Vampire Hibiscus
Another shot taken on my after midnight photo shoot in the garden. This one was taken with only a flashlight for illumination. The richness combined with the deep red of the anthers brought to mind another denizen of the night.
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/10/20/flower-of-the-day-october-20-2015-tulip-bud/
The bricks under the window arch will be removed after the bricks forming the arch are placed over it and the mortar dries The top of the arch you see here will actually be the bottom of the window arch. Think backwards!
Where is Magic When You Need It?
Oh dear. I could have used a bit of magic in dealing with one very irate plumber who came up to the kitchen waving his knapsack and pulling at a big chewed spot in the small pocket in front. Reaching in, he drew out a half-eaten lonche (sandwich made out of shredded pork in a bolillo–a small crusty loaf of delicious Mexican Bread.)
“Su perro, su perro! ” he exclaimed and I understood at once that he had left his knapsack down where any one of three inquisitive and always-hungry dogs could investigate (and open) it. It was the small one, he sputtered.
In my best ( worst at best) Spanish I said, “You can’t leave your lunch on the ground with three dogs present.” But it was zippered into his bag, he said. I had to laugh. You’ve seen Morrie’s past exploits, right? If not, suffice it to say that in one week he consumed thirty rolls of toilet paper, two rolls of paper towels, a rubber duck, three doggie toys, a box of crayons, one shoe, five books and the handles off an antique chiffarobe. When I bought him one of those indestructible hard rubber toys in an hourglass shape–the ones you put a dog biscuit or peanut butter into to encourage chewing? Guaranteed forever? He bit it in two in fifteen minutes. This is why I laughed.
“I’ll make you a delicious pork loin sandwich,” I told him.
But the knapsack! he whined.
“I’ll buy you a new bag. Tell me what it costs and I’ll replace it.” He looked somewhat happier. He returned to my studio, where they were fixing a burst pipe. I returned to the kitchen where I cut a half inch slab of pork loin, covered it with au jus and slivered carrots cooked in the juice, made a sandwich, put celery sticks and dipping dressing in a bag, made guacamole and sandwiched it between four crisp tortillas, added a Coca Cola and carried the bag with his new lunch down to the studio. Inside the studio were all three dogs and three piles of poop–all Morrie’s. I know it so well. Piled around were various bags and boxes of valuables used to make retablos that my robber dogs had had free access to.
“You can’t let the dogs into the studio,” I directed, and shut the door. I leaned down to remove Morrie’s markers and by the time I arose, one plumber had gone to retrieve something from the garage, the door was open again and all three dogs were inside.
“I’ll put the dogs in the garage,” I said in my creative Spanish, and went to the house to fortify my demands with dog biscuits. But when we arrived at the garage, there was a very large plastic pipe they’d drained the aljibe (cistern) with in order to clean it, so no go with dogs in the garage. Morrie could have that pipe deconstructed in minutes! Where else? Men were carrying concrete around the side of the house and so I couldn’t close the front yard off from the back. Finally, I enclosed them all within the 20 foot long “pen” I’d created to isolate Morrie while he recuperated from his earlier neutering. The room builders were off in the street, eating lunch under the neighbor’s trees. (More of a vacation than eating under my trees.) The plumbers were in my gazebo, having their lunch. I went down to tell them the dogs were removed from their company at least for now.
The one plumber didn’t look ecstatic over my balanced meal provided, but perhaps he hadn’t tasted it yet. The pork is delicious, I know. I’ve been eating it every day for three days now. The last time I cooked one of these marinated pork tenderloins, I made one meal of it before Diego snatched the rest off the counter where Yolanda had placed it while she cleaned the fridge. This time I was looking forward to more than one meal of it, but I’m very happy to share it with the plumber.
Yesterday, I finally dealt with a three day bout of terrible allergies by taking an antihistamine. As a result, I slept all afternoon, awakening at 7:30 at night. After feeding the dogs, I suddenly had a terrific burst of energy during which I cleaned out and reorganized the entire garage, Scoured out a 20 year old Rubbermaid garbage can so we can use it to store dog food in, washed dishes and straightened the kitchen and dining room. I then reorganized my bathroom storage, hung up all my clothes discarded in hurried changes of costume over the past few days, had the silliest of conversations with my Missouri friend and went out for an after-midnight photo session, the results of which you can see on Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge on this morning’s blog posting. I then watched an episode of “Castle,” played three games of computer solitaire and finally looked at the clock. Five A.M.? I had an English lesson to teach in a few hours and workmen coming at 8. Loud workmen!!! Off went the lights and five minutes later, Yolanda arrived with a cup of coffee. Looks like three hours sleep was going to have to do.
So, another day and another magical progression of events that let me know I’m alive. The weather is perfect. Slight breeze moving the trees. Pasiano accomplished most of the list of “to do’s” I thought up for him to do while experiencing my own all-night energy spurt. The builders are back from lunch and I’m looking out on the beautiful arched window they are in the process of constructing that I’ll be able to see every day from my desk for the rest of my life. My kids are happily at rest in their prison and hot volcanic water is streaming into my swimming pool.
Where is magic when I need it? All around me.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/do-you-believe-in-magic/
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Do you Believe in Magic?.” You have been transformed into a mystical being who has the ability to do magic. Describe your new abilities in detail. How will you use your new skills?
Go here for my poem about magic. I’ll do another, this is just an appetizer:
I’ve never tried to take pictures of flowers at night before!!! I took a flashlight and popped out the flash as well. Kind of nippy out there in my nightgown, but it was so much fun!!!! I always thought hibiscus closed up at night, but here is proof they don’t! Tomorrow, I’ll show the color shots, but for some reason I preferred the black and whites. Ghostlier, I guess.
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/10/19/flower-of-the-day-october-19-2015-rhododendron/
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Right to Brag.” Tell us about something you (or a person close to you) have done recently (or not so recently) that has made you really, unabashedly proud.
Acclaim
Those who seek to elevate
their fame with words too profligate
often find that others balk
at such narcissistic talk.
One heard tooting his own horn
is often lonely and forlorn.
When it comes to charity,
many have reached parity
who do not need to try to flout it,
let alone to shout about it.
Others have performed great acts
without broadcasting the facts
of honors won or feats achieved,
and one who boasts is oft believed
to be exaggerating––or,
is simply thought to be a bore
So, even though you’re justly proud,
please don’t voice that fact out loud.
If your act is worth a plaudit,
best leave it to another to laud it!
Zinnia Zoom
I am constantly amazed by what happens as I zoom in on a flower. There is an entire new world revealed at each stage of the zoom! In this way, a flower is a good parallel to everything. The closer we look, the more complex everything is revealed to be. This is why I like poetry. It is the microbiology of words.
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/10/18/flower-of-the-day-october-18-2015-maran-dahlia/
Doggie Domain #4: Much Ado About Nothing?
Probably no one in the history of the world has made so much out of a 6 1/2 by 7 foot room, but for some reason, I am fascinated by this change in my world. From every door I look out of in the back of my house, from my terrace, my entrance hall, my pool, my bedroom––the view is altered. Tonight when I got home late from my three hour “Thriller” practice, a new art center opening and dinner out with friends, I opened the door to see what progress had been made. Before I’d left, I’d taken this picture, which I love:
But now, tonight in the dark, I opened the door onto what had begun to really look like a room and I felt my entire life shift a bit.
All three dogs came running up to stick their heads in the door and for the first time, Diego and Morrie came rushing into the house through the new room.
Frida, however, merely stuck her head in the door, looked around,
and departed. Whistles, offered treats, calling her name–nothing worked. She absolutely refused to enter through this new route!
So while Diego and Morrie settled into their cages,
Frida’s bed remained empty until I opened the bedroom door for her. Just 5 feet distant from the “new” portal to the house, nonetheless, it was familiar––an accepted and recognizable part of her life. She entered. All was right with the world.
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Ready for Your Close-up.” Cast the movie of your life.
Movie Me––Runway pose, no Closeup!
Many Me’s
When you cast the movie of my life
as student, girlfriend, traveler, wife,
as a toddler, cast me as
a curious, chubby little spazz
with scabby knees—a sort of clown
very adept at falling down!
Will any kid with sunny view do?
Yes. Except—for Honey Boo Boo!
In my child years, perhaps spanning
age four to eight, just pick some Fanning.
But at age nine or ten, I fear
I grew a rather chubby rear.
like Honey Boo Boo? Yes, I guess.
Yet still I’d be in some duress
if you cast that child as me.
Please oh please, don’t let it be!
As a preteen, I was thin
and sang duets with my friend Lynn,
and though I hadn’t half her gift,
just cast me as Taylor Swift!
But when it’s time to go to college,
to gain a sort of further knowledge,
I think you’d better move along
and send her back to her own song.
Leelee Sobieski could
then play me if she only would––
at least until I’m through with school,
although I was not half so cool.
Then, as I begin to travel,
my other sides to then unravel,
Helen Hunt might be the one
to represent travails and fun
of traveling in climes most strange.
She has the acting skills and range
to play me as I looked and pondered,
taught and loved and learned and wandered
Australia, Bali, Singapore,
from door to door to door to door.
Those two lines etched over her nose
grace my face, too, because of woes
that nonetheless I wouldn’t trade
for years spent safe within the shade
of front porch roof and front porch swing
wherein I learned not one new thing.
As I grow older, I change and change.
And so I need a “me” with range
from teacher, artist, writer, spouse––
who alternates from road to house.
Sometimes at home writing my blog,
(my only company a dog
or two or three, and just one cat
to define clearly where I’m at)
I yearn to be out in the crowd,
with dancing feet and head unbowed
to laptop or to artist bench,
and I feel that well-known wrench
of travels to another clime
but worry if I have the time
to do the things within my heart–
to finish all that I might start.
I need a me to sort these things
and bring me all a good life brings––
perhaps to make decisions for me,
choose a life that doesn’t bore me.
Then perhaps we could reverse
our lives and I could then rehearse
the life presented in her depiction.
A real life can learn much from fiction!
So for these final years I need
a woman strong in thought and deed.
Who can show me how to see
all that I was meant to be.
For when I lay me down to sleep,
I’d like to go as Meryl Streep!
GERANIUM
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/10/17/flower-of-the-day-october-17-2015-primrose/
This was the first flowering plant given to me when I moved to Mexico fourteen years ago. It is actually a reddish-pink color, but when I checked out how it would look in white, I decided to post it stripped of color. It just amazes me how much more defined the petals are in black and white than they are in color!
