Que? I've Got Moon in My Ears, I Can't Hear You

Over the last few days of Spring Beauty, there has been a change, literally, in the weather. Spring is usually only a breath here, drawn in and out on heating up air currents as Summer (that season that lasts through Fall) comes closer. 

Living in a place where we are as likely to be outside as inside much of the year, weather is not a casual conversation filler; these current cool nights filled with moon really are the conversation. The wonder of still needing something to cover up, the beauty of the moon from whatever your vantage point, the crashing deluge that sends one flying to close windows or hatches - all are equally valid as centering the days and nights. And when the moon is full? All hands on deck. Your hands.

Joy

I was waiting in the car when I saw this boy in the side view mirror. He was having such a free joy time, reminding me of many a mud puddle I'd splashed in, dug in, made pies from (presenting them proudly to my father who, of course, pretended to eat them). I took all of the photos in the mirror and then cropped out the mirror - better than taking a chance of stopping his fun, even if making for a less than clear photo. Better.

The moon has been incredible the last few days and nights. Even if we didn't get the total eclipse, she still has been putting on quite the show.

Some crazy beautiful sky and clouds. 

Cloud shadow

No, Skittles, I'm not taking you surfing today

We have been getting outbursts of rain and rainbows. 

Dakity - Semana Santa raft ups

Faster than the moon but not really

Last night's mesmerizing lure

Sometimes Culebra is about the moon, sometimes the sea, sometimes the wind or sun. To not be locked up away from the sea and sky, to hear the rhythms of the Earth and to have most of the people I know around here be in the same appreciation and awareness zone - priceless. No matter where you are, you can look at the moon, even if she is just a glimpse between buildings in her passage overhead. Don't break your neck, but do try to catch her, she is 1000% RDA approved.

Have a moonlit Monday. Do something multiplied.

Night and Bright and Catepillars Too

Living in a beautiful place has its ups and downs (really). Last night was one of the ups; a combination of what? Friends, new friends, music, talk, laughter. But like the ingredients for any recipe, in the hands of some the result will be edible but nothing spectacular. Take the same ingredients and put them in the hands of someone who deeply, intuitively understands weights and measures, timing and temperature, plus a bit of fairy dust that some chefs call love and you have something exquisite to the eye and palate. You can't buy it, you can't sell it, you can only try to describe it and usually fail at that. That was last night.

The boys were having fun

Locals and visitors mixed it up in listening, laughter and conversations spanning Sahara dust clearing away to leave a cool, breezy evening to music to insidious plans to take Costa Bonita to a new, expanded and unwelcome level. They don't call it Costa Bonita anymore but a cesspool by any other name will smell the same.

No one expected the Low Spark of High Heeled Boys but...sparks happen.

The streets weren't ringing with reggaeton and fast traffic, the mood was mellow. Life is good. Have I mentioned that? I will again.

This morning on my way to check on and feed my critters (yep, I'm still house sitting in town) I was behind the guys who work hard on recycling. It's not easy here, as most activities to make this world a better place usually aren't, but people are trying. Every litter bit helps.

Thanks, guys!

On the home front, I noticed some leaves from the catepillar tree on the ground, blackened as if burnt. That meant only one thing, a thing a glance confirmed. They're baaaack!

Bending over backwards to decimate this tree.

As much as I hate it when the gorgeous foliage and flowers are stripped by these dedicated chewers, this is still fascinating to observe. Everything has a season. The tree doesn't die and will come back better than before, even though each time I worry it won't.

Orange, various shades of purple and white blossoms dominate in my yard. I once thought I'd have a 'white' garden, but then Nature decided to mix it up. Birds and iguanas and wind distribute and multiply various keepers and weeds - my job is to help balance it out. That works.

Across the street, the flamboyant is living up to its name. I keep thinking there will be a lessening of blooms but instead it is more vibrant, more outrageous than ever. For the first time, instead of looking like a gangling teenage boy, it has come into its own.

Have a sensate satiated Saturday. Do something sweetly satisfying.

One Key to Culebra Life

One of the things high on my list of 'what I love about Culebra' is the pioneer-like ability to take situations that look close to impossible and turn them into something workable, from machine parts to recipes to making money. The solutions don't always work and sometimes it is easier (and smarter) to go back to a known, with known potential, than inventing solutions. But for all of us who choose the latter, it always is fun to watch someone figure out how to keep on keepin' on, Culebra style. Which means, at least a part of you is laughing as you go along, with sand on your feet.

Copyright Last Lemon Productions Ltd. 2011. 

Mahoney Joe is trademark protected. 

(used with permission)

Of course, being in the midst of that very thing myself, this cartoon seemed to succinctly sum up (something I'm obviously incapable of doing) exactly what the above is trying to say!

Have a try-this-on-for-size Thursday! Do something totally.

Views, rain and tumeric...who knew?

Yesterday I was out by Zoni. Every time I looked up, the water and sky had shifted, like that machine at the eye doctors where you're peering through one little hole and the doctor keeps asking, 'Which looks better, this one or this one?' Well, I couldn't decide because it all looked incredibly beautiful to me, even when the rain came close.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later in the afternoon I was going around town putting up posters for Susie's Saturday night happening, Jazz Under the Stars, with the Son of Culebra. I went into our wonderful new health food store Holistica Aimee, to ask permission to use their bulletin board. Diane was busy with a tiny helper, bagging some incredibly fragrant organic tumeric she'd just gotten in. I happen to love tumeric and the aroma and color was (and is) amazing. I came away with a bag, signed with a thank you by Sofia...very special! Go on down and get yourself some!

This morning my weather world is still undecided. Right now the sun is dappling through the trees, but a little over an hour ago, it looked like this, bringing in a beautiful shower to shore just before I was going to water the gardens....thanks!


A couple of days in the life here on Culebra. I can do this...I really can.