May 2020

May in Denver

May has been a full and a delightful month for us here in Denver.  We have been able to get out more with each passing week.  Our concerns about the pandemic, at least for now, have lessened as we have learned more about it and how to stay safe--using a mask is a vital part of that and maintaining proper social distancing.  How many times have we left the apartment, only to have to turn around and go back to get our masks ?  Ours are lovingly handmade by our friend, Jennifer, so wearing them is a daily reminder of her and and her kindness and we thank her each time.

As many of you probably know, May can be a roller coaster ride weather wise here in Denver--we have seen days of near freezing weather and snow and days at or above 90--but for the most part it has been lovely with lots of sun, blue skies and nature returning to life.

Erin

As we noted in an earlier post, Erin was able to relocate to Denver on a temporary basis because of the COVID-19 situation in the Bahamas. 

Walking on preserved 9th Street Park
on the CU campus (homes from 1800’s)

Since her arrival, it has been a delight to see her on a frequent basis.   We try to visit once or twice a week, often walking in parks and public places, in the open air.

On a bench in Cheesman Park

Two of our favorite walks are on the now deserted CU-Denver campus and Cheesman Park--a wonderful large park near Erin's temporary abode.

These photos were taken earlier in May, when the weather was cooler and the trees were practically bare.

Mother's Day

On Mother's Day, Bryn, Joel and Charlie invited us to celebrate the day with them at their home near Golden. It was a beautiful, sunny and blue-sky spring day.

The Fam, less Joel

We had a wonderful brunch with crab cake eggs Benedict and Bloody Marys, thanks to Chef Joel and drinks master, Sue.

It was perhaps one of the best Mother's Days that we can recall. It has been a while since both our daughters have been able to share the day with us.

Mother's Day may be a "Hallmark" holiday, but it is still a great opportunity to enjoy being together.

Charlie under the elm

After our scrumptious meal and a hard fought corn hole contest in the back yard, we drove to a nearby public park for an open air walk.

Charlie found a giant tree (an elm I think) to admire.  iI certainly dwarfed him and the rest of us.  

One of the highlights of our walk was a paper boat race in a small spillway in the park.  Only one of our paper boats survived (Oma's), but we all had a fun time cheering on all of the entrants.

Charlie’s vessel 

We had made paper boats earlier--it was a new experience for Charlie, but he really enjoyed the activity, and it was fun sharing a memory from our childhood. Charlie made people for his boat, Erin had Duchess Kate in hers, Larry had some paper people and Sue drew a crew inside hers. Sadly, the paper people got caught on grasses and slowed the progress, so Sue had an advantage.  All the boats pretty much disintegrated towards the end.  Lots of fun, though !

The Flowers of May

As part of Denver's shelter in place policy, many places have been closed; one of our favorites and one that we often visit this time of year is the Denver Botanic Garden. We have missed walking there.

Fortunately, we have discovered a place nearby that provides an attractive and interesting alternative--the nearly deserted campus of the University of Colorado at Denver.

We walk and bike there almost everyday, and as May progressed the parade of blooms was almost non-stop.

We have shared our discovery with Charlie, Erin, Bryn, and Mart & Bob.

Charlie is sometimes willing to be official photographer.  

His pictures are often carefully framed and "edited." 

Notice the bee

His close-ups often reveal more detail and interest than the photos that some adults like us would normally take.

Also on campus is our community garden.  Just a couple of blocks from our condo building, the garden is easy for us to get to and tend. 

We first started planting in mid-April and already we have begun harvesting lettuce and mesclun, making for some wonderfully tasty Spring salads.

We have this for just this year

We are caring for two 8' X 4' raised beds--one that was assigned to our friend, Sue, whom we help and another that someone else has asked us to take over for this season.

Although the plots are small, they can accommodate a large variety of plants.  So far this year we have planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, lettuce, mesclun, peas, turnips, carrots, beets and Swiss chard to name some. 

Sue-2’s plot which we help with

Of course, it's early, so who knows what our harvests will be over the next weeks and months, but it is certainly fun and entertaining to plan, plant, water, weed, admire and EAT !

More Time With Charlie

Charlie on a break from Virtual School

Charlie, like most of the kids in America, has been attending school on-line these last few weeks--a new experience for all of us.

We and Erin have been trying to help Bryn with the process; since she is still working full time.  

It has not always been easy; it would be hard for any second grader to do the work on their own, so one of the adults always seems to be needed. 

Charlie is lucky as we all have access to the Internet and have the devices to perform the work.

Opa and Charlie out walking  

Many of you have probably had a similar experience, and now we all have a much higher appreciation for teachers.  

When all else fails, a "walk" thru the UC-Denver campus has provided an outlet for pent-up energy and boredom.

Falcons on a cross

A nesting pair of Peregrine falcons has been one of the things that we have been following--capturing them with an iPhone is not an easy task, but Charlie has been pretty successful. He has the patience necessary for the task.

The campus has also provided some additional challenges.  Charlie really liked leaping from one rock to another.

Some Final Thoughts

An ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 100,000 friends, family and neighbors; Depression-era unemployment, affecting the most vulnerable; uncertainty at home and abroad; hungry children and long lines at Food Banks; and now country wide protests following the murder of a Black man at the hands of the police--it's been a rough month.

We are incredibly fortunate; we are both in good health, a little creakier and a little slower, but we have the resources to weather these many crises. We hope that the same is true for all of you.

We have grave concerns about our country, though; we seem so divided and quite frankly, our president has not provided the leadership and empathy that is sorely needed.

Let us all strive to show more compassion and empathy; let us hope that we can hear and identify with those with whom we differ; and let's hope that our leaders find vision and compassion.

Stay safe and stay well.

Living through the Pandemic

We are republishing this, hoping the video will play this time. Apologies if it doesn't work...above our pay grade.

Cherry Creek Walking Trail near our apartment

We have been back in Denver for a a couple weeks now.  We are grateful to be back home, where we can shelter in place in more comfort and ease.

Our trip home from Mexico was quite easy and uneventful. Our apartment here in Denver, though small, has all that we need.

It is almost a guilty pleasure to be enjoying our time here, when so many selfless medical workers, first responders and even our grocery stores clerks are risking their health, and, for some, even their lives, to help the many who are in need during this crisis.

Our last night in Mexico, we spent a delightful farewell to Mexico at the Camino Real Hotel at the Juarez Airport with our friends, Mart & Bob and Jennifer & Steve. All of us made our decision to leave rather quickly.

A roving Mariachi Duo really made the evening memorable for us all.  They serenaded us with some favorite of our Mexican songs.

Mart and Bob on our balcony

The Larsons came on to Denver with us, as they no longer had a permanent residence, since selling their long time home in Alexandria.

It has been such a treat to have them with us during our transition back to the States and the onslaught of the Pandemic.

The cocktail hour--usually a gin & tonic, although at times we have substituted Margaritas or a Jameson on the Rocks--have often been the highlight of the day. With the unusually fine weather, we have been able to share drinks and conversation on our balcony. They have now moved to their own apartment in our building--just two floors directly below us, but we still share Happy Hour and visits.

Dinner time

Taking turns to make the evening meal has also been a nice luxury.

Despite the Pandemic, getting food and other necessities has not been difficult--there are a number of grocery stores and pharmacies within walking distance. And if we buy too much--there is always Uber to get us & our booty home.

We have also found a great wine and liquor store, The Argonaut, which is happy to deliver.

Sparrows on a bush beside Cherry Creek

Our governor, Jared Polis, was among the first governors to issue a stay-at-home order which we have tried to follow as closely as we can, but a daily walk has come to be almost a necessity for us.

On a recent walk, we noticed a group of sparrows who hadn't gotten the social distancing memo--but that's fine with us.

They certainly made a lovely chorus.

St. Cajetan Church

Since so many people no longer are able to work or go to school, the streets and sidewalks are nearly empty and often eerily quiet.

Walking on the CU-Denver campus, just a couple of blocks away, has made for a nice change. Students, faculty & staff are gone, but it is nice to stroll thru the campus and admire some of its interesting landmarks.

St. Cajetan, a deconsecrated Catholic Church, is a lovely architectural gem on the campus. It was the first Hispanic diocese in Denver, but when they created the campus in the fifties--the congregation moved elsewhere.

Golds Meir House

Another campus landmark is the Golda Meir House. Born in Kiev, her family moved to Milwaukee when she was a child, but she spent her teenage years here in Denver and learned a lot about community development, politics, and human rights while she lived here.









The Coronavirus seems not to have phased Mother Nature. The daffodils and other early flowers are springing up and some are in full bloom.

Of course, in early April here in Denver, we almost certainly have a number of snow storms in our future. But we can still enjoy the sunshine and blue skies.

We hope that Spring is visiting you and bringing you much joy.

Today we got to see Bryn & Charlie for the first time in more than two months.  We didn't hug and wore masks--but what a joy to be with them for a few precious moments.

Stay safe; stay healthy. Much love.

The new way to take a family walk

San Miguel in the time of Coronavirus

Hola from San Miguel de Allende in the time of Coronavirus.

We are still here but every day we are monitoring the situation. Several friends were scheduled to visit with us this spring, but all, unfortunately, felt the need to cancel their trips.

We totally understand, but are so sorry that we were not able to share this wonderful city with them. Perhaps some day soon when this is all over.

We feel safe here for the meanwhile; cases in Mexico are still low and there no confirmed cases here in San Miguel, but we know that it is only a matter of time.









The experts tell us that the US is two weeks behind Italy, and today I had a Mexican friend tell us that Mexico is a month behind Spain.

This Pandemic is truly universal and will most certainly affect us all.

Until this Pandemic reared its awful presence, we were delighted to be back in San Miguel.

We arrived back in town in mid-January, and as always, have so enjoyed getting re-acquainted with the town and its people and culture.

Walking the streets, occasionally coming across an anachronistic reminder of times past, is a good way to readjust.

Like the swallows to Capistrano, we return each year to the same small apartment located in the heart of the town, just a block from the Jardin, the main plaza.

Our lovely Mexican landlady, Maria Louisa, is so kind to have us back and always includes us in family activities & celebrations.

We love our rooftop terrace, with its flower boxes and a view of San Francisco--a 17th century church and monastery that is still a central part of life for many in the town.

Connecting with friends is always a joy & delight. Some of them have chosen to settle here and make San Miguel their home.

The cultural life here is so rich and varied. One of our friends, John, recently produced and directed a play he authored about John of Arc.

We thought it was one of the best nights of theater we have ever enjoyed--so much so that we went back for a second night just a week later.

Other friends, like Mart & Bob Larson seen here with us in the Jardin, also come back year after year.

We look forward to their arrival and know that they are always willing to drop whatever they are doing and join us for a meal in a favorite restaurant or join in a festival or celebration.

And there are always festivals and celebrations ...one of our favorite coincides with Carnival and Marti Gras, but is much less raucous and far more child-friendly. We call it Dia de las Cascaras...though not sure what it is officially called?

Vendors sell bags full of colored egg shells, each stuffed with confetti and glitter. Children run around the Jardin trying to break an egg over a friend's (or better yet an unsuspecting adult's) head. Look closely at the picture above. We were all happy to let the children practice on us.

It's low key and very kid oriented & this year we had the opportunity to sit in the Jardin and watch the controlled bedlam and bask in the laughs and smiles of hundreds of children running and chasing each other with abandon. Our favorites were three young sisters, who willingly posed for us.

A parade of mojigangas--giant puppets carried on the shoulders of their young puppeteers--was just this spring added to the celebration.

The mojigangas are a common sight around town--tourists love to have their picture taken with them, and there are always a few at any of the many destination weddings that go on about town every weekend.

The parade too was low key and seemingly spontaneous, and over in a matter of minutes but it made a nice close to the Cascaras.

A couple of weeks ago, we got to revisit El Charco del Ingenio, a privately funded and operated nature conservancy and botanic garden, just on the edge of town.

Like no other botanic garden we know, it provides a respite for us humans and a haven for thousands of birds and rescued indigenous plants, especially cacti and succulents.

Always worth a visit or two!



Live music seems to be the life's blood of San Miguel.  Everywhere you go, you hear music--mariachis, often dueling, in the Jardin; folk singers, violinists, and guitarists in the cafes and restaurants.

Our favorites by far, however, are Media Luna, a young group of talented and dedicated musicians started by Caleb and Jair Cabrera, 27 and 25 year old brothers.

Sue first saw them more than six years ago, playing for tips in the Jardin.  They have now become so polished and entertaining & will soon be touring Canada. We go to see them whenever and wherever we can.

But all these activities were before the Coronavirus.  We feel as if we have stepped into a dystopian novel and can't get out. 

Some of you might remember Nevil Shute's On the Beach? Different story, different time, but I vividly remember reading it & seeing a TV adaptation. As  the rest of the world gradually succumbs to radiation poisoning and goes silent, the people of Australia go about their daily lives, but listen with disbelief to the reports from around the world of dying cities & cultures and experience a dawning realization that this too is their fate. 

The coronavirus is stalking us. As we still go about our daily lives--strolling through the city streets and gardens, shopping and eating at favorite restaurants (always trying to remember to keep a safe social distance), watching the news from China, Europe and now the States, we know its coming here--the next day? Certainly the next week.  What will it bring?

PS: I just finished writing this post yesterday, and then all hell seems to have broken out here in San Miguel and the world.  This morning we received notice via the NYT that the State Department was issuing a notice for all Americans abroad to return to the States immediately or risk having to "remain in place for the foreseeable future." 

We consulted with our daughters, who have long been urging us to return, and decided that despite conditions still being better here in Mexico than at home, it was best to return home.  So tickets are booked and transportation is arranged; we fly home to Denver on Saturday.  

Our good friends, Mart & Bob Larson, who like us had planned to stay in Mexico for a few more months, have decided to join us.  They just sold their long-time home in Alexandria and are without a permanent abode at present, so Denver is as a good a place as any to alight, for now.  So we are all off to Denver in a couple of days.

Wish us luck, and for all of you, we hope that you and yours are able to weather this Pandemic, staying in good health. Let us pray that America and the entire world is spared the awful predictions that are being bandied about.  Stay well!  Keep in touch !

Boyer Clan in The Bahamas

Charlie in front of a Junkanoo entry

After a wonderful week here in The Bahamas, Bryn, Joel & Charlie have returned home to Colorado. During their time, thanks to Erin's generous hospitality & planning, we experienced so many wonders of this lovely island nation.

One of our favorites was Junkanoo--the Bahamian national celebration centered around Christmas & New Years.  

Its origins trace back to colonial times when the only time the enslaved peoples had off were during that time. Highlights include parades both on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, featuring beautifully and flamboyantly dressed dancers and band members and elaborate floats. 

Parades start in the middle of the night--12:00 midnight or so and go on to 11:00 or 12:00 in the morning.  Seems like the entire nation participates. Erin secured us front row balcony seats to see the New Years' Day parade. We all especially loved the music--hard to describe but with a wonderful & lively beat.

Bryn and Charlie at Nirvana

You would expect an island nation to have gorgeous beaches, and The Bahamas doesn't disappoint.  The sands are soft and white and the water is crystalline blue. After Junkanoo, we all got to relax on one of the beaches appropriately called Nirvana.

It was Charlie's first time ever seeing or swimming in the ocean; he showed no fear--we adults would have perhaps preferred just a little dose of fear at times.

The weather this time of year is so delightful--little humidity and temps in the 70's and low 80's--the turquoise blue waters are delightful to view and inviting to enjoy.  Cool but not cold.

Bryn, Joel and Charlie in the beautiful blue ocean

Larry and Charlie in the sun

Boarding the catamaran

After the beach day, Erin planned an even better water adventure for us--a cruise around the islands on a catamaran sailboat.  

Swimming near the anchored boat

Erin invited some friends and work colleagues to introduce us to and to share the experience. 

The boat was incredibly comfortable and graceful and easily accommodated our large party of more than 20.

We swam at a private beach and then snorkeled at a turtle preserve. You could sometimes get within just a few feet of the turtles.

It was a tremendously fun day, filled with new experiences and with the opportunity to meet and to get to know the people Erin knows and works with.

Some of Erin's friends included a British family with two young girls--Amy who is 11 and her sister, Rosie, who is almost 8 and just one day younger than Charlie.  They became fast friends.

You can see that we all had a wonderful day--adults and children.

Atlantis Day with the Brits

Another day took us to Atlantis to enjoy their huge water park and aquarium.

Rosie and Amy and their family, including grandparents, joined us for the day.

Aquarium at Atlantis...simply amazing

Our gang with Jazz, our guide

On a day when Erin had to work and Oma needed recuperative time, the rest of us visited Clifton Heritage National Park to learn a little about Bahamian history.

Preserved home

The park preserves parts of four colonial plantations where you can see some 18th and 19th century ruins, including enslaved peoples' houses and hear about their history.

Slavery was abolished in 1834 but learning about the evils of this system is very important to understanding the Bahamian nation of today. Our tour guide, Jazz, was fantastic.

Charlie found a treasure

That evening, Erin took some of us to one of the more famous resorts on the island, Baha Mar, where we enjoyed some adult beverages and listened to good music. Large & luxurious, it was almost overwhelming in its grandeur and opulence.

A weary traveler

Meanwhile, Oma and Charlie spent a quiet evening at home and an early bedtime... for Bryn, Joel and Charlie, it was back home on the following day.

Oma, Charlie and Teddy

With Bryn, Joel and Charlie gone back to Denver, we will miss them..but will enjoy our extra special time  for one more week with Erin in her lovely home away from home.