"Saturday in the Park" and "We just came for the Food"

So Saturday January 9th we went out for the day to explore Parque de O'Higgins. It is 

 the 2nd largest park in Santiago and where they hold the State Military Parades, Festivals, etc. 

Below is the parade grounds...

... and they have a small amusement park called Fantislandia. This is a great park for the locals to visit. Lots of families were out having picnics for the day, exercising, etc.

We walked around quite a bit of the park. I am sure it was once very beautiful but now seems a little run down.

They do have a speed skate track and I enjoyed watching the kids train. 

This young girl was all business and her coach was right on her heels pushing her all the way..

We did find a little Chinese park and had to take a photo in front of it.

We left the park through the west gate and walked up the sidewalk beside it. Soon we saw big tents and small tents dotting the landscape. Booths were being set up with items to sell and we could see dozens of people preparing food and the smell of roasting meat was in the air and a huge stage was the main attraction in the midst of it all.

We found the entrance and had to pay $1.75 to get into the event. They handed us a flyer and as we read it we realized we had just walked into "Fiesta de los Abrazos 2016" of the Communist Party of Chile. A huge 2 day event calling for the end to democracy, ending US Blockade of Cuba, ending the USA and promoting all things socialist and Communist.

Here is a tent set up by the Pablo Neruda Foundation. He was a great supporter of the Communist Party when they were in control of Chile from the 1920's to 1973. 

There was a whole lot of "Free Market" commerce going on for a true communist event. Here are the communist pins for sale. It turns my stomach to know that all leftists herald Che Guevera, the Argentine revolutionary who became the official and literal "Cuban Executioner" of anyone he or Fidel Castro deemed a traitor or enemy to their regime, as a great hero of communism. His image was quite prominent.

As well as Fidel's.

Well, after about 20 minutes of wandering around and looking at all the Chilean and Chinese souvenirs, clothes, and average Fair fare for sale, and realizing the food was not going to be ready anytime soon, we left. Stepping out and away from that propaganda was like taking a breath of fresh air.

We caught the Metro and went into the big Food Markets of Santiago Centro. The entire upstairs of this market is restaurants and we found a somewhat quiet corner to get some delicious food.

Down on the market floor they had some good Salsa music going on.

After lunch we ventured to another open market. It was quite crowded where....

It was quite crowded in this market, 

but it is where we saw ....

Some very delicious (?) looking pork...

and delectable seafood for sale.

We were amazed watching this pretty Senora take her machete and hack the ends off the corn. She was quite skilled.

We bought some fresh fruit and vegetables and headed home. 

All in all it was a delightful day! 

Happy Birthday Mr. Ransom

Yes, it's hard to believe, but this handsome guy turned 6 yrs. old last Saturday, January 23rd. 

Ransom is one of the biggest helpers around. He loves to help his dad make pies or go out to the woods to look for deer trails.

And he's strong and funny and loves telling jokes and entertaining his brothers and sister! 

Ransom is really smart and can already read. He told me he has fun in his kindergarten class!

We love you Ransom! Happy Birthday!

A little Key West Nature Before We Go.

I love to watch wildlife, and there was plenty to watch here in florida. . The birds, fish, the ocean, reptiles, etc., you name it and I love to observe it in it's natural habitat doing it's own thing.
On New Years Day Darryl took this photo of the sunrise...

And a little bit later we were both mesmerized as we watched the pelicans right next to our campsite.

Enlarge the photo below and look at the wingspan of this guy as he comes in for a water landing.

They look so peaceful from a distance as they sit on the water.

Darryl took these photos and you need to enlarge them and look at the details on their faces. 

They actually look pretty fierce. 

This is the wildlife I spent the most time with. Little miss Rachel.

I walked out on the dock one day and saw tiny little jelly fish floating right next to the dock. As we were walking back to our campsite we found this guy sunning himself in a tree.

Isn't he magnificent?

  It all went by so fast! 12 nights we spent in our little tent at Boyd's Campground and RV Park, and 12 days playing around and eating wonderful food in Key West.

See y'all back in Chile.

Blessing Sweet Little Rachel

On Sunday January 3, 2016 our sweet little Rachel McKayla Cunningham was blessed by her father, Cody, in the Marathone Branch on Marathon Key, Florida, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints.

After the blessing she spent several minutes smiling and laughing at the room in general. Rachel is such a  happy baby.

It was nice to be able to be with Brett and Apryll and the rest of Alisa's family for this happy and special occasion..

As with all of my grandchildren, I couldn't get enough of holding, kissing and just watching this darling little girl that God has blessed us with. I was reminded of how I felt as a new young mother.

Even though these pictures are of Rachel, the following sentiment applies to how I felt each time I held one of my children or my grandchildren for the first time.

"What is it that you do to my heart little one? 
From the first moment my eyes look upon your sweet face I can’t ever get enough of you.

To think of how pure and beautiful and sweet and perfect you are amazes me. To think that we, our entire family, are blessed to call you ours, brings tears of joy to my eyes. 
I watch you smile and talk to the angels who watch over you and pray that I will be enough; enough to love you, protect you, teach you, nurture you and help you return to that heavenly sphere from whence you came. 
That my Father in Heaven has entrusted you to me is beyond my comprehension, but it is a trust that I will give my all to fulfill with honor every day. 

I love you little one – for eternity."

Love, Grandma Cindy (Mom)

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

Today, January 13, is our beautiful daughter's birthday. 

Shiloh Rea Cunningham Guffey

(say that fast five times why don't ya. ;-) 

turns 37 today.

*****

Shiloh is what I would call a POWER or a FORCE for GOOD.

She can do anything, and if she can't... well, she'll do it anyway and do it her way. 

She is the wife of Jason Guffey*, the mother of nine (yes, I said 9) beautiful children, a landscape designer, seamstress, chef, cake decorator, chauffeur, tri-athlete, marathon runner, cyclist, singer, coach, trainer, teacher, counselor, peacemaker and oh so much more. 

I love you my Shibobbin - what would we ever do without you.

~~~~~~~~

Shiloh celebrating her 18th birthday with her "other mom" Angie Egloff, who shares the same birthdate.

Shiloh is our second of seven children and was the first to get married. Why does she look like such a baby here? I thought she was so grown up.

Shiloh and Jason with 8 of their children getting ready to participate in a charity race as a family.

Arrggghhhh! 

* Shiloh and her husband of 17 years, Jason. Some say just being married to Jason is enough to earn her the title of  "Best and most benevolent wife on the planet!" (You know I love you Jason!)

Happy Birthday Miss Annabelle! 

Speaking of celebrating birthdays, I am a little late on a couple of them. This is my sweet Miss Annabelle, our 18th grandchild who turned 1 yr. old on January 2nd.  She started walking at 10 months and is the tiniest little thing.

And you've gotta love those big blue eyes. They are saying... "Daddy, is this really necessary?"

We celebrated another birthday on the 4th of January too. My gorgeous granddaughter, Emily Mae who turned 15!

Emily is our first grandchild and what a beautiful talented young lady she is growing up to be. She is setting the bar pretty high for all of the other grandchildren.

May God bless each of you with a wonderful year.