I didn’t have to walk anywhere to catch the sunrise this am. I just laid low, savouring my last moments at Luna d’Miel. It was a very, very hot that day. I perhaps spent a ½ hour in the sun. I said my good-byes to our friends/neighbours Huw and Gloria and called a cab to get me to my next stay-at Xbulu Ha in Centro.

After I moved and got settled, I walked over to spend some time with my SIL and her sister who were staying at Media Luna Hotel. I enjoyed a visit, drinks and snacks around their pool. Since it was their last day on the island, we agreed to meet later that evening for a good-bye dinner.

Canadian friends Vince and Doris often host a special evening at the gorgeous Caribbean Casa where they stay each year.

This year the gathering was a bit smaller than usual, celebrating happy hour with some munchies, a group photo

and a gorgeous sunset. The brevity of the evening worked out perfectly for our gang as we were meeting family (see above) along with my daughter-in-law’s parents at Picus for a departure dinner for them with our toes in the sand.

I was not at all hungry because of our Happy Hour treats so I ordered Garlic fish so that I could feast on leftovers for a couple of days.

Kath’s quote: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”-A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)

Love never fails.

D left the evening prior so if I wanted to see the sunrise, I had to set the alarm.

It was a little cooler that morning so I plucked my jean jacket off of a chair and wandered down the road to catch the rising sun from a different vantage.

This is where I have messed up though because I uploaded the photos for today already in previous posts…argh.

I got organized and made a cab ride into Centro to pay for my next stay and drop some heavy things off.

When I arrived I found out that I had room #3- yay!

Even though Donna and entourage had already checked in, they weren’t there but I found them at a Loncheria so I could tell them about the stuff that I had dropped off that they could use for cooking.

I headed to Hidalgo and then to the ferry to see if I could find Lorena, Dani and Dylan all departing that day, but no. So I picked up some supplies at AKI and headed “home” to pineapple coconut yoghurt with a very ripe mashed banana and my bran cookies. Nom. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon in the hammock for a read.

That evening Sister #3 and I were delighted to visit Isla Vida ( see the story in the link)where we had lovely food and perhaps one too many cocktails. Good thing we were cabbing it.

Kath’s quotations: “One drink is just right, two are too many, three too few” — Spanish proverb.

Love never fails.

As I was enjoying my first cup of coffee this morning and getting caught up on the world via social media, I got a call from a friend who is in the same business as I am. She was inviting me to an upcoming event. Little did she know that it was a wake up call for me.

I spent the latter half of last week working on a media pitch and the start of this week wearing my food stylist hat (more on that below). My work is so varied and although it is always exciting and stimulating, I often have to put aside fun projects for the work that pays the bills. In fact, I didn’t actually make any money on that media project but I did make the “potential” for making some. I enjoy approaching a challenge with a big picture perspective-blue skying nuances that will take an existing client and make it fresh and new again.

The food styling gig was a particular joy because I received a call quite out of the blue. I rearranged some personal time and was available to work with one the continents’ best food stylists. She was very grateful that I was available to assist her on a movie set. In truth it was me that benefitted by watching her tricks and skill, assembling a well-loved family recipe of ours, and holding it for two hours without it looking anything less than just pulled from the oven. The work was very physical and quite stressful but the experience was another significant time of learning for me. I cannot believe that I still have these rich experiences so late in my career. Not to mention meeting the handsome star of a Hallmark Christmas movie….

Between then and now I have savoured the moments with the Wee Ones and their baby sister up at the lake. When I wasn’t reading The Lorax or a favourite Robert Munsch book, I was colouring with them in their “Incredibles” colouring book, pushing them on the swings or walking with them to the beach. Typically Poppa or Auntie Boo are their favs but this week they would run full speed down the road to be grabbed and swung around in my arms, they would want to sit next to me at the dinner table or whisper “I love you Glamma” when we were snuggling after a bath or a swim.

In addition, I still have scads of photos and musings about our time on Isla this year but my days of notes and pics are out of sync and I messed up the chronology of my trip reports. Ah me, I will just have to start over again in the middle of my annual stay. Another reason, not an excuse for why I haven’t posted here lately.

So where does the “wake up call” come into play? I have been so busy living life, I haven’t taken any time to reflect and write about these recent adventures. I have gotten out of “habit” of posting in this space. And….my cell phone needs a new battery so I haven’t been able to use it for any Instagram posts either (it feels like my right has been chopped off without it-sad I know)!

So with this post, I am back after a brief hiatus. I am eager to get our Mexican sojourn wrapped up so I take you with me on another adventure-Italy again this fall!

Kath’s quote: “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”― Jodi Picoult

Love never fails.

On D’s last morning with me on the island, we watched the sunrise from bed.

We made our way into town to wish Boo and the Frenchman off on the ferry and then to Tulum. We all made our pouty faces because we were going to miss them.

We visited with the lovely ladies of Dulzara Argenta which you can read all about by following the link in the restaurant name.

Later that afternoon, D was intent upon getting his quota of the hammock.

As we enjoyed the fading light, revelers were whizzing by our place on the Airport Road, in full costume. I was Carnival time!

Later that evening, our annual progressive dinner started with empanadas and drinks at El Patio. We loved everything about El Patio including their old steps at the entrance that reminded us of the ocean.

Then we split the shellfish pizza at Angelo’s.

We almost missed D’s last sunset,

so we consoled ourselves with gelato.

And before I knew it he was off on the ferry and I was solo for my nightcap under the stars.

Kath’s quote: “In French, you don’t really say “I miss you”, you say “Tu me manques” which means “You are missing from me.”-unknown

Love never fails.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with a sleeping newborn girl on my chest and that may account for why I am feeling all warm and fuzzy today. She is the youngest Wee One and I am already particularly fond of her as her second name is in honour of me. She has peach fuzz on her head and the most beautiful pink skin-a perfect peach.

Mom, Dad and little sisters were with us this past long weekend at the lake. D and I are very close to the Wee Ones and the lakehouse is a very strong reason why. The girls love being there whether with or without their Mom and Dad. I guess that is why I was able to slip into their life so effortlessly this week, helping out while Dad stayed with Mom and baby in the hospital. (Boy things have changed since my babes were born).

J1 and J2 live in Wolseley, a nugget of streets with parks, schools, bike trails and the most neighbourly folks you would want to meet. They all new that Tuesday would be the baby’s birthday and they sent their families’ good wishes. There were neighbours who would walk the eldest Wee One to school and others who would have their nanny pick her up and feed her lunch if we were running late. Another neighbour offered up a dinner and so on and so on.

When I prepared a couple of J1 and J2’s favourite one pan dinners, I doubled the batches for a friend who has knee surgery coming up. As I drove around to drop off gifts of food, it occurred to me for the zillionth time that the preparation and sharing of food is an important love language, especially in my immediate circles.

And of course there is the most intimate gift of all. This new one naturally knowing just what to do as she found her Momma’s breast.

Kath’s quote: “A person cooking is a person giving. Even the simplest food is a gift”.- Laurie Colwin

The eldest Wee One on her first day on earth.

Love never fails.