Game day with the kids. Do you remember how to play Candyland?

Sharing time & being out at Casa Hogar Douglas with the kids is always a heartwarming experience, this week no exception. The kids loved the Milton Bradley games & really had an unbelievable time with colors & remembering left & right when they played Twister. The classic games are universal, have no language barriers & are truly timeless in the fun department. The kids had me on my toes as they kept changing the color of the game piece the Senoras were playing with....(doesn't take much to fool me at times!) If you're going to play Candyland & you haven't played the game in 40 years it's wise to read instructions!








There were plenty of smiles on game day at Casa Hogar Douglas.




















For more information on Casa Hogar Douglas check out this site, http://www.back2backministries.org/index.php/internationalMinistry/mission/9

Many hands make light work~

John Heywood made that statement we use nearly 500 years ago & it is as true today as it was then.
























Several of us worked much of the morning yesterday making hundreds of meatballs & spaghetti sauce for the Casa Hogar Douglas kids. The Ex Patriot community down here in Monterrey does much to help out many of local organizations which seem to have scant funds to serve many needs. These women are extraordinary & make life South of the Border a little more like home. Have you ever made 100's of meatballs at once? Better yet, have you ever seen the joy those meatballs bring to the faces of an entire group of hungry kiddos? Yes & yes again is my answer on both of the questions. Rewarding smiles & full a full tummy for each of those kids is the full measure of a days work. Everyone seems to have a favorite meatball recipe so I won't post a recipe just now but keep in mind how you too can share joy just by spending a few extra hours volunteering to do for someone else. The rewards are endless~

Katerina & some of the guys in her life!

We took Katerina with us to Torreon, she visited her vet while we were in town. This visit was punctuated with some Rabies shots & the introduction of a new friend. Generally when she visits Dr. Sergio she has the run of his office. She is such a frequent visitor that she is called the Princess around the clinic & sits at his laptop & in his chair. This trip was a little different for her as she is no longer the only cat at the clinic. She met "Diego", an adorable orange Tabby. Sergio explained to us that he recently rescued Diego from an airduct system in a house in Torreon. Now he is a permenent resident at the vet clinic. Diego & Katerina seemed to be on very friendly terms by the time we arrived to pick her up on Saturday morning. The only snag in the friendship came when we put her cute little satin pet carrier in the car & realized that Diego had sprayed her carrier to "mark" his territory...we realized about half way to Saltillo that the strange odor was Katerina's kitty carrier. Needless to say Sunday was spent cleaning the kitty carrier so it is fresh & clean once again! Ahh, the price of kitty friendship.

A Good Read!

Whether reading the book club books in Texas or Mexico, the books are always compelling.



















I had the wonderful opportunity to drop in & visit my friends with the Round Rock New Neighbor Book Club this afternoon. They were discussing the David Liss novel: The Coffee Trader. Some may be familiar with the author's award winning book: A Conspiracy of Paper. I just haven't read the novel yet~being English language book deprived in Mexico. However this is certain to change as I now have a copy to read the earliest opportunity. The Coffee Trader does sound like an engrossing read with many twists & turns. I also have the September book: The Devil's Highway, true story by Luis Alberto Urrea. It was great to see so many of the women today although our fearless moderator Frank Campbell was not in attendance. He was on a much needed vacation in Hot Springs~reading something good I am sure... Okay, Frank. Could it be a mystery perhaps??

No photo for Frank was available so I had to improvise & use my favorite Frank....old blue eyes himself. Sorry Frank C, you weren't there & I had to make do!!! Missed seeing you but it was a good discussion (& the coffee, of course was outstanding).