Chili and Charros

Today we competed in an international chili competition, led by our friend and world famous chili cook, Jim Parker, owner of the Hard Times Cafe in Alexandria, Virginia.  This annual competition in San Miguel was a great excuse for Jim to come on down to visit.

Besides the chili cooking contest there was a margarita contest with fifty percent of the judging for presentation. That made for some nice looking drinks.

 

The chili rules require that the chili be cooked completely on site. Jim was prepared with bottles of premeasured spices and he brought his ground beef with him from the US.

While the cooking was proceeding the entertainment included a great band, roping and riding displays and horseback rides.

 

Most people got in the mood by dressing in traditional Mexican dress, or at least cowboy boots and and sombreros. 

  

This was cutest little donkey.  I want to take it home.

  

Well, the prize for the first through third place was automatic entry in the international Terlingua Texas chili cookoff finals.  Here is Jim with his place card.

 

Oh well, we are going to do this next year and get it right.

Papel Picado

I am a big fan of papel picado, the traditional art of cutting or punching intricate designs in colorful tissue paper which is then strung to decorate a celebration or fiesta.  These are now commonly produced using stamped templates appropriate for the celebration:  flowers and birds for springtime and weddings, skulls and other death images for day of the dead, and Navidad or other themes. Sometimes they are made from plastic to resist wind and weather outside.

I discovered a little store that sells the flower/bird theme tissue paper variety and kind of got carried away putting them in my guest bedroom.

I also found a miniature version for day of the dead which I hung over the bed.

I love the delicate detail in each flag.

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

2010 arrived with a beautiful Blue Moon over the Parroquia, accompanied by the music of a band from Mazatlan playing Cuban rhythms. The next time New Year's eve will fall on a Blue Moon is 2028.




An annual accompaniment to New Year's  festivities in San Miguel are 3 foot long sparklers wielded by children and often inebriated adults; definitely not my favorite part but certainly exciting and festive.

Warm wishes to all for an amazing 2010.