The Most Beautiful Late Afternoon Ever

Maybe it started with this mushroom? Nah.

Sometimes there are days here that are so beautiful it's almost painful to not be able to get outside all the joy/wow/ohhhhhhh on the inside. If a friend is around, a friend who gets it (and I'm incredibly fortunate to have the people I consider friends all get it), it helps because they are experiencing the inexpressible with you and let word fumble do its best. Alone, however, all I can do is run around the yard saying oh oh oh and trying to tell the cat why. She, in quite dog like behavior, follows me down to the water, up through the yard, acting like she is listening, but quite cat like, she looks very bored, which doesn't do much for my receptors.

Yesterday, obviously, was that sort of day. It started earlier than sunset, when I heard pelicans calling me to the water, it ended when it was finally dark and there was nothing in the sky but the moon and the stars and the planets. And a bunch of space junk, but I didn't see any of that.

Here is what I did see...except for one little thing. It was so much better and so much more and I'm only sorry I don't have either the skill or the equipment to make it as it was. Maybe there isn't that much skill or equipment that good in the world. Maybe you'd just have to have been here.

The clouds were building up

On all sides (remember, this is looking to the East and South)

The moon was already pretty high

The show was starting

This is with the color toned down...it was totally, crazily unbelievable.

Good night good night

I live to be amazed and sometimes forget it can still happen so easily, so simply. I do know it is almost always without warning. Keep your eyes open, gifts of amazement are everywhere (even where they shouldn't be, like a sunset show in the east).

Find the wonder in your Wednesday! Do something wakefully.

 

Ophidiophobia? Stop Reading Now!

Yesterday was another of those stunningly knock your eyes out down to your soul beautiful days. It was also really hot. I drink a lot of water these days, as does everyone I know...we sort of float through the heat, encountering each other with air kisses because of our sweaty cheeks, muttering mucho calor! The beauty carries us through. We know coolness is coming, along with what might be an La Nina winter. The nice part is, we can always look up and see it...if we wipe the sweat out of our eyes. We can jump right into it, cooling ourselves in the best way I know.

Mount St. Thomas, so close and so far away

After working in the early part of the day (and showering yet again, then spending some serious time sitting in front of the fan), I was heading over to Genesis, my neighborhood food store, to pick up something that ended up not being there - not surprising as delivery day from the big island is today - when I glanced at the afternoon sky over my shoulder. While not dramatic, it was filled with streaks of color, some almost looking green. I had a decision; walk back down through my yard to where there was less obstructing foliage, or try to get higher from the road side, see if I could get a decent shot and get to the store before it closed. I chose lazy. 

Next decision. There was the old foundation of a house to climb on to get a better horizon.  I took this shot, and  didn't really like it. Go on or give up? Oh come on, you know what I did.

The streaks were so panoramic, I just wasn't getting it. Then I saw an old cistern that would give me a broader view if I just stood on the edge of it. I stepped onto it carefully, as it was open, old, and filled with nasty water, old junk and...a snake. Ok, not FILLED with a snake, Since the biggest snake I'd ever seen on Culebra until then was about five inches long (I've seen lizards bigger), it just looked like a big snake at the first moment.

Senor Culebra

I could tell it wanted out, headed up the wall. But I wasn't really worried, because it also wasn't moving. At all. And it was too pretty not to take a few shots, which I did, forgetting completely about any sky photos. It kept not moving, I kept on clicking. Not wanting to press my luck, I bid it buenos tardes and continued on my quest.

I've not seen many snakes on Culebra, in fact there are only four kinds in all of Puerto Rico (and not all of them are everywhere, for example, one kind is only found on Vieques) and many people never see one at all. If you are interested in the snakes of PR. here is a basic article about them. I'm not knowledgeable enough to recognize this particular snake, just guessing it's a Puerto Rican Racer, but someone out there is and I'd love to know its name?

Have a non-timid Tuesday! Do something tantalizing.

That Time of Year

I know it's early in the game, but the big boys and girls of marketing have started, so I thought, why not now? Just the thought of the Christmas season is laden with many facets, one of the biggest (thank you, Ad Men) being gift giving - Hanukkah too, but Christmas is the one that gets the ginormous commercial push. So when I got this in an email yesterday, I really liked it a lot. From the financial to the heart aspect, this covers a lot of ground in the gift-giving department. I hope it helps you make your choices with a bit more thought, and I hope recipients can get behind the idea as well. Christmas can get weird and it just doesn't have to be that way. All it takes is you saying, This year, we're going to do it this way. And then do it. The power of public relations and marketing is more powerful than many want to give it credit for (because it means we're more vulnerable than we like to admit), but we can say no.

One year, as I sat with my very young children in the parking lot of yet another very big, very busy mall in Florida, I burst into tears, just thinking about going inside. Maybe it was the Christmas music. Maybe one more happy elf was going to be strangled. But that was it. I started buying local after that and it was (and is) great! Do I succumb to online buying for gifts at times? Sure. Can I cut that back? Sure! Take a look and see what works for you. Come up with your own ideas. Incredibly, it can be fun! Doing good, having fun, what's not to like?

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --  merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

·        Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

·        Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

·        Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

·        Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

·        There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

·        How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

·        Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

·        My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

·        OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

·        Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

·        Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

·        

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Here are some deliciously simple ideas from Suzanne of Finca del Seto. We have lots of great local gift potential ideas I'll be mentioning from here on Culebra as well. You know where you live, now see what's there!

Have a mindful Monday! Do something with meaning.