Feliz Año Nuevo

Kitchens are busy here in Hacienda Contreras! Goodies are being prepared and liquor supplies are being measured. The women decided to have an "Appies" New Years where everyone brings their favorite appetizer to Sal and Barb's new common room. We will welcome in the New Year up there. Only a few hours to go! 2013 is just around the corner.

As a side note, many of my Cuban friends are so superstitious that they will not say the word, "thirteen"! If they have a 13 year old child and someone asks them how old the child is, they say, "Ten plus three". They will have a tough time in the next year.

Kevin and Chris have taken a drive to a neighboring town where there is a hardware store to buy stainless steel screws and cable to install Chris and Juan's new solar panel. They brought it with them in order to get some expert help with the installation and today is the day. It will keep us men out of the way of the food preparations and Chris and Juan will not have to share their bedroom with a huge solar panel on the way home. It is a win - win thing.

I want to wish everyone a Very Happy New Years and all the best for 2013. There, I even said the word "thirteen"!