Category Archives: Food

Paso Finos, Pulgueros y Playas


Britton and Aeden at the beach

We’ve been staying pretty busy with the kiddo, the cabana rental and the flower business but we also get out and about quite a bit as well. We recently went to Costa restaurant in Mayaguez for brunch (very good place!) after selling flowers at the farmer’s market and stumbled upon a Paso Fino competition. Paso Finos are a type of horse that has a very light gait (Paso Fino means Fine Step). The riders “jinetes” were judged on their posture, how their hands were in the reigns and other signs of an easy ride. The judges checked the horses for an even step on each of the four hooves as well as the general aesthetics and beauty of the beast. It sort of reminded me of rodeos in Colorado except you would never see a cowboy there in a tuxedo haha!


Paso Fino Competition Mayaguez


Me and Aeden at the competition


Paso Finos


Playa Buye

Then we drove down to Playa Buye for a quick afternoon stop. It is always a busy and popular beach.


At Buye Beach

We’ve also been checking out the local Pulgueros. Pulguero means Flea Market and is almost a direct translation since the word flea in Spanish is “pulga.” We like to go to the big market in San Sebastian on Friday mornings and we also made it just in time for the one in the Mani sector of Mayaguez Sunday mornings. We are not so much interested in all the household and random goods as the produce, plant and animal selections we can find. I am trying to talk Britton into some water features at the property and would love to have ducks, geese and koi fish for them. We found some pretty neat fruit trees, flowers and other interesting plants as well as a connection for some more heliconias and gingers. Britton says he can’t believe he is back visiting flea markets since he spent so much of his youth at them that he came to avoid them. But they are a little different here than in Colorado as you can see.


Angel Trumpets are awesome plants that smell wonderful but they are also semi-illegal/regulated in Puerto Rico because of its dangerous poisons (I still want them though!)


This variety of banana is called “Johnson” here in Puerto Rico. It’s actually a Cavendish but look how big they grow!
Flea market fried food fare: The golden brown thing is a “taco” (very different from a Mexican taco) and the darker brown one is an “alcapurria” They are both stuffed with meat, potato and seasonings


We saw this as we were leaving San Sebastian! Holy Plantains!


Mani Pulguero as it was clearing out -A seaside flea market!


At the Mani Market


Checking out all the kids stops too: at Yogufruti in Anasco (I love frozen yogurt so the fact that kids love it too is just an excuse! 🙂 )


Aeden really is a good kid and just goes along wherever we go! We need to start bringing a stroller though because he is getting big and harder to carry!


Nuestro bebe colora’o

Whenever we go out people exclaim “Colora’o!” “Colora’o!” At first I thought they knew we were from Colorado and then I realized that they were talking about Aeden’s red-colored hair! 🙂 They also LOVE, LOVE babies here. Women almost always get a super high pitched voice and say “Ayy que lindo! Dios lo bendiga” and sometimes can’t help but touch him. I will often offer him up to abuelitas (grandmothers) to hold when I see them longing for him. They love to pat him and smell his head. They also tell me about their children and grandkids and give lots of advice. It’s very sweet.


At Pepe’s Pizzeria in Stella of Rincon another seaside favorite

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Britton’s Surprise Birthday Party and Dome’s Beach Trail


With some friends

We always have fun going out and about as well as staying in at the property, but for Britton’s birthday we had a little something different in mind. A surprise! Our neighbors Kim, Anthony and Lamar and I helped plan a surprise birthday party just up the street and it was so much fun! Britton had no idea when we stopped in to say hello before our planned beach outing that there was a party there just for him. We had a great time and love our neighborhood and friends.


Surprise!
Anthony, Kim and the birthday boy


A make-your-own pizza party and homemade carrot cake! The best!


Fun times, good food and great friends

We had to whisper the Happy Birthday song because Aeden was starting to fall asleep. In Puerto Rico you can sing the English version of “Happy Birthday to You” or the Spanglishized version “Cumpleaños Feliz” but you should always add this song after:

Feliz, feliz en tu día
Amiguit@ que Dios te bendiga
Que reine la paz en tu vida
Y que cumplas muchos más

It translates to: Such happiness on your day, my friend we hope God blesses you, that peace reigns in your life and that you celebrate many more birthdays!


We did have one little party pooper there though 🙂

We didn’t miss out on celebrating Britton’s birthday his expected way as well though. Taking a nice walk down one our favorite trails in Rincon following the Spanish Wall by Dome’s Beach is one of his favorite things so we made sure to do that as well.


Britton and the munchkin


Me and the babe with Pools Beach and Aguadilla in the background


Such a cool trail!


Out enjoying our beautiful town of Rincon


Dome’s Beach is named for this, well, dome -the non-working nuclear reactor plant


It’s a favorite beach for surfers


And a good place to hang a hammock


Spanish Wall was formerly a railroad used by the sugar cane industry


Sad Palm


Happy Family

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How to Make Coquito

Coquito means little coconut and it is the traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink. Sometimes compared to eggnog, coquito is not only the rum transport of choice this time of year, but also a common gift. Many stores have decorative bottles and pretty much everyone has a secret ingredient (everything from eggs to Nutella) in the version they make. Unlike eggnog which is commonly just purchased at a store in the states, most coquito is homemade.


Coquito Ingredients

I have had coquito before but never made it. I asked our neighbors Israel and Millie about it and they said we should make some together. Britton, Aeden and I spent an afternoon making this delicious, creamy goodness together. Check it out:

The recipe is pretty simple:
One can condensed milk
One can evaporated milk
One can coconut cream (usually Coco Lopez brand)
1-2 tablespoons vanilla
Ground cinnamon (nutmeg and cloves are also great) to taste
1/2 cup more or less of rum

Mix, refrigerate and serve or bottle and give to friends

Buen Provecho, Salud and Felicidades!

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Thank-Full

We have a lot to be thankful for this year. So many changes have occurred. This time last year we were just getting the electricity working again after two months without! Things were starting to come back to life, but the shock waves were still pulsing.


Walking on a “beach” this time last year (2017)


Beach sunset with Baby Aeden this year

In the year that followed we continued to clean up from the mess of the hurricane and then I became pregnant for the first time ever after many years of trying! It was a wonderful gift but also very taxing on me, and Britton. He had to take care of the whole property and also help me. During this time, Britton’s father became sick and died and that was very hard on us because we are so far from the rest of the family. Additionally we started the flower business and continued to push forward.


My sweet baby!

When Baby Aeden was born right around the anniversary of Hurricane Maria, we experienced a sigh of relief that was short lived. Only 5 days after he was born I became very sick and was hospitalized for nearly 2 weeks out of the first 3 of his life. In a very short period of time I came to understand how precious and yet fragile life really is. I am so grateful to still be here in this realm with these two loves: Britton and Aeden.


Britton and Aeden at the beach

We spent Thanksgiving with our friends Missy and Ben and their family as well as other great friends who have helped us through this very tough year. We are so grateful to them. I don’t know how we could have managed that without them.


Thanksgiving dinner


Delicious food on fancy china!


Baby’s got to eat too!


A visit to a neighbor’s tortoise

So beautiful!


Climbing palm trees!

Baby hanging with the big kids

I love Thanksgiving because it gives us the opportunity to step back and reflect on what we are truly thankful for in our lives: our family, our friends, and our beautiful, precious and fleeting lives. Our life is full of thanks!

PS: Baby Aeden is now over 2 months old and doing great!

 

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