About

We left Chicago, USA with four suitcases, 50,000 dollars and the dream of a self-sustainable life. We bought 7 hectares of this gorgeous earth, built a one room house, went flat broke, and reaped more failure than success. Still, it was a good life.

Very Simple Very Easy Very Good, (VSVEVG) was started to write about the shared life of artist and writer, Abby Smith, camposino and mezcalero, Felipe Pita Cruz, and the mishaps and milagros of life in rural Mexico.

And then…we moved to Nicaragua. Felipe now runs a farm and organic garden for a farm to table resort, where I was the butcher and cheese maker.

Now that my time as a butcher and cheese maker has ended, I have returned to my first love: writing.

None of which we could have done had it not been for our time at the Pierdra Rahada, which we still love and sometimes miss.

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ps. All writings on this blog are mine and protected unless stated otherwise. paz, Abby

24 thoughts on “About”

  1. Pingback: Milk Money « vsvevg

    • Dear Mariyln, thank you for the kind words and for visiting my blog. I just spent some time at trailrunner, and enjoyed it, especailly the story about the brother giving his sister his blood/life. I tried to comment and follow you but I often have difficulty with blogspot and my signal here (wide band stick)is pretty sketchy. I don’t have access to books here, I bring what I can from the states, I read alot of random things because I shop at goodwill, and occasionally trade books for the titles I am desiring. Wonderfully, if I envsion books I need before I shop they often turn up at goodwill for 10 cents. The copy of Walden I am reading now came to me in that manner. thanks agian for stopping by, paz, Abby

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  3. Hi Abby,
    Good to hear from you.
    I think I”m going to do my next blog post about you brave women who have come to Mexico in order to stay with your husbands and keep your families intact – no matter what. Do you mind if I mention you and steer people to your blog with a link? You might ‘meet’ each other that way too. There are some really cool women here doing what you’re doing and I know a few of them.
    The reason I asked about books is that I’ve been doing a Books in a Box kind of thing for women here who are unable to get books in English where they are, can’t afford a Kindle, and can’t afford to order from Amazon etc.
    For those that can afford it, I ask for reimbursement as I’m not a rica gringa either, for those that can’t I am happy to send them anyway. The books are 5 pesos and the shipping is quite inexpensive using the MexPO. I sent a box yesterday to QRO – 15 books (75 pesos) and 85 pesos for the shipping and will take about 4 days total. The books are usually all tradebacks and a good random assortment. I get them at the thrift shops here at the lake that support the children and animal charities. Everybody wins, even me as I get to read them first! lol
    Let me know if you’re interested and we can go from there. If you get your book needs met by sufficient trips to the states and Goodwill, you’re luckier than the others. Just wanted to offer it to you. . .
    Looking forward to more blog posts from you!
    Saludos,
    Marilyn

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  4. Abbey, I am Larry’s neighbor Marcia. I met Felipe and you briefly at my gate. Larry has told me about your beloved Elvis. I am so, so, so, so sorry and I am crying as I write this.

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  8. Hi Abby,
    Thanks for following my blog Fur Out The Closet. This means you are a creative and compassionate person.
    Your life in Mexico sounds interesting and I look forward to hearing more about it. All the best,
    Emy ❤

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    • I am an omnivore, and I raise animals. I spend a lot of time thinking, and writing about animal welfare. I look forward to learning more about your cause. Thank you for following vsvevg, peace to you Emy, Abby

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  9. Your life sounds really romantic, in the sense that it is a dream to go and try and make the land your own with the added bonus that I don’t have to get out of my chair as I can live vicariously through you. I like your tagline about writing about the complexities of the simple life, it is ne of those prefect sentences methinks.

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  10. What a brave venture. I’ve been to Mexico. Stayed with some friends over there in Nayarit … beautiful people they are. Very genuine. 🙂

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  12. Hi Paz & Abby,

    My name is Natalie Sullivan and I’m casting an international travel show about expats moving abroad. We’d love to film in Mexico and wanted to know if you could help us find expats who have moved there within the last 15 months or have been there for 3-4 years, but recently moved into a new home. The show documents their move to a new country and will place the country in fabulous light. The expats on the show would also receive monetary compensation if they are filmed. They must also speak English fluently and can be buyers or renters for their homes. If you’d like more information, please give me a call at 212-231-7717 or skype me at natalieesullivan. You can also email me at nataliesullivan@leopardusa.com. Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Natalie E. Sullivan | Casting Assistant
    HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL
    127 East 26th Street | New York, NY 10010
    O: 212.231.7717
    M: 267.222.0418
    nataliesullivan@leopardusa.com
    http://www.leopardusa.com
    https://www.facebook.com/leopardusa
    https://twitter.com/leopardusa

    Reply ↓

  13. Dearest Abby,
    It’s Shi. Have I really tracked you down??
    I hope so. My life has been missing your beautiful, bad-ass self for too long.
    Big ol’ hugs to you and Felipe from the North Oregon coast.
    xoxoxox, S

    Reply ↓

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