Updates, Events and Milestones

We neglected to get pictures of our party. So, we'll just put up some random photos on this post.

This is an orchid that is just starting to spread her roots out on our palm tree.

Our voracious visitors.

These salt and pepper shakers given to us by our friend, D. Ann, were a big hit with the 7 month old at our Christmas party. Thanks D. Ann.


We seem to be surrounded by creative people. Marianna brought this delicate arrangement she had made to the party. We love it!

Ed's recovery from hernia repair surgery continues to go amazingly well. Very little pain or discomfort. Peggy still checks the incision peridically and announces that it's "beautiful"! The first checkup with the doctor was the 22nd. He said all is going well. Ed's allowed now to lift up to 10 kilos so he can get back to several house projects. A final checkup in early January and that should be it! We're very happy to have discovered Galenia Hospital in Cancun and its cadre of great physicians.

Our Christmas Open House was great fun. Typical of Cozumel, if the party is scheduled to start at 2PM, it really doesn't get going until 5PM! We were happy to see that so many folks came with their friends and extended families including grandkids and dogs. A good mix of adults, kids, Americans, Mexicans, 4 dogs and countless hummingbirds and banana quits. Our 27# turkey was the centerpiece and was cooked to perfection in the Mabe oven. We put it in at 6AM and by noon it was done. Based upon advice and council from our gourmet freinds, Dick and Gwen, we wrapped it in foil and then covered it with a half dozen towels and it sat for 2 hours. It stayed moist and hot. Rounding out the meal were mashed potatoes, stuffing, fresh green bean casserole, rolls from our favorite bakery, cranberry sauce, and key lime pie for dessert. Even the gravy, which in 25 years of holidays has never thickened for us, turned out perfectly! A crockpot full was consumed and scraped clean by the end of the party. Folks stayed until almost 9PM. Those who had worked on Christmas seemed grateful for the "all you can eat" buffet. The only thing that would have made the day better was to have our far flung family and friends here. To all of you, we wish you happiness and contentment this season!

A major milestone was attained on the 22nd. Our bank account received Ed's first Social Security retirement payment. Wow! Another round of tacos al pastor for everyone, our treat!

We talked to kids and grandkids on Christmas, Jamie G and family basking in a warm Broomfield, CO, Adrienne, et al in a much colder England, and the Jame B family in Texas. Everyone was enjoying the day, friends, family, and of course, kids all suffering from gift overload!

Life is truly good!

Hernia Repair

The nurse tried to get the hospital cap away from Ed before the picture but he was having none of it!

Ed really wanted the picture of his incision but Peggy thought this one was alot cuter!

After Peggy's successful vein surgery last year, Ed decided that this was the year to repair his small inguinal hernia. Great subject for the blog, no? Monday was the date of the surgery. We took the 6AM ferry over to Playa, the bus to Cancun and a cab to Galenia Hospital. Surgery took place about 11AM. Checking in about 9AM, we experienced the normal incorrect hospital billing (sounds like the US!) and on the third attempt, the bill was close enough to what we had been quoted. Seems the hospital had raised its prices and either didn't tell the doctor or the he just forgot. Either way, with that bill out of the way surgery took place. Surgery here is quite informal compared to the US. The doctor, anesthesiologist, nurse, assistants all laugh and joke in the operating room as Ed is wheeled in. Right before he was put to sleep Ed asked the surgeon (Doctor Barragan) for assurance that this was not his first hernia repair. He replied "Actually, it's my second. The first was about 5 years ago!" He looked around and said "I think the instruction book is here somewhere! Don't worry, I'll find it if I need it" Comforted, Ed was anesthetized. Surgery took about 45 minutes and recovery about an hour and a half. Then, off to a room where Peggy anxiously awaited. It was the same room where Peggy recovered. It felt like home! After giving out beerings to the nurses, we left the hospital about 5PM and took a cab to the bus station for the trip to Playa and then the ferry back to Cozumel at 7PM.

The results are pretty amazing. Very little pain or discomfort. No stitches on the incision, just the steri-strips. Ed's taking a mild pain reliever for 3 days and antibiotics for 4 days. Walking is no problem- just a bit slower. Doctor says full recovery in 2 weeks!

Peggy has been constantly checking the incision for signs of infection or inflamation. None.

Just like LBJ, Ed is offering to show his incision to everyone. So far, no takers, other than Peggy!

Holiday dinners

This past week we were treated to, count them, TWO wonderful holiday dinners. The first was served under the dome at the home of Dick and Gwen. We were invited yet once again to their villa for a scrumptious meal. Dick and Gwen had gone to Italy this summer and came back with some fantastic ideas about Italian dining. Nine of us sat in their jungle garden and were treated to a four course dinner of antipasto, homemade spinach pasta, pan fried Angus rib eye steak encrusted with dried wild mushrooms served on a bed of mashed leeks and finished off with Gwen's dynamite cheesecake -all of this while tasting the great (we're not talking our usual boxed variety here) wines mainly from Italy. We had been given just one job to do for this dinner and that was to bring a nice Italian wine. Well, Spain's close isn't it? I do seem to be able to remember to bring our bags to the store but I keep forgetting about those dang reading glasses! So, we brought a fine bottle of Spanish wine.



Last night we were invited to our friend Jorge's condo where he and his girlfriend (from Boston) had prepared roast turkey, dressing, broccoli and cheese casserole, mashed potatoes, cornbread, cranberry sauce and tiramisu for dessert. Amazing that it came out of his small kitchen. Before Kristen the most food we saw in Jorge's house was a bag of chips, some eggs, a six pack of Barrilito beer and maybe a bottle of vodka! No living room furniture. A bed only. Eating was a stand-up affair. Now, there's a living room set, dining room table, a stove, and kitchen cabinets! We joined Jorge's mother and sister, visiting from Mexico City, his friend Paul and daughter, brother Carlos with his wife and daughter, and mutual friend Socrates and his new squeeze, Nancy from Montreal. A true feast! Everything was great. Stuffed, we were glad for the mile or so walk home.



A quick word about Jorge's condo. About 5 years ago Jorge bought this 2 bedroom unit in a building of perhaps 18 units and within 6 months decided that condo living wasn't for him. He decided to give it back. The owner had financed it for him. Jorge signed all the papers and went back to the condo, awaiting his eviction notice which never came. So, he has been living there for these past 5 years free of rent. Now, apparantly he can pay the last 5 year's real estate taxes (maybe a total of $250 US) and he then can claim ownership! Squatters rights at their best! Viva Mexico!

Christmas and marketing strategies

Christmas has come into full swing here - poinsettias are now ringing the palm trees on the boulevards, the North Pole village has been set up in the Palacio Municipal Park, kids are singing ramas at our front gate each evening (pictures to follow), holiday dinners abound and Christmas is prominent in the stores.

Tiny poinsettias adorning the garden instead of our table! The blue, of course, is one of our hammocks from which we enjoy the festive view!

While huge pyramids of Sol beer have been constructed in the grocery store with the Sol "girls" romanticizing their product (again, photo to follow), Baxter Beering Company's marketing strategist has sprung into action. Upon our return here, we discovered an overabundance of inventory (nearly 100 pairs of beerings)! Our summer intern (Edwin's wife Marianna) returned them to us along with our share of her sales- $5! We promptly spent the $5 on more inventory! Beering marketing specialist and co-President, Peggy has gone to work on marketing schemes (Shaklee, watch out!). It had become clear that the many pairs sitting on the kitchen counter hindered meal preparation and, in addition, were not jumping off the counter into anxious customer's hands. Inspiration struck when yet another empty 12 pack of Sol beer was making its way to the recycle bin which unfortunately now is synonymous with our trash (recycling has sadly been abandoned by the island). Keeping up with the company's philosophy of going to literally no expense, Peggy devised a display system using the empty caja. This new display will certainly help our network of retailers and if we could fit the box under a trench coat, we could compete with the time share salesmen on the square.

All's quiet on the Mexican Front

After arriving with a large bag of Christmas gifts for underprivileged kids here on the island, the Hempstead Baxters really got into the life down here. They all especially loved their time with Edwin and his family. Edwin's ancestors were one of the original families who settled in Cozumel in 1848. His grandparents have lived in the same house for about 60 years. Edwin together with his wife, Marianna and daughter, Abril, live in back of that house. The extended family also has a house in the southern part of the island at Cedral. Each May, they are part of a big festival down there that features lots of food and drink.

Edwin is putting out delicious ceviche at a Cozumel fixture - El Ferito Cocteleria, owned by his parents. It's just around the corner from our house.

At almost 3 years old, Abril loved adding Cody to the mix of her cousin playmates.




There was never enough time to explore the ocean's shore. Cody loved hunting for all kinds of crabs, watching the schools of minnows and identifying the larger fish he had seen in Grandpa's fish identification book.

It was fun to see the Baxters relax and enjoy! It sure is quiet without them.

A happy sunset!

Texas Baxters in Cozumel!

Jamie, Kelley and Cody have gotten right into the swing of things down here! We have just enough time to post a few pictures but not much text because we are VERY busy.

Watching circling vultures way up high.

A pretty nice place to do homework!

On our way to the other side. The dogs are just a little excited.

The Baxters got right into getting trashy on the other side!

Looking for hermit crabs.

Cozumel Ironman 2010

It was a tough decision this weekend - should we go to the annual jazz festival on the beach in Playa Del Carmen or see the second annual Ironman Competition from the beginning here in Cozumel. From the pics, you can see what we decided! Oh, and if you're confused, the photos are not of us!

The Ironman competion consists of a 2.5 miles swim, a bike course of 112 miles, and then a full 26.2 mile marathon. The swim began at 6:45AM and the winner finished in slightly over 8 hours. The competition finally closed out at midnight.

For the second morning in a row, we got up before 5:00 AM (this Mexican life is so demanding!) and biked with Lynn and Bob down to Chankanab to see 2300 competitors take off swimming portion of the race. We had fun talking to some of the athletes before they started and then to the families and supporters who were along the road for the biking and running portions of the competion.

After the horn was sounded, the thousands of arms starting pumping and splashing the water. The safety personnel were on boats, surf boards and scuba and they all had difficulty keeping up with the pace of the swimmers.

The first swimmer was out of the water in 40 minutes and running through a "drive thru" shower to his bicycle.

After over a 112 miles on their bikes pedalling around the southern half of the island 3 times, the competitors hand off their bikes, kick off their bike shoes and run to their bags of running attire. Then they run through large tents and come charging out the other side lathered with sunscreen alternately drinking and dousing themselves with liquid.

After more than 8 hours of flat out swimming, biking and the last leg of a marathon run, the winner crosses the finish line. Some athletes wouldn't finish for another 9 hours. There are competitors who have prostheses and another who was paralyzed from the waist down. What a truly inspiring event!

Here's the winner, Andy Potts.

Sunrise on the other side

We just experienced our first sunrise on the other side of the island. Like so many other happenings here, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time yesterday when our friends, Becky and Desiree were talking about making the trip. Next thing I knew, Ed and I were picked up at 5:15 this morning and got to Mescalitos just as the sky was showing the first tinge of light. We watched as the color was brushed on the sky's pallette and the waves started working up to daytime zeal. Six of us (Becky, Steve, Bob, Lynn, Ed and I) quieted down as the day came alive.

After the sun was up and running, Becky, being the good Catholic girl that she is, said that it was time for penance. We sure like her kind of penance! She pulled out 3 humongus lawn bags for us to use to pick up garbage on the beach. In a matter of less than an hour, we had them all filled and up by the road. As providence would have it, we saw Rita and Robert in their pickup with their 3 dogs. They were happy to take the bags to the closest receptacle.

Our friend, Kathy, started a Facebook group called Trashy Little Group. In that hour with teamwork, we have increased the bag total by a third. YES!


On the way home we stopped for a breakfast of fish tacos. It doesn't get much better than this.

Photos to follow!

Thanks to good friends

Last week, Bob and Lynn, stopped by for a visit. Lynn used the downstairs half bath before getting ready to leave. Then Ed went into the bathroom. We heard Ed turn the knob after he was done but did not hear the door open. The next thing we heard was a little more frantic knob twisting and pushing on the door. Then, some minor screaming as Ed is slightly claustrophobic!Bob immediately got to work using a screw driver to pry the bolt back - to no avail. The bolt had actually broken off and was not moving at all! The knob turned, but no movement of the bolt. Stuck tight. Mo door movement at all. The next thing Bob did was take the hinges off the door. Ed started applying increasingly more pressure - still no give. Finally, Ed was able to, with some pounding and slight damage to the door, get out. Bob then went home to get their convertible Mustang and came back with the top down. Over to the carpenter, the door went as it suffered some splintering. It has become part of our daily routine to check on the door at the carpenter and always "manana". Manana turned into well over a week. On this day of Thanksgiving, we give thanks for the good ventilation in the bathroom and to Bob and Lynn for getting Ed out the toilet and for taking manana with good humor.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a fine day this is. We hope that you all are finding much for which to be grateful. Our day started with an unusually loud chorus of birds as we opened our eyes - the mockingbirds trying out their various choral arrangements, the parrots' rush hour to work down south and the banana quits squeaking as they made their first fill-up of the day at the feeders and the Birds of Paradise.



Rode my bike down to Yoga by the Sea. Our practice today was focusing on the people we love and cherish - the ones who can't be here in Cozumel with us, the people who can't be with any of their loved ones today and the people who have passed on. With a heart full of gratitude, I stretched and strengthened and meditated. Then into the water for a swim with my mask and fins - sand dollars, puffers, needle fish, juvenile angels, flounder, stoplight parrot fish and lots of blue tangs. The grand finale of the morning was Blue Angel Resort's banana pancake breakfast. Yes!



I got to do all of this wonderful stuff while Ed worked on door sweeps and re-directing water that drains from the roof when it rains. I am so thankful for him - that he makes our living here possible with all of his work and planning. And we are so thankful for our family and friends. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives.

Baby turtles everywhere!

Our friends, Lynn and Bob, took us to see baby turtles digging out of their nests on the other side of the island when we first arrived. A experience we'll never forget, even with our impaired memory! We're not going to say much or show you much here because friends have said it more eloquently in their blog -dickandgwenreporting.com- and shown it more dramatically -see a wonderful video by Lynn on my facebook page.

The very short story of it is that biologists over the last 6 months watched mother turtles dig 4300 nests, 3 meters down in the sand about 50 feet from the ocean. The biologists marked the nests with dates. After the gestation period was up, the scientists together with volunteers went back to some of the nests and helped the hatched baby turtles (green and loggerhead) make their way to the surface. It takes three days for the turtles to reach the surface. Then, they take off instinctively for the sea gaining speed and strength as they go. To see their little heads at the surface in the surf and to know that 1 in a 1000 will survive to return and lay their own eggs here in 17-20 years is ........well, fill in your own adjective!

Stopped By to Say Hello or Incredible Journey?

Our early morning visitor

Happy Reunion

We've told you in the past how we enjoy having friends here drop in for a visit. Well, it rained pretty well this morning and we were awakened by it as well as the constant meowing by one insistent cat. Peggy got up to close the north windows and was greeted by the cat who walked right in as she opened the door. It was clear that the cat had been here before! The cat belonged to Jake and Sara, our tenants who vacated the house in October. Within an hour of texting them, the reunion occurred. The cat had been gone for about a week - Cozumel's mini version of the Disney movie "Incredible Journey"!

First Days in Cozumel

Peggy D's bougainvilla

Elephant ears soaring to new heights over our heads!

Emerald hummingbird waiting his turn at the feeder

The wonders of tropical rain storms and what they produce

We came back to find our house and garden in great shape. The bougainvilla, hibiscus, the baby palm, the lipstick plants, elephant ears and so many of the cuttings Ed "borrowed" last year are thriving. Ed lost no time planting the heirloom tomato seeds gleaned from our farmer's market purchases this summer and some scarlet runner beans with a flower that the hummers love. The feeders are up and the banana quits together with the hummers are draining them daily.

Grandkid tour - final stop

Our last stop before flying to Cozumel was in Hempstead, Texas. Grandson Cody at age 7 leads a dream life for little boys. He gets to spend a good amount of time ATV'ing (is that a verb, really?), fishin', shootin' (with alot of supervision, y'all!) and wrestling with his four big dogs. He loves school and it shows on his report cards.

Target practice

Jamie is an intent instructor and Cody is trying to hold steady.

Grandpa will do if the dogs aren't around!

Grandkid tour - stop 2

Nothing much better than Charlie's grin!

Who needs a trampoline, a bed works just great!

Pals with wheels!



It's almost as hard to get a picture of Adrienne and Damian as it is to get their kids to stay in one place long enough for a snapshot.

First of all, happy birthday to Adrienne! Hope you won't be reading this until mid-morning after sleeping in. We're sure that you will have two very willing little ones to help you unwrap your presents.

The Hirst household continues to be high octane - with singing, peels of laughter, clanging of impromptu instruments and banging of whatever can be found to be used as a tool. Ellie at age two and two thirds squeezes the most out of every waking moment. Charlie at one and one sixth years of age is following in his sister's footsteps - climbing whatever can be found to climb and tumbling about with seemingly few to zippo nerve endings.

Tour of the grandkids - Stop 1

Yes, we are back in Cozumel! After a perfect summer in Cedaredge doing the things we love to do including a fun and crazy visit from our Plano and Broomfield daughters and grandkids, we are settled back in on the island. On our way here, we wanted to spend some more time (there's really never enough time!) with all of the grandkids. The first stop was Broomfield on Halloween. It's a great place to be, with busloads of kids trick or treating. Jamie found the perfect costume for Alex - a combination of her favorite colors and her favorite animal. Alex, at age 4, is a true Halloween marathon athlete - even after being sick in the days leading up to the event! Aubrey, 8 months old, is the sweetest little lamb who could win any billiards championship with her trajectory calculations. To explain, when she sees an object that she wants to play with, she simply rolls to it making corrections along the way.

I asked Jamie if she could get a picture of her family that wasn't the typical posed set-up.

Grand finale for our tour de grandchildren

After we raised as much havoc as we could in Texas, we drove up to Broomfield (Colorado) to see the most recent addition to our family, Aubrey, her big sister, Alex, Jamie and Eric. We had so much fun playing in the backyard, going to neighborhood parks, watching Disney movies, going to the mall with walkie talkies (dangerous), playing hide and seek, playing on the Wii and just enjoying each other.

Alex got the hang of the walkie talkies right away. She learned quickly that she had to hold down a button in order to talk. One finer point that she missed was that she didn't have to yell for Papa to hear her! Alex provided great entertainment for the sales staff with her big voice emanating from her petite body. Alex is normally so quiet that none of the adults with her was inclined to try to lower her pitch.

Aubrey is a real snuggler. Her favorite position is being nestled right up to our hearts. Fine by us! She changed so much in the short week we were there. She's starting to coo and to smile - such a wonderful thing! Jamie and Eric are such laid back parents and a great team.

Aunt Adrienne made this headdress for Miss Aubrey.

Papa has Aubrey in just the right spot!

A little Barbie wrestling with Alex's best friend, Avery.

Papa is just so much fun!

Back in Dallas

To say that the Hirst household is high energy is really understating it! All waking moments are spent travelling at high speed with lots of laughter and fun. We wanted to get a picture of Ellie playing kickball but she moves way too fast. So we had to settle for a picture on one of her many modes of transportation.

Charlie boy is following in his sister's footsteps by loving his mama's prepared fruits and veggies.


First bite of fresh apple!

So great to have the weather turning warm so that water activities can be expanded from bath time. This Texas sized ball sprays water from the hose. So much fun!

More good times in Texas country

We have come to expect that we will find dishes we love in Texas grocery stores but had no idea that Peggy would find the cowboy hat of her dreams at the local grocery store in Hempstead! Peggy has been looking for "the hat" since her last red cowboy hat at age 1! The effect is enhanced by her 7 year old farm boy grandson Cody.

Grandpa followed Cody's fishing advice and caught some great bass at each of the fishing holes we visited. We can only imagine how big they will be when we return in November.

This is the barn on the 50-acre Baxter parcel between College Station and Waco. Cody seems to know every square foot of the property.

Grandma's favorite tree in the "front yard".

While in Hempstead we enjoyed going to Cody's baseball practices as well as to a real game. Here's Cody with his homerun swing. Unfortunately this one resulted in a miss. The game was exciting and right down to the wire. In spite of Cody's RBI, his team, the Red Sox, lost 6-4 to the Pirates.