artsy fartsy in todos santos

Ok, this is my last post of vacation photos… promise.   One of my requirements for vacation is “art.”  Pretty broad – a museum, workshop, gallery – just something to inspire a little creativity.  I was thrilled to learn a town 15 minutes from where we were staying was the famous artist colony of Todos Santos.  The people here are proud of their little town, laid back, sleepy seaside location, and the number of international artist “residents.”   I loved Jill Logan’s painted waves and landscapes, the silver, hammered copper sinks, and a collaborative mosaic located in the center of the town.  Definitely inspiring.

A friend of mine had recommend the novel The Red Tent, earlier this summer, which I took on vacation and actually finished!  It was a very interesting read, loosely based on Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob.  It imagines life and traditions ancient womanhood, childhood, marriage, and the roles of each.  I have been reading a book on Ruth as well, which is more biblically accurate, and have enjoyed the contrast and overlap of the two.  It has been interesting to let the mind wander to what it would be like to live during ancient bible times and the stark contrast of what life is like as an American woman.  So all of this was floating around in my mind while in Mexico, a foreign land, with my husband… still pondering all that.   For some reason we had a very difficult time with meals on our trip, choosing restaurants, ordering, timing;  but the last night we went to Taquila’s sunrise in Todos Santos, and had such an awesome meal.  We even watched a local parade signaling the beginning of their festival go by.  I was so thankful for the hospitality, good dessert, and on top of my meal were white pomegranate seeds.

hacienda by the sea

 

I saw a yahoo article this week of “places to sleep on the beach”,  hacienda cerritos was not on it but maybe it should have been…  We gambled on a groupon and this is what we got!  Our mornings started with coffee overlooking the pacific, with the continual sound of waves, and even better sunsets.  We had a private infinity edge pool right outside our bedroom door.  The house was artsy (just the way I like it!) and quiet (a rare treat!)  You could see the ocean from every angle since the home was built on a rocky bluff jetting out over the water.  The setting was first class, the hacienda was not perfect but close!  The beach nearby is the best around for surfing (we didn’t try, the waves were a little intense for us), and we spotted some breaching humpback whales.  The nights were so clear we could see millions of stars and the milky way. How awesome the views and nature and falling in love with my husband all over again!  

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We try not to vacation in the same place more than once but looking at the photos again – I want to go back!

 

 

reliving baja

This place is for real!

My husband just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a little trip to Baja.  The weather was beautiful everyday and what is more relaxing than life by the water!  We only spent one day in Cabo before jetting up the coast to escape the busy tourist areas.  This is the famous El Arco, located at the tip of Baja, we took a panga (water taxi) out and rented snorkel equipment on the beach for $10. Everything was so blue!

I have heard a lot of travel warnings and advise about Mexico – but our experience was nothing but peaceful.  Perhaps I was comparing it to our travels in Africa and elsewhere but everyone seemed so laid back.  I was surprised that few people spoke English, but even so we managed knowing only a few key phrases.  I took SO MANY photos, I thought I would relive it a bit this week…  more to come.

artprize 2012

Last weekend, we took the girls down to GR to see artprize.  I think this is our third year to make the trip.  Since they are getting a bit older now, I wanted them to set the course of which direction to go and see what sparked their curiosity…   I should have guessed,  giant sculptures of teddy bears and pop cans and a swing set band.   There was a lot of art to cover  (no way we could take it all in one day) and a LOT of people.  But truthfully, what took the prize for me was the drive north and seeing the autumn colors peeking the closer we got to home and the beautiful FULL moon rising over the horizon.  Nobody creates like the Creator!

 

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fair weather

This last weekend we had a special treat – two days off in a row!  A and I took a little date to the Ann Arbor art fairs, it rained the whole way down (which we badly needed) but stopped just before we got there.  I just love seeing all the artwork and booths.  Raphaela McCormack’s sailing vessels out of paper pulp were some of my favorite items that day!  I also enjoyed seeing Jenny Mendes ceramic pieces again, didgeridoos, and the local gelato!   Ice cream + art = everyone’s happy!

drawing on clay

I took a moment this week to check out the drawing clay exhibit at Central Michigan University.   Showcasing pieces on loan from artists all over the country such from Jenny Mendes, Beth Lambert & Woozel, Israel Davis and JustinRothshank, see more here. I took my nut along and she made a little art of her own, of all the slides on the wall she chose a frame of the Guggenheim  museum and drew her own rendition.

It was so refreshing to see art in 3-D,  I have been looking at lots of images lately but appreciated experiencing the pieces from all sides and getting to see the spectrum of colors of the unglazed portions of clay, earthenware, terra-cotta, stone-wares and porcelains.  I am encouraged by the realm of possibilities in the different firings (wood, gas, electric) and the  different types of surface design on clay.   Many prints, decals and  layers of slip & glaze.  Inspiring for sure, it runs until Saturday.

good to the core

This seems like a magical year for produce.  I spotted this little grove of apples on camp that I’ve never noticed before.  Tucked out-of-the-way is a grouping of twisted trees, surrounded by weeds and tall grass, pressed down by groups of deer that gravitate towards the fruit.  Surely the herd wouldn’t mind if I picked a few.   I am not sure what the varieties are but these were most definitely planted 50, 60, 70 years ago – by the size of the trees.

The way to get the best apples is to climb the tree which inevitably scrapes your arms or any exposed skin. I try to pick the biggest and best apples I can see.  I think these would qualify as “organic” as I may as well be the only one who has picked here in a LONG time, much less sprayed the tree with anything.  My first fear was that the apples would be bad, ridden with bugs.  My family quickly picked just one basket – which again, I had to hold off my greedy fruit picking tendencies…  At home I quickly went to work making a large stockpot of applesauce and homemade apple pie.  As I sliced through apple after apple I was so surprised they were consistently good to the core.

As I reflect on my fears, I can’t help but compare apples to people.  I tended to go for the apples that looked the best from the outside but  there were very few without blemish.  From afar they all look like apples but up close you can see the changes in roundness and shape.  Scars, blemishes and malformations appear to be the “natural” part of the growing process.  We can judge whatever we want from the outside but we know nothing of the fruits health until we cut in and view it from the core.

Here’s to being content, great apples and eating pie!

Psalm 17:7-9   Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye;  hide me in the shadow of your wings.

 

knock knock little fairy

With the older kids at daycamp this week, I snuck out with my mom, nut and my nephew for a little urban fairy door hunt in Ann Arbor.  We found quite a few on the list before we stopped for lunch at sweetwater cafe. The kids left little token hearts for each fairy, it was adorable to see them peeking in the windows  and knocking on the doors, “come out, come out little fairies we want to play!”  None came out… I don’t know why? if someone left life-sized swedish fish for me, I would open up in a heartbeat.

In the afternoon, I stopped by Hollanders in kerrytown shops and took a workshop with their summer artists in residence.  I have been wanting to take a class forever now but my schedule has not lined up.  They were making these little flag books in the drop-in class,  I had such a grin from ear to ear just to be in the workshop and working alongside other creative souls again.  Seriously such a grin!  The little purple book in progress is mine, I am thinking about incorporating little fairy doors and leaves – something magical that highlights our trip.  I am thankful for a chance to learn a new skill and check out the many facets of bookmaking.  It’s always good to get out of your comfort zone and stretch your creativity.

water your kids

Isaiah 44:3-4

For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing upon your descendants. And they shall spring up among the grass like willows or poplars by the watercourses.

Sometimes the best blessings in life are the ones right around you.  This weekend I took the time to be with my great friend and our children.  How sweet life is by the water, watching them play, each in their own unique creativeness.  I am learning the balance of blogging and being – I needed some time in the sun, to get dirty playing with the kids, hear the lake michigan waves rolling in, climb and run down the dunes, smell the fish on the shore and just being with friends.  All of which were completely necessary to stimulate the senses and engaging the heart.  What a great bunch of kids, who have learned to love each other as their own little community.  I am blessed by each of them and take great delight in knowing they are running in the same direction regardless of the landscape.

living wall

Last week I got away with my oldest on a field trip to the zoo.  In an unexpected corner they livened up the space with this beautiful display.  Living in town, I often dream of a little privacy fence, but my girls have a Berenstain bears book that calls them “spite fences”… so I would feel so guilty putting one up.  Perhaps our neighbors would feel differently if we put up something as beautiful as this (at least for a few months out of the year).