A summary of summer:

There may not have been many mangoes (lack of chilling hours) but fun to be remembered with our friends who instigated the mini adventure. Those giant bags of sugar were donated. It seemed a strange donation then realized this is very helpful in this oasis town known for turning their produce into dulces and mermelada etc etc etc

It really is all the little moments that make life fun, an obvious statement . Just those tiny beautiful scenes that stick in your head or those silly things that happen . And so that was my plan, many photos of the same special things…. Birds, sunrises and moonrises….because each may be a better than the last. But as I began collecting my photos for the last few months I realized we had been much busier than I thought. Hmm a combo!

The festival happens each year in San Bartolo. Who knew? :

Not sure where scooby doo’s paddle is at, but it does look like he’s got a life vest!

Summer is more time for games. Spanish scrabble!

I never get tired of taking cactus pictures. A friend and I were taught how to pat a cactus at the Cactus Sanctuary:

And now finally stating to paint them in oils.

The women of the DIF made all these cupcakes… wow

I always wonder how hard it was to wrap the tree in lights

And I got a mah Jong table for the pool!

And there is always time to stop for a picture of goats, wild horses, burros or cows…

For the third year in a row, we went to Todos Santos on my birthday. A bit cooler and very peaceful. We stayed in the same place for a couple nights of pacific surf.

Loved sharing Las Colibris Casitas with friends.

Less than 10 years ago you could not find peanut butter here. Now there are 4 types. However I’ve never seen a Mexican kid eating a peanut butter sandwich…. It’s for us! our visitors are thankful they no longer need to bring us peanut butter in their suitcases.

And I never tire of iguana pics. They disappear in the cool months then reappear every summer.

We still don’t understand soccer but the body language in this pic says it all. (This is the moment when they lost their chance for the semi finals).

Before the game started this (very big hearted) Mexican guy made a bet with this British guy that if Mexico lost and vice versa that they would shave their heads. Much chillier in the uk so perhaps it worked out for the best.

Summer clouds spark the imagination. A big poodle right?

I think this one wanted to sell me Geico insurance.

Before starting our annual Curso de Verano Job we had a brief training session with friends from California and their 4 children. The kids made the training very easy by happily helping me to paint placemats, hunt and house hermit crabs, snorkel tour, ATV tour, make sushi and laugh and laugh and laugh…. A perfect preceptorship with a wonderful family.

Every year, throughout the year, money is raised for summer camp by setting up chairs in the cancha to watch first run movies. we love movie night! Then the funds are used to buy supplies and staff the camp. This year the theme is whale sharks. Marine biologists come from the university in La Paz to teach the children about them and at the end we snorkel out in front of Mar y Sol. We love helping to teach swim but the pull of Guelaguetza took us away a bit early.

The 50 lb bag of flour bought at the beginning of the year has not all been used but it’s getting close! And so nice to bake in my new oven.

The art walk may not be as exciting in the summer but such a beautiful evening to stroll through the galleries. Those golden shower trees in this pic have no leaves then suddenly burst out with flowers each summer.

The LB summer is coming to an end with great memories and gatherings. We both feel life has so much to do with good luck . So lucky we have been to share so many wonderful moments with friends this summer (even if 3/4 of the town left)

An amazing drummer (now teaching at kids camp)

And in between excitement, so great to toss chairs and dinner in the ATV and take them to the beach

Almost forgot to mention the COW PLOP!! (A well done rotary event)

Brant and couple other guys laid out that grid with lime. Then ranchers brought the cows and then we waited for the plop….(this of course is an oversimplification of the event organization that included bands, food trucks, races, chicken shit bingo … etc etc)…. Many hundreds of hours and people preceded by a parade to the event.

Now we are on a plane headed to our next adventure. We always say late spring and summer, things quiet down and we get a chance to take care of our home and catch up on reading etc. yet it never seems we accomplish as much as we thought we would. After looking through these pics I think I understand why that is!