Friday, April 27, 2018

DIANA VILLAMONTE SHOW, DINNER IN PUERTO VALLARTA

Jon's Happy Birthday Weekend Was Great!

Diana Villamonte's Tina Turner Show was Exceptional!
     Jon’s birthday wish was to see the Tina Turner show performed by Diana Villamonte at Act II in Puerto Vallarta. Her show was exceptionally good. She is a very talented singer with an amazing voice. We were surprised to find out that she was only 22 years old! She also does a “Motown and Beyond” show that we would love to see. The Act II 2108 schedule shows Diana’s “Motown andBeyond” show continues through May, Every Thursday at 5:00pm and June-July, Every Thursday at 8:00pm. If we don’t make it this season, hopefully she’ll return in the fall.
Diana is a Joy to Watch as She Performs
     Here is an excerpt from Act II's description of the Tina Turner show, "Diana has quite an extensive background as an artist, as well. She came to our attention as a contestant in Voice of Vallarta last season, and we found out that, as a child, she studied music, ballet, modeling and theater! She entered her first singing competition at age 10 and performed in several local plays. In 2014, she..." To read more, click HERE 
      Diana mentioned that she will only do two more Tina Turner shows this season, so I wanted to let others know that now is the time to buy tickets. Though I'm not a professional photographer, you may want to watch my video of her singing. If you can look past the amateur quality, you will see what an amazing singer she is. To view the video online click HERE.
     We tried two new restaurants in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta. Both had exceptional service, and food. The ambiance at Joe Jack's Fish Shack was casual and fun. Martini en Fuego was classic Mexican, with special attention from owner/chef Roberto Gonzalez, perfect for Jon's birthday. We recommend both.
Joe Jack's Fish Shack's Upstairs Terrace
We loved the old movie posters decoupaged onto the 
upstairs terrace walls at Joe Jack's Fish Shack.
Joe Jack's Fish Shack's Classy Bar
Martini en fuego's Owner/Chef Roberto Gonzalez
made Jon and me feel right at home.
Happy Birthday Rib-eye Steak for Jon at Martini en fuego
It's easy to miss this little Mexican restaurant,
 across from Bravo's on Francisco I. Madero.
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     To read more of my blog articles and books, and to get a preview of my new novel, take a look at my website, www.HealthyLivingandTravelinginMexico.com.
"Terry L Turrell, Author Page"

Sunday, April 15, 2018

OUR TROPICAL GARDEN IN MEXICO--A Little Bit of Paradise

Year-Round Color and Sound  

These Tropical Flowers Bloom Year-Round
     One of the splendors of living in tropical México is the year-round beauty in our garden. Plants are always blooming, some all year long, some for a season. Green is the background color all year, with vibrant pinks popping out throughout. Orange flowers bring the hummingbirds. The bougainvillea bring other birds for the shade and a meal of insects. The red berries hanging from a palm tree bring the chachalacas.
Vibrant Pink Leaves Popping Through the Papaya Tree
These Orange Flowers Bring Hummingbirds
Red Berries in the Palm Tree Bring Chachalacas
Bougainvilleas Bring Groove-Billed Ani Birds
     The garden is a riot of color throughout the year—variegated leaves mix yellow, red, and green on one plant, striated light and dark greens in another that appears north of the border only as a house plant, and the purples and greens of the wandering jew plant creating a colorful ground-cover. For those of us who enjoy gardening, this is paradise. For others, it is an exquisite backdrop in daily life.
     Fruit-bearing plants including papaya, bananas, and pomegranates, grow well in our yard, only requiring weekly watering during the dry season. So, I decided to try planting a Roma tomato seed in one of my pots this spring. It not only sprouted and is climbing up a column of our terrace, reaching for the roof, but it is also producing nice-sized tomatoes.
We Have a Small Bunch of Bananas This Year
It's Fun to Watch the Papaya Bloom and Produce Fruit
Our Roma Tomato Vine is Reaching for the Roof
     Jon and I have both enjoyed watching the tomato plant grow, checking each day to see how many new tiny green tomatoes have set on. I thought it might be too humid to grow tomatoes here since I found when I lived in Houston, Texas, the tomatoes mildewed on the vine before they ever began to turn red. But a sunny spot in the yard and some good home-made compost in the soil are all we needed! Next, we’ll try jalapeños and cucumbers. The growing season is so long here, it’s wonderful for wanna-be farmers like us.
     One of our favorite bright spots in the garden is our poinsettia plant from Christmas 2016. After Christmas that year, I plunked it into a pot where it gets afternoon sun for a few hours each day. I ran two one-gallon drippers from my irrigation system to the pot so it gets watered weekly during the dry season from October through May. It has grown to be three feet tall with amazingly bright red flowers that have lasted from January through spring.  
     Then our plumeria and orange hibiscus begin blooming, bringing more hummingbirds. What a wonderful addition to our already vivid garden, letting us know it’s spring in the tropics.
     Our small water feature creates a wonderful bubbling background sound in our garden. It brings hummingbirds, Yellow-winged Caciques, and little Yellow Warblers to the fountain to bathe and drink while sitting on the bubbling rock or in the pool of water. Jon built it from a small pond pump, a plastic plant pot, and various other parts. Watch the short video below to enjoy the musical sound it makes. To view the video online, click HERE.
Our Bubbling Water Feature Brings Birds
     Our bubbling fountain also provides a display for some of the many rocks and seashells we have collected in our years of travelling. These are some of the few trinkets we brought with us when we moved to México, reminding us of many good memories we have shared on the road.
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To read more about
“RETIREMENT Before the Age of 59: Healthy Living in Mexico #2”
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     Thank you for reading my books and blogs. Look for my new novel, "Just Another Manic Moment" on Amazon worldwide. View my Amazon Author Page by clicking HERE.
Terry L Turrell, Author