Glass Blowing in Tonala, Mexico

This craftsman is putting the finishing touches on a wine glass.

I thought this man was creating a beautiful vase...but no...

...he morphed it into a lovely large bowl!

Visiting a glass blowing factory in Tonala, Mexico was great fun. The craftsmen were friendly and let us meander anywhere we wanted to go. They work in pairs. One does the molding and the other adds more molten glass when and where it is needed.

It was such a surprise to see what I thought was a vase suddenly become a hugh bowl!!!

After touring the factory we went to the showroom for some shopping. The cost of these hand made items was quite low. A lovely wine glass cost about $3.00 US.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Sanibel Island...A Shell Seekers Dream

There is never a shortage of shells on Sanibel Island. This photo was taken at Blind Pass Beach.

The Sanibel Lighthouse

Sanibel Island is known as one of the worlds best beaches for shelling. There is always an abundance of shells to sort through on any given day. If you just like beautiful shells, often times small but whole, then you are guaranteed a fun day at the beach! Some of the more rare shells are often found after a storm has moved through the area. It is always fun to meet fellow shell seekers, many from foreign countries, all out for a fun day of sun, sand, and shells. Ah...life is good!

My foster pup and friend Peggy

This is my friend Peggy. We met when I rented an apartment next to hers. Peggy has lived in Ajijic for close to twenty years now. She was a joy to spend time with. She showed me where she shops for food and household things and pointed out the brands she likes. I don't speak Spanish so her help was grately appreciated. I look forward to seeing her again.

I was foster mom to this little girl on a trip to Ajijic three years ago. She was the sweetest little pup. She had been attacked by a larger dog and the vet operated on her and saved her life. She was about six months old at the time. I had her for a few weeks and found her a permanent mom before I returned to Florida. I missed her so much when I got home that I went out and got another puppy to be my BFF. When I return to Mexico I plan to get involved with kids and animals. What a great way to spend some time.

Mexico in 2010

The Lake Chapala Society is a favorite haunt for many local expats and tourists as well. Great place for visiting with friends over coffee or finding a peaceful nook for reading or meditating.


Hard to resist the fun of going to the Wednesday tiangus, aka the street market.


The Secret Garden is a favorite of mine. Delicious food and friendly staff.



One of many cute boutiques in the village.

New year...new decade and I have an urge to return to Mexico, the village of Ajijic in particular. I have not been there since 2007 and hope this will be the year when I finally get there and connect with the friends I made on previous trips. I miss the people...the mountains...the lake...the wonderful restaurants...the laid back atmosphere...the simple life.

These are a few of my favorite photos from past trips. I will add more Mexico posts soon. Enjoy!