The Flow



Fco. at Corrida Opening Festivities

 

It's been a while since our last blog....since December 2012.  The reason...we've been a bit busy with new projects, new businesses, setting up a new home and just enjoying life where we can.

 

Brad has been busy teaching Natural Dyeing and Recycled Paper making classes at The Adobe Studio here in Riberas del Pilar.  The Adobe Studio is owned and operated by Jan Steinbright, a relocated

Alaskan and Basketry teacher.  She and Brad have been spreading local arts and crafts throughout the area...which just goes to show you that even in this land of rich artistic history there is room for something different and new.

 

Charis y Brad, Ajijic Society of Arts exhibition and sale, Ajijic Plaza

 

Student indigo dyeing samples, Adobe Studios, Riberas del Pilar

 

Brad has also started his own line of fiber products, which he is selling here lakeside.  He has found a wealth of new, natural dyeing material locally and has been experimenting.

 

 

 

 

I've been busy setting up the first Recycling and Collection Center here in the lakeside area.  My partner and I are bringing new jobs, new ecological, recycling opportunities to the community of Chapala and environs.  We've rented and are renovating an old madereria or furniture workshop which we will make into La Recicladora de la Ribera de Chapala, or RRC.

 

 

Bodega Exterior

Bodega Interior

 

I've also been busy sustainably renovating a 200 year old, hacienda style home in Ajijic.

Fco. overseeing delivery and placement of Efren Gonzalez's Frida

The Ajijic home now has a salt water jacuzzi and pool.....and....a new Frida.  I attended the Castellanos Art Street Festival a few weeks back and saw 2 beautifully large, painted Fridas serving as festival entryways.  I learned that our local painter and teacher, Efren Gonzalez had painted them.  When I inquired as to what he planned for the Fridas after the festival he answered he was going to use the Fridas as headboards for his bed.  I asked him if they might be for sale, and now here one sits in my client's Ajijic house.

Fco's Frida

 

The other Frida sits in the entry room area of our new home.

 

I tell my business partner and friend, Craig, that when you find yourself on your life path, the appropriate one for you, it's as if you are flowing on a beautiful river.  Craig says all he is familiar with is 'swimming up stream'.  I tell him to get used to flowing with the current.

 

 

Iglesia, Jocotepec

 

 Brad finds fiber samples

  

 Huichol Vendor

   

 

 Blessing of the animals, Ajijic

 

 

Vino Blanco Portrait

 

Xmas 2012

 

 

 

 Puerto Vallarta

  

Artesania Vendor Full Of Color 

 

Our Xmas present this year was to visit with our dear, dear friends from Los Angeles, CA....Nichole and Thiago.  As fate would have it, Thiago y Nichole were visiting Puerto Vallarta for a destination wedding, and we being a short van drive away jumped at the opportunity. 

 

 

Thiago y Fco. Happy As Clams 

 

Although we were housed across town from each other (Thiago y Nichole in Nuevo Vallarta & Brad and I in Viejo Vallarta) we were able to see and visit as often as our time allowed.  Our initial visit brought gifts galore!  And so after a sumptous breakfast we were off to explore Viejo Vallarta.

 

 

 Brad y Nichole at Blue Shrimp Restaurant 

 

 

At the same time modern Vallarta seeps through...as seen by this sculptural structure.  To this day I still don't know what its purpose is...but it loomed large on the Malecon.

 



 

 

 Brad y Nichole Shopping

 

Brad had noted a Tianguis, or makeshift market on the way into town, so we headed towards the artesania center of town.  A wide array of folkart was shown and available for our pleasure...and of course, we needed to appreciate the work and find some lovely souvenirs for our collections.

 

 Huichol Artesanias

 

 

 Strollin'

 

We spent quite a bit of time at the Tianguis...and then realized we were hungry...again!  So off toward the Malecon we headed to stroll, engulfed by ocean winds, sparkling sunshine and surrounded by amazing public art.

 

"Sutil Comepiedras"

 

This sculpture is entitled "Sutil Comepiedras" or The Subtle Rock Eater in English. It is by Jonas Gutierrez and was placed on the Malecon October 14, 2006. It is constructed of bronze and obsidian and depicts a rather rag-tag hobo-type character with an enlarged belly swallowing a rock.

 

“The Millenium”

 

“The Millenium” was created by sculptor Mathis Lídice. It was dedicated November 2001 and symbolizes the passage of time through the millenniums. The lower portion suggests the millennium before Christ, linked by life that evolved from the sea with different symbols of Christ appearing farther up. The first millennium is represented by Charlemagne, the Aztec king Nezahualcoyoti evokes the second millennium and finally the third millennium is symbolized by a woman holding a dove.

  

 

At Gran Velas in Nuevo Vallarta

 

We actually did contemplate a siesta, but just for a moment.  We realized there was much to do and see and so little time.  Before we knew it we were in "post siesta" mode, headed to Nichole's and Thiago's crib for a spot of dinner.  We dined in grand style and took in our beautiful surroundings.

 

 

 Nichole on Alejandro Colunga's bronze sculptural chair

 

The moon was almost full and illuminated the grounds and ocean perfectly.  We headed for the ocean adjacent/pool cabanas, guitar in hand.  A lovely staff member brought us sheet sized towels, water and juice boxes for our concert, then discreetly disappeared.

 

 

 Cabana Singing

 

Could life get any better than this?

 What A Little Moonlight Can Do...

 

We broke out the "Rise Up Singing" books and got to it.  We channeled our Music Group a bit, altered from our regular song path and tried a few new tunes...always returning to our heartfelt standards.

 

As the ground and pool lights were being turned off, we decided to call it a night and bid our lovely friends a pleasant slumber.

 

 



 PUERTO VALLARTA BOTANICAL GARDENS

 

 

Our next day brought us a lag in our touring schedule.  We were all recuperating from the annual cold to some extent, and Nichole and Thiago decided to stay in to rest.  Brad and I had read about the P.V. Botanical Gardens and decide to make the trek.  We were both very glad we did.

 

The creation of Vallarta Botanical Gardens has provided an unprecedented opportunity for our community to share the wonder of the vast diversity of Mexico’s plant species with the world. We have assembled botanical collections in a safe environment with viewing trails and have already built the most-visited public collection of orchids in the country of Mexico.
 

And the trails were stunning.  We started off by heading down to the rio, which ran at the base of the mountain upon which the Botanical Gardens' Hacienda de Oro building was perched.  The trails have been lovingly maintained, yet left somewhat raw, enough to allow them to embrace their beautiful natural surroundings.

 

Fco. Coolin' The Ole' Tootsies

 

 Local Aves

 

 

 River Brad

 

 

 Beauty

 

Our trek back out of the jungle, emerging from the rio was nothing less than Indiana Jones-ish.  Now we were ready for some lunch and the Hacienda de Oro promised local, delicious fare.  Set on a mountaintop, surrounded by lush jungle, our table and view were breathtaking.

 

Botanical Garden Entrance

 

 

Jungle View

 

We dined on Seafood Stuffed Avocados and Blue Corn Fish Tacos.  All the food was fresh and tasty.  We couldn't imagine what efforts it took to cart the staff and numerous items to this jungle top Xanadu to create such a delicious experience.

 

One of the culinary quirks we experienced was the ceramic, hand crafted taco warmer presented to us for our lunch.  The jungle has a tendency toward cooling winds and the restaurant has fashioned these taco cozies to keep the food warm...ingenious and beautiful.

 

 

 Blue Corn Fish Tacos

 

 

 Mary y Rodney Commemorative Plaques

 

The Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens are a (501) c3 organization, reliant on donations.  They have a main staircase covered in commemorative tiles, honoring the donors.  Mary and Rodney apparently supported the gardens, and their Dos Amigos Side By Side plaques caught my heart and eye.

 

 

 For One Minute

 

So did this One Minute graffitti on one of the side streets of Puerto Vallarta.

 

 

 Para sailing Spidey 

 

And this para sailing Spidey seemed to echo childhood laughter, still resonating in my soul.



 

 

Los Amigos

 

So from our home to yours we wish you the happiest of seasons and new year.

 

 

Pastorela

Antonio's Pastorela

 

Part of our extended familia lives right up the street at the corner, and the youngest member of the family is Anotnio, all of 5 years of age.  I usually greet Antonio in the mornings as he is rushing out the door to attend kindergarten.  He is a beautifully polite and sensitive child.  His parents Ana Maria y Luis are very proud of their youngest.  The entire family is a shining example of how a caring, functional familia can live happily in Mexico.

 

So when I was told that Antonio was to perform in his school Pastorela, I immediately jumped at the chance to attend.  I had been to a few Xmas plays and pageants in my day, but was looking forward to seeing a Mexican version...the Pastorela.

 

In Mexico Pastorelas are plays that evolved to recreate the biblical passage where the shepherds follow the Star of Bethlehem to find the Christ Child. In order to reach the birth place of the Redeemer, they have to experience a series of changes in fortune and confront the Devil, who will do everything possible to prevent them from completing their mission. It is at that moment that the Archangel Michael intervenes to defend the shepherds on their journey.

 

 

 

 

Pastorela Prep 

 

The pastorela (Occitan: [pastuˈɾɛlɔ], Catalan: [pəstuˈɾɛɫə, pastoˈɾɛla]; "little/young shepherdess", diminutive of pastora, feminine of pastor, meaning "shepherd") was an Occitan lyric genre used by the troubadours. It gave rise to the Old French pastourelle. The central topic was always meeting of a knight with a shepherdess, which may lead to any of a number of possible conclusions. They are usually humorous pieces. The genre was invented by Marcabru, a chronic moraliser, who portrayed the "courtly" knight as a bumbling fool and the witty shepherdess as successfully blocking his advances.  - Wikipedia.

 

 



 Waiting To Perform

 

 

 Pastorela Panorama

 

 

 In The Wings

 

The indigenous people were much taken by the story of the shepherds who followed a shining star, perhaps because they identified it with their own legend in which a great comet announced the end of one empire and the birth of a new one, but above all, because when they rendered “adoration” to the Christ Child, the actors playing the shepherds introduced their own prehispanic dances that concluded in a mitote with leaps of joy.

 

 

The first formal record of the pastorela we know of dates from 1536. It is called “El Auto de Adoración de los Reyes Magos’ (The Adoration of the Three Kings). Written in Nahuatl, dancing and music were added to it. It had thirteen actors: the Baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, The Three Kings, their messenger, an angel, King Herod, his chief steward, and three Jewish priests.
-From Inside-Mexico.com

 

 Tio Jim, Antonio y Tia Mary Kay

 

La Familia, (left to right) Luis, Antonio, sister Miriam, Ana Maria y sister Lili

 

 

Ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille

His work done, fotos taken, Antonio is ready to go home....all in a day's work for a little boy.