Culebra Sharing

Sometimes I see sights around here about which I don't really understand enough to explain. At core level, though, I get it. I know I like it and I know it is Culebra, a hand in hand feeling like the proverbial favorite old pair of jeans fitting comfortably, in mind if not in body.

(I miss those jeans, finally worn out with use, not fashion intent - intricately sewn on leather patches, one a handmade birthday gift of smiling lips, my own terrible embroidery, symbolism of the worst sort - astrological signs of myself and a man I thought I was in love with, inside a sun. Yes, that bad and that good)

This has been around throughout most of the holidays, on the main street of town. It's like a...well, you decide what you think. It's always tidy, keeping to its space, not impeding traffic (unless you have a giant trolley to get to the ferry, I suppose).

The building it rests against was once a bar. Fancy that. It is just one of those Culebra things. It will be gone in its time.

What isn't gone and surprised me last night around 8:30 was a parranda truck, complete with police car in the lead, blaring some good music. They passed by too soon for me to gather my wits and my camera; at first I thought it was just a musically loud car until twinkles of many colored lights flashed off my retinas. 

Excuse the awful photo...I gathered my wits and camera but not quite the proper attire to be standing in the street, so I missed the best part and blurred the rest. Drat!

They hung out at Susie's restaurant for quite a while before heading up and around the hill and back to the main road. I thought I was ready, from my shadowed spot, but I wasn't. Parranda post Christmas day? At 8:30 in the evening? I don't remember parrandas going on after Christmas but, there are gaps in that net. If I rightly remember, it's more like, yes, ok Culebra, that was interesting. 

Today there was a post with a link on Lloyd Kahn's blog about a subject I love, wooden spoons, but had only some idea the history and depth and passion so well expressed by Robin Wood. I'm re-hooked, if not on actually carving them, yet, then at least delving into more background and examples. Lloyd has shared his newly found pleasure in carving spoons (if you don't know who Lloyd Kahn is, you're in for a treat. If you liked the Whole Earth Catalog, you like him already; he was one of the editors. If you like building with wood, domes, books on practical, close to the earth living; if you like skateboarding, surfing, fishing, gardening, he's your guy. And if you like someone who can help inspire you to all of those things, he's that too. In his past the middle of 70's, he hasn't stopped living every day in anticipation of 'what's out there and how should I get there? Walk, run, skateboard, zip line, swim?' Ok, I'm totally infatuated impressed and I'm not ashamed.

All of that to say if you have a love of wooden spoons, check out the link!

Another spoon maker, John McAbery (also a brilliant wood sculptor of art pieces). 

I might have posted these before, but they are worth seeing again. 
photo credit - johnmcaberywoodsculptures.com

Have a sensation of surety Saturday. Do something with singularity.

Catch up day

With the official holidays now behind us (yes, there are a few more things but nothing you need to buy a present or dress up for), I'll use today's post to catch up on a few moments that got buried following the tinsel trail of parties and glittery fireworks. That noise you hear is the collective sigh of the participating universe...thank goodness THAT'S over with! Such a big deal over a little kid! You'd think he was a god or something. Why, back when I was a girl...oh never mind.

For all of you who have giggled and pointed over the wool hats (and remember the toe socks?) that my daughter Sarah knits and I sell, here is proof that people DO buy them. This guy is from a cold place (of course, these days in winter EVERY place is a cold place in the US) and was delighted to purchase a head warmer. I actually saw him wearing it the next day too. Buddy, you rock! Thanks.


Sometimes I have a little stony beach, sometimes not much at all. It is so obvious how the mangroves keep it from totally eroding away and I am thankful for them. If you see someone messing with mangroves, they are breaking not only an official law, but they are violating the natural way our part of the earth holds itself together. Very very naughty.


This is one of the trees Victor Gonzalez had planted to block access to the muellecito. The city took them out, he had them replanted to continue blocked access. Now they are dying. Karma is a strange and wonderful thing. No, I'm not happy trees are dying, but I'm not unhappy that these trees are dying. Thank you, Sylvia!

photo by Sylvia V. Nieves

From looking down to looking up, I got info on this very cool and very affordable telescope from Orion. It's basic for sure, but if you want to use a telescope and your budget is limited, this is a great starter that is not a toy. Of course, you can always spend more and get more too...



And now to under the water...I get a few emails from food blogs and I got one yesterday that had a recipe using an opah fish. I'd never heard of it so I googled it and it's also called a moon fish and gets up to 200 lbs! It's a pretty interesting fish and I think it's one of those that sushi lovers and chefs found to get something new on the menu that, like escolar, is not the usual catch of the day.

When I lived in Florida, I caught a fish that I'd never seen before, which, fishing a lot in Florida, was an exciting event. The guy I was fishing with called it a moon fish. So when I saw this, I was terrifically excited, as they consider it a rare catch and not from Florida river waters. But the more I read, the more I realized I probably caught a fairly common fish known as a butterfish. It was so beautiful that I tossed it back and have never caught one since. Too bad!

I guess if I caught one of these that was bigger, I'd know what it was...

And finally, I'm all caught up and at the end of the holidays. Three King's Day went off well, with a lot of happy children and smiling parents, family and friends. The horses were up down and all through the town/island. This really is the end. Next!