Just for fun

2 January 2009

Winter Fun in Mexico City

Jim Family, Just for fun, Mexico, Video Blogs 0

After getting some advice from our friends the Poulettes, we decided to go down to the Mexico City Zocalo for a little winter fun.

The highlight of the day was supposed to be ice skating, but there was an 8 hour wait. So much for that!

However, Nathanael got the chance to go tubing in the snow. And Hannah and Nathanael both built snowmen (little ones – you’ll see). We also got to visit the market and the Sanbourns restaurant at the house of tiles, so we had fun.

Having missed the skating at the zocalo, we decided to try out our skating rink here in Ixtapaluca today. As far as we know, this was Hannah and Nathanael’s first time on skates! It was fun, but I think we all used a lot of muscles that we don’t use all that often. 😉

So here’s some video and pictures – first downtown Mexico City, then here in Ixtapaluca. Grandpa and Grandma Winger were along, but only Grandpa went skating this time…

28 December 2008

At the Mall on December 26

Jim Just for fun, Practical matters, Prayer and Praise 0

I thought my Canadian friends might be interested in this. I went to the mall – actually, two malls, here in town on the 26th of December. They were open. But they were dead. Not too many people around. Nice and peaceful, actually. Never seen them so quiet.

As I walked out in a parking lot, thinking how different things probably were in Canada, I glanced down and saw a licence plate that said Beautiful British Columbia (I don’t think I’ve ever seen another Canadian plate here in Ixtapaluca, except people we know)!

I guess old habits die hard – that mall has probably never seen such a high percentage of Canadians!

I wasn’t at the mall looking for deals, I was actually getting what I hope will be the last prescribed drugs I need for a while. I’ve been fighting some kind of stomach thing since before conference (at the end of November). I was actually quite sick at conference, then got a little better, then worse again.

Anyway, after several doctor’s visits, I think I’m on the mend. The doctor things I’m probably somewhat undernourished after all that time, so he’s got me on some super-vitamins for a while. Between that and the turkey, I should do fine… 😉

9 December 2008

Explain our bathroom wall.

Jim Just for fun 0

Seriously, explain this to me. What exactly were they thinking?

Here we have our bathroom wall – the part over the sink. Directly in the middle, where the mirror should be, is a switch. So if you want a mirror over the sink, it also needs to be over the switch and plug in (the only plugin).

Someone got the idea to put the mirror off to one side, but it’s a mirror with a light, so they wired it in from what was probably supposed to be a spot for a light above it.

Maybe someday we’ll be able to save up the money to get that switched moved.

Meanwhile, another reminder that with careful planning and creativity, anything is possible.

6 December 2008

About Modern Times

Jim Computers and internet, Just for fun, News and current issues, Video Blogs 0

Every once in a while it’s good to remind ourselves about some of the realities of the modern world. Much of what’s in this video you may have heard before, but it’s a great collection of information (and we all need more information!).

There’s an obvious orientation toward viewers from the USA, but I’m sure those of us from elsewhere can find useful information beyond that….

(Note: I’m not sure the music always fits what’s being said… but the audio isn’t necessary, so feel free to turn it down.) 🙂

Thanks to The Roes Garden for the heads up on this one.

4 December 2008

Our Wish Lists

Jim Family, Just for fun 0

Not wanting to be selfish here in the season of generosity, but some people have been asking about our wish lists at amazon.com. 🙂 We have had them listed in RSS format on our feeds page, but that format really isn’t incredibly useful, so I thought I’d just publish the links right here.

As you see, the kids have a combined wish list at the moment. They both love books, so that’s basically what’s there. Shari’s wish list is brand new, so there’s not much on it yet. Also, you’ll notice there are quite a few things here that will be helpful for our ministry, especially on my wish list (ie Bibles, books on culture, etc).

We wrote earlier about general information about sending care packages (not just to us, but whomever). Also, all of you who get our newsletter have address information and where to send what. For more information, feel free to contact us.

Shari’s Wish List

Hannah and Nathanael’s Wish List

Jim’s Wish List

17 October 2008

Shari and the Apple Pies

Jim Food, Mexico, Ministry glimpses 3

You need to understand the difference. Baked goods are a big deal here in Mexico. Sweet bread, cakes, doughnuts, buns – and if you go to a few birthday parties you’ll see cakes baked and decorated beyond belief.

Baking, on the other hand, is not big in Mexico. You go to the store for the baked goods, you don’t pull them out of your oven. In fact, some people store dishes in their oven.

So a bunch of the ladies of the church got together at Tania’s house to learn how to make apple pies. And boy did they have fun.

Crystal brought her Mamita’s super-duper-home-baked recipe from the USA. They managed to round up a few rolling pins from who knows where. Shari brought some mini-cookie cutters to make the crust fancy. And Tania invited some ladies from her neighbourhood.

They chopped up the apples. Crystal made sure they got the filling right. Shari got everyone making the perfect flaky crusts (in most cases!).

Crystal with
a completed apple pie

Some of the ladies were introduced to Jesus for the first time. And everyone made new friends.

Now they’re thinking of doing an encore performance – with some of the ladies who were running things and didn’t get to see all the “pie making secrets”. So the story may not be over yet!

As a side note, it looks like there will be some other baking going on here next week. Two months or so ago, Hannah and a girl from our neighbourhood were around the house, and I offered them some apple dumplings. Ever since that day, the girl has been bugging her Mom to make her some "apple pie" like she had at Hannah’s house. So her Mom knocked on our door and talked to Shari about coming over for an apple pie/dumpling lesson.

In my opinion, there’s nothing like making friends with food involved. And if I’m not doing it myself, I’ll be hoping to catch some of the leftovers!

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