El Hueso means The Bone.
We were welcomed with a complimentary cocktail almost too pretty to drink and very yummy.
The restaurant was elegant in its white washed decor, the walls covered in bones displayed every which way, the long family- style dinner table punctuated with decorative bones, and our welcoming appetizer of beef pate was served on a ceramic jaw bone!!!
The service was impeccable...
The food beyond delicious...
The wine my new favorite...
And the company alongside us young and so interesting!
It was one of our best Valentines nights, no bones about it!!!

Tlaquepaque was a great experience, despite being a little overwhelming to start with till we figured out the ropes.
We found a few small things at EnArt, but a lot more as we wandered the streets and went in and out of the retail stores where we ordered a Copper unit for our guest bathroom that we both love...
and some random odds and end to pretty up Casa Azul including this vase and flowers.
When we got home Nev collapsed for a well earned lovely nap before dinner while I enjoyed a glass of wine on our little patio with my sweet gift ❤️🍷
So glad you're my Valentine, my love!

We are in Guadalajara City in the state of Jalisco on Mexico's mainland to do some serious furniture and accessory shopping for Casa Azul, and we are excited to see what we find!
Twice a year there is a huge Expo in this enormous city, and in the nearby town of Tlaquepaque, and we have come armed with a business card in my name, 4 emptyish suitcases, and tips galore from our friends and neighbors at Rancho Leonero.
We booked into a La Perla Boutique B&B downtown for 5 nights and have a reservation for an intriguing sounding restaurant for Valentines Day dinner tomorrow night (all my doing, of course! LOL)
Our bedroom is beautiful, our hosts: Lars and Memo sweet and very helpful...
Our drive in from the airport took us through interesting neighborhoods and much graffiti with a beauty of its own.
The question is: can we really shop for 4 days???

The air was heavy on my skin this morning as I walked along the beach into the light of the sunrise.
It was 6:15am when I left and all was calm,
the waves gently rolling up and down the sand,
the only steps ahead of mine those of the crabs and the beach birds,
the only sound breaking the silence the call of a beautiful fish eagle scanning the waters ahead....
I brought a flask of coffee with me and sit now on a log, shaded by a bank of clouds, still not another soul in sight,
our gorgeous bay now bathed in the light of this new day...
Magic!!

The flapping sounds of the manta rays are back on the waters of the sea in front of Casa Azul...
and I'm lucky enough to be back here to hear them and smile!
The sunset the evening I arrived and poured myself a cocktail to enjoy on one of the loungers around the pool was stunning and I missed sharing it with my honey who is in Vegas at CES.
I have popped down quickly to check on the work being done at the house and on the farm while we have been back in the States for two months.
The retiled pool looks great and the new palo d'arco covering on our upstairs patio has given the place a different look...
I have spent the past few evenings scraping old sealer off the satillo tiles in my little sunroom - its time consuming and hard on the hands and knees but today I get to put on a fresh coat of sealer and, hopefully, see the rewards of my hard work!
I fly back to California tomorrow, leaving Juan and Fernando with long "honey do" lists...
I'm excited to see the results when we come back down in February...
and hopefully to catch a glimpse of whales on their way by.

Stephen, Candace and Lily arrived first.
Trevor, Star, Dax and Heidi came to meet Lily and we had a fabulous afternoon, into the night, with Daxie being so sweet to her and Heidi being totally fascinated by this step-cousin littler than her (for now!).
Mike and Karri were next to arrive and I was lucky enough to watch Lily while the four off them went off for a round of disc golf.
Christopher and Allison arrived with Asia Steve and Liz; our traditional gathering was now complete. The house was filled with noise and laughter and the smells of yummy food cooking. (Leg of lamb, roast potatoes, gravy and green beans with bacon).
We had Patti and Glen over for cocktails too.
We were able to get to the beach to catch the last sunset of the year in the gorgeousness of the cloudy sky...
it was chilly so we huddled a little closer,
the end of 2017 was in sight...
Much pool was played while final dinner preparations were underway, and then fun conversation over dinner... its become tradition for me to ask everyone to share their goals and resolution s for the new year ahead... it seems 2018 will be all about babies :) :) :)
We exchanged gifts after dinner and were all thoroughly spoiled. Lily loved her dancing goose the best; his rap songs had her moving to the rhythms and chasing after him with delight!
I LOVE THIS PRECIOUS TIME WITH YOU KIDS EVERY YEAR!
Thanks for coming all the way to be with us,
no better way to see the old year out.
Happy New Year world, and CHEERS!