Decided not to do much today. Go swimming. I worked on mastering my go pro type camera. Worked on my blog.

Early morning walker on the beach.

Later we went to My Paradise to hang out at the beach, under unbrellas and have lunch and drinks.

In the evening…

Planned to snorkel and film the reef. Its windy this morning. Arrived at the pier, not sure about going out…. but I has my gear, was slathered with reef friendly suncreen. So hey why not. Visability made filming imposible, so another day for that.We picked up 2 teachers from Seattle at their place.Saw a sea turtle.

This morning the sun was shining the winds were low. Met Joaquín at the pier. Went snorkeling with a couple from Kentucky and a couple from eastern Canada.I was already un the waters. I like to be first because your able to see things under the boat before the others get in. Pictures much better today.

Trumpet Fish

This pompano is huge. Cant really tell.

Barracudas

Sleeping nurse shark

A reflection from coral on the waters surface

Was waiting all weekend for today. The wind was its lowest for the week. Hoping for good underwater pics today. Got up go grey cloudy skies. The natural light wont be good. Got ready and met Joaquin at the pier at 10 a.m.  while waiting waiting for other snorkelers to arrive. It started pouring rain. We agreed to meet again at 12:30.

Came back at 12:15. Still raining. The pier is deserted.  No snorkeling today.

We just hung it at our place….listening to músic for my trusty Ipod. I’m working on this blog. Layed in the hammock, watching the rain.

Planning to meet Joaquin, Divemaster, for a Day of snorkeling. It’s Orie’s first time snorkeling in océan. I want conditions to be optimal. Could tell when we walked to the pier, it was windy. Wasn’t sure it was a good idea but decided to go for it.

It’s windy, choppy, and the swimming against the current was rough. We’d swim up to the reef but the current pushed us away back to the eel grass. Orie did really well. She hung onto the life preserver and the divemaster pulled her around. It was great, most first time snorkelers have problems breathing through the snorkel. She mástered it.

Although the current was strong and waters was stirred up, got some pictures.

It’s the weekend in Puerto Morelos,things get busier. So we’ve been walking around town, hanging by the pool listening to music.We took a taxi to the large supermarket, (Cheddar oo ee) to get some food and snacks. I was sad to find that Martin’s the little grocery store closed. Was told that it was due to Cheddar ooee opening….it didn’t make sense because it was out of the main town.. On,y to find out that a Cheddar ooee had opened in PM a few blocks away.Orie cooked a big breakfast.Every afternoon à car comes loaded with parties from a bakery in Cancun.

My friend and former co worker, Orie, we retired about the same time. She’s always said that she’s afraid of the water and doesn’t swim.

I got her to go tubing in the river, then swim in Lake Texoma, 30 ft deep wearing a life jacket. She is particularly afraid of the ocean and the unknowns in it.

Been working with her at home, fitting her gear, and explaining everything.

Last eve, she practiced in the pool, before we go out to the reef in a boat. I was so proud of her…swimming around the pool on snorkel. Another person that loves the ocean is born!!!!

After the kitchen redo, the outside of my house was looking sad. After Miguel’s paint job,  It looks Happy!

Almost finished Kitchen.

For the last several years, I’ve dreamed of remodeling my kitchen. I like to cook but especially love to bake. This summer, 2018, I started seriously planning.

The kitchen configuration wasn’t “work friendly”. There was a partial wall divider, that caused your cooking space to be very tiny.

I started working with Lowe’s and Ikea. Wanted to work as the general contractor, arranging for all the jobs. We build a custom house in 1985, I didn’t like working through a middle man. I like to deal with the workers directly.

My sister in law, Beth, flew down from Oklahoma to help me with selections. She has really good taste. Her house is darling. She’s so sweet and has helped me before. I can make a decision, and even quickly…then I have self-doubt. We met with a planner and made selections at Lowe’s.  The next day we drove to Ikea in Austin. It poured rain and the traffic was horrible. We made selections at both places so we could get a quote.

Next in planning, finding the workers is a hard job. I tried to find personalized recommendations for workers to do each job. If not, I used “Home Advisor”. It’s suggested that you get at least 3 bids. On expensive jobs or I wasn’t sure, I got sometimes 5 bids.  Each time I learned more. Talking to the prospective workers was like doing job interviews, not my favorite from my past life in nursing management and business. At night I’d read up online, and try to make the right decision.

I did have a little secret weapon. My brother, Keith, owns a glass company in Oklahoma. He’s flipped houses before doing most of the work by himself. he started doing home improvements as a child with a little tool kit. My dad made my brothers do all the house and car repairs…while he supervised. Wish I had learned all that practical stuff. While my brothers and dad were fixing things. I had to help my stepmother in the kitchen, not cooking, which I liked. I was the dishwasher…before the days of mechanical dishwashers.

Additionally, my best friend, Denise….her husband Mike, a construction lawyer and who worked in construction years before going to law school.  He gave me a guide of approx how much each job should cost. It was a very valuable guideline and helped me so much.

This was my kitchen before.

Son cook at holiday

Before

Kitchen divided by this wall