Where are these from?

I got these beautiful pieces years ago from Henry Wangeman of Amate Books.  They always had the very best stuff and I have two houses filled with wonderful things I got from Henry and Rosa. 

Of course, I never wrote down where thing were from, so does anyone recognize these pieces? 

The designs do not look Oaxacan, but there are so many different styles, they well may be.  And these deep chocolate colored glazed are big and heavy. 

They may look simple, but they are masterpieces to me and Henry said they were special.  Any ideas? One of my favorite early moments in Oaxaca came on my first visit.  I bought a nice black pottery piece from San Bartolo Coyotepec and while standing in line at customs with friends, I blurted out, "Wow, I hope my pot made it through."  Needless to say, everyone around me gasped and then smacked me... in the nicest ways.  "Chris, you are an idiot."  Just to be clear, the pottery arrived undamaged.

I see you...

I was spotted on the back streets of the city. I had to make a rare trip in to get coffee and to pay for my car insurance.  It felt a bit surreal.  Where am I and what year is it?

Fortunately, the street art helped out me immensely. 

I covered a lot of ground, from Reforma to Benito Juarez market, and it felt great to be walking on familiar turf once again. And most everyone was wearing masks. 

Still, it was very strange to see so many people.  I am so used to solitude.  But it's not like I'm really alone out in the campo.

Hmmmm.... what does it say that I feel more comfortable being around bulls than people?

Looks good enough to eat....

These days I don't go out much.  However, a guy's got to eat and I am so lucky to have the Etla market nearby. This is the wonderful woman from whom I get all my produce.  You can see why.  And it's a family affair.  Between the two of them, everything I get is simply the best.

I only buy from at most five people and they all see me coming, so I am in and out in under ten minutes.  I'll take everyone's photo next time.  I should have done it this time. 

Taking Off (virtually)

I dream about getting on a plane and going... anywhere.

So Oaxacan - Grasses in the wind

Not amber waves of grain, no,  this is a field of the red grasses of el campo, the countryside.  If you know Oaxacan, you know this. 

With the winds blowing and the sun hitting them just right, it's always a vision.

Tres Reyes 2021

Normally, I would be off to celebrate in nearby Tres Reyes Etla.  I do this every year because...duh.. Tres Reyes! 

Not this year, as I am avoiding crowds like the plague, mainly because there's a plague out there.  However, that's what memories and hard drives are for, right?  So here's what I'm really missing and how I'm feeling about the whole thing. 

Better safe than sorry, right?  At least, there are always roscas.

Signs of life

This little taco stand, way out in the country, has been closed for months, so it's great to see it reopened.  I'm not even sure what village it's in, maybe one of the outer Etlas.

Obviously, it's an open air restaurant and easy to social-distance, but I'm always too early to eat something.  It always makes me hungry.  Look at everything you get with you tacos!

¿Tiene hambre?

Adios, 2020

Off today in search for these traditional "old guys" who represent the passing year.  They sit in front of the house for a couple of days, only to get set afire at midnight on the 31st.  They will bid a fond(?) farewell to 2020 and everything that happened in it.  I do love the face shield, gloves and mask... and how lucky to have a babe representing the new year. 

I saw several on my walk, always with the perfunctory booze.  I will have to listen for them at midnight, because they are often stuffed with firecrackers. So with a few thousand bangs and booms, Adios, 2020..... at least we made it this far, unlike many others.  We need to be thankful for that.

Sore? No, soar....

Just riding the thermals.  I spent a few moments imagining what it must be like.

They are catching the warm winds rising from the valleys.

And following them up the mountain slopes.  Just coasting, with no need for a single wing flap.

Navidad 2020

My meditation for the day.

 

Yes, we have no... radishes?

Ay!  No Noche de Rabanos this year. After 122  incarnations, it made sense to cancel it and all the other holiday festivities.  I know I am like many, I really miss this celebration.  I don't think I've missed one in many years and I so look forward to seeing many of the participants, who are there year after year, and are friends now. 

It turned out 2020 was the Year of the Kraken just the wrong kind... as if there is a right kind of kraken.  Well, maybe this kind. 

Still, we have our memories and will hope that La Noche will be back in 2021.  It is such an important event and normally, tens of thousand of people would be here for it.

 

We miss her and everything else, but better to be safe and stay healthy.

It could be worse...

Hmm... what's that line from "Young Frankenstein?"  No matter... This is where I live in isolation.  Not bad, huh?  Yes, I am alone, but not really.  Today, I was convinced the Hecate joined me in one of her classic forms, the maven, the mother and the maiden. 

Hmm... maybe I am just making up straw men.

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Piñatas!  Look at that one on the right!  It's a rather subdued winter solstice and pre-Navidad week.  Rabanos is canceled this year and it occurred to me that going to it was one of my only holiday traditions.  However, better safe than sorry and I'll continue to hide out in the country and live this exciting life. 

Riveting, huh?

The bird is the word...

I am lucky to have lots of birds in the area.  They are a constant source of insight and entertainment.  This morning I heard loud sharp squawks coming from the large tree behind the house.  What kind of bird is that?  I watched and listened to the loud sounds for a few minutes and then thought to grab a camera.  It was calling out loud and clear but why?  I tried to get closer by climbing up on the roof. 

That was too much for it, and with one final squawk, the word was "adios."  So what kind is it?

They work hard for the money...

Something to ponder.... "(Mexico) approved on Wednesday an overall increase of 15 percent in Mexico’s minimum daily wage, a move backed by government and labor representatives but opposed by the business sector. With this latest increase, the nationwide minimum daily wage climbs from 123.22 pesos (around $6.10) to 141.70 pesos ($7.08)."

Coke, Pepsi and gasoline cost as much or more than in El Norte.  Hard to imagine coping with $.70 US an hour.  Fresh juices are a much better option and less expensive.

Chain, chain, chain.....

As Aretha says, "Chain of Fools" or it coulda been Etta James' "At Last," but in this case, chains are a beautiful thing.  Finally, a real playground metal net and what a dream it is to shoot now.  Not quite the sound of a swish, but a nice reassuring and recognizable chunk. 

The rims here are a solid 1/2 inch steel hoop with no way to attach a net, but with S clips and some vice grips, that baby is there to stay. 

It's a beautiful thing...

BB

Holiday decorations?

Festive colors, but with a nasty bite.  While pruning the banana trees, I bumped into one of these beauties and got a nice sting through my shirt.  Well, hello!  Looks like garlands.

They feast on the leaves and soon will turn into the most beautiful blue butterflies.... I think. 

I feel lucky to have them here even if the sting was a bit painful.  Look, but do not touch.

Name that tune... sorta

These days, everything I see seems to bring a song to mind.....   Yesterday's post could have been "Blue Skies" and "Stormy Weather."  Today, it's "When I was 70, it was a very good year"... well, not so much for many, but it was a bountiful year for some. 

It was a good rainy season and the final harvest is in.  The work never ends... but, "The sun'll come up Tomorrow...."

Proof of life....

 

At least the vistas are exciting,  My life, not so much.  It continues to be.... riveting?  Uh, no.  Kinda the "same ole same ole" day after day.  I don't venture out unless I absolutely have to, which might be once every ten days. Of course, I do have some good walks to take to get me out of the house.  Hey, is that a ray of hope?

Plenty to do around the house and garden, things that would be low on the priority list if it weren't for the 'rona.  Now, everything gets addressed. Am I blue? 

No, but look at that mid-morning sky with the moon.  "I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille..."

"And so it goes...."