Sayulita, Jalisco. . . January 2011

Muy rico, muy sympatico, muy breve

Images Along the Malecon

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

From our temporary home above old town, we walk steep cobblestone streets to the local bus stop. At 8am the bus is packed, mostly workers, standing room only. Up along the cliffs it's a rough ride. The end of the line is Boca de Tomatlan, a tiny village. Pelicans above the beach soar while a fisherman lets out his nets. A delicious lunch of mahi mahi on the beach while men & boys load fruit onto boats for points south. Water taxis come and go.

On the Mighty Mississippi

Mark is Lock and Dam Operator, Army Corps of Engineers, Lock and Dam #1 since July. Overlooking the lock at St. Anthony Falls from our balcony inspired him to get even closer to the river. Peregrine falcon and mink nests, a film crew in two canoes beginning a trek to New Orleans, barge traffic at 3 am, a riverboat of rowdy revelers prompting the captain to have police meet the boat when it arrived at the lock. . . life on the Mississippi. Earlier this summer we crossed the mighty waters at their source in bare feet at Itasca State Park.

Housesitting in California

Not knowing a lot about our home for a month, we flew to California to take on a dog and a cat for a housesit in a city we've never explored. We realized Northern California is cold, grey and often rainy in January, but Minneapolis is colder. We've traded the snow and below zero temperatures for a few new challenges. We love warming ourselves by the fire in the den, our Shelty is faithful and obedient, our kitty sweet but shy.
"Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise." -- Alice Walker

Northland Winter

One kind word can warm three winter months. ~Japanese Proverb

Antisthenes says that in a certain faraway land the cold is so intense that words freeze as soon as they are uttered, and after some time they thaw and become audible, so that words spoken in winter go unheard until the next summer. ~Plutarch, Moralia

Christmas in the City

We're happy to be home surrounded by family and friends.

Happy Holidays and a Blessed New Year to all!!

Paris, Je t'aime

We arrived by fast train, coming out of the station in a taxi turned the corner to see the Tour Eiffel. . . our apartment a few blocks away near the Seine. . . the D'Orsay, L'Orangerie, Monmartre, Sacre Coeur





Traveling by Metro or on foot, Paris is still the most romantic city on the planet.