FLASHIER THAN THE FLOWERS
The Coleus is another plant where the leaves outshine the flowers.
For more flowers, see: http://ceenphotography.com/2015/07/26/flower-of-the-day-july-26-2015-day-lily/
The Billionaire
If I were to win a billion dollars, I’d open a cultural center in San Juan Cosala, the town I live in in Mexico. It would include free art studios where anyone could come to paint, sculpt or learn computer graphics. There would be a ceramics class, paper making, metal smithing–any art form that children or adults wish to learn, and I’d hire both local artists and artists from abroad who could come teach workshops to make the art experience fresh and expanding.
If there were any leftover money (ha!) I’d build a free hospital for local residents and for any children from Jalisco with birth defects or other debilitating conditions.
I would establish one hundred free college scholarships a year and hire the young people who availed themselves of these scholarships to come back and implement the changes in their village that they feel are necessary. I would also provide the funds so that all children could go to school and hire wonderful teachers who would stimulate them and make education a delightful opportunity. It is true that Mexico has free schools, but also true that many children do not go to these free schools because they can’t afford uniforms, books and school supplies.
Then I’d buy a simple house with five bedrooms on the beach, use it myself for two months of the year and loan it out to people from my village who could use a vacation or take children or adults away for art or writing workshops.
I know this is a very simplified version of huge projects that would take years of planning, but since this is a fantasy anyway, I’m clicking my fingers and there. It’s done!!!
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “You’re a Winner!.”You’ve just won $1 billion dollars in the local lottery. You do not have to pay tax on your winnings. How will you spend the money?
I shoulda woulda coulda answered this prompt today,
but it seems the time to do it sorta got away.
I had to finish up the prompt I started yesterday,
and then it seemed like life just sort of got right in the way.
I know I’ve made a habit of writing every day,
but lately I have had less time for what I want to say.
Yet superstition tells me that somehow I’ll have to pay
if I don’t write something, so it’s possible I may.
The problem is this little rhyme really has no theme.
I really shoulda woulda had a prior scheme.
Some topic I felt strong about–a cause or plan or meme.
Other folks have causes by the dozen or the ream.
Perhaps a favorite candidate, or charity or team.
But I follow no beacon, am directed by no beam.
My pointless post is definitely not the cream de la cream.
My woulda shoulda coulda was just a silly dream!!!
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/shoulda-woulda-coulda/
You are all correct. It was a frog! (Aha–It has just been pointed out to me that this is a toad, not a frog. I should have realized this, so I stand corrected. Thanks to the wise soul who knew the difference!)
This little guy, about 3 inches long, was sitting on the work counter of my garage when I got back from rehearsal. He was still there when I left for the Camp Estrella show a few hours later, but had departed by time I got home four hours later. He’ll be croaking out his very loud song by my pool later tonight. The performance was an incredible experience. I’ll post pictures and tell all later tonight. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, 8 of us put on a week-long camp for 30 kids from my village. They did art, English lessons, singing and flamenco dancing. Today was their big performance and it was wonderful More about it later!
For more flower shots, go here: http://ceenphotography.com/2015/07/25/flower-of-the-day-july-25-2015-waterlily/
I went out to photograph flowers, but found the palm tree trunks more interesting.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/close-up/
The beautiful children of Mexico
shed music as they come and go
see how they dance and how they flow–
the beautiful children of Mexico?
Long hair held back out of the way,
womanhood fastened there at bay.
They’ll loosen it another day,
but for now they need to play.
See how the big boys stand aloof
in the shadow of the courtyard roof?
Yet their guard lets down as they sing and dance,
with an occasional sideways glance.
They lean and banter, jostle and
cavort like puppies as they stand.
But see how the smallest one of all
suddenly seems to stand so tall?
See the talents they all display–
victorious at the end of day.
So clever, given half a chance,
they show their bravery in dance.
Intelligence in the written word–
a painting of a flower or bird,
these beautiful masks they’ve put in place
obscure the beauty of each face.
Mothers and fathers, heed me well
as the truth of it I seek to tell.
As they lift their masks, end their parade,
see the beautiful children that you’ve made!
I’d been asked to read a poem at the children’s performance at the end of camp tomorrow night, but nothing I’ve written seemed appropriate, so I wrote this poem that I will read at the end of the animal song and mask presentation as they are about to take off their masks and leave the stage for a party and dinner prepared by Agustin, the owner of the restaurant where we held this six day camp. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting a glimpse of a few of the over 600 pictures I took. Too many photo opportunities!!! I guess I’d advise that no one else try to sift through this many pictures to adorn a post. It has taken me from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.–with a few diversions..two one hour phonecalls and a few email interruptions! So, a very late posting, but appropriate for this prompt: https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/well-i-never/
Yes, I’m stuck on the theme of Camp Estrella. Thirty children and each came up with an original response in making thank-you cards for sponsors. The messages inside were just as sweet.
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/07/23/flower-of-the-day-july-23-2015-echinacea/
I’m choosing an alternate prompt today–to talk about my most unconventional love affair. I’m fairly sure I’ve written about this prompt before, but this time I’m talking about another unconventional love affair–my love affair with Mexico. Hopefully you’ll know why after you read it.
The Boy in the Blue Feathered Mask
I was so busy issuing art supplies, that when the masks were set out to dry, I had no idea whose was whose. Other Camp Estrella counselors were helping at each table and requests for paint colors were coming fast and furious. Who knew so many boys would want to be grey foxes? A lot of white and black got mixed. A lot of red and pink to make a deeper rose.
Then, feathers flew and concrete became polka-dotted with sequins in every shape from polka dots to half moons and leaping reindeer. Day after day, layers added until it was impossible to tell roosters from foxes from bears from falcons from rabbits.
But when I saw the remarkable turquoise feathered mask with the jeweled beak, I tried to imagine which of the graceful young girls had conceived of it. When I collected it from the tarp set in the sun and sat it under cover with the others for the night, I knew I wanted to be sure to capture her picture tomorrow before my day became consumed with other tasks.
The next day, the members of the camp surrounded the tables and piano where we had set the masks away from the night rain and winds of the rainy season. Some asked for more sequins, feathers, beads, paint, glue, glitter gel. Others wanted their headbands attached and wore the masks, as is, all day long–swooping between the fruit trees of the open courtyard and over the open spaces where the dance routines were practiced. They sat during language lessons and singing practice with beaks and ears and wattles and plumes.
And then I saw the boy in the turquoise feathered mask!
He didn’t seem to mind that his friends behind him were getting a large charge out of his mask.
He wore it almost constantly, once I’d fastened the strap to it. And then one morning, he caught me by the arm and asked me to take his picture. With his other hand, he caught the hand of a girl who walked by. She was one of the taller girls, rather shy, as you can see from this photo snapped the first day of camp:
“Take our picture!” he asked politely, and although at first she pulled away, she didn’t resist much, and neither did I.
Brave young man. Looks pleased. Brave young woman. Looks placid and mature. In the flamenco dance lessons, she alone looks almost as poised as her instructor. She is the niece of my housekeeper, and although I’d never met her, her aunt pressed me to see that she was included and it was a special request of mine that she be added to the camp roster. Now, in the 4th day of camp, I am so glad I did.
There’s a reason why feather boy looks so pleased. She is talented in everything she does, graceful and kind, and I’m told by the other counselors that the other girls look up to her. Although innocent, and in spite of a few flirty looks from girls toward boys, this is the only case of pairing up (short as it was) between the 11 through 14-year-olds in the camp.
When I mentioned the picture later on, he seemed puzzled, and then when I reminded him, he beamed again. In the two days since then, I’ve seen other boys watching her closely in the dance or at her table as she carefully pens thank you cards to camp sponsors. But no one else got his picture taken with her, and I noticed her shyness melt away rather quickly afterwards.
So many pleasures in this camp. Watching child after child mature and blossom was the greatest one. More stories if you want to hear them. Telling them assures me they won’t be forgotten.
See other Camp Estrella stories HERE and HERE.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/unconventional-love/
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/the-perfect-game/
Coincidentally, a friend brought it to my attention that this post also meets Cee’s prompt this week, so if you want to see some more teal or turquoise, go here:
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/07/21/cees-fun-foto-challenge-teal-or-turquoise/
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 