This N That...

It's long past due for another post. However, as the last few years have gone by, I've not been out on many photo shoots. So, what HAVE I been doing, you might ask? 

In the last few years, a lot has happened. I lost my Mother - it's always hard to lose a parent...

(I miss you Mom!)

And, on a happier note, I've attended and graduated from massage school. Yes, I am now a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). I'm currently working on becoming a Master Massage Therapist (MMT) so I have many more hours of classes to complete. My camera has been on the back shelf.

By the way, if you live near me, here's my massage website: klg.massagetherapy.com

So...if you think changing careers, coming out of retirement to go back to school and taking classes at age 60 - soon to be 61 - then setting up a practice from scratch is crazy, you may very well be right.  But one thing I have learned from this myself is that you are NEVER too old to do what your heart desires!

And, I've had such a feeling of accomplishment having finished the initial school, more of an accomplishment to have received my license, and the best accomplishment helping other people feel better and pain-free!

Now, while I pursue my Masters, in between classes, I work in my very own little studio giving massages, facials, and wraps. I converted the little house behind my own home into the perfect little massage studio. It has everything I need.

Nope, life around here is never dull or slow. And, even with all of that, I still even get to have a little fun here and there...like  traveling back to my beloved Mexico to do a little shopping and spend quality time with dear friends.

... In fact, NOTHING was going to keep me down! :)

Life is too short to let the small stuff keep you down. So get out there and reach for the stars. Laugh whenever you can, because life isn't always a bowl of cherries - sad, but true. Make the most of your life! (Like making crazy videos of yourself acting silly for your granddaughter)

That's all for now. Until the next time I pick up my camera... 

Buddha Speaks

Have you ever visited a place that "spoke to you"...a place you'd want to put on a "Must See" list? 

I've been to a few of those places. Unfortunately, I don't have photographs of all of those places. I don't have any photographs of the Souks in Dubai or the dhows in the Persian Gulf. I don't have any pictures of Ruby Falls inside of Carlsbad Caverns. When I visited those areas, I was not into photography - that came much later in my life. If only I had been...

But, either way, those places, as well as those I'll share with you, all spoke to me in one way or another. These are all places I'd put on the "Must See" list if there was one to post for all to see.

Here are some of the photographs I DO have of other places I've visited that I'd like to share with you. And, maybe one day, you'll have an opportunity to visit them and they'll speak to you...

Approach to the Buddha Shrine in Jungle  Gardens at Avery Island, Louisiana

Avery Island,the birthplace of Tabasco hot sauce, is also home to all walks of Louisiana native wildlife, as well as many species of plants. There are 170 beautiful acres to see at Jungle Gardens, But inside of the Gardens is one particular area that would have to be on my "Must See" list, not only for it's beauty, but for it's history.

Located inside of Jungle Garden s, you'll find a beautiful little Zen Garden area complete with an entry "arch" and a small shrine. That whole area gives off such a peaceful feeling, I could have stayed there for hours. BUT, inside of that little shrine was the real "Must See" item - the one thing that you must not miss. Inside, you'll find a 1,000 year old Buddha statue!

Silhouette of the Buddha

The plaques just outside of the shrine, tell you the history of the Buddha

The entry arch to the shrine area

Another place that spoke to me was my beloved Mexico. I was blessed to be able to live there for five short years. I still miss it very much.

I miss the color and the culture...the people and the sites...the mountains and, yes, the shopping. You never knew what you'd see when you left your casa. :)

I was lucky to be able to travel to several areas of Mexico while I lived there. Sometimes, I'd drive and other times I'd take a local bus or book tickets on a tour bus. It was all about the adventure! I think that is what we lack here in the United States  - adventure!

The small village that I lived in, Ajijic, was located just south of Guadalajara, on Lake Chapala. I had a beautiful view of the lake of which I never tired seeing.

My view every morning...

A local fisherman's boat anchored in the waters of Lake Chapala

Located across the lake was an Eco Trail that we would drive on...It was just a dirt or gravel road that led you through the beautiful countryside of that part of Mexico. You really never DID know what you'd see there either!

A young caballero, headed to market with cans of fresh milk

Herding Burros...

I traveled to Guanajuato to the International Cervantes festival. One of my highlights was visiting the mummy museum. Very eerie, but beautiful music played throughout the museum...I think I could hear every voice of each person displayed there.

Museo de Momias - Guanajuato
(click the link to go to their page)

The whole area was beautiful. The stone work was especially beautiful as it had a beautiful greenish blue color which was from the high mineral content in the soil. The stones in this church had those beautiful colored stone but this photograph really does not do it justice.

Beautiful stonework...beautiful churches...

Another favorite place of mine to visit was Patzcuaro. I visited there several times. That is the town in which you'll find one of the biggest celebrations for El Dia de los Muertos - The Day of the Dead. They also have an annual fiesta that is much like our Mardi Gras. 

Right off the coast of Patzcuaro was the Island of Janitzio. Everything, all of their needs, had to  be brought to the island each day by boat since there was no ground to grow anything. The whole island was houses and shops. At the top of the island stood a giant statue that reminded me of our Statue of Liberty and it represented liberty to those people as well.

Shopping on Janitzio

And, what would Mexico be without it's beautiful, colorful Talavera pottery!

Talavera pots, anyone?

Oh, the memories! When I left Mexico, I felt like I'd left a piece of my heart there. One day, I'll go back and retrieve it!

There are so many more places I've been to that have spoken to me. But I'll stop here and save some of those other places for another day...But what about you? Where have you been that has spoken to you? What's your "Must See"????

El Jardinero

El Jardinero

I'm not big into poetry but once in a blue moon I try my hand at it...I wrote this about 5 years ago when still I lived in Mexico. It was written as a memory to Ricardo, a little old gardener, who worked in my neighborhood.

Many Mexican workers don't own transportation of their own, so they depend on their city buses or taxis, IF they can afford it. Most of them, though, walk wherever they need to go. 

At the time of this photo, I lived at the top of the "mountain" in the neighborhood of Chula Vista. It was more like a very high hill when compared with the mountains across the lake. (The mountain range was/is the Sierra Madre Occidentals.) My house looked down upon the village of San Antonio Tlayacapan, Lake Chapala, and those mountains. Many times, as I drove down the mountain, I'd pass workers walking to or from work - gardeners, maids, brick layers, carpenters, etc., and of course, Ricardo.

Most of the workers were younger people, but Ricardo was an older gentleman and not very quick in the step. He was in his late 60's and worked halfway up the mountain as gardener for one of the neighborhood families. I knew how hard it was to traverse this cobblestone road on foot as I'd attempted it myself once or twice. I just couldn't imagine someone his age doing this twice a day, five days a week!

So one afternoon, I decided I'd ask if he'd like a ride down to the bottom - at least that would help a little I thought. Mexicans are a very proud people and traditionally very hard workers - happy workers, too, I might add, so I didn't know if he'd accept the ride but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask. I stopped, and in my halting Spanish, I asked if he'd like a ride down. He told me gracias with a big smile and got into the car.The next morning I stopped and offered a ride up to his work, which he happily accepted and thus this became the daily routine for me and Ricardo. 

After a few weeks had gone by, one day my gate bell rang. As I opened my gate door, there stood Ricardo with a bunch of flowers in his hand, the bottom stems held together by a piece of foil. All he said, as he handed them to me, was "Para tu, Señora." The next day my bell rang again, and almost 
each day after that. Each time, there stood Ricardo with flowers ~ sometimes a whole white 5 gallon bucket full! 

On the days I was not home, I'd find them on the side of the gate in the window ledge. To bring them, he was leaving on his lunch hour and walking up to my house at the very top, then walking back down to his employers house to continue his afternoon work. It seemed to me that defeated the purpose of me bringing him up in the first place, but what could I do. I did tell him he didn't have to bring flowers every day, but he always smiled and continued to bring them.

During those short rides, we'd converse in Spanish about little things, mostly family. He'd ask about my children and I'd ask about his...that's how he started calling me Mamacita. He was always respectful though. That's also how I found out where the flowers were coming from. One day I decided to ask and he told me, with a mischievous smile, that they came from the garden where he worked! I asked, "Don't they mind if you bring me their flowers from their garden?" He answered, "They have many flowers and will not miss these."

So, Ricardo, this is for you...

"El Jardinero"

He brings me flowers.

From far below, he takes the long walk

To the top of the hill.

His weary bones cry out

Yet upward he walks,

The little old gardener

At the bottom of the hill.

“Each day, Mamacita, I thank you.

I’ve picked them just for you.

They come from the garden in which I work.

You can never have enough flowers.”

From far below, he takes the long walk, 

And, he brings me flowers.

(When I asked him to smile for the camera, this was his idea of a smile.)

Asleep, Perchance To Dream...

Asleep, Perchance to Dream...

In the bright shining sun he lay, asleep.

Dreaming of carrots, and delicious flowers...

...At least that's what I think he's dreaming about. But what do I know ~ I'm not a horse! It was a very sunny day as I walked along the "beach" of Lake Chapala in Ajijic (pronounced ah hee HEEK), Jalisco, Mexico. There he was, this cute little colt, following me around. He was curious and not a bit afraid - after all his mother was just over there, staked out to graze. So I guess he felt secure in that fact and continued to appease his curiosity by walking along side me, but not getting too close.

Earlier, I had walked a short piece from my house down to the lake, camera in hand, ready to capture whatever Mother Nature had to offer that day. There were plenty of birds out, even though the lake was a bit rough and the wind was strong. White caps abounded, the mountains across the lake were a beautiful site to behold, and here was this cute baby horsey wandering around while mama grazed on what little grass there was...It was so peaceful!

I wanted to just sit and soak in the beauty and peace surrounding me, but I had come to take pictures and pictures I would take! When you hold a camera in your hands there are many things to consider, including time of day and lighting, and my day would be ending soon, taking the light with it. So, I had to focus on my beautiful surroundings and find the photo ops I'd come in search of. I was not to be disappointed.

As the colt followed me around, I began shooting the birds, the mountains, the waves - I even captured the little fella himself scratching his neck with his hind hoof like a dog. Unbelievable! Who knew!

Well, I guess he grew tired of me and the warm sun was just too inviting for him. He decided a rest was in order. So, he lay near his mother and, as I watched, I thought of a little child. His little eyes would close and his little head would nod off. But just like that little child fighting his sleep, he'd jerk himself awake, eyes opening. We've all watched babies do this. I just never expected to see a horse do it. Finally, it was just too much for him and he slept.

He was so cute! I was able to capture him as he lay there sleeping and I knew just what I wanted to do with this photograph. I wanted to show that dreamy state that we was in. I wanted you to be able to feel him resting, sleeping, dreaming...   what do ya think?

I was very happy with the photos I'd taken that day. I felt like I'd got some pretty awesome shots, including these. I really miss my beloved Mexico. My husband and I lived there for five short years...not long enough for my tastes, but family comes first and we moved back to the US to relocate in the beautiful state of Arkansas, closer to our children and grandchildren. My photo opportunities are not what they were in Mexico, that's for sure. But, one day...I'll go back ~ camera in hand, ready to capture whatever Mother Nature has to offer me that day...