Thinking Too Much

2011-08-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

hello loyal blog fans

this is the end of the line for "Thinking Too Much"

I have blogged for years (since 2007 be exact) under the title, "Thinking Too Much"

"cause my dad always said that was my problem

recently a friend told me that what he liked about me was that I thought for myself.

so a new blog, not negative and critical of thinking but positive

"Thinking for Myself"!!

http://ddmichel-thinkingformyself.blogspot.com/

hope to see you there......

2011-08-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

LOVE THIS PROPERTY

we are selling our house in Mexico

http://www.abbott-realestate.com/sale.php

we are living in Florida now and can only love one house in the tropics

at a time

if you know someone who might be interested

please send them this link

it's an affordable, livable house in Cuyutlan

a nice little beach town 30 miles south of Manzanillo

on the pacific west coast of Mexico

it is summer now for you pacific north westerners and northerners

but it will be winter again

and it's nice to have a warm place to go......

will consider all offers, especially from friends

and friends of friends

this property wants someone to love it

2011-08-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

wow

a Saturday night drum at our beach in Englewood

Beth and her awesome new friend Becca came and brought the kids

the girls had a great time and joined in

this is a drum that I made with Reba back in Port Townsend

too many years ago

thanks Reba!!

I have the one that Cam made with her too

they hang together on my wall at home

it was fun having them there

Arlo loved it

I was amazed at his attention span

we drummed until the sun went down

peace

2011-08-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

anniversary part II

we saw a performance of

Cirque du Soleil in Fort Myers on the way home!!

Alegría
"A baroque ode to the energy, grace and power of youth"

Ah - La - Gre - Ah

"Alegría is a mood, a state of mind. The themes of the show, whose name means "jubilation" in Spanish, are many. Power and the handing down of power over time, the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth—it is against this backdrop that the characters of Alegría play out their lives. Kings' fools, minstrels, beggars, old aristocrats and children make up its universe, along with the clowns, who alone are able to resist the passing of time and the social transformations that accompany it."

"The White Singer is the storyteller who echoes in song everything she sees around her. She sings of melancholy and despair, of joy and happiness. Her luminous white gown is exquisite – underneath a bodice and skirt-frame adorned with jewels and pearls, is miles of flowing crinoline. In her dress and long white gloves, she moves like a delicate porcelain doll in a jewelry box."

she had the most wonderful voice and she sang in French which was so refreshing

one could feel the music instead of trying to understand the words

"The nymphs are youthful and ethereal. Their exuberance is infectious and their enchanting dance can melt the hardest of hearts. These gentle creatures exude sensuality and beauty as they glide across the stage."

"The nostalgic Old Birds observe the goings on as though they were still young and beautiful and the future was still theirs. They admire their reflections in mirror-less frames but are only empty shells, shadows of their former selves. They are the old aristocracy, still convinced of their power and beauty. But they are twisted, deformed and ugly. They wear fanciful hats and hide behind their flamboyant costumes in rich tones of mauve, green and gold, covered with lace, jewels and embroidery."

and of course the aerobatics were mind bending

they made it all look so magical and easy

not to mention the costumes were amazing

there are 22 Cirque du Soleil shows going in the world right now

I hope to see another one soon

ps these are not my photos, you knew that
and the quotes are from their website

see more at
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/home.aspx#/en/home/americas/usa.aspx

oh and do go see this show when you get a chance!

*************************************************************

as a side note of slight interest, my great grandfather was an aerialist in Germany
before he came to this county
he was friends with the Flying Wallendas and my mom remembers when they came to town to perform
they would come over to her grandpa's house later to drink and play cards

(I am not sure she said "drink", or "cards" actually....)
I was young when he died and do not remember those stories

and by chance my other grandfather on my fathers side was a gymnast in the Olympics
like 1920 or something
when he came over to visit he always made us do hand stands in the yard and work on our back flips
I learned to do it but I did not learn to love it

watching Cirque made me wish I had paid more attention to my grandfathers!!

2011-08-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to US!

16 years!!

we went down to Sanibel Island for a couple days

about 50 miles south of us and just west of where my parents live

we decided not to drive a long way to vacation

when there are so many really nice beaches nearby

plus it is off season and us thrifty locals got more than half off on the room....

we took our kayaks and put in at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge

as pointed out on the above map

we paddled out to an island and saw about 20 Rosetta spoonbills sitting in a dead tree

they were spectacular

and no this is not my photo, wish

Sanibel is known for it's shells

talk about abundance!

this is where Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote, Gifts from the Sea

the hotel was about where the "o" is in National Wildlife Refuge on the map above

we had a great view from our room

through the screen of course - this is Florida in the summer

we stayed at an older property, that had lovely access to the beach

and had some real history and charm

and the beach was gorgeous

16 years and counting!!

2011-08-09T19:36:00.001-07:00

2011-08-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

4 generations

the best part of living in Florida is living near my mom

and having Beth and the kids here makes it perfect

we all went to the children's theatre at the Broadway Palm dinner theatre

to see "Aladdin"

it was a lunch matinee

and there was a buffet of all the kid favorites

mac and cheese, hot dogs, french fries, jello, cool-aid

and a big salad bar for adults

here is Em with Princess Jasmine

with the Sultan.....

they had great costumes

it was cool that they were all in the lobby after for pictures

but it was Mr. A. who stole the show for us!!

2011-08-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

a lovely birthday at the water park!

I like 59, I think I am going to stay 59 for several more years.....

the park had these huge slides, we did not go on them

we liked the lazy river

it flowed around the whole park

you could not swim against the current

E and A liked to just swim with the current sans tube

us grandmas liked the tubes.....

we rode the lazy river around all day

took a break at the rope bridge and swam under the big fountain

we wore the boys out

afterwards it was back to Beth's for a delicious birthday cake

german chocolate, mi favorita

made it from scratch, I did something right with that girl!

plus she makes adorable grandchildren!!

I had a great birthday

thanks to my great family and great friends

2011-07-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

What would summer be with out frequent trips to the local swimming pool??

bring the kids, bring your friends, make sure to bring lunch

A. did not want her picture taken

so E. decided she did not want her picture taken either

makes it hard for the blogger

I kept trying

look at the lovely smile

Arlo loved it

not sure who was more excited when he caught it, him or us!

he seemed pretty happy though

sun, water, kids, ball

great combination

great summer

2011-07-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

passion vine up-date

I have been home long enough now to have posted all the photos of the trip,

caught up on my sleep and almost caught up on my yard work

this is not a great time to work in the yard here

many afternoons it clouds up and we have thundershowers and rain

then there is the heat

the heat is not so bad, but the mosquitoes are

the vines are filling in nicely

one of my favorite ones opening on the side of the arbor

most of the blooms have been with the front runner on the fence

I am so proud of that flower....

the right side filled in on the inside of the fence

and the outside

we also have a surprise watermelon plant

we have already eaten one watermelon - it was wonderful

the plant is taking over the flower bed

I know what I am going to plant lots of next year

watermelon!

2011-07-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

after an all night bus ride from Mexico City to Colima

with a stop in Tecoman

we were home -

Cuyutlan!!

after Ana Rosa did her magic - our house shown!

Beth had done an awesome job with paint and furniture

so it was not long before it was a comfy place again

that is Sabina's art on the wall, too bad it did not show up better

it makes that end of the room

I love the colors Beth painted

I kept the fridge in the bedroom and set up small kitchen next to it

I was only there a couple weeks

I did not drag the washer out either

and after a few loads at Javier's mom's place

I washed by hand

first day in Cuyutlan was lunch at Dago's of course,

shrimp tostadas, I love 'em

the day before we arrived a huge storm had hit Cuyutlan

the water came up over the malacon, huge trees had been uprooted

everyone was out cleaning up

the beach was way closer to the malacon than in the winter

there was not much room for chairs or umbrellas

needless to say there was not much business either

well I said we tried not to wear our Vallarta dresses on the same day

but it was so hot that is all we wanted to wear!

like I said, there was no one in Cuyutlan

I have never been there when it was so quiet

Betsy's last morning

she is happy to be leaving the heat!!
at 3 am we woke up, had to lie in the little pool to cool off and went back to bed

thank you for the hammock Beth, it is the only way I made it for the next week

after dark I would lie in it with the fan right in front of me

by about 1 am the bedroom had cooled down....
we have never stayed there in the summer
the room needs a vent near the ceiling to let the hot air out

there was one really bad night when about midnight in the middle of a huge electrical storm
the electricty went out in the whole town
it was cool so have it dark, I like dark
but it meant no fan.....

I had a great time with Luly, Ken and Carol at their ex-maids wedding

until it started raining

we left when it started pouring, before the birria

ex-maid, now that she is getting married she does not have to work....

I love what Beth did with the outside shower

it was made out of creosote posts and heavy black plastic walls

it had a roof

now you can look up and see the bougainvillea over head

and at night, the stars

it is not quite finished it needs a coat of stucco to make it look sharp

it is hard to see in the photo but there is a guy at the top of this palm

cutting down the coconuts

we had 2 palms that needed their coconuts harvested

that was from one palm!

Dago arranged for them to be cut and we gave them to him for his puesto

this is the day before I am leaving, giving the keys to Ken

getting a ride to Tecoman from Jacquie and Eduardo

thank you, thank you

I was meeting Eduardo and Jacquie for lunch one day in Tecoman

when I got there I was so hot I suggested a restaurant that was air conditioned

we went around the corner of their house to the restaurant at the Hotel Real

wow, it was beautiful

I did not know such a wonderful hotel even existed in Tecoman

I decided right then to come and spend my last night in Mexico at the hotel

it was a great idea

instead of working all morning to pack up the house and then driving to the airport,

I went to Tecoman and luxuriated in the huge pool and air conditioned room

did some shopping in the morning easy with a taxi -

I needed 2 princess dresses

and still made it to the airport in plenty of time

we were so worried about the weather and getting out of the Manzanillo airport

as it had been storming for days

the weather turned out not to be the problem -

it was that my passport had expired 4 days before!!

WHAT??

I could not believe it

it took over an hour for the Alaska Airline people to decide to allow me to board

and in Houston, they never mentioned it!!

I was so lucky

or I would still be in Mexico,

waiting at the counter of the consulate in Guadalajara.....

2011-07-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to see the murals of Diego Rivera's in the National Palace

in Mexico City like forever

they did not disappoint

in fact they were more wonderful and amazing than I had imagined!!

the building, the Palacio Nacional, in itself was amazing

most of the mural is on this giant stairway

the scope is huge, hard to get a photo of the shear size of it

so I included this photo from the internet that gives you some idea

the mural wrapped around both sides of the stairway

Diego painted these murals between 1929 and 1935

the panels on the stairway reveal his vision of Mexican history

chronologically right to left

on the walls of the second story corridor
he painted 8 more panels between 1941 and 1952
he died in 1957

showing imagined life in pre-Hispanic Mexico

amazing detail

beautiful colors

this is where Frida Kahlo met Diego

the story goes that he was up on a scaffolding and she yelled up to him

and caught his attention

this very stairway!!

she would be shocked at how Frida mania has taken over Mexico

if her image or one of the ones she created

can be put on something - it is

bags, shirts, jewelry, magnets, cards, notebooks, pottery

reproductions of her work are everywhere

it just goes to show you, in her time, he was the great and famous artist

people said, all she paints is herself, she answered - that is what I know

Diego himself is reported to have said

that he thought she was the better artist
she died in 1954

I was so happy to finally be on that stairway

a funny thing happened on the way out....

first, on the way in, you go through security, this is the national palace

and the home of the president, thought he usually lives in Los Pinos in the Bosque de Chapuletepec

there were armed guards all over the place

when Betsy went through security, they made her throw her cigarettes and lighter away

when we came out she wanted to go back through and get her smokes

I am like, are you crazy, they are never going to let you go through the garbage

well, they did!

the smokes were not there though, imagine that...

another interesting fact is that the National Palace was once the house of Hernan Cortes

he left it to his son, Martin Cortes

who sold it to the Spanish Crown in 1562

early real estate

the Zocalo, the heart of Mexico City

the Palacio Nacional is the long building on the right

the Cathedral on the left

on our last day in the city, la ultima dia, I did get to see some paintings of Mr. Rivera's

but did not get to see any of Frida's

the museum that had Diego's and said that they had Frida's actually did not have any..

there were some interesting statues there though

this is for you Eduardo

and this one is for you Willie

Next stop - Cuyutlan!

2011-07-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

Teotihuacan

just north of Mexico City is one of Mexico's most famous ruins

no one knows who the people who lived there were

or what language they spoke

the city was abandoned hundreds of years before the Aztec came

I was awed by the scale, it was huge

that's the Pyramid of the Moon

located at the end of the Avenue of the Dead

that's obviously not what the people who built it and lived there called it....

it was steep!

going up was way easier than going down

we got up to the top - yeah!!

going to the edge to come back down was like going over a cliff

had a great view down the Avenue from the top

well half way up the top was as far as you could go

to the left is the other large pyramid, the Pyramid of the Sun

it is even bigger than the Pyramid of the Moon

and just as tricky going down

had to go side step

great photo Jacquie, with the sun, cool, thanks!

when we first got there, there was almost no one else there

it was wonderful to experience the energy of the place by ourselves

at one point, Betsy and I left the main avenue

found some shade trees off to the right there to have a smoke

we started looking around and found several potsheds, some with dull red paint

and some with curved lips like in bowls

we thought we had found diamonds, well they were to us

by the time we left the place was packed, vendors and hawkers, crowds

up and down the streets and the pyramids

it was Sunday, and on Sunday it was free for Mexicans

and it was also Father's Day

I would be so proud to be of Mexican heritage

when my grandchildren are older - I am bringing them here

to Teotihuacan

Betsy was there

I was there

who ever the builders were, they were very interesting and creative

this one makes me smile

next - 2nd main reason to come to Mexico City - Diego Rivera's murals

2011-07-13T19:57:00.000-07:00

Templo Mayor
ancient Aztec holy site found under the corner of the main Zocalo in Mexico City in 1978

I was in Mexico City for my first time in 1978 and saw the beginning of the excavation
it was a very exciting find and an exciting time to be there

now the excavations are more extensive
4 city blocks

ancient ruins right in the heart of the city

if you took down the buildings surrounding the square
I bet there are many more

the Spanish first saw the Templo Mayor in 1519
as soon as they could they tore down it down and built their temple on top
the great cathedral
you can see it in the background of the above photo

this describes how the Aztecs re-built this temple at least 7 times

they had the remodel bug bad too

the site was pretty amazing
especially since it jumped out of the past
into a modern world

they had some death fetish for sure, rows of carved skulls...

little men holding little bowls to hold the hearts of sacrificed victims,

too much information?

right around the corner on our way back

Eduardo causally says, that is where I went to high school

we thought he was kidding

no, he really went to school there, literally over ancient Aztec ruins!

we were so beat after all that walking in the sun

(Mexico City is over 7,000 feet above sea level)

we took one of the electric/petal cabs back to the hotel

nice and open air

manana - Teotihuacan

an ancient city that was abandoned even before the Aztecs got there

ps manana does not really mean tomorrow, it just means, not today.......

2011-07-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

it was wonderful for me to be able to visit Mexico City again

I had lived there for a short time, almost 30 years ago

one hears all kinds of things about the dangers of Mexico

we got off the plane and entered a very quiet and non crowded airport

went to a taxi booth and bought a ticket to our hotel

our friends surprised us by meeting us in the airport

it was so fun to see them and we talked, talked all the way to the hotel

never felt safer

we stayed downtown in the Centro Historico

at the Hotel Isabela de Catolica

an awesome hotel, over a 100 years old

3 levels around a center courtyard

Jacquie and Eduardo outside their room

our room had a balcony - una balcon

we loved it, it was so fun watching the street below

cars with cool paint jobs

old trucks

at this point Betsy commandeered the camera - she said I was not taking enough pictures

I was too busy looking up at the amazing buildings

every other building was a historic relic

amazing architecture, amazing rock work

amazing that people lived in these mansions of stone

this was once a single family house...

now known as the House of Tiles

the story goes that the father said to the son,

you will not amount to a hill of tiles

so when the son inherits the house he covered it with tiles

a sort of f-you at his father I guess,

some things never change

except now it houses a fancy restaurant

I have come across this in Latin American literature,

"they met at the House of Tile".....

first thing after leaving our things at the hotel, Eduardo walks us down the street to a restaurant

the Casino de Espanol

this building has a great history, it was built by the Spanish as a place to meet and eat Spanish food,

over 100 years ago

it is an amazingly ornate building

this is not our photo, as soon as Betsy started to take a photo a man came running over

no photos

she tried to get a photo of the doors, she was into doors,

when we left but the told her again, no photos

after the Spanish Club moved on they rented it to the American Club in the late 30ths and 40's

I could almost feel the wealth and sophistication of those Americans

in De Efe at that time

the lunch was fantastic, lasting all afternoon

with Eduardo telling stories of his father working there all those years ago, running the switchboard

and he a young boy, running the elevator

mi 3 amigos at the Palacio de Belas Artes

wow

some amazing buildings in the city

next - the Aztec ruins under the Zocalo

2011-07-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

being a tourist in Vallarta in June was great!

off season prices, no crowds,

no kidding - Vallarta almost empty.

Betsy arrived on time

the view from our room was great

and we found these cute dresses on sale

right around the corner from the hotel

on our way to get beer

we tried not to wear the dresses at the same time

another gorgeous tropical sunset

next morning we are pretty happy

in the Vallarta airport, flying to Mexico City

DF as the locals say

nice murals in the PV airport

flying out of Vallarta

I came there 25 years ago

it has changed, but I still love that bay

next stop - Mexico City, DF,

De Efe

2011-07-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

after a 6 hour delay in San Francisco - Puerto Vallarta!

fog in San Francisco delayed the flight - imagine that

down to one working runway the plane coming in that we were suppose to take out

could not land

it finally had to go to San Jose to re-fuel and get back in the cue

at least we got to wait in the airport, on the way home I was not so lucky

got to Vallarta at 9 pm instead of 3, glad I told Ariel not to pick me up

what to do?

Walk to the Plaza Marina, cross the street and wait for a bus to Las Palmas

do not shop at commercial as you are seriously late already

and it is staring to rain

at the bus stop you ask about the bus to Las Palmas

understanding that the buses to Las Palmas are on strike and

good luck finding a bus....

there is a cab there at the end of the seats of the bus stop

por favor, que pricio para Las Palmas?

thinking since this is outside the airport in Vallarta

and my dedestination is not only far, but not on the tourist trail

Cien pesos. Cien pesos? Sweet. 10 bucks.

It started feeling cooler once we got out of town

oh did I say it was sweltering hot?

when the rain started, soft and gentle at first

the driver and I agreed that it was mas fresca, more fresh

I did not exactly know how to direct the taxi to their house, so I got off at the church and

remembered how to walk there

they were glad to see me, nonplussed as the Mexican are about the late hour

or the rain.

Their house is also hand designed and hand built - it is wonderful!

it has been fun to see it go from one bedroom to a 2 story

L shaped house

this vine is one of my favorites

check out the flower, I love the color

I am growing it in Florida but it is not blooming.....

they too have a gorgeous view from their open air kitchen

Ariel in her kitchen on the phone like any young person these days

Monaco, after a nummy lunch of tacos from downtown

Las Palmas has the best food - really!

the guest room and massage room,

I love the bamboo Ariel and her mom painted

please come to my house and paint the same thing

I love it!!

we all went to Vallarta and got a room the next night

Angel had a blast in the pool

he literally had a water blaster and we had a great time

the water was warm and it was a little cloudy so we did not have to worry about sunburn

we ate dinner by the pool and guess what,\

it was happy hour too!

we had so much fun

sunset from our room

next - picking up Betsy and being tourists in Vallarta

2011-07-06T12:03:00.000-07:00

after Sacramento - Inverness, California and the gorgeous home of Willi's sister and brother in law

they have a very lovely home

they designed it

built it and have lived in it a long time now

it feels hidden and secluded in the front

and it has a great view out the back

we celebrated Willi's birthday which is only 4 days

after his mother's

it was a most wonderful chocolate cake

nummy drinks

brother and sister had a great time

thanks for having us

Next - on to Puerto Vallarta from San Francisco....

2011-07-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

5 trips in one!

first - we fly to the west coast for Willi's Mom's 90th Birthday.... Sacramento, California, June 9th, 2011

balloons, 3 kinds of cupcakes and orchids

the birthday lunch

the birthday girl with her kids

the birthday girl on some birthday long ago.....

wow, even I am speechless.

tomorrow next post - trip 2 : visiting Willi's sister and brother in law in their hand made house in west Marin

2011-06-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

curlers and curlers

the passion plants have amazing curlers....

growing like mad in the sun and heat here

and we have a girl with curlers

she just discovered them, she has always wanted curls

it has been about 20 years since the last time I set someones hair

came out pretty good if I do say so myself

hard to go wrong with a pretty face like that...

we found that curls do not slow a girl up either

2011-05-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

well the passion vines are taking on a life of their own

I can feel them grow

we are starting to get one or two flowers a day

the vines are filling in thick

they are over the top now

don't stand near them for too long

you wonder what else have we been doing this summer

playing barbies (is that capitalized?)

watching movies

swimming in the Gulf of Mexico

sometimes sitting in the shade

going to the casino with my parents for mom's 81st birthday

they don't call it sunny Florida for nothing!

2011-05-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

Bob Dylan turned 70 today!

70!!

Thanks Bob, I couldn't have done it without you.

2011-05-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Arbor Up-date

the vines on the arbor are growing like crazy

this is the right side looking out

it is filling out nicely

so is the other side

is is hard to show the power of their growth

you can feel it, sometimes it seems if you stand there too long

they start heading toward you...

they are normally wrappers, they send out long tendrils that wrap around things

to help them climb

the arbor is too big for them to curl around so they have various

methods to hold themselves on

it is like you can see them think

amazing.

2011-05-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

On a lighter note......

We just celebrated Miss Emily's 9th birthday on April 30th

Very birthday like in her hat and lei

Lunch at Red Robin is great on your birthday,

they give you balloons and sing to you

opening presents with great grandma is pretty good too

great grandpa liked the cards

Beth made this gorgeous cake

it was do delicious.....

She blew out all the candles

Mr. A. thought is was pretty cool too

Happy 9th year sweet light of my life!

2011-05-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or is anyone else uncomfortable with the murder of Bin Laden?

I just can't get into cheering. Isn't the US all about justice. Shouldn't he have been arrested and put on trail? What, now we just murder those who know are guilty? His body is dumped in the ocean so it can not be what- identified? Then photos on every news station of the rooms they were murdered in like it was an NCIS tv episode or something. Just the day before we murdered the youngest son and 3 grandchildren of Gaddafi's.....is this where my tax dollars are going?

I do no want to be part of some world wide secret covert espionage suspense movie and I certainly do not want to pay for it. I want our leaders to get real about the problems in this country for most of the people - good jobs, fair wages, better education, environmental protection, alternatives to fossil fuesl and affordable health care. Hell, even Mexico has affordable health care, that should shame us into doing something right there.

The sad truth is that humans have not evolved, they are as self centered and blood thirsty as ever and have not learned to control or curb these impulses, no matter how civilized we think we have become. We should be sobered by this event. For a supposedly christen country, thou shall not kill - we have taken a lot of joy in killing.

I am in no way saying that Osama did not need to answer for his crimes, I am just saying that I am not inspired by our actions and disappointed in our reaction.

Tell me it is not just me.....

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try
No hell below us

Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

- John Lennon

Thanks John. Let's all sing or hum a few bars of this tonight, we all know the tune.........

2011-04-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

Cuyutlan house - some friends asked me to show them...

The house is on the corner of Puerto Angel, on the other side of the highway from the beach,

where you can actually grow things!

the entrance to the street is modest

inside new tile, screens and paint have made this an inviting patio

the bedroom, could you tell

sitting in the bedroom

I love long velvet drapes, they reminded me of old castles with stone walls

the kitchen is large and has new tile

and bright colors

the bathroom came out nice

I love the sink

the outside front of the house

the kitchen door

the hidden garden

with mural

there is a shop

side of shop (with tent)

looking back toward the bar b que

view to the back

a copper image of the Virgin of Guadalupe on the well....

for good luck.

2011-04-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

Best kayak trip ever!

Yesterday we kayaked to this little Island.

It is about a mile from where we put in. It was a rough trip out, we were fighting the wind and the tide. We also had to cross the inter coastal waterway and the boats go through there as fast as they can so the water was always chopped up with boat wakes.

It was worth it though.

We explored the island, ate lunch in the shade, I let Willi skunk me at cribbage. We did a little swimming, the first swim of the year. Going back was much calmer and easier.

Lovely day.

2011-04-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

I did not mean to leave you hanging, loyal readers.

I was waiting for one of the key elements to bloom.

You can't rush mother nature.

So back to the story....

My sweet husband cut a hole in the fence and put up this arbor. We bought the arbor at Lowe's, normally William would build it himself, but we no longer live in the land of wood. This was made of Western Red Cedar from Oregon. We know well a timber industry that has tried to diversify from selling logs to well, arbors for one thing.

I think they did a really good job on this one. It is well designed, simple and easy to put together.

The best part are these fast growing vines that are already heading for the arbor, soon to take over I hope.

Passion flowers, one of my favorites, this is one of 3 kinds planted near the arbor. Not sure of the names, just love the flowers. This one has many flowers already. It was planted before the arbor in anticipation.

This one rescued from the nursery at Lowe's when we got the arbor, another passion flower.

This one is my favorite and the one I was waiting for.

The man at the nursery warned me that these take over.

Great!

Just the thought of these taking over makes me happy.

The star jasmine are blooming now too on the old arbor.

The petunias are doing well too.

The colors on this one are iridescent in the sun.

Happy Spring!

2011-03-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

Expanding into unknown territory.....

This is the lot next to us.

It is full of Brazilian Pepper trees, which are an aggressive invasive species.

These cover the landscape and allow nothing else to grow. Working with them gives one an itchy rash and if you burn the plant the smoke will make you sick.

So we bought the lot and hired the CAT to come in and get rid of them. We want to make a garden and plant some citrus.

This machine was amazing! It chopped it up pretty fast. Munch, munch, munch.

He carefully cut around the couple native palms that had managed to survive on the lot.

Remember how thick the peppers looked here in an earlier photo?

Starting to make noticeable progress.

There was one huge plant in the back that did take him awhile to take out. I had originally wanted to leave it for privacy but the power company had come in the week before and killed it anyway because it was under their lines. They notch the lower branches and put in some poison.

Now we can see our neighbors for the first time. You know us, of course a fence is coming and maybe some bamboo in front of it.

This is how much metal trash we found! We found lots more other trash too, truck seats anyone?

The CAT is finished, our work begins.....

Tune in for the next installment and see what we did with this fence....

2011-03-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

Happy 30th Birthday Cameron!

This sounds corny, but it does seem like just the other day you were sitting on the floor putting together legos.

You were the sweetest little kid,

always smiling, loved anything with wheels, and you were fun to have around.

Hope you had a great day sweetie!! Celebrating your way!

30!

Wow, I still can't believe it, but then I always was a step or two behind you kids..........

I guess I still am.

Love, mom

2011-01-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

Off to Mexico - see you in a couple of weeks!

2011-01-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

AND

At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

ANOTHER

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

AND ANOTHER

Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?

Martin Luther King, Jr.

You gotta love this guy!

2011-01-12T20:04:00.000-08:00

I did not write this - it came to me in an e-mail, I thought it made some really good points starting with......

"Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves."

You think Dinozzo?

2011-01-11T19:35:00.000-08:00

1-11-11

another auspicious day!

The only state without snow today?

Florida!

Works for me.

2011-01-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Just saw a great movie - The Last Station

The film was about the last year of Tolstoy's life.

Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer were excellent

as Tolstoy and his wife.

Many of you may have already seen it as it came out in 2009,

but if you haven't I heartily recommend it!!

Let me know what you think.

2011-01-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

Sunset tonight - tropical style

I think this is one of the most amazing sunsets - I have ever seen,

especially from my house!

(that's our house in the lower left corner)

another day cram packed with celestial events

I love this planet.

2011-01-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

Partial Solar Eclipse Today!

Not visible to us in the northern hemisphere, best seen in Sweden this morning.,

STILL

if your day was weird - that could be why!

2011-01-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

1-1-11

Wow!

2010-12-24T20:58:00.000-08:00

I am wishing for you, my family and friends,

PEACE

Peace tonight,

peace of mind, peace in your heart,

in your lives,

peace, love, laughter,

inside and out,

peace.

From our house with the funny Christmas Palm

to your hearts - PEACE

2010-12-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

We are lucky.....

North America and Mexico have a great view of tonight's eclipse.

Since posting my last information on the eclipse, I have seen several different years given since the last one. ABC News said 456 years, Space.com said 372, so I don't know which is right.... there has only been that one recorded in 2,000 years. We don't have to wait that long for the next one though - Dec 21, 2094. Only 83 more years!

Also my times were not broad enough - the first bite out of the moon from the earth's shadow is 1:33 AM EST. Totality is 2:41 EST for 72 mins, ending at 3:53 EST, ending at 5:01. If you are only going to dash out for a second - the darkest of the eclipse will be about 3:15 AM EST.

In addition tonight is the Ursids meteor shower and since the moon will be darkened for over an hour we may be able to see the meteors. Usually they when there is a full moon and they are hard to see.

2010-12-18T18:02:00.000-08:00

This Tuesday, December 21, at 12:47 PM, EST

is the Winter Solstice,

and a Lunar Eclipse that begins at 2:41 to 3:53 AM, EST.

The last time they happened together was 456 years ago.

Us and the lucky residents of 1564!

It was a busy year,

Galileo was born and Shakespeare baptized,

and that same year

Michelangelo died.

2010-12-12T13:44:00.000-08:00

It will be quite a night in Cuyutlan.

It is the last night of the Festival for the Virgin of Guadalupe. After the dancers arrive in the main street across from the church, the Toritos come out, (young men put on bamboo cages made to look like bulls - toros, so toritos is little bull) Below is a photo of the unfinished frame in back of the church.

Fireworks are strapped on these cages.

At certain times during the dancing, the rockets are lit and the torito runs, that's right, runs through the crowd. People are screaming, running every which way. It is a blast! Do I have to point out that would never be allowed in the united states. Last time I was almost trampled by a little old lady trying to get out of their way. Ok so her shawl was slightly on fire.....

The best part is the Castillo (castle) that is set up in front of the church. It too is a bamboo structure and filled with fireworks. When lit a chain reaction of explosions and fireworks are set off.

Lots more screaming, it is very exciting.

Finally the top is lighting up, the fireworks spin the top around and it actually lifts off and flies into the black sky.

I wish I was in Cuyutlan tonight.... Especially tonight.

2010-12-11T20:26:00.000-08:00

view from the beach.....

That's my good friend Betsy who just graced us with a nice long visit. She was working on her base tan in Florida on her way to the Caribbean.

It was pretty funny. We had just gotten what I considered a cold spell. I was wearing a jacket and scarf and she was in her bikini tanning.

We went into the grocery store on the way back from the beach. The man at the check out look at both of us, then said that he could tell who was visiting who.

She thought it was just me and that I was crazy until the afternoon we met with our realtor friend at a house we wanted to see. Edna got out of the car with a big white down jacket on with the hood up, "freezing out, isn't it?" she says as she hops out.

I certainly have acclimatized to Florida! Being warm is easy to get use to....

2010-11-24T19:58:00.000-08:00

Really Big Cat.

This is not the actual bobcat I saw in my yard last night but one very similar. One main difference was that the one in my yard had it's head up and was just strutting along! Not watchful like the one in the photo.

Here is how it went. I was sitting at the table in the yard, toward the back under a large oak tree, it was just starting to getting sun setty. I am facing the south line of the property toward a small chain link fence with a flower bed I planted all along it. I am maybe 15 ' from the fence. I am reading. Something catches my eye.

I look up and this big, huge, gigantic cat is right in front of me and calmly walking down the south property line between me and the flowers, down the lawn, toward the back. He never looks at me or gives any indication that he knows I am there. I panic inside but know to keep still.

Once he has walked deep into the empty lot behind us - I run into the house.

I was terrified. It was not rational. It was primal.

He was so huge, so close and so calm, he owned the place, not me.

When they said that there was a lot of wildlife here in Florida, I did not think they meant my yard.

2010-10-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite authors just won the Nobel Prize for Literature

Mario Vargas Llosa

These are 2 of my favorites books

The Feast of the Goat is about the horrid dictator of the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. It is a political thriller, told by a young girl returning to the Dominican Republic 30 years after the assassination. She had fled as a 14 year old girl and she came back for answers.

The Storyteller is about a Peruvian man who is living in Europe and becomes fascinated with a remote tribe living in the Amazon. It is a detective story that becomes so much more as Mr. Llosa comments on the implications and ethics of the developing region and the cultural impacts.

Viva Peru!

2010-10-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

Beth's new book - check it out!! http://www.blurb.com/books/1628133

Front cover

back cover

2010-09-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

2010-09-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce that my name has been added to the Marine Turtle Permit that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Imperiled Species Management Section gives to the Coastal Wildlife Club every year which authorizes them to survey sea turtle nesting areas. There are 3 long term permit holders and several of us have been recently added on an existing permit. This authorizes us to, conduct nesting surveys, conduct stranding/salvage activities, relocate for conservation purposes, screen nests when needed and maintain and display preserved specimens.

These are the Loggerheads that nest on our beaches here, Caretta caretta. Yesterday I got to get very hands on. About 3 days after a nest has hatched, volunteers excavate the nest, look for surviving turtles, count the unhatched eggs if any and count the egg shells to know approximately how many were in the nest.

This excavation was especially important as Kate and Jacob, 2 samplers from the University of Florida were on hand to collect unhatched eggs and dead hatchlings. They are collecting data from many nests and trying to see if there is any connection with turtle mortality and the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico this spring.

That's Wilma in the first photo digging the first nest and showing us how.

I got to dig the the next 3, it was very interesting. Emily loved it.

The first nest I excavated had lots of unhatched eggs, they thought it might have been due to too much water over the nest. We had a few big storms, one that actually washed out several nests.

All three nests had egg shells, evidence that healthy turtles had hatched and made it out of the hole. The average caretta lays about 100 eggs and that is about what we found in each nest.

One nest even had 2 baby turtles that were still alive and seemed to be stuck in their shells. Those were kept in a bucket, on wet sand, with a towel over them until it got dark that night and then released to fend for themselves. They fell asleep like all good babies. Most reptile babies never see their parents.....

We felt really good that we had saved 2 baby turtles!

2010-09-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

The cry of El Grito!

Viva Mexico Independence!

200 years!

September 16, 1810 - September 16, 2010

It is interesting that they celebrate this date that is the start of the war of independence, it was not until August 24, 1821 that the war ended and Mexico had thrown off the Spanish parasite.

I wish I were there to take part in the celebrations today, they are going to be fabulous!

The Mexicans know how to celebrate.

This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, which is celebrated on the day it started as it too took over 10 years for Mexico to go from a dictatorship to a constitutional republic.

More celebrating on November 20th of this year.

Viva Mexico Revolution!

Viva Mexico!

2010-09-15T17:24:00.000-07:00

New hope for Tenacatita......

http://guadalajarareporter.com/news-mainmenu-82/pacific-coast-mainmenu-87/27539-federal-legislators-weigh-in-on-tenacatita-beach-conflict.html

Guadalajara Reporter, Friday, September 10, 2010.

Federal Legislators Weigh in on Tenacatita Beach Conflict

"Increased pressure is being put on the state governor to lift the police blockade in Tenacatita and reopen road access to one of Jalisco’s most popular and unspoiled beaches. Legislators in the federal Chamber of Deputies (Mexico’s lower house) unanimously passed a motion Tuesday calling for state authorities to reopen the highway leading to Tenacatita beach and banish the police officers and private security guards preventing the public from visiting the beach.

Jalsico Governor Emilio Gonzalez has not responded to calls to reopen the road leading to the Tenacaita beach.

The legislators also resolved to set up a working committee to keep an eye on the situation at the beach, which is now virtually inaccessible to the public and patrolled by guards in the employ of wealthy Guadalajara businessman Andres Villalobos, as well as a few armed state police officers.

Villalobos has closed off the road – the only access to the public beach – since the beginning of last month when he won a court injunction to evict dozens of families, who for decades had been living and working on a disputed swath of land adjoining the beach.

The violent eviction – involving 150 armed state police officers – outraged members of the local farm commune (ejido), who have claimed possession of the land since the 1960s and were granted land titles through a federal titling program in 2006. Villalobos, on the other hand, says he purchased the land in 1991 and obtained the federal beach concession in 1993.

Families evicted said police officers used excessive force during the eviction (tear gas and rubber bullets were utilized, it was reported), although Villalobos maintains it was his staff and police that came under the severest attack.

Legislators this week asked the federal government to “intervene” in the dispute to “avoid social instability in the region.”

They also want the federal government, through the Registro Agrario Nacional, to “reevaluate” the boundaries in dispute in order to “find a solution between all those involved.”

Many foreign citizens are caught up in the dispute, as members of the ejido have been selling off plots of titled land in the past few years. As many as 20 foreigners who bought beachfront land in Tenacatita are now no longer able to access their plots. Some have filed suits in state or federal courts but Villalobos maintains the case over ownership of the land has reached its two-decade conclusion, and therefore the ejido has no more legal recourse. Thus, he says, he was entitled to take possession of his property and has no obligation to respect any other ruling, regardless of the court it is filed in.

As of press time, Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez had not responded to the legislators’ concerns, nor had he answered a call from the State Human Rights Commission to open up the road to the beach.

Gonzalez has been accused of being in collusion with Villalobos, although he has tried to distance himself from the affair. It is no secret, however, that he is keen to see massive tourism development in the area known as Costa Alegre, that stretches from Barra de Navidad in the south to Chamela in the north. The governor is already embroiled in a similar confrontation with locals in Chalacatepec further north, near Tomatlan, where the government is heavily involved in developing a mega-project he has labelled the “New Cancun.”

La Huerta’s municipal government has thrown its weight behind the evicted residents but state officials appear to be obstructing all their legal moves.

According to Publico newspaper, Gustavo Moises Toledo Martinez, the Ministerio Publico (state district attorney) official in La Huerta, refused to listen to the complaints of around 100 evicted citizens filed against Villalobos’ real estate company Inmobiliaria Rodenas. Only when La Huerta’s mayor accompanied them to the office was Toledo forced to hear them out, said Salvador Magaña, a former councilman and representative of the ejido.

Meanwhile, Villalobos has appeared on several “friendly” television channels in Guadalajara to justify his actions. He seems to have no sympathy for the people he has evicted, many who are now reported to be facing severe economic hardship, since they can no longer sell seafood to visitors at their beachfront palapas.

Apart from Rodenas, Villalobos runs a successful security company, Sepromex, that is a major provider of services and private guards to the Jalisco state government. He also sits on a government security commission. He is the current president of Expo Guadalajara and a former president of the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce, an organization that is backing him fully in this dispute. (The current president of the chamber sat next to him at a recent press conference when he defended his actions.)

Villalobos’ connections in the state government and with local politicians run deep and he has publicly congratulated Gonzalez for his “bravery” in helping him evict the low-income families of Tenacatita. His lawyer could not tell this newspaper how much his client paid for the 42 hecatares of land in dispute, but Proceso magazine reported recently that it was a “ganga” – a bargain or rock-bottom price. He says the land had previously been in the hands of the widow of former Jalisco governor Jesus Gonzalez Gortazar.

Sepromex is included in the list of government providers published on the state government website. Its address is Pedro Moreno 1336, Colonia Americana, Guadalajara. The telephone numbers are (33) 3825-5200 and 3825-5202."

Hope, a beautiful thing.

2010-09-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

I will not live in fear.

2010-09-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

Oh I am so in love with my new grandson!

2010-08-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

ARRRRHHHHHHHH

a virus has been eating my computer!!

On Wednesday my computer started acting weird, it kept popping up messages that said I had a virus and I had better buy their software quick (and expensive) to take care of it. It took over my computer - all the pop-ups warning me WERE the virus! It would not allow me to run anything else and it finally started shutting off my computer and restarting it if I tried to do anything. I spent all day and most of Wednesday night trying to get rid of it. I was out of my league. I took it to the Computer Emergency guys and I just got it back. I am so hoping that the virus is now truly gone. It was not too comforting to hear him say, oh if it does not work bring it back Monday, we won't charge you again. Monday? Oh I hope not, I hope it is gone. At least I can use my computer now.

It is amazing how much I am attached to my computer. It feels like my life line.......I am not sure that is a good thing. I will think about it too much and maybe figure it out.

Oh and the virus named itself as malware doctor, and antimalware doctor. There is a program that is good, called Malwarebyte anti-malware, notice the hyphen, that is the difference! This program is free on the web.

2010-08-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

Paradise in Peril

This gorgeous beach is Bahia de Tenacatita. Half way between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo on Mexico's west coast, it has long been a destination for those escaping the crowds, looking for a quiet place to camp on the beach, or just to enjoy a fresh fish dinner while the kids swim in the gentle waves and babies play in the sand.

The crescent beach on the left is Playa de Tenacatita, the small one on the right, Playa Mora. The few restaurants that are on the beach are on Playa Tenacatia. In addition are a few small hotels, and recently 2 tiny stores. La Mosca was the last restaurant on the beach, serving fish his sons caught that morning. Past mosca there is no electricity.

The story goes that years ago an environmental rights group won a case against lights on the beach. That beach is a prime nesting habitat for endangered sea turtles. If there are lights on the beach, the turtles become confused and ofter go toward the lights instead of the sea. There is a line of electric poles out to the end of the beach that have never been used.

Playa Mora has the distinction of having the beach of the bay on one side and the beach of the open ocean on the other. It is a very special place. In addition the bay side is home to a coral reef that supports a variety of colorful and fascinating fish and other aquatic life forms. It is a safe and magical place to snorkel, one of the few on Mexico's Pacific coast.

I heard many years ago that the ownership of Tenacatitia was in question. I heard that 2 ejidios and a developer were fighting over it. I figured that is why it was still so nice. No one was going to invest much until they knew and could prove who owned it.

Last Wednesday, August 4th, the people of Tenacatita were surprised and forcibly moved from their homes, the road has been barricaded off and guarded by riot police. Horrible stories abound on a local La Manzanilla message board about the police take over in favor of the developer in Tenacatita.

http://members5.boardhost.com/lamanzanilla/index.html?1266882296

Many of us have family and friends who have deep connections with Tenacatita, going back to the 50's.

This is a photo I took there last winter, visiting friends who have camped on that same spot for 6 months for almost 20 years.

This knoll does not look like much, it is the end of Playa Mora. There is a steep trail up to the clearing you can see in the photo. We use to go up there for sunset, the view was unparalleled. My friends sang Love and Gratitude to the evening sun with music and sounds. It was a very moving and powerful experience.

This is the view from the sweet little hotel I stayed in for the last 10 years......

and was hoping to spend many more.

This is the view from the beach in front of the hotel. It is a magical place and I know there are many really good people working on making this right and winning this amazing place for the people, the regular people and not just another resort for the super rich.

and I was planning on taking my granddaughter there this winter to snorkel......I can still have hope.

2010-08-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

My 58th birthday was great! Thanks to all of you who sent me good wishes - they worked!

Mom made me this awesome chocolate cake with her famous chocolate frosting! Yum!

I am one lucky girl

2010-07-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Have you wondered what I have been doing in Florida?

I have been walking the beaches,

with the Turtle Patrol!

This is a dedicated group of volunteers, the Coastal Wildlife Club, a non-profit with no paid staff, that patrol miles of barrier beaches protecting the sea turtles. Five species of sea turtle inhabit the Gulf of Mexico, 2, the Loggerhead and the endangered Kemp's Ridley, use the beaches right here in Englewood. It is very exciting. There are over a thousand marked nests. I can't wait to see one excavated - after the babies have crawled to the sea, they excavate the nest, count the egg shells, see if any are still in there having trouble and hope to find clues to saving these magnificent ancient creatures.

W. is looking at baby Snowy Plovers, on the last walk we saw the nests. They are also endangered and we are helping a sister organization with sightings and counts. The baby birds are so adorable. One of the most amazing things I have ever seen is watching them learn to fly that day! They ran on the first low ridge of sand, right into the wind, then flapped their fluffy little wings like mad and got 2 inches off the gound for a foot or 2. Precious.

Oh and the green thing W. is holding - we also pick up all the trash when we walk.

This is Palm Island, you get there by taking a small car ferry, friends in Washington, think 6 cars small.

and the views just go on and on....

the water is about 85 degrees,

it just does not get much better than this.

I wonder when you will be coming to visit.....

2010-07-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Frida!

I wish I could have known you.

Thanks for the paintings.

that's the spirit!

2010-07-04T23:43:00.001-07:00

Hope you had a good Independence Day!

I think when they said, burn your bra, they meant for you to take it off first.......

2010-06-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

Happy First Day of SUMMER!

Does that mean I can take off my fleece jacket now?

2010-05-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

Day 40

The fact that no one in BP or the government has a clue on how to stop this oil leak is starting to become real scary, real fast.

I have been looking into this. When you go to BP's "Gulf of Mexico Response" website, on the right it asks you to e-mail your ideas on how to stop the oil flow. They are soliciting ideas on the web! Are you kidding me?

I was shocked to find the following map, put out by the US Department of the Interior, updated Feb. 2010.

This is a visual of all the active leases and infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico - OMG it was an accident waiting to happen.

All the yellow blobs are active leases, what you can't see is the criss crossing of oil and gas pipelines all over this map! OMG again.

We all know what BP was thinking - money. But what was FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission doing giving them a permit? I would love to see the EIS, Environmental Impact Statement of this one they okayed. Did they really allow them to build such a thing with no thought to what to do in the event it broke?

Americans, we have been asleep, stoned in the happiness of driving and flying around whenever we wanted, but we must awake soon. We need to look around. We need to get off cheap oil, like a bad drug that is literally killing us. Like kids that can't have all the candy they want. We need Gasaholics Anonymous.

In the mean time I have taken a course and gotten certified by BP, (I am not sure why the authority rests with them), to be on the beaches once the oil hits here. How can it not....

2010-05-23T18:55:00.001-07:00

Dear Arizona,

I would rather live in a country of immigrants than a county of racists.

I thought President Calderon made some very good points in his speech to Congress last Thursday: why are 80% of the illegal guns in Mexico from the u.s.? And I wonder why is the united states the number one arms dealer in the world? I don't feel good about that. It sure does not make me feel proud.

And what about the fact that we use so many drugs in this country that we have to import them from Mexico and create huge problems in their culture. The drug gangs in Mexico are not just their problem, they are our problem. To say they are not is being irresponsible, in denial and just plan selfish.

Why does this country have to always hate someone? When I was growing up it was russia, oh the russians were the devil, then the vietnamese, north koreans, bin laden is the devil and now the mexicans oh and always hate the blacks for some reason.

The real natives of this country being murdered for their land long before even my ancestors arrived.....

My theory is that that when a void exists the universe struggles to fill it.

Take the united states, there is a spiritual void here. It is all about money and stuff.

Places like Mexico where they don't have much money or stuff, it is all about family.

They are flowing over the border to fill the spiritual void that has been created here. If this country could get it together on a higher level maybe the cultures would balance out.

What are we so afraid of?

Why is the deadliest threat to man - man??

2010-05-09T02:12:00.000-07:00

WOW!

Happy Day to all you MOTHERS out there.

Especially my Mom.

Her Mom, my Grandmother, Erna.

(I called her Kentucky Grandma, well she lived in Kentucky)

And my Grandmother's Mom, my Great Grandmother, Lucy.

and my Dad's Mom, Martha.

(I called her Trailer Grandma, well she lived in a trailer)

These woman have loved me like no other.
I owe everything I am to them.

They have shaped my life.

I think about my grandmothers all the time.

How lucky I was to have them.

How lucky I am to still have my Mom.

Then wow, I'm a mom.

The great joy of my life has been my baby girl.

All grown up now.

She made me a Mother and a Grandmother.

I can think of no greater joy than grandchildren.

Six generations of mother love.

I am so grateful for these woman in my family.

and for my friends who are Mothers,

especially those of you who raised your kids in the trenches next to me,

(you know who you are),

I hope you have a great day, I am honored to know you.

MOM upside down is WOW!

2010-05-05T02:20:00.000-07:00

Let's celebrate Cinco de Mayo with out Mexican neighbors!

They got rid of the pesky French at Puebla, Mexico, May 5th, 1862.

Not to be confused with their Independence Day, September 16, 1810 when they got rid of the even peskier Spanish!

Viva Mexico!

2010-04-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

Finally something happened in Englewood to write about.

When I was in Cuyutlan this winter, I met a man who oddly enough, had left his RV in the states about 40 miles south of our new place in Florida. Come by when you get back I said, and they did!

We had a great time with Tony and his lovely wife Carol. We went out to lunch at my favorite restaurant on the beach, played on the beach, had drinks in old Englewood at a club, made a great dinner at our house and talked until late. Very fun to get to know them, they are so interesting and have lived just about all over the world!

2010-04-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

Happy 40th Anniversary of EARTH DAY!

Love your mother.

2010-03-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring

2010-03-16T20:33:00.001-07:00

Grandpa Bill Michel celebrates his 90th - that's right - 90th birthday!

He is there at the head of the table with William and his sister Pam.

Looking mighty fine for 90!

Here is Grandma Jane Michel. She is looking mighty fine too for going on 89.

William's kids, Noah and Sadie made the effort to come to Sacramento for the week-end to celebrate with us.

Unfortunately it seems, I did not turn my camera around and get the rest of the family, Jim, Zeth and myself. Hopefully Pam has some photos we can put in here later.

William read a poem he had written and Pam read what she had written honoring their dad.

SO

Here's to being 90!

Happy Birthday and Many More!

2010-03-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

I would like you to meet my new grandson - Arlo Cruz His birthday was December 31st, 2009. It was his great grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary, a new moon and a blue moon.

He just radiates love, he smiles like this a lot.

Beth is so patient with him, I am so proud of her.

His big sister Emily adores him, she is a big help to her mom and I am so proud of her too.

I love my girls and my boys......

2010-03-03T20:07:00.000-08:00

waiting for the tsunami northern coast of California

Sunday, February 28, 2010

estimated time of arrival 13:33 PST

is that it?????

2010-01-27T18:51:00.000-08:00

This is not the actual landslide that stopped my trip today, but it could be. 5 tons of rock fell on Highway 199 near the California Oregon border last night. It closed the road in both directions.

I was heading down to Arcata today when I realized the road was closed and I had to turn around.

Having just come from flat Florida it is hard to remember what living in the mountains means. There are only 2 roads from Oregon into northern California. Only 2 ways to cross the mountains. One is to cross them in Oregon and drive down the Oregon coast, or drive south through Grant's Pass and use 199 to cut over to the California coast. The drive down the Oregon coast takes a lot longer but has no passes that could possibly have snow.

My revised plan was to start out early and take the coast route, but I just checked and the road is open now and so tomorrow I will try again. I thought I was deciding what day I was going down to visit, the rocks decided for me. They say tomorrow.

2010-01-23T17:51:00.000-08:00

2010-01-18T12:17:00.000-08:00

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daylight of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality....I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

1929 - 1968

you asked for more photos.......

2010-01-15T20:09:00.001-08:00

Outside the front gate

The stone well in the yard that the town says Benito Juarez drank at
when he came through Cuyutlan.
(there is a huge "head" of him in the downtown square...)

The bar-b-que. Fish and shrimp - yum!

The outside toilet and shower,

The sink in now a Mexican laundry sink.

The shop and storage building.

Front of house before we moved in.

Lots of bougainvilleas

Mexican bobble heads on the windowsill.

Bedroom

Sitting area of bedroom.

Office area.

Hidden Garden, 4 walls, door and window - no roof.

A mango tree hangs over the wall.

Door to hidden garden.

Passion flower in the hidden garden, first year.

Map, state of Colima, Mexico, Cuyutlan.

Hand painted mural in hidden garden.

(Thanks Jeff and Kathy!)

Good surfing a few blocks from the house.

I boogie board, much safer.....

Nice beach a short walk.

Lots of room for guests with the tent set up.
It is actually very nice to look up at night and see the stars

through the palm leaves.

Lots of coconuts!

Inside bathroom sink.

Kitchen before new refrigerator.

Thanksgiving dinner Nov 08,

Willie and Monaco.

Monaco's wife, Ariel and their adorable son,

Angel. He is too!

in the tradition of thinking too much, I have an idea....

2010-01-09T19:27:00.000-08:00

thanks Mexico neighbor Nelson....

for sending me this photo of which is indeed mi casa.

I realize we don't want to sell our property in Mexico, we want to share it.

Same neighbor Nelson once said that the downside of vacation property is under use, he was so right.

Under use.

We are thinking that others might want to share this tropical paradise with us, have a place to come to in Mexico, co-own it.

None of us can be there all the time, we all have other obligations, but we could take turns and someone would always be able to use it, or their family or friends could.

Or sometimes we could be there together, there is plenty of room, and that would be fun too.

It is affordable, especially when we share expenses, and we can leave it to our kids.

Just to give you some idea of how reasonable it could be, we are thinking $20,000 to half it with us, $10,000 each if 2 partners or $5,000 each if 4 partners. Or what is your idea for partnership?

Here is our chance to always have a place near the beach for not much investment. Oh and taxes under $50./year.....

It's remodeled and livable, new appliances, furniture, screens, bikes and boogie boards......

It's an idea and I want to know if there is any interest out there.....

It also available this winter for family and friends to enjoy at no cost if you want to check it out.

Cuyutlan, Colima, Mexico. 30 miles south of Manzanillo, 200 miles south of Puerto Vallarta on the pacific west coast of Mexico.

So please let me know if you or a friend of yours might be interested.
E-mail me and I can give you more information and photos.

ddmichel@charter.net

It's an IDEA, and so I would appreciate any and all feedback - thanks!

I knew I could count on you!

2010-01-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

Happy New Decade 2010.

Doesn't it seem like just a few years ago we were thinking about the century changing to 2000. Has it really been 10 years past that?

Where were you 10 years ago? We were still living in Port Townsend.

I have so much to be thankful for in this last decade. My adorable granddaughter, the joy of my life, friends made in Cuyutlan, friends made in Oregon, now new friends in Florida. And I am grateful for old friends who have been with me several decades.

I wish for us peace in this new decade. Let the next 10 years be remembered as the beginning of peace. Peace in our homes, peace in our communities, peace in our states, peace in our country, peace in our world, peace in our hearts.

Peace, sounds so good, how hard can it be?

Peace

2010

2009-12-29T19:34:00.000-08:00

my adorable parents 1949

On New Year's Eve they will be celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary!

December 31, 1949 - December 31, 2009

WOW!

2009-12-26T07:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve - Florida style

Lobster, clams, corn and potatoes! Yummy!

Many thanks to our new friends for inviting us!

2009-12-24T21:04:00.000-08:00

2009

Sending you some Christmas Cheer, Boy we’ve had a crazy year!
January with Em and Beth, Mexico house a happy mess.
February we bought boogie boards, while in the northwest it just poured.
In March the Primavera’s bloomed, going home, all too soon.
April back in Oregon, seemed like we were never gone.
The month of May left little doubt, what spring flowers are about.
It was June that changed our life, Florida real estate in strife.
We thought in July, why not southern US try.
In August we went back, to foreclosures beat a track.
The right house came in September, trust the universe: remember!
October was at the crazy most, leave our belov'd west coast?
November dawned and it was clear, return to Florida was quite near.
Gifts of December almost here, one blessed grandchild will appear.
This holiday season we are extremely grateful, for life, love, family and friends ever faithful.
And we want to let you know, the guest room is painted and ready to go……

Love,

Deborah and Willie

Card Art - Elizabeth Daubner Davis

this winters night

2009-12-21T00:48:00.000-08:00

Light is returning

Even though this is the darkest hour
No one can hold back the dawn

Let's keep it burning
Let's keep the light of hope alive
Make safe our journey through the storm

One planet is turning
Circles on her path around the Sun
Earth Mother is calling her children home

"Light Is Returning" Lyrics by: Charlie Murphy Tune: original Date: 1984 Source: Recorded on: "Canticles of Light," Charlie Murphy, Jami Sieber and the Total Experience Choir (Out Front Music, P.O. Box 12188, Seattle, WA 98102).

Happy Winter Solstice!

2009-11-29T15:59:00.001-08:00

wow - I left you way back in October, and now it is almost December. Well, a lot has happened! I didn't tell you that we visited Beth and Emily at their new apartment and went to Emily's schools fundraiser - the Medieval Festival of Courage in October.

Miss Em is in the middle, her class performed at the castle stage.

Beth helped at the class booth.

After Beth's we went down to Willie's parent's in Sacramento for a few day visit and then home to pack for Florida! But wait, we did not go straight to Florida, we stopped in Albuquerque to see our best friends.

I loved Albuquerque! It was gorgeous, huge blue sky and it seemed you could see forever. Our friends house has this awesome view from the kitchen, dining and living room! Here's Lana, making Pizza Friday night at her "job".

Lana is so cool, we love her.

We were there for Halloween and wow, there is a street in Albuquerque that goes all out, every house was decorated for Halloween!The dead were coming out of the ground......

That's Zoe and Willa - Russian nesting dolls of course! And Zoe the rest are coming..

These guys were especially scary....

We got our kicks, on Route 66.

Ww arrived in southwest Florida about 4 weeks ago, spend a few nights with Mom and Dad and then headed out to Englewood, an hour north.

Bed on the floor. Worked for a while.

We went to garage sales the day after we arrived and I scored this, our first piece of furniture for $25! I love it!

Some holiday lights perked up the dining room.

We were pretty happy to find that what we thought was a palm, bloomed and it was a Bird of Paradise. That is how I feel, a bird of paradise. Or would that be in paradise?

That at least catches us up. Since, we have bought a truck, put in a mailbox, cleared the trees from the wires, got Internet installed, you get the idea. Also we have been cleaning, painting, cleaning, gardening, did I say cleaning?
Next installment - photos of progress! Thanks for listening, I love you and please comment!

2009-10-24T00:09:00.000-07:00

I love this photo! We saw a documentary about this guy, the Bear Man of Kamchatka: Charlie Russell. Check out his site at http://cloudline.org/ He calls his work the Pacific Rim Grizzly Bear Co-Existence study. It is fascinating. His theory is that grizzly bears have gotten a bum rap and that they are not aggressive or a threat to humans. The photography in the documentary was awesome and his interaction with bears amazing.

2009-10-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

We had a visit from Beth and Emily a few week-ends ago. Emily made pumpkin pie for us. Here she is making the crust from stratch under the watchful eye of her mom.

The pie turned out great! The crust was awesome and that is the hard part.

Happy eaters.

The girls had just rented an apartment and came for the week-end to load up with furniture from the store of mom and pop.

It couldn't get much higher.....

We loved seeing our girls.

It was sad to see them go.....

Though it is a good feeling to know that they have nice apartment for the winter and that now they have furniture for it.

2009-10-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

....while we were in Florida we looked for an affordable (for us) house, real estate market was low, Florida had way over built, there were lots of foreclosures.

First, we bought this one, before we even got to Florida - 4 bedrooms, 2 fireplaces, one block from the Calosahatchee River......$24,000. We thought we could rent it, fix the garage into an apartment for us when we came down to see my parents.

Sweet, except when we got there we realized we didn't just want to just stay in Florida a few months to help my mom and dad, we wanted to spend more time in Florida and this house was not where we wanted to be......... not near the beach.

So, we went up to the Venice Beach area, about 50 miles north, an area we had liked before, targeted the little town of Englewood and looked at houses,

First one, near old town Englewood, nice palm, but too small of a lot.

This one was adorable, but the foundation was post and pier and being eaten (devored) by termites.....

This one was small and needed a lot of work. Also no privacy in the small yard.

This one had possibilities, nice palm.

We put an offer in on this one, only to find that 3 other offers were ahead of us. No shade anyway.

This was one of my favorites, the old Florida plantation. It was not for sale. It sits on 20 acres. Who ever bought it paid over a million dollars for it in 06. Now it's value is 1/4 of that.....

It too needed some work.

We spent many hours in our "office" discussing the possibilities.

We finally agreed on Catalan Street, near the edge of town, with-in walking distance to Myyaka State Forest, an 8,000 acre plus wild zone, with trails and camping.

The house is not glamorous from the front. Actually it is not really glamorous from any side. But it is a CBS - for concrete block construction - take that you termites.

There is a nice palm and a couple huge shade trees.

There is this interesting rock ("there are no rocks in Florida....") spa that we hope to get working.

Also an interesting rock water garden....I like the jungle feel of it.

There is a, you guessed it, a rock firepit, for my favorite chef!

One of the best parts is that it is a few miles to this beautiful swimable beach.

The other best part, that I am extremely grateful for, is that we put the first house up for sale on craigslist, and sold it the next week for $30,000. It would have been a rental for us at best and the house on Catalan might now become a home.

It has been a long and crazy ride. Now we have a project in Florida, while we are there helping my parents. It is awesome how it has all worked out so far :) We are spending the winter in Florida instead of Mexico - that is a big change right there. Though there is a lot of Spanish spoken in Florida and we found a great Mexican resturant! Not quite the same but it will do.