Calixtlahuaca

Calixtlahuaca pronounced (ka-leesh-tlah-WAH-kah) is a historic site just North West of Toluca Mexico. Calixtlahuaca has archaeological remains of various pre-Columbian cultures, including temple of Quetzalcoatl, pyramid of Tlaloc, Tzompantli (House of Skulls). Calixtlahuaca was first excavated by José García Payón thoughtout the 1930's.



this is the best known building of the Calixtlahuaca. It is a large four-stage circular pyramid dedicated to the Aztec wind god Ehecatl and did house a live size sculpture of Ehecatl.

This was spectacular to climb up and a rush to try to help 2 small children back down the very high, very steel steps that are on the far side of the pyramid.


This was first thought to be the school but was later determined that this was the palace do to structure is exactly the palace standards of known aztec palaces. The Palace is located farther down the small volcano, Cerro Tenismo, then the other two structures.
Farthest up the volcano is this site that has an odd cross like building with stone knobs sticking out all over it representing skulls.

becasue we did not have a car for the first couple of weeks we were in Toluca the Hotel that we were staying at organized a Hotel Taxi to take up out to visit the Calixtlahuaca. He was an older man that did not speak English, we were able to communicate thought a little Spanish and hand gestures and he got us to the site. He joined us while we walked through and on the ancient buildings, climbing high on them and helping my daughter back down. as a matter of fact my daughter held his hand almost the entire trip. Come to find out it was his first trip to the Calixtlahuaca also and I think he may have enjoyed it more then we did. Here they are, with my hubby and son, going down the lowest structure...


for more information please visit some of these interesting sites:
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies
Calixtlahuaca Archaeological Project
Maping of the Aztec-period city of Calixtlahuaca

The Cosmovitral in Toluca Mexico

We are now in Mexico. We are living in a Hotel in Toluca until we can find an apartment to rent in Santa Fe. Living in one room in a hotel with 2 young children is challenging and can feel very claustrophobic so to fight the phobia we all took a quick trip into the City Center to see The Cosmovitral.

The Cosmovitral is said to be one of the world's highest, largest and most spectacular works of art. I thought that the large stain glass windows the lined all the way around the building consisting of 28 different colors was exhilarating. The Stained glass was competed in 1990 by Leopoldo Flores Valdes. to read more visit this Mexican Vacation Site

While the stained glass was well worth the visit don't expect too much out of the garden itself. I found that the vegetation lacking and the water pools very industrial.

After Visiting The Cosmovitra we walked around the City Center and enjoyed some Chorizo Sandwiches or Torta Chorizo at a little corner meat and sandwich shop. The Torats were go great and we were so hungry we gobbled them down before I got photos (this is becoming a trend that I must stop) the sandwiches were flavorful with condiments of crushed jalapeno, tomatoes and onions and only cost 35 pesos. Also in the square was a Chinese restaurant with one lonely Chinese guy eating, McDonald’s, Berger King, and several other little shops and food stands.

Toluca is known for its chorizo which is made of ground pork prepared with a sauce made of tomatoes, pumpkin mole, pipian and other spices like salt, pepper, white wine, almonds, potatoes, vinegar, garlic and chile.

Baked Chicken with Chili BBQ Sauce...This one is for you Jen

Homemade Chili Sauce

10-15 Tomatoes (I lean toward 15), skinned* and chopped
4 Large Onions, chopped
3 green bell peppers, chopped
2 red bell peppers, chopped
2.5 cups sugar
2 cups vinegar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground clove (be very careful too much clove and it takes over)
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
2 teaspoons instant coffee
salt and pepper


Cut up and mix all together and boil slowly until it thickens (3 1/2 hours). Put in hot jars and seal.

*to skin tomatoes cut an X just through the skin at the bottom of the tomato. Put the tomato in boiling water for 30 second, then plunge into cold water to stop the cooking and cool enough to handle (to tell the truth I did not do this) and peel the skin, it comes right off.

For the Chicken...

1 whole chicken parted into peices (about 3 pounds)
1 tablespoon chili powder
coarse salt and ground pepper
2 cups Chili sauce*
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard


Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange chicken peices in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Rub all over with chili powder; season generously with salt and pepper. Bake until tender, 35 to 40 minutes.


Meanwhile, make barbecue sauce: In a small saucepan, whisk together chili sauce, vinegar, sugar, and mustard. Bring to a boil; reduce to medium-low, and simmer 2 minutes. Divide sauce between two bowls: one for brushing and basting, and one for dipping. If sauce is a little too chunky feel free to blend with a stick blender.


Remove chicken from oven, and brush generously with sauce. Return to oven; bake, until well browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Brush chicken with any leftover pan juices. Serve with reserved dipping sauce.

*my homemade chili sauce is very chunky so for this batch of bbq Chicken I blended the chili sauce so the end result is a smooth BBQ sauce to cover the chicken; however, it is good chunky too.

Truth to Power - Woman Need to Talk

"I need more. Or maybe I just want it. Or maybe I think you need it and oughta want it.

Raw, unmitigated, dirty, sometimes lovely, painful-yet-tinged-with-pride, uncomfortable honesty.

To get there, I want women to talk more." ...

While doing my daily blog reading and link jumping I came across a post on the blog Remarks from Sparks entitled TRUTH TO POWER that just moved me. the above is only the first few lines and if your a woman please click on the link and take a moment to read what this blogger had to say. Thrust me you will like it.

2008 Photographs

Here are a few photos from 2008 that I really liked but have not shared.

North Shore Park Beach on Lake Michigan Summer 08.

Farris Wheel at Gerber Baby Food Festival in Fremont Michigan

Flower at the Grand Rapids Michigan Farmers Market

Coconut shells

Heirloom Tomato (Purple Cherokee) I grew in my garden. The one the squirrel stole and I had to chase him though the back yard to get my tomato. It was a great tomato, tasted like watermelon, too bad I only go 3 on my plant.

Carrots out of our Garden

Sour Cherry Picking, yep he fell out of the tree.

One Huge Moth

Starting off the New Year with a Menu

It is time to start doing a weekly menu again. After all the heavy food consumed over the last 6 weeks I feel heavy and weighed down so all I want is fruit/berries and salad even though mist of it is out of season.

I am also inspired by a friend who has decided to go back to being vegetarian. I have been contemplating doing that myself over the last several months and it really sounds good now. I am not going to be a vegetarian; however, I am going to eliminate meat where I can, I think we as American eat too much meat anyway and I have been doing at least one meatless day a week for a few years.

~This Weeks Menu~

-spinach salad with dried cranberries, walnuts, orange slices and raspberry vinaigrette
-tomato soup with avocado
-mixed berry salad and yogurt
-Southwest Egg rolls, heavy on the spinach
-Chicken Tacos - Chicken for the Hubby and bean for me
-Gnocchi with a tomato sauce and broccoli