, January 24, 2011 — The day before we start

We're in count down mode now. Things are happening all over the garden and in little nooks and crannies of the house and studio. Conchita is here attending to things both indoors and out. She does everything with such grace and good nature — a lovely woman. Yael made one of those very tasty fruit, cereal and rice combos for breakfast. It cooks slowly all night in the crock pot. I love making that dish at home but haven't done it for some time now. Have to get back into the swing of things when I return.

Tomorrow the rest of the retreat participants arrive from all directions. Some are already spending time at various places along the coast, and some will be flying in from Canada and diverse locations in the states. Always a fun reunion when they arrive at Casa Tejedora. Always much catching up to do.

More to come.......................................wifi went off for the night. .........................................................

We had a late lunch on the porch. Fish and rice plus a very interesting dish that Yael made using the same little Japanese spaghetti maker, called, Household Helper, " that we both enjoy using for fresh vegetables like beets, dikon, carrots and the like. The dish is a green papaya salad. She processed a green papaya and one carrot with the "helper" and set them to soak with lime juice, garlic and pepper for several hours just as if she were making ceviche. At the end of the two hours she added a little honey. She says it only gets better with time. I thought it was delicious right from the start and it will surely be on my list when I return home.

The evening finished with a little tennis watching (Li was fantastic against her German opponent) on CNN. After that, the news, which I hadn't seen for some days. For sure, there were a few shockers, but I'm glad I take a rest from all that when I'm down here. I haven't even listened to Amy G. once. Pretty good for me, eh? A very encouraging report on rooftop veggie gardening in Mexico City. Then Piers Morgan interviewing the ex-mayor of New York, soon to become presidential candidate. I'm not a huge fan of Mr. J., to put it mildly, but once in a while he hits a mark. Morgan is definitely my kind of interviewer. I like his candor, his intelligence and his sparkling eyes.

JP and Yael retired before Morgan finished. And so began my usual nightly drill of turning out the lights and closing up the kitchen. I then douse the porch light, and with my trusty little blue flashlight, I go down and then up a few steps to the beloved cell. Ready for bed and back to those not so nice Brothers Karamazov who hide out in my Kindle until night.