tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-945159986731002162012-02-11T04:57:58.261-05:00Reports on the journeys - physical and mental - of a single grandmother who feels more like she's 40 than retirement age...Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.comBlogger2471100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-35728583494981632472012-02-10T20:49:00.000-05:002012-02-10T20:49:42.740-05:00

This is |Barichara at sunset, not far from my casa. It took three days to get my visa finished, and the New DAS does not give out the government’s identity cedular cards for 20 days, so I shall have to retrieve that upon my return to Colombia. If you want to read the updates on getting a ‘pension’ visa (retirement) then refer back to my posting here so I don’t have to bore you with that. The

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-8407459407338971342012-01-26T22:38:00.001-05:002012-01-26T22:41:28.163-05:00

This is little Gwen Lake. I have no idea why or how it got that name, unless an early settler named it after his wife or daughter or maybe his mother. Who knows? In order to keep up my commitment-to-exercise plan, I took a little walk around one of the many lakes that are the reason for this location in Florida to be called "Lake City." This one is very close to my home, but I am not blessed

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-19486730172943892452012-01-20T13:33:00.000-05:002012-01-20T13:33:41.473-05:00

Just before I left Colombia for the U.S. I had a friend's child take the dogs for a walk. Somehow the dogs got away from her and began to chase a neighbor's chicken. While the dogs were eventually brought back to my fenced yard, apparently the chicken still remained outside the gate, finding many interesting things to eat in the driveway. The gorgeous black, and very fast, Colombian chicken.

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-10152403126515282682012-01-12T10:42:00.004-05:002012-01-12T16:16:55.740-05:00

Dee was quick to remind me when she dug out this photo that the doll in my hands was hers... laughing, of course! (I'm on the left and she's always right!) Last weekend I spent two days and nights with my First Best Friend, Deanna (now known as Dee), and it was a wonderful reunion! We talked and talked and talked and laughed and laughed. It was a delight after nearly XX years (a lot of them!)

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-58747441530163205292012-01-01T09:49:00.000-05:002012-01-01T09:49:02.330-05:00

My driveway in Florida is enshrouded in mist today. Colorado's snow is behind me and I awakened to moderate temperatures and fog all around my little cottage here in Florida. I did not 'celebrate' the passing of 2011 except to have a nice home cooked meal with my son and watch a movie until about 11:30 p.m. The head cold that accompanied me to the U.S. and further west has finally left and I

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-31980189554122833632011-12-25T22:08:00.000-05:002011-12-25T22:08:22.210-05:00

Denver got enough snow and plenty of cold weather to hold it for a white Christmas. If you add in the 11 hours from Florida, plus the 36 or more from Colombia, it has taken me the better part of two days to get here. But it's been well worth it! First, there is really nothing like a White Christmas to get you into the mood of celebrating if it's what you grew up with, and I did, so snow is

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-63079592074168784162011-12-20T11:33:00.001-05:002011-12-20T11:33:47.614-05:00

I don't have any photos to post of the trip from Barichara to Florida, but it was long and dark, and sometimes rainy. I left my old casa about 10:30 p.m. and arrived in San Gil at the terminal in time to catch the late-running 11 p.m. bus to Bogota. I determined I was charged the highest price (50,000 pesos) because the driver correctly evaluated me as a gringa, tired and distracted. Oh well, my

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-27452853829003607712011-12-10T09:33:00.001-05:002011-12-10T09:33:00.551-05:00

I am re-reading "Sacred Contracts" by Caroline Myss, who also wrote "Anatomy of the Spirit," one of my favorite books. Part of how this came about is that I am preparing to take a long trip and I needed to pack up my things so that they can be properly stored while I'm away. I was inventorying the books and determining if I really planned to keep them all and in that sorting process came across

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-59330373074993809582011-12-05T23:09:00.001-05:002011-12-12T09:44:40.438-05:00

Although the rain has caused lots and lots of problems in all the states, the rich greens on a sunny day are enough to blind you! This is the last shot taken from my rental house in La Loma on the morning of my move. I've been out of energy and out of time and out of modem connection for the past 10 days or so... I had to move from the rental house I had outside the village to a less expensive

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-3397534571065185882011-11-18T12:48:00.006-05:002011-12-05T23:16:53.470-05:00

ABOVE: Los Hermanas (The Sisters) take care of the elderly and is also where I was painting a mural with Shayo, left. BELOW: My friend, El Doctora Isabel, looking quite glamorous  even in the rain with her colorful 'sombrilla', walks up the main street toward Santa Barbara church. It's hard to believe so much time has raced on by and we are in the middle of November. It's the rainy season here

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-41153369125682180142011-11-11T23:44:00.001-05:002011-11-11T23:54:26.404-05:00

Double rainbows are a sign of good luck in some cultures. It's been an interesting day, but basically I don't think any of the Colombians I am in connection with were particularly interested in the numbers of today. And both this morning and this evening I paid attention to the time, aware of the uniqueness of the day. My hope is that the energy of the numbers will bring new light to the world,

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-66364110862057806262011-10-23T19:17:00.005-05:002011-10-25T07:04:37.980-05:00

The view from Marylandia, a Catholic retreat in Guapota. I first heard about Guapota (pronounced whoa-poh-tah) only a few days before the trip was taking place. A busload of people from Barichara were going to visit the priest who was formerly in Barichara, Fr. Leonardo. Eglise of Guapota with park below. According to Fr. Leonardo, Guapota was established about 200 years ago and the church

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-15244988695206600762011-10-16T14:02:00.004-05:002011-10-17T02:09:34.050-05:00

We've had a lot of days that start like this with low clouds, and misty or rainy until almost mid-day. But this is the beginning of the rainy season, so no surprise! It's time for the fair/feria! It started officially Friday night with the presentation of the candidates for the position of Queen of Barichara, a decision that will be rendered after the parade today (Sunday). Each of the

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-37901206475111364252011-10-06T16:08:00.000-05:002011-10-06T16:08:20.814-05:00

The Mot-Mot eats bugs; lots of them! Many of you have experienced a message from me, some even in person, which goes something like this: "I (or we) are intending _(fill in the the blank with a positive present voice statement)_ for the Highest and Best Good of All Concerned, so be it and SO IT IS!" And I usually add a "Whoooooooooo!" or an "Amen!" at the end in order to make sure the Universe

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-59459651587360346832011-10-01T10:16:00.001-05:002011-10-01T10:19:51.209-05:00

Ultimo got down off the beam too quickly. Having an 'open' house leaves lots of options for cats... Sombra or Shadow - she lives up to her name, darting about, especially if there are strangers around. She is a one-woman cat, and lives in the shadows herself. Here's a change of pace from the sadness of remembering a disaster and the seriousness of saving the planet. I have been enjoying the

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-10571058397308817962011-09-23T11:12:00.001-05:002011-09-23T11:12:25.213-05:00

A popular place on weekends and when the river is rushing, but is is also important to remember that locals have built up immunities to the things that are in this water. A BIT OF A RANT ABOUT ECOLOGY... The film festival for ecological filmmakers, Festival de Cine Verde de Barichara, began on the 20th of September running until the 24th and this is a first here in Barichara. The mission is a

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-80277741548243819022011-09-18T00:57:00.002-05:002011-09-18T08:12:30.742-05:00

Maracuya is a fruit with a variety of external color of skins and internal varieties of seeds and flavors. If you have ever watched Jeopardy on TV, you know that every answer has to be given as if it is a question. So if Alex Trebek was asking you, under the Letter M, for $200, "Tell me the other name for maracuyá?" I hope you all are smart enough to say, "What is passion fruit?" But I

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-48883508024658784322011-09-11T09:04:00.069-05:002011-09-11T12:00:44.529-05:00

The Saguaro cactus doesn't get it's first arm until it is at least 50 years old! Ten years ago I was living in Phoenix, Arizona and I was working for a start-up company providing on-line educational programs to troubled youths. I was up early listening to NPR as I was getting ready to head off to work. Arizona doesn't shift time for the Daylight Savings program, so we were only two hours ahead

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-41577532001270797482011-09-05T18:36:00.000-05:002011-09-05T18:36:30.984-05:00

At the corner of the road that leads to the main bus terminal and the street that has the mini-terminal on it, I found this beef on the hoof, tied to the lamppost. There are a lot of restaurants in the area. I have been in San Gil for the past five days taking a free art 'seminar' with this awesome teacher and terrific group of other crazy artists! But on the way back to the mini-bus terminal

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-2654810550052817462011-08-25T16:32:00.002-05:002011-08-26T09:24:53.912-05:00

(GOES Satellite shot of Hurricane Irene taken on August 25, 2011 provided by NOAA) It's all over the social networks (FaceBook, Twitter, IMs, etc.) in the United States at least. Hurricane Irene has rapidly built itself up from a mere tropical storm into a Category 3 (winds are at 115 mph as I write this) hurricane with threats of intensifying. As you can see from this infrared satellite shot

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-51940995286189447002011-08-14T01:45:00.001-05:002011-08-14T11:27:02.402-05:00

Iglese de Santa Barbara, Barichara, Colombia sits on a hill overlooking the city and was the first church built here. Ha ha! Bad joke, but this is the Second year for the Musica Baroque en Barichara (http://la-rocinante.blogspot.com/p/programacion.html) and if you click on the link you can find out the entire program. It is in Spanish, but you'll get the general idea from the names of the

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-12109668537421315492011-08-07T13:17:00.001-05:002011-08-07T13:22:21.766-05:00

Street in San Gil, looking toward the central park area. Notice cross on the surrounding mountainside. It usually catches one by surprise. And later you ask yourself, "Why was I distracted? What was I thinking?" In my case, I had just finished getting some papers copied, and was planning to stuff them back into my backpack before getting on my scooter. I had a mental list of things I needed to

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-53509534702930310492011-07-26T09:50:00.000-05:002011-07-26T09:50:51.608-05:00

Iglese de San Joaquin was started in 1640 in Curiti, Santander in Colombia. The church, as seen further up the street in Curiti; this is the older section of village. An inexpensive day trip (less than $25 USD) can be made to Curiti in Santander, part of the Andino region of Colombia. A relatively clean village of about 3500 people, Curiti was established in 1640 when the first phase of

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-82883288802621243262011-07-17T13:36:00.001-05:002011-07-17T13:46:11.713-05:00

Coro Polyphonica de Barichara presented at FICBA's first annual event in Barichara, Colombia. Perhaps you didn't hear much about this international film festival this year, but that was possibly because it was the first year, and perhaps because it didn't get much 'international' coverage, but the Festival Internacional de Cine de Barichara (FICBA) holds promise for the future. (The only '

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-17618558674875647522011-07-16T18:54:00.001-05:002011-07-16T19:44:53.271-05:00

Ultimo, once a 'loaner cat,' is now a permanent installation, here he hangs out on the grape vine supports. ... the more they stay the same." Or in the French version which I learned a long time ago from my grandmother, "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose." (This French proverb is credited to the French novelist Alphonse Karr (1808-90). Or do they? In this last week I have said my

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-5106047771798237242011-07-04T07:52:00.006-05:002011-07-05T00:46:06.935-05:00

Dr. Alphonso Levy, director of the St. James Episcopal Church choir, put up with my antics as an alto in the group for the years I was with them. I shall miss him. It is hard to believe it when a community member who has made such a huge impression on so many lives passes away. Very early this morning 83 years of music were silenced with the death of Dr. Alphonso Levy in Lake City, Florida. I

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-71683037874263913352011-06-26T23:55:00.000-05:002011-06-26T23:55:02.083-05:00

In the U.S. there is Father's Day on the first Sunday in June to celebrate the importance of Papa, but in Colombia it is the Dia de Camposino. This Day of the Peasant/Farmer is a day to celebrate the earth, the harvest and to thank God for all the blessings of being able to till the soil and provide a living for one's family. 300 horses and riders, of all ages, were on a four-day trip, an

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-185986424392051362011-06-26T07:08:00.000-05:002011-06-26T07:08:51.484-05:00

I don't actually know how many people are following (as in following on Twitter) the murder trial of the State of Florida v. Casey Marie Anthony in Orlando, Florida, but Twitter has allowed me to keep up via computer with what is happening in this sad story of a young toddler who went missing in June of 2008 and the subsequent trial that seems to have caught the attention of people all over the

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-25514503552637991732011-06-22T19:32:00.000-05:002011-06-22T19:32:12.241-05:00

Anyone with cats knows they can be a source of amusement, frustration and yes, worry. Losing the Amarillo cat was more than worrisome, it was flat-out distressing. So I made the move some weeks after it was pretty clear that "Pasqual" was not going to return, and I accepted a 'rescue' kitten - delivered to me with two others in a cardboard box left at my gate. (The others went to a pet store in

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-45093395857660369782011-06-20T21:15:00.001-05:002011-06-20T21:18:23.112-05:00

A young boy stands in front of the tree he planted two years ago when the Eco-Park was first established. A big issue for much of Colombia is that at one time a lot of trees that were native to the area were cut down and used for building, clearing land for agriculture or for cooking over a fire. As a result, there has been a serious de-forestation problem which has caused a tremendous amount

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-72752754392650216172011-06-15T13:00:00.000-05:002011-06-15T13:16:38.155-05:00

June's full moon is in Sagittarius and tonight, the 15th, there will be a total eclipse lasting about 100 minutes. A couple of the blogs I read about Multiple Myeloma offer some insight to this disease, and ways to live with it or fight it. In particular, Pat Killingsworth and his wife, Pat, offer several blogs on the subject of cancer, unfortunately due to personal experience. If you have

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-51800018242243067742011-05-31T00:53:00.000-05:002011-05-31T00:53:31.793-05:00

I wish I could tell you the name of this bird, but I have been unable to get it identified. It makes a 'chuck-chuck' noise, no chirping or singing, and as you can see it is eating a very large grasshopper or cicada. This bird was seen regularly in my yard up until a few days ago. I can only assume it has moved on to other areas, perhaps after having cleaned out all the cicadas from my backyard.

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-88682970479898462732011-05-21T04:09:00.003-05:002011-05-21T11:59:31.636-05:00

This dog is often seen following its owner around much of Barichara and is a common type of dog for the area; medium size, mixed breed, longer hair. The Colombian treatment of dogs is an interesting study in the difference between this country and the United States and how Colombia is changing. While this subject is about dogs, it really does relate to all aspects of both pets and agricultural

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-46477925932977704972011-05-14T12:00:00.000-05:002011-05-14T12:04:10.057-05:00

Once in awhile I review the 'stats' on Blogger to see which articles are the most read or where the audience comes from. I started out writing this blog as a window on the world for a couple of people who were in the hospital with Multiple Myeloma (MM), a blood plasma cancer which is considerably more terminal than life itself. Some people with it have had Stem Cell Transplants (STCs) either with

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-43811652809460931922011-05-08T10:00:00.000-05:002011-05-08T10:00:30.590-05:00

"La Ventana (2011)" is my first work in oil in several decades. I celebrated my birthday recently and it seemed appropriate that I had also completed an oil painting I started awhile ago. It is view out of the window of my casa to the slopes beyond. In the blog, "On Being An Artist," I published the start of the piece and while I took pictures along the way, I never really knew when it would be

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-53289048139536063722011-05-03T10:37:00.000-05:002011-05-03T10:37:19.640-05:00

This is an older section of Bucaramanga, next to one of the many parks the city has, but sadly doesn't take very good care of them and they are dangerous after dark. When I was first in Colombia in 2009, I had been here about four weeks when I realized I was going to be over-staying the 60-day limit by about 6 days. There are serious fines (up to $1500 USD) for failing to follow the tourist

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-6066531511620444772011-04-28T18:50:00.000-05:002011-04-28T18:50:00.386-05:00

These Red and Blue Macaws live a free life in San Gil. Recently I went on an 'art date,' something that is more or less required if you are doing The Artist's Way (TAW), a 12-week program to heal the artist within - and probably without as well. Anyhow, I had to pay the rent on my casa which requires me to go to San Gil, a city that is about 25 minutes away. I intended to catch the bus, but

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-13833827219035789292011-04-27T20:05:00.000-05:002011-04-27T20:05:00.155-05:00

Before I knew about Multiple Myeloma, I lived in a gingerbread land of illusion. I did not know about this disease that comes into families like a snake sliding into a picnic, creating fear and havoc. Today I have friends and a relative living with this condition. I try to support them all with my words, my pictures and comments of caring and support when appropriate. This blog was originally

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-73010048470210665292011-04-24T17:13:00.000-05:002011-04-24T17:23:18.443-05:00

The sailor who killed the albatross doomed himself and his ship. Are we doing the same thing to ourselves with what we think is "water?" It's a big business these days, even in Colombia, to sell water in plastic containers. It is touted as being "pure," but is it? And is pure water really good water? Droplets of rain water caught by a large leave in Washington State, USA. I have been reading a

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-44834719206186605242011-04-24T01:15:00.000-05:002011-05-03T10:47:10.268-05:00

Barichara in the state of Santander, Colombia, must have the highest number of good restaurants in and around the city than any village in Colombia! And I'm working my way through them and enjoying (almost) every minute! One of my guests, Karl, wasted no time sampling the appetizer plate. By the time we had that lovely green salad and the calamari, we were quite stuffed. The first one I am

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-22172374790324061642011-04-22T23:27:00.001-05:002011-09-12T07:20:02.709-05:00

The 'body' of Christ is removed from the cross before the procession and is placed in a bier for the walk to the 'cave.' Just what was 'good' about a Friday where you get hung up on a cross and left to die? Nothing, as far as I can tell. And so while I honor the day as being the Catholic and Episcopal churches sequence for the days approaching Easter, I have my doubts as to whether or not Jesus

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-76776874441593967992011-04-22T13:02:00.000-05:002011-04-22T13:02:37.929-05:00

If eating bugs will save the earth by cutting down on greenhouse gases, the Santanderianos are well ahead of the game. On April 15, the huge ants swarmed and were collected by the thousands. These 'hormigas culonas' (big-butt virgin queen ants) are considered a delicacy here and all during that night and the next one could smell the peculiar odor of roasting ants throughout the village. These

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-84165511417799370322011-04-16T08:07:00.000-05:002011-04-16T08:07:24.116-05:00

I'm not sure how the conversation got started, but at any event, it was about cats and preferred colors. There were several of us sitting around discussing the merits of one color over another and I said, "I don't like yellow cats. I've never had one, but I don't think I'd ever choose one." The color yellow is 'amarillo' in Spanish and now you can probably guess where this tale is going.

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-57679785139016855572011-04-15T20:52:00.000-05:002011-04-15T20:56:01.737-05:00

The cathedral here is lovely with Italian terrazzo throughout, Italian artisans did the beautiful stained glass windows, and it has an Old World feel in the design. The Andes are the backdrop for Socorro's cathedral. There are so many villages and cities that have long histories in Colombia often it is hard to choose which one to visit first. Since I live in one of them, Barichara,

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-69591767861052746992011-04-08T10:50:00.000-05:002011-04-08T10:50:32.204-05:00

My return to Colombia was heralded by buckets of rain... rain in Bogota, rain in Socorro, rain in Barichara. Apparently there were five continuous days of rain and the rivers were already swollen and violently rushing to the next biggest river. This is the road heading toward Socorro, the next largest city, south of San Gil. It used to be the seat of the state of Santander, but that is now in

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-7124771798116025972011-04-03T12:04:00.000-05:002011-04-03T12:07:26.690-05:00

The small gate was opened, the balloons were flying, and the guests started arriving. After a couple of weeks of being back in my favorite village in the world, I decided it was time to celebrate. Someone asked me, "Is it your birthday?" No, I just wanted to celebrate my new life, so I replied, "It is not my birthday I am celebrating, but everyone else's." The invitation said, "For artists and

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-32998431612635711962011-03-29T21:54:00.000-05:002011-03-29T21:54:14.462-05:00

The rainy season has started. It was supposed to start on Monday the 7th of March, but it really started on Thursday, the 17th. Just kidding... I think. In any case, it has rained every day and every night for the past nine days or nights. Well, this is hard to explain. Some days it starts raining in the afternoon. So that would mean that it rained during the day. At other times it starts raining

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-12628413452518047052011-03-18T22:26:00.000-05:002011-03-18T22:28:03.539-05:00

One thing I have learned from The Artist’s Way, referred to by those of us who are actively following that path as TAW, is that BEING an artist is given to everyone. It is a gift from the Creator, but not everyone wishes to unwrap the package and find out what is inside.I have been a risk-taker most of my life. I have fallen in love, been married, had children (a huge risk, in my opinion),

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-12802858395900237842011-03-17T01:19:00.000-05:002011-03-17T01:29:23.076-05:00

On March 11, from the time the earthquake struck (2:46 p.m.) until the tsunami raced at 800 kilometers per hour to hit the land  at 3:02 p.m., the Japanese people living near the coast had 16 minutes to act. The quake itself lasted several minutes, so right after it was over, the people on the water’s edge had to decide if there was a risk of a tsunami or not and if yes, get to higher ground. For

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-74066353935405128132011-03-13T16:40:00.001-05:002011-09-12T07:28:43.561-05:00

Spring flowers in Arizona Anyone who has faced the doctor with the dreaded announcement, "You have cancer," knows how life changes in an instant.  And when on a walk a few days ago there was discussion about the earthquake in Japan, my first thought was, "Well, it doesn't really affect me." If you think because the disaster in Japan is too far away to affect you, think again. Perhaps like me,

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-6511880550139724632011-03-09T10:15:00.000-05:002011-03-09T10:15:29.618-05:00

Half an hour out of Bogota, we were still in the mountains and climbing up into the clouds and mist, with over seven hours ahead of us due to road conditions. It was a long, long ride after a long, long ride. I’ve been back “in country” for really four days. I can’t count the first day since it was spent getting from the airport to the hotel and into bed, collapsing after an 11-hour bus ride

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-37843179899931911212011-02-26T19:34:00.000-05:002011-02-26T19:34:27.985-05:00

I heard yesterday there was snow in San Francisco. When my girls were small we lived in that area and I don't ever recall having the opportunity to throw a snowball in our front yard. Instead we drove to Yellowstone or up to a snow line on the mountains. I'll bet neither one remembers the day we did that and saw a 'real live black bear' up close... and one of mine - I won't say which one - wanted

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-69503902035781248582011-02-24T19:01:00.000-05:002011-02-25T08:07:55.171-05:00

Feeding the manatees at Silver Springs, FL February in Florida can be quite lovely, with the temperatures hovering between 68 and 78 degrees during the day and much cooler at night. The humidity is considerably less as well, making trips to various educational and entertainment sites more enjoyable. A few years ago I went with my buddy T and his son's family (2 boy grands) to the Silver

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-12981916422584134152011-02-20T23:47:00.001-05:002011-09-12T07:25:02.660-05:00

In various cities around the world you are likely to see artists like this one; usually men who look like statues which move randomly and provide entertainment - for a donated fee - see the slotted container?  In my travels I have enjoyed going to museums, art galleries, art shows and other events where artists either have some kind of presentation of their work or are themselves on display.

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-26083739380990499922011-02-18T12:05:00.000-05:002011-02-18T21:36:25.366-05:00

These two Macaws, a red and a blue, live in the Parque Gallinera in San Gil, Santander, Colombia. Not these brightly colored ones, of course! I have returned to Florida during the annual migration of a variety of birds and yesterday I had the joy of watching a huge flock of robins pecking through the leaves in my front yard. Today I can hear the sounds of ducks, swans, geese and others calling

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-41800168568933420282011-02-15T01:06:00.000-05:002011-02-15T01:06:54.886-05:00

Frost flakes found on my truck window reminded me of ferns... This is just a short post because I am driving my truck back to Florida and am utterly exhausted from eating on the road, driving and generally am sick of cross-country travel. But in the midst of the journey I  came out to get the vehicle started and saw this lovely reminder of the randomness of things on the windshield... and it

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-8683963845035593002011-02-12T23:29:00.000-05:002011-02-12T23:41:02.395-05:00

Love is... going for walks at the lake to feed the ducks every day, even though your husband can't find the words to describe them. Although it was nine months ago that a very dear friend was facing the certainty of her husband having to be placed into custodial care, the first awareness of Frontotemporal Dementia came when her beloved began to have difficulty remembering the names of simple

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-30583905303066339512011-02-04T16:49:00.001-05:002012-01-23T11:18:00.446-05:00

View from the host family's bedroom window of sunrise. There are a couple things in Bogota, Colombia, that remind me of Seattle, Washington. First, there are a lot of cloudy days and when the sun comes out it is really hot and lovely. Second, although Seattle has mountains on two sides with clouds on top of them, making for truly fabulous views, Bogota is surrounded by them. Third, both places

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-43220028236128916852011-01-25T17:17:00.000-05:002011-01-27T18:52:16.612-05:00

You can be forgiven for not knowing... I didn't either until a couple of weeks ago. It is a particular kind of guitar which has an unusual configuration of strings, probably evolved from the Spanish guitars brought over by the conquistadors. You can read more about it here: Tiple The instrument is about two-thirds the size of a standard guitar, unless it is something that has been created by

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-7464702432439698392011-01-23T00:30:00.000-05:002011-01-23T00:53:41.298-05:00

During the Fiesta in October, the streets were crowded with people, dogs, horses, motos, cars, trucks and music was coming from everywhere. It has taken me awhile to track down this popular singer and the song I was hearing everywhere, even back when I first arrived in Colombia. During the 2010 Christmas season, this song was blaring from every radio, whether in a car, casa or attached to some

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-1377671597412571012011-01-18T21:56:00.000-05:002011-01-18T21:56:45.939-05:00

There has been no significant rain since the 24th of December. Everything is very dry and has the potential to really burn like crazy. Three days ago the wind was blowing at least 25 mph and gusting higher. I went with two art buddies to the cliff that marks the western end of the city of Barichara to draw/paint the mountains. I really love this picture of my friend making a decision about

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-81232184870444916452011-01-17T09:27:00.000-05:002011-01-17T09:27:31.578-05:00

I recently received word that the relative with MM who had a successful STC had contracted the flu, in spite of having a flu shot. Then on top of that, the dreaded RSV, a virus which is truly dangerous for babies and those with 'baby-like' immune systems, has jumped on the patient as well. Right now I am living in a country where people have no real awareness of illnesses and contamination of

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-63362571379327767562011-01-10T00:12:00.000-05:002011-01-10T00:12:15.020-05:00

(Or did I have a dog and a job?) It all started because the original dog nanny, whom I shall call the Brunhilde of Barichara, decided she could not keep the dog at her house after all. This left the owner with few options and I received a call from my doctor friend asking if I could “take care of two small dogs for a week or so.” Scott, the dog, lives in the little casita (you can see the roof

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-35141668634974758972011-01-08T10:58:00.000-05:002011-01-08T11:14:01.371-05:00

This casa is large, but doesn't really qualify as huge, with several sleeping quarters, a main room and a kitchen all around the Spanish version of an atrium. But it is over 300 years old and beautifully renovated for new use. If I look so well-preserved when I'm 300, I shall be quite happy indeed! A visit yesterday to this old, old casa that has been renovated by a fellow who is married with

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-18875184437746579712011-01-08T01:29:00.000-05:002011-01-08T01:29:24.372-05:00

In the 'county' of Santa Barbara, in the Department (state) of Santander, about 8 kilometers from Barichara, you will find this old farm. You can see forever... is how the song goes... and after the clouds lift here, it really applies. I'm keeping this short tonight as I want to focus (pardon the pun, BK) on the picture.These mountains are easily at least 50 to 80 miles away, looking just

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-65597707558183031742011-01-05T12:15:00.000-05:002011-01-05T12:15:35.688-05:00

Happy New Year to all... if there’s one thing I would personally like for the new year here in Colombia, it would be a fast modem coupled to a fast internet service. With all the people here in the pueblo, and all of them using cell phones day and night, the cell-based modems are struggling to give any kind of service at all.In fact, I decided against even renting one for these past two weeks

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-53472002610684517992010-12-20T14:08:00.000-05:002010-12-20T14:23:20.815-05:00

Quite by accident I was invited to go along to St. Anthony's "Casa de Hermanas" (House of the Sisters) and given my limited Spanish I accepted without any idea what I was agreeing to, but I am always ready for a new adventure. St. Anthony's is one of five smaller churches in the Barichara 'metro' area, but it also has a facility for the aged. It turns out that I was agreeing to help my Art

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-73655431343650961722010-12-17T14:31:00.000-05:002010-12-17T14:31:03.398-05:00

After reading the two remarks from readers about my safety, I thought I might write a little bit about being a solo woman traveler to those who may be thinking or dreaming of going someplace farther away than the next big city alone.And I am sooooo appreciative of my reader's concerns... and it is because of those issues that I took this subject today and offer my Ten Tips for Tight-Assed

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-11243381152672023282010-12-13T13:46:00.000-05:002010-12-13T14:12:36.919-05:00

My hotel room in Bogota was the best for the money I've found so far... there is a shower behind that artfully carved glass and it had hot water, too!!! The trip from Bogota to Barichara seemed longer than usual and I guess it was because I was both excited and nervous to be returning solo. So much of my life I have had a “significant other’ (husband, boyfriend, fiance) in it and my experiences

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-31568071208282231502010-12-09T21:43:00.000-05:002010-12-09T21:43:00.987-05:00

It was my first train ride in a long, long time. And for the most part, it was not a disappointment. I got on in Jacksonville at a very early hour, thanks to my friend Tobe who was either kind enough or foolish enough to get up at 4:30 a.m. and come and pick me up... I think he was kind. The Silver Service starts its run in New York City and ends up in Miami, Florida some 15 hours later, if I

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-8735767637157615502010-11-30T00:59:00.000-05:002010-11-30T00:59:33.962-05:00

I followed my friend Betty into the Hospice Haven to see if I could find a transistor or portable radio for someone in Barichara. No luck. But while I was waiting for her to finish paying for some little treasure she found, I overheard a young woman making a comment about Colombia. My ears went on red alert and I immediately, without any thought of the consequence of eavesdropping, listened to

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-83087325433747058012010-11-28T23:41:00.000-05:002010-11-28T23:41:17.435-05:00

The Barichara Chorus was rehearsing in this shot. I was part of the choir at St. James Episcopal Church today and it was quite amusing to see the reactions of 'the regulars' as they came past the choir for their communion. More than a few did a double-take seeing me in the Alto section and it was  good to be singing again. My connections in Barichara, the village in Colombia, report that

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-11991887704824395262010-11-26T09:40:00.000-05:002010-11-30T00:39:35.628-05:00

I dedicate this sunset photo to Hamada who, according to Susie, loved them. The news from Susie that her beloved husband Hamada had passed away on November 23 from the consequences of Multiple Myeloma was no real surprise after her continuous updates of his failing kidneys, but it was still very sad news for those who have come to know her and the love of her life through her blog and her

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-44630750657535216732010-11-20T22:16:00.000-05:002010-11-20T22:16:45.084-05:00

Looking back over the past 15 months I realize I have traveled over (approximately) 45,000 miles (!!) by air, boat and car with Jey-hu - the most I have ever traveled with anyone. He said the same was true for him and we both agreed it has been "a most interesting adventure." No regrets. We part as friends, in spite of the volatile circumstances that drove a wedge between us. And today I begin a

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-59604644376030035722010-11-20T02:35:00.000-05:002010-11-20T02:35:53.215-05:00

The last captured sunset over Puget Sound - see how those high winter clouds stretch across the sky? It was a time when things were incredibly uncertain, fluid and transitory as I tried to work out the details of getting my personal gear moved. One day I was going to ship it and the next I was ready to walk away from all of it In the end I decided it made sense to load it into the old Ford

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-18972871603126255902010-11-12T15:36:00.000-05:002010-11-12T15:36:42.022-05:00

Just go around the corner and you will see the entry - don't bother to knock! Once having located a house to rent, one of the requirements by this owner was to have someone who could 'vouch' for me as being someone who will honor the contract. I was fortunate that my friend at Corasoma was willing to take on that responsibility. Then one must appear in front of the notary and bring proof of

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-76099307731590860092010-11-04T22:55:00.000-05:002010-11-04T22:55:00.513-05:00

In a few days I will be heading to Bogota to catch a flight back to the U.S. But this is just another step in my retirement plan as I have decided to make the leap and rent a small casa here in Barichara for a year to see how I like being a Colombiana. I have met some wonderful, strong, creative women here who are very supportive of my choices and have helped me to find a safe place to park

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-9641717673791648552010-10-26T10:23:00.000-05:002010-10-26T10:23:08.766-05:00

The trip from Barichara to San Gil was uneventful and after getting all the campo mud out from the undercarriage of the car at the car wash in San Gil, it seemed as if the old girl was considerably lighter on her “sneakers.”After days of rain, it was pleasurable to see the sunshine and the trip to Bucaramanga was done in record time... just under two hours! The Chicamocha Canyon was vastly

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-70151528937719976822010-10-25T20:25:00.000-05:002010-10-25T20:25:18.348-05:00

A few of San Gil in Santander, Colombia from the edge of the Rio Fonce which is near flood stage from all the rain. I decided it was time to take a trip to find out more about Colombia, so I will be posting short updates as I have internet access. For now, just a quick note as to where I am headed and what I have seen so far. I am aiming to reach the northern coast on the Caribbean side to see

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-3197105162536796862010-10-19T11:46:00.000-05:002010-10-19T11:46:41.244-05:00

Some of my friends know how much I love birds and how much I miss my sweet African Grey parrot who fell in love with my best friend's husband... I will be going back to Florida to visit that friend and the bird very soon! But in the meantime, I've become the rescue Birdwoman in Colombia when two very different kinds of birds required assistance. Green Parrotlet, native to Colombia and the

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-87967140760317189982010-10-13T00:13:00.000-05:002010-10-13T00:13:03.888-05:00

Just as the sun was setting, I was getting ready to have a look at a house that was for rent, but the owner was not readily available. It seems hard to believe a month has passed and I am beginning to count the days until I head back to the NW to start to sort out my life in the U.S. I had a long conversation with my host tonight about the various aspects of "control" and how my life seems very

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-61004054578393861522010-10-08T21:11:00.000-05:002010-10-08T21:11:11.974-05:00

Walking up the path under the mango trees, past the lemon tree on the right and into the sunshine ahead. Sometimes we are forced onto a new path, sometimes we have the choice of taking one or another. I am sitting with the idea that I am in both places at the same time - being forced and also choosing. It is a strange state of affairs, but I am in the perfect place to reflect on this process.

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-78186034249699837892010-10-05T08:27:00.000-05:002010-10-05T08:27:16.223-05:00

This was a photo I took and "photoshopped" it into a more artistic format. Hope you enjoy the view! The view from here, as long as we are not in the clouds from the rain, is lovely and peaceful. Yesterday we saw a rare blue butterfly with wings of the most heavenly azure iridescent color. It flew within inches of me as I saw having a cup of tea and I realized how fortunate I am to be here now.

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-28532688994637406052010-10-01T11:42:00.000-05:002010-10-01T11:42:38.377-05:00

Greetings, amigos y amigas... Since the arrival in the campo, I have been assaulted by bugs of all sorts, in part due to the rain. But the worst are the miniscule ticks which embedded themselves all over my arms and legs. I didn´t realize that the itching wasn´t just from a bug bite, but a miserable infestation laid out every couple of inches on my legs by this dreadful pest. The solution? Find a

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-35078902401685115032010-09-25T19:07:00.000-05:002010-09-26T08:01:25.253-05:00

Most everyone in Corasoma has been under attack by something equivalent to the “no-see-ums” found in various parts of the U.S. in springtime here in Colombia. A small ferocious fly with a huge bite leaves large, itchy welts when it zooms in and does its work before you even realize you’ve been chewed. But on Wednesday, Sept. 22, we made a short ride (about 25-30 minutes) to San Gil, and a drop

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-45212053981762536762010-09-19T19:47:00.000-05:002011-04-27T09:38:10.007-05:00

The road to Barichara from San Jose Altos is awash after the rainstorm the night before. The first thing I noticed is that there has been, and continues to be, plenty of rain. This has created a lush, vibrant landscape and the pinched look in the faces of the Colombians has disappeared. The once dusty roads are now impassable at times because of the ravines created by rushing torrents. But the

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-60332878349174356202010-09-14T00:20:00.000-05:002010-09-14T08:54:13.008-05:00

The day started REALLY early... like 3 a.m.! A friend, an amazing friend, picked me and my travel buddy, Jeyhu, up at my apartment and drove us to the airport. Then it was kind of a blur until we got on the plane and the engines revved up. I want to tell you a story about this, but perhaps it can wait because I just want you to see some amazing pictures and then I can go off to bed. Because it

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-71390334777645348712010-09-12T03:55:00.000-05:002010-09-12T03:55:30.253-05:00

Some of the MM bloggers and caregivers will remember "Andre" and I didn't want him forgotten, either. It's hard to believe the Swim Across America event here in Seattle is over and I only have a few hours before grabbing onto the wings of an east-bound plane for Atlanta, GA, and then head south to Colombia. I was there again at Luther Burbank Park at 6 a.m. ready to volunteer. It was dark and

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-53378982840769993602010-09-06T02:40:00.000-05:002010-09-06T02:40:33.751-05:00

Pike's Place Market is a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike, especially on a sunny Sunday. The Pike Market is well known for their Market Spice Tea which is available here, and online, too, if you care to order it. It was a big hit with our Colombian friends, so we made a special effort on Sunday to get down here and get some to take back with us. It has a strong orange and spice

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-69947153064762921072010-09-04T16:55:00.000-05:002010-09-05T02:15:45.580-05:00

This photo of the pier near the ferry landing in Edmonds, Washington, does not give a hint that summer is over. I took this last week. Yesterday the air was clean, crisp, clear. And cool. Summer is over - at least in this neck of the woods. I was left to my own devices all day long - not necessarily a good thing. After walking about the Alderwood Mall for several hours and buying only a monopod

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-19676797828317933712010-08-31T20:23:00.000-05:002010-08-31T20:23:50.742-05:00

This will be the second year for Swim Across America in Seattle on Lake Washington. It takes place on Saturday, September 11 and here is the link for all the information about the long distance swimming event, which gets under way VERY early in the morning... good place to see the sunrise! http://www.swimacrossamerica.org I was a volunteer last year and have offered again for this year but

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-56582498844598640292010-08-26T18:35:00.000-05:002010-08-26T19:24:31.129-05:00

The temperature dropped, the rain fell down, the pressure was low and it was time for "Rain Soup."Start a pot of water boiling... and while it is doing its thing, add some salt.Then hopefully you have some:* carrots* mushrooms* onions* shallots or green onions* parsley flakes* black pepperand a chopper/grinder you can put it all into.Once the water is boiling you dump all the bits and pieces into

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-10266362234343204012010-08-26T00:07:00.001-05:002010-08-26T18:35:43.161-05:00

Sometimes I go looking for things to cheer up my MM readers and other friends, sometimes I simply stumble onto a special sight, and occasionally I rant and rave about an issue near and dear to my heart. No more rants for now.... here's something I thought was special.As I walked out of my apartment this afternoon, the light caught my eye and when I focused in on it, this is what I saw... an

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-17442596648227933322010-08-23T17:15:00.000-05:002010-08-26T18:15:06.875-05:00

I feel a rant coming on. My rant today is about traveling. On the way back from visiting Jey-hu's mother who took a tumble and got a terrible 'green-stick' fracture to her humerus (upper arm long bone), we saw an accident on the I-5 headed south. (So glad it wasn't on our side; and sorry if anyone was hurt.) However, if the accident was caused by someone with a couple of cats, dogs, children,

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-69942798796735153632010-08-17T10:54:00.000-05:002010-08-26T18:24:02.582-05:00

Last weekend we crossed off another objective we've been meaning to accomplish. We went to the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field, right next to Seattle's "Sea-Tac" International Airport. Every time we have passed it the comment is made, "We have to go and see that one of these days..."Well, we still have to go back and see more of it because it is huge in space and massive in terms of the amount

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-82113466258616700292010-08-15T21:41:00.000-05:002010-08-26T18:28:30.529-05:00

And more boats... we went to the Shilshoal Marina, north of Seattle, for a boat show today. I have a MM friend who loves being around boats and water, at least as much I do, I've surmised. So I took some pictures with him in mind, because he has plenty of other things on his... These are for you, B...It was so hot... 103 degrees in the sun! I kept finding a space of shade andstanding in it while

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-35419292781171746942010-08-15T00:45:00.000-05:002010-08-15T13:19:40.968-05:00

Temperatures are climbing in the NW, so we traveled to Alki Beach to enjoy the breeze and sand. This beach is part of Seattle's extensive Parks and Recreation system, identified as the West Seattle area. With over 135 acres, you will find a huge expanse of sand, real sand - not pebbles - and plenty of room to bike, walk, roller skate or use anything with wheels that is not motorized on the wide

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-27020905084765037262010-08-14T12:41:00.000-05:002010-08-14T13:07:11.605-05:00

It was going to be at least 80 degrees after the sunset, and we had plans to get to the harbor before it went down, but we missed the drama of watching it go over the Olympics. But we did get a few nice shots and had fun walking around snapping pictures. Hope you enjoy them all...This is a shot of the high rise office buildings directly behind the ferry terminal in Seattle.While this shot of the

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-92003267978914555092010-08-14T12:20:00.000-05:002010-08-14T12:28:49.772-05:00

She walked into the waiting area of the airline departure lounge with her head held high. And on both sides I saw flowers. How perfectly lovely they are, I thought. I wanted to get a better look and pondered how I could approach without seeming maddeningly intrusive.If I'd been traveling with anyone else, I might not have had the courage to do this, but when I'm alone I seem to have a different

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94515998673100216.post-35519106599385417432010-08-09T12:05:00.000-05:002010-08-09T12:09:35.215-05:00

Often as caregivers we are so anxious to improve an awful situation, we take a somewhat heavy handed approach, like a canary in combat boots. We forget that the 'other person' is wrapped tightly too, struggling with what may be an end-of-life crisis and in our own stress we push too hard, making things worse.I was reading another care-giver's blog and direct you to it for some sane advice.http://

Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265922352726668243noreply@blogger.com0