A Perfect Wedding in Puerto Rico

It's the perfect place...a bride's dream: romantic with flowers all around....and I think the groom would feel probably the same: a casual setting in the open air in which there were lots of nooks and crannies to hang out ... or hide?).....

Hacienda Siesta Alegre in Rio Grande is a private Mexican style house on a horse farm in the hills of El Yunque Rain forest. A picture's worth a thousand words so check it out....From the entrance path up to the main house, to the grass walk down to the ceremonial altar, Siesta Alegre is beautiful...bouganvilleas abound overflowing from the clay tile rooves.




After the ceremony the guests were ushered through the house with cocktails passing the lit fireplace. As evening approached, the fire warmed the cool crisp air of El Yunque. The dining tables surrounded the open air patio dancing floor and music filled the air. There were no down pours, but there was a sprinkle of showers on and off that did nothing to inhibit the party. There are various hotels in the area and the bride and groom were wise enough to hire a van to drive their guests to their hotel where the party continued.

And so now you know...if you're looking for the perfect wedding locale in the Caribbean, check out Hacienda Siesta Alegre....and then enjoy your honeymoon at TJ Ranch....just ask Carlos and Melissa. They ended their week long travels on the island at TJ Ranch and then were ready for getting back to the "real world."

We may not leave the farm often, but when we do it's worth our while. This was a wedding to remember!!

Best wishes for a happy life together, Carlos and Melissa...you had a great start!!! Felicidades!!!




(Please excuse the graphic layout of this blog...I can't seem to post the pictures the way I want ...and can't get them to move around!!)

Thanksgiving Thanks

As Thanksgiving approaches and we all take time to reflect and give thanks, I want to formally thank all the guests who have come to TJ Ranch.

Living on a farm in the boondocks has its limitations in that we don't get away much to "see the world"; but the most important aspect of the world, its people, have come to us. Over the last eight years we have met people from all over the world. In many instances the line between "guests" and "friends" have blurred and become one, which really isn't a problem except that we feel badly when we have to charge... but back to the point at hand.

Ron and Evelyn, I must mention by name... our first guests who mailed us a deposit for their full stay and have been my technical gurus to follow til death do us part.

A diabetes' educator came on vacation and when I mentioned Tony's "borderline" condition she sent us a care package with meters, booklets, creams and ointments...the care packages keep coming and so does she. Thank you Wilma.

Maybe it was just luck that a nurse and a fireman were here when the gas stove blew up in Tony's face, but we thank them for the cold water response and the care packages that followed. We also learned to search for wi-fi cruising the streets of Arecibo in their rental car.

The two veterinarians came separately that Christmas when our cat had infected stitches. Both vets opened our eyes to the variety of jobs veterinarians do, from traveling with the CDC to cancer research in John's Hopkins' lab. Thank you vets.

Our sun-dial is set to Wisconsin, the home of our other guests/friends.

We were sent a beautiful CD/DVD from Germany of TJ Ranch and Arecibo. We hope to see Emilio and Susi in 2010 when they return to Puerto Rico.

We never heard of the Isle of Man nor Estonia (shame on us) before guests came from those faraway places. The Estonians took us all over the world from their laptop....and the Israelis wanted to hook up the kids for a free trip to Israel based on their lineage.

Thanks go to Heather for leaving her copy of Breaking Dawn for Tina (and then for me) saving us a trip to Borders in San Juan.

We can never forget our birdwatchers from Cape Cod and DC who have opened our eyes (and ears)to our co-inhabitants of the farm.

Thanks to our native american trooper/governor security force from Connecticut and now we know that the Friday after Thanksgiving is Native American Heritage Day. She keeps us up to date on the "real world" and politics...and is another guest who has crossed over from guest to friend.

For all those I haven't mentioned, please don't feel ignored or forgotten. You've made TJ Ranch a very special place for us and we'll be thinking of you during this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving....and Buen Provecho!