Tiny Home Tuesday ~ Head Out on the Highway

A few people know I've been looking for a small motorhome in the states for when I'm there seeing family and friends. With plenty of time before a purchase to look online, I've found my fantasy motorhome. It's called a Toyota Sunrader. Full of windows bringing in good light, it will be a very tiny home (note the 'will be', I'm dreaming strong here) on the outside, but bigger on the inside.

"What? Smaller than the shack? Really?" Yes. When I first moved into this 200' + square foot space, it seemed large, compared to the boats I'd been living on. There are days it doesn't feel so big, but all I have to do is step out the door, or even look out the window and there is my space. I figure with a road across America my space will be large indeed.

There are five configurations for this rv, I want the 20' model, no bigger than a van, 20+ mpg, fiberglass. That's my order, Universe! These are some photos found around the web. One of them has my name on it. Eventually.

I must be someplace taking photos

A lot of them have four burner stoves, but I could live with three

Pink is NOT my color, but paint and fabric are easy for making changes

Is that wheat grass growing in the sink? 

So, all you people who say 'Come see us when you're near!' might want to rethink that.

I think that living a life of smaller things is a sort of gestalt - all the sum of parts making for a bigger world than first appearances might indicate. And that's a good thing, your eyes open more, your spirit gathers the good moss and learns better to shed the not so good. A place for everything and everything in its place...but wait! There is room, right there for that perfect stone or shell or small painting. A shawl, a small statue, a good knife collected along the way. Yes.

Part of the small and tiny life here on Culebra is made up of those parts. Here are some of them. In fact, first up is a very big part. Remember Lulu?

Lulu was abandoned and came to the attention of AWC a mangy mess. Her skin condition was so severe it was doubtful at times that she could be cured. But even then, scabby and bald in places, her heart and spirit were so out there, her desire to be loved bounced out in her loving, drawing people to her to help. Many doctor visits, many treatments, many months with Sue and Tuck. Many walks given by visitors to the island as little by little she healed in body and mind. A year later, she found her new home. Teresa shared a couple of photos with me yesterday and I wanted to pass along the miracle of Lulu for you all.

Lulu with her new sib.

There are thousands and thousands of abandoned and abused animals out there, Lulu is just one of way too many. It is overwhelming, so often, in our huge world, so the tiny miracles need to be celebrated. Here's to you, Lulu! Here is a tiny example of not giving up....her own strength of will, her rescuers, her new family, her caregivers most of all. Salut!

A couple more small moments.

So far, so good! Shhhh.

Have a tinily tremendous Tuesday! Do something with tensile strength tenacity.

Are You Ready for the Big Game?

Tomorrow's game has had the usual hype, including making commercial use of everything you could possibly want (and stuff you never thought of wanting) up to a new vehicle - so you can drive to your neighbor's who has the even bigger screen that was bought for the game - hey, they are on SALE just in time! fancy that) to party favors officially adorned with your favorite team.

So, which puppy are you rooting for? Because Puppy Bowl 10 is where all the action will be and I want you to be ready!

Bach, age 14 weeks

All of the puppies and kittens are looking for forever homes, just so you know. And if you don't want to go that far afield, you can get in touch with Animal Welfare of Culebra, where there are plenty of sweethearts who would love to be loved and give back much more than a couple of hours of cuteness. Don't forget the auction on the 15th!

Blue, Coco and Lulu are waiting!

 I was heading to the clinic for a two week awaited appointment with the Friday dentist when I looked down and saw this sign laying on the ground. Fresh herbs for Sale? Really? Who does that? It looked relatively new, it was a mystery. I took a photo and moved along. Mysteries have a funny way of being figured out pretty quickly or never on Culebra...

 

Remember when there was a house here? I always liked the benches, a resting place if you couldn't quite make it all the way, you could take a time out before trudging on.

My favorite cactus flowers, since I'm rarely out at midnight to see the once a year blooming ones.

View from the clinic. Being early has its benefits.

Being early can really have some benefits!

On the way home, I ran into Dick of Dick and Cathie. He asked if I wanted a ride and I accepted. In the window of the van was a little sign. Fresh Herbs for Sale. Yep. I told him about the sign I'd seen and he realized he'd lost one - we looked for it on the way home but with the winds honking all day yesterday it's probably on its way to Vieques by now.

It's Cathie who has those fresh herbs for sale! He was also carrying around some of her other plants, one of which was a nice starter banana pepper plant that I bought on the spot. So if you want to check out Cathie's great selection of plants (or rent a VW Thing), give them a call. Mystery solved.

Don Jose Perez's boats - one of the hearts of Culebra

Have a saturated with small satisfactions Saturday. Do something splendid.

Magic Light Time & One More Thing

Magic Light Time ~ Winter

I'm always saying (to myself) 'This is my favorite time of day!'. Maybe it is dawn, maybe it is dusk. Maybe it is 3 in the morning and the electric is out island wide, silent except for lapping water, rustling leaves, a few birds. Yesterday, Magic Light Time was my favorite time of day. A small mangrove island I call Iguana Island, for the obvious reason, cast its shadow, splitting the end of the day light on the water. The hillsides were gilded while a massive cloud took over the sky. 

At the end of the yard, the bay was molten gold. A sea of gold. Take that, Midas.

Magic light time doesn't last long, scarce minutes. It changes everything it touches, which is everything. You can bathe in it.

It fades, it flees slowly, and poof. It's gone. 

Cwim plays rock the balance beam waiting for me to come up from the dock. Surely it is dinner time.

And one more thing. A letter from Helena to all of us here on Culebra, to all of us who love Culebra. Every line is truth, yet I don't know how words alone can express the bigger truth of the strain that is put on some incredibly dedicated people here, doing their best to deal with an un-pretty reality of our daily lives, particularly their daily lives. Capturing and fostering strays, ferrying them back and forth to the vet - it isn't unusual to have this happen a few times a week, a day of life spent to save an animal - on a bare bones budget that often has them reaching into their own pockets. Even saints get tired.

The Mayor needs to respond, ACDEC needs to respond. The breaking point has been reached. The helpers need help. Now. Please add your voices to Animal Welfare of Culebra. Get on the phone, encourage the powers that be to use that power, for the good of the animals, for the good of Culebra. Thank you, Helena. Thank you, volunteers. Thank you, people willing to act. Thank you in advance, Mayor Solis and the government of Culebra.

Thousands of dogs wander the streets and beaches of Puerto Rico every day because they have nobody to care for them. We have the same situation in Culebra. 

Packs of abandoned animals search for food, water and human compassion. Many of them are un-neutered, malnourished discarded pets that breed. There is a whole new generation of wild dogs living at the dump site above Tamarindo. They frequent Flamenco Beach, and often in search of food, kill feral cats who live there.

Animal Welfare of Culebra is doing all it can to rescue abandoned animals, often in desperate need of veterinary service. A few dedicated volunteers can only do so much. We don’t have a resident vet on Culebra so volunteers are making several trips to Fajardo every single week to help rescued animals.

If Flamenco beach is Culebra’s pride and joy as well as island’s bread and butter that attracts numerous tourists every year, what will happen if tourists and locals alike get attacked by hungry packs of animals? Do we actually need to wait for a child to get bitten by a wild animal before we actually do something about it?

We need a sustainable and humane Animal Welfare program to be fully supported by Culebra’s local government. Please help! Take a minute, have friends and family call Mayor Ivan’s office as.

The more of us call, the greater are our chances for help.

THANK YOU.

1 787 742 3521 (Linda Cavalla is Mayor Ivan’s secretary)

email: alcaldecul2013@gmail.com

and

ACDEC (open 7:30-3:30) Director: Cindymar Villanueva 
1 (787) 742-3525 (Yvette is the receptionist)
adculebra@gmail.com

Have a willing Wednesday. Do something wondrous.

Rockin' Sangria for AWC!

In bad light, great people! Our contestants, winners all.

The first ever sangria contest to benefit Animal Welfare of Culebra was a good time had by all. From Patty's wonderful food (she came down from Connecticut to cater this; as John, master of all things ceremonious said, that's how AWC rolls!), to the sangria mixologists, to those who manned and womanned the tables for tickets and tee-shirts to the music makers providing melodic entertainment and those who tasted and voted,  thank you!! Let's do it again next year.

My only complaint was the lighting. The library deck lights are set up for productions, not regular lighting. I felt an odd compulsion to confess every dark thought and deed in my life a few times when caught under the spotlights. It made for some not so great photos, unfortunately; my little camera not quite up to the task of reading bright lights and daylight clashing with each other. But you'll get the idea and hopefully next year I'll have a better camera for posterity's sake.

Patty's delicious food spread. She even brought fingerling potatoes from her garden, which were earthy little tastes of heaven to the tongue.

The serving line stayed busy until the end, with some latecomers not getting a taste of everything. Late for food and drink on Culebra? You shoulda known!

The mixer-uppers of fine drink.

Richard and Marcos

Helena

Beth

Monika

I didn't get a photo of Michi, who won both 3rd and 1st place. Next year, it would be fun to have twice this many (and next year, I won't be on a pre-surgery drinking ban, so I really would like twice as many - for the animals sake, of course).

The choices. Rosarito is ready!

The tableau of tapas would soon be a empty plated wreck of its original glory

Les and Lawrence

Max, who is up for adoption, was way too excited to pose for me, but he's a beauty and needs his forever home. If you're interested, contact Teresa, his foster mom (message me and I'll tell you how!).

Apologizing again for the bad photos of beautiful women but how could I not include these beams of light?

There's a great variety of goods available to enjoy and support AWC at the same time.

The descriptions from our contestants were worth saving. Are we still on Culebra?

Yes, we are!

The description didn't lie.

Not quite Carmen Miranda

And then it was time to announce the official winners. I say official because in talking with the tasters, everyone had their own winner. That's a good thing!

Second place, Monika!

Rockin' to the music.

Thanks for doing table duty, you two!

I think of this as the first 'event' of the season, which is fast upon us. The trickle of folks returned from 'away' time has begun and that means lots of hugs and catching up. It's a yearly ritual dance and a good one. While the quiet time of 'off season' is welcome, those we love who go off for awhile are part of what makes our circle whole. Life is good.

Have a seasonally satisfying Saturday. Do something sensate.