  Eating out has mostly been a wonderful experience, but I'm not crazy about going to restaurants solo, and sometimes I just want a taste of home.  To remedy my situation I decided to start cooking right!

Meddling with A Good Thing 
Shrimp Remoulade a la Benné
(adaption of a family favorite from  Ye Old College Inn

Ingredients 
1 head of Romain lettuce 
1 c halved cherry tomatoes 
2 lemons, quartered into wedges
1 lb of large shelled uncooked Gulf shrimp
2 c farfalle (bow tie pasta)
2 t capers
½ c diced red onion
2 T olive oil
1 T Cajun seasoning

Bring water, enough to cover the pasta and shrimp, to a boil.  Add olive oil.  Just before the pasta reaches al dente, add Cajun seasoning and shrimp.  Cook 3-5 minutes, strain and cool in the refrigerator.  Ya'll want to retain the seasoning so don't rinse the pasta and shrimp.

Remoulade Sauce
1 c creamy Cesar Dressing
3 T ketchup
2 T stone ground mustard
2 t Worcestershire sauce
1 T horseradish

Whisk all the ingredients together and set aside.  In a large pasta bowl or on a platter arrange the shredded Romain lettuce.  Add the pasta and shrimp,  drizzle Remoulade sauce on top and garnish with capers, chopped red onion and cherry tomatoes.  Place lemon wedges on the side for each guest.  Serves 4.

Bon Appetit, Dawlins'!

Create the life you want!
The Broad
 

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