Hank and Marie, a dear couple that I nicknamed ‘The Swans.”
A talent is not a talent until it has been shared. If we are so blessed as to be an artist, shouldn’t we help someone just as someone helped us? (Wayne A. Wright)
Who wouldn’t want to step into this sunset dining scene?
Years ago when Hank and Marie Groff were distant neighbors in Costa Rica, Marie often invited me to join them for dinner. If I was working on a creative project, I knew that I would have difficulty pulling out of my focus to switch gears, put away my supplies and drive to their home for dinner. Hours later while deep in a painting trance, I often heard Marie return. She quietly came inside, whispered from the doorway, “Don’t stop; your dinner’s here in the kitchen.” With a loving heart, she retreated without another word.
We embraced a new challenge – the art of mosaic tile!
When my vehicle was no longer road worthy, she always asked if I wanted to ride with her to a larger city to buy supplies. When the other option was by bus on bumpy four-wheel-drive roads, I was always grateful to ride in her Isuzu Trooper limousine!
Hank and Marie help with a tear-down project – Team Zeebra!
(Above photo: see Construction in Reverse.)
Always-patient Hank
With a background in construction, Hank as been a patient teacher; he’s tutored me about soil samples, engineering reports, concrete finishing and repair. He’s helped solve water-line riddles, and every so often I am able to share my work experience with him. He has explained why the peeling paint on a wall most likely came from a roof leak and has helped with repair on gates and shovels and doors!
From the outdoor pavilion – June Solstice Sunset – One Day Early!
They are tireless in their support, and I am blessed to have such loving and helpful friends. It’s quite natural to reciprocate with the same loving spirit!
Their ‘soaking pool’ perches on the corner of their outdoor pavilion, and Hank recently tiled the inner area. The three of us agreed that a mosaic border would enhance the effect, and we approached the challenge at full throttle and worked from mid morning until sunset almost every day until we finished!
At times we chuckled and at other times laughter disrupted our rhythm. Marie has a gift of laughing at my mannerisms – mannerisms I am not aware of making until she chuckles or laughs out loud.
Oops! I broke the hammer!
But I can FIX the hammer!
The proud and mighty Lisa resumes her work!
Oops! Sorry, it broke again!
Earth to Lisa: Do you know that it’s raining?
(Can you hear us, Lisa? It’s raining!)
The strong and mighty Z pulverizes the ceramic tile!
The above series of photos were taken by Marie, who stated, “You are always behind the camera and never in the photos!”
Yes, this is a fun project! Marie shares the tile-splitting tasks!
Marie often switched tasks and retreated to the kitchen while Hank and I continued cutting, placing, cementing and later grouting the tiles.
“Wipe/wax on; wipe/wax off…”
Wiping the grout’s film from the surface of the tiles has been equally-challenging work, though we’ve quoted the Karate Kid with Wipe on, wipe off, wipe on, wipe off, wipe on, wipe off, while convincing ourselves that we were enjoying that zen activity!
This morning over breakfast, we reflected on the past week’s project. It’s rare to work in such close quarters with two other people and not say a word and be blissfully happy.
No one grew frustrated or short tempered (although at times I warned, ‘My blood sugar is falling… I need to stop for a food break.’) Usually Marie was half an hour ahead of my dietary needs and served fresh carrot/apple/orange juice or some other wonderful concoction – ah, who WOULDN’T keep working when served tasty, healthy and beautiful drinks?!
This morning with collective pride and a physical sigh of relief, we admired the beauty of the finished project!
Ah, would you pass three mint juleps in this direction?! We’ve earned a break!
Z
This looks absolutely beautiful. The workmanship is certainly first rate, and the view from the finished pool looks magnificent. I can see why this project absorbed all your energy. Very well done.
we all learned a lot of have a LOT more respect for mosaic tiles! your inlay work surely has as many or more steps and requires a lot of meticulous detail as well.
Wow Lisa, Hank and Marie….it is beautiful!! And all of the pictures bring back many many wonderful memories…of sunsets, sunrises, laughter and joy with the 3 of you!! Can’t wait to see this in live and living color…..Thanks for sharing the fun with all of us!! Just wish I was there……..Hummingbird
hey.. marie said to tell you it’s the laundry/wash line platform corner, and it’s been upgraded to a first-class mini spa!
we’ve wished that you could be here to watch over the transformation – and you would have added your own slice of humor to the work week!
SOOOOOOOOO Beautiful !!!! Lisa, I have been fortunate to have seen both your homes in Costa Rico and other places there that your work adorns. One day I hope we will meet. I can only imagine the great times you shared working on this new project. We are indeed blessed to have Hank and Marie in our lives. They love you very much, I am sure you know.
thank you so much, karen! marie and i just looked at your website – wow, such lovely lovely paintings.. i’ll be back to see more when i’m home and have time to enjoy each one!
thanks again!
lisa (and hank and marie!)
wow. it looks great. I know you all will enjoy it so much what a delightful little spot.
it is a very sweet spot.. water’s in there, and i suspect they’ll be soaking in it very soon. just finished packing while hank’s running errands…
buen viaje to you and ed as well..
It looks beautiful. A little slice of Parc Gaudi with a fabulous view. I can’t wait to visit again. Tell H&M to think of a project for me.
marie is thrilled to see your comment, and we have been admiring your painting of their old homestead!
thank you so much, and i’m sure they’ll have a new project for you!
Oh man. Where to begin? First of all THANK YOU MARIE!!!! We finally have some images of Z at work! Secondly, the finished product is absolutely gorgeous. Thirdly, the story of friendship and perseverance was uplifting and entertaining. Well done you three.
you are SO great! thanks for your heartfelt comment, which put a grand smile on my face!
a beautiful co-operation
thank you! we found long ago that we work well together! we are proud of the week’s work!
I don’t know how I missed this post, but can’t let it get by without telling you how special it is. The sharing of friendship and talents is to be admired. I wish I was hovering above on your magic carpet filming the mighty Lisa at work and play. Such beautiful results. 🙂
thank you lynne! i must be losing my mind, because i should have given you the keys to the carpet before i left to help with this project!
🙂
what a wonderful time you all had and the finished mosaic is beautiful..I agree, good to see you in front of the lens for a change 🙂
marie laughed as she took the photos, but she really laughed when she reviewed teh images.. and she laughed more.. and she said, ‘you have to share these!’
she still laughs…
Earth to Lisa: Beautiful work, Lisa, so now we will reward you with a nice sunny day and …a new hammer! 😉
you make me laugh! yes, i’ll have to get a new hammer, though that one was hank’s, and he repaired it with a nice ‘tornillo’ to keep it in place!
🙂 I love fixing old tools… they look better afterwards and well, more personal! 😉
Absolutely beautiful and what a wonderful tribute to good friends. By the way, Lisa, it’s great to see you in some photos. 🙂
thanks, deb! one of these days when you tip into guanacaste, it would be fun for you and ron to meet hank and marie! the four of you would find you have lots in common!
in fact, i was telling marie yesterday about your lodging finds via air b&b in quito…
z
Lisa, I really admire your ability to take yourself lightly here, you remember everything Hank has helped you with, and exactly how Marie contributes. I love the mosaic and the photos, but what’s best is the generosity of spirit that shines through (rain or shine!). Cheers to you!!!
thank you for your kind comment, though it ‘takes one to know one,’ and you are a kind and giving person – and oh so very talented.
every time i look at your gravatar, i marvel at the beauty of that image!
z
Your post is a perfect illustration of Wright’s quote. And it is lovely to see you all engaged so happily in your co-operative project. Now, when are you all coming on over here? I am sure I could find something for you to work on!
ha! we could design a mosaic mailbox!!!!!! it would be so much fun to do that – or to travel the world on the magic carpet, pick up great friends like you and travel to the next spot and spread flowers and art and sunshine to the next person!
i’ll have to get home soon and see if i can get the mechanic to make that flying carpet work better!
A trail of mosaic around the world……imagine it.
…’ oh woullllllldn-it be loverly?’
What a nice story and super wonderful project! I love to see that you had tons of fun!!! 🙂
yes, we worked hard, and our muscles and bones reminded us that we were not as young as we once were, but the challenge and immediate results kept us moving forward!
z
Z, if that is the definition of talent, you are one of the most talented people I know, as you are all about sharing. Keep up the mojo. Looks great by the way. BTG
thank you! when Life grants kind and giving friends, it’s quite easy to reciprocate!
Wow… Nice Job…
thank you! it was a fun challenge, and all three of us loved working in that medium!
Can’t wait to see the finish!
Great pictures, and I LOVED the art process. You three were having such a great time, and that made it all a wonderful adventure.
thank you marylin! we had a great time, and that time flew by fast! z
My dear friend who passed a few years ago also worked with mosaics and said, although she loved it, it was hard work. The three of you created a beautiful pool.
thankyou! we had a great time and learned a lot.. we agreed that we’ll have much more respect for any mosaic that we view from now until the end of our days! z
I love everything about this post: such a lovely tribute to friends; the camaraderie and fun that comes when tackling a project together; the hard work and figuring things out; all the things that can go wrong, from rain to broken hammers. Finally, the wonderful, winning finished product, which makes it all seem worthwhile! Thanks, Lisa!
we could almost marry this post with your most recent one about the laundry on the line and the breezes.. your walk might have taken you on over to hank and marie’s, where we all made room for one more to work in harmony with us! z
What a pleasure that would’ve been!
Lisa, a lovely tribute to the tribe of 3. H & M really know how to take it to the next level. I can feel the coolness of the tile.I love to see your work when visiting them. Tom & I remember our visit to your place on the beach, many years ago, and your large mangoes.. 🙂 Take good care, Anna
anna, anna, anna! how great it is to hear from you, and it would have been great to see your lovely smile!
thanks so much for your comment! z
After all these wonderful comments, what more can I say? I am once again in awe, & for good reason. This project turned out so beautifully, as all your projects do! I just want to tell you how much you inspire me with your energy, love, passion, and style. Blessings to this wonderful soaking pool, & all who use it.
you are so kind, and i’m honored once again.. thank you! you’re surely as infectious with your love of creating and the joy of the moment…
have a good /great week! z
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how beautiful!
i smiled – and chuckled re: pingback – and smiled again.. thank you, and thank those who support the writers and artists and creative people!
There is a lot of love here! 🙂
That came out just beautiful!
we enjoyed the challenge and learned a lot! i look forward to doing another – it’s incubating!
z
I did a tile project once and incorporated native American tradition: Leaving an opening at the beginning and end for spirit to travel through without being trapped! Love the way your project turned out! 🙂
Absolutely beautiful 🙂
thank you so much! it was meticulous work and back-testing work, but the fun trumped the pain in our ‘older’ backs!
This is so fantastic, gorgeous work – you three need to be hired out, lol! Love the tile work, the design and colors – so meticulous, it shows in the final reveal. Wonderful to have such beautiful close friends – yes, there is something very special about these relationships. Wonderful Z!
thank you! we had a great time – misery loves company – but not really – having partners in meticulous work makes the job go by faster!