Untitled (Notetaker and trip to Mexico)

Well, I couldn't think of a title. But I'm back from Mexico and my notetaker has been unveiled. I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day. It was fairly easy to make. Cutting everything out was time consuming, but that part always is. I was mostly happy with it. I think the outside needs something. I used a hair tie instead of the ribbon for the closure. It traveled all the way to Mexico with me so I could give it to my mom. She drove down there with me.

This is my 90 year old grandmother. I have tons of pictures of me in this very kitchen when I was growing up.

This is my grandmother's "chulada", beautiful thing, and a pack of needles I found in one of the drawers. She had stuff on top of the machine so I couldn't open it up and photograph it properly. Can you believe they used to sell 25 needles in a pack?




Here's my grandmother on the day of her birthday party. This is on our way in to church (like a quinceanera). To her right is her second oldest daughter, my Tia Lola. It always tripped me out how tiny she is. My Tia Coty, her daughter in law, is on her left. I have no idea what Coty is short for.

And here is my mom, me and my girls and my sister and her kids, minus my nephew who was kept in the car due to behavioral disruptions.


This is the front of my grandmother's house. Right above Naiobi is this little window box dedicted to La Virgen.


Right behind the girls there, my grandmother used to run a candy store. I LOVED that as you can imagine.

And this here is my cousin Zuly. She lets us ALL stay with her when we visit. My mom was raised mostly by Zuly's mom, my Tia Lola above. And so she's closest to this part of her family. Zuly's family owns and runs Refacciones Monreal. It's an auto parts business. My aunt Lola and uncle now live in Arizona due to growing fears of abduction for ransom as has become popular in recent years in Mexico.


I had a good time. It was HOT. Unfortunately, my stomach of steel failed me (I swear, this has never happened to me before!) and I was sick Friday and Saturday. The good thing about that is I didn't gain 4 lbs like moms did. We've been invited back for a 50th wedding anniversary in March.

This is a picture of Omari, bored out of her wits. It's not fun when there's no other kids around and the adults and just talking and talking.