We also had breakfast and a quick visit in LaPaz with our friend, Elizabeth, who divides her time between Mexico and Washington.
We came back to our home on the beach just in time to get ready for the Paella Competition to be held Friday November 11. (This is a fund raiser for a few of the Loreto charities.) Our team consists of three members, Diane, Gloria, and myself and we are known as "Team Rattlesnake"after the beach we camp on. (It's mexican name is El Quemado which I think is a lot prettier sounding than "Rattlesnake".) We do a lot of prep work before hand but there is always plenty to do when we get to the competition. We find our spot and transport the equipment to our area and begin arranging burner, paella pan, ice chests full of ingredients and wait til time to start cooking. Our dish has to be ready by 1pm for the collection of our rice to be taken to the judges. Shortly after that we begin to feed the crowd. While we did not 'Win, Place, or Show' we had great reviews from our guests. It is all in fun and I enjoy it immensely, and particularly the Sangria provided by Roganta Wineries of Baja Norte! (Wine glass in hand!!)
We now have to import (another word for registering) our boats to be able to launch at the port or to be on be on the water. Small boats (under 15 feet or so) are exempt. Mike has been busily doing that this month. This was another reason for our trip to LaPaz. He received papers there from the Port Captain (for a fee of course), then had to go into the Loreto Port Captain for more papers (and another fee), put a name on his boat (letters made at a price), take pictures of the boat with name on, and eventually receive a temporary (10 year) registration. This included numbers (made at a price) to be put on the boat also. Isn't boat ownership grand!? No matter what country you are in!!
Mike and friends enjoy their football days! Games are always on Sundays AND Monday & Thursday nights and if they get really desperate, Saturdays have college games!
Thanksgiving Day will have four games! We will be planning dinner around the half times or between games! Sunday football sometimes has impromptu potlucks such as the one the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Mike had 3 albacore tuna loins he wanted to cook so as to free up freezer space. We had a great turnout with even a few non-football fans!
TURKEY DAY! (A favorite expression of my youngest brother-in-law.) This year we tried splitting into smaller groups. We had about 15 people at our camp. I think our next door neighbor had about the same amount. Some of the other campers went to dinners held elsewhere. As always there was more food than we could eat! Fortunately we sent plates of leftovers home with different ones. WHAT! No Thanksgiving leftovers for days on end!!! YEP, That's right!
Now our thoughts turn to the December potlucks and parties. We will have a beach wide Christmas eve fire along with Snacks & Sweets! Of course, we will have dinner at home before we gather together! Well, maybe! Christmas Day will have the beach campers who want to come, joining together with different potluck dishes. Probably around 50 people. But more on that next month!
