El Matal – Trot Along With All Your Heart

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El Matal Ecuador, High Tides El Matal, Large sand bags for coastal erosion

“Ok.. It’s not a sword…”

“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

El Matal (Manabi Province) Ecuador

A big “Thanks” goes to all of you for your concern and support for the people who are facing the ocean’s wrath at the little fishing village of El Matal, Ecuador.  Your comments are appreciated not only by me but also by my friends who live or own property there. With slow internet, this has been difficult to write and proof, so all mistakes are definitely mine. Thanks again, everyone… Z

The thundering waves captivated the dogs’ interest…

We can talk about what has happened in the past, and what might have been (So easy to say on hindsight!) but the community now faces the ‘What can we do about this?’ dilemma.   No single person or even a collective group of property owners can afford the expense* for the options that have proven successful in other coastal areas of the world.  (*If by chance you CAN afford the expense, would you please take one giant step forward NOW?!)

“If You’re Going Through Hell…”

“If you are going through hell, keep going.”
― Winston S. Churchill

Monday, October 27, 2014 – As the sun settled behind Punta Ballena, the ocean slammed El Matal.

Walk with me in the twilight and whisper a quiet request to Mother Ocean, “Shhhhhhh;  go back to sleep and leave these dear people alone…”

El Matal (Ecuador) – Don’t Give Up!

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E Matal, El Matal Ecuador, geotubes, high tides, Large sand bags for coastal erosion

Oct. 27, 2014… Will the ocean claim the light post in the next few days?

When the boat returns in 12 hours, will the ocean have gobbled more of the landscape?

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”
― Dale Carnegie

El Matal, Ecuador – (Manabi Province)

Words fail me.

Several people said that strong waves rolled in at high tide late yesterday afternoon (Sunday Oct. 26) and assaulted the beach in sets of five or six at a time.   Several more said that the worst happened at dawn this morning, when another high tide brought more angry waves.

Alcade (Mayor) Angel Rojas visits with locals and inspects the most-recent damage to the beach.

70 or 80 locals crowded into the corner restaurant, where Mayor Angel Rojas discussed options and patiently listened to feedback from the crowd.  As one person said, “Too little too late,” there are few options.

Alcade Angel Rojas listens to feedback from the crowd.

Large rocks, which the mayor really didn’t want to use, seem to be the only immediate choice.   The rocks and debris would prevent the fishermen from launching their boats and returning home each day.   Building a pier is one option for the long-term plan, yet it doesn’t help anyone now.

El Matal – “It’s Bad.”

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destructive tides, El Matal Ecuador, state of emergency el matal

Do the oversized sand bags work? Seeing is believing…

After a fast trip to the Andes, I returned home on the river late yesterday afternoon.  My friend Xavier and I stood on the back balcony and watched the river ‘jump’ faster than usual.

“Is there an aguaji?”  I asked as we admired the idyllic mangrove-studded river.  A haze shrouded the end-of-day scene as the incoming waters surged higher.  Sunday fishermen cast their nets and hand lines from the bank and canoes.

“Yes,” he replied.   (Shrimp ponds are usually harvested during new and full-moon aguajis…)

We watched in silence, and I wondered why a place that I knew so well suddenly seemed foreign.

 “Something feels wrong,”  I added.   “This feels eerie, like a storm is approaching.  There’s something different; something’s wrong.” 

My internet did not work at all last night, and this morning I was greeted with a message from Becky and Lesli with the subject, ‘Matal.’

Not, “El Matal” or “The Tides” or “Meeting at El Matal.”   Just one word, “Matal,” and I braced myself for bad news.   

Timeout for Art: Subtle Surprises

Tags

El Matal Ecuador, Hope, Timeout for Art, transforming an ugly space

“Even in the mud and scum of things, something always, always sings.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

El Matal (Manabi Province) Ecuador

Life planted a subtle surprise in my path last week when I visited El Matal’s quickly-vanishing beach.  After walking the low-tide line from one end to the other, I turned around and walked back along the boat-crammed street.  Almost instantly, a flash of just-painted color caught my eye, and my serious mood (see:Esperanza-Hope) transformed into one of joy.

Esperanza – Hope — A subtle message of hope smiled at me along the upper end of El Matal. (Ecuador)

The bystanders confirmed my suspicions:  Yes; “Maestro” painted the post.   They seemed baffled at my enthusiasm.  I pointed out that he painted the post out of the joy of his heart and not because he was competing in another post-painting competition!    I took a few photos, retrieved a 4 x 6″ card of Diablo Uma and asked if they’d give it to him as a token ‘Thank You’ prize.

They peered at me as if I was the Caped Crusader!

As walked away,  they called me back;  a surprised Maestro stood there buttoning his shirt and wondering what had triggered the infectious enthusiasm that domino-ed along the neighbors until the card reached his hands!  I congratulated him on his kind and giving spirit and said that the freshly-painted post represented hope – esperanza – for the residents of El Matal. (See previous post)

Esperanza – Hope for El Matal (Ecuador)

Tags

beach loss pacific ocean, playa el matal, state of emergency el matal

The Canton of Jama (Manabi Province) steps in to help the fishing village of El Matal. (Ecuador)

(Ecuador) After a month in the USA and another five days searching for missing luggage, I reached home sweet Jama last week.  Before making that last five-kilometer trip to the riverhouse, I visited the fishing village of El Matal to photograph the changes in the beach. Instead of taking a quick ten-minute tour, I spent hours and juggled emotions that ranged from sadness to anger and also hope.

The photos need little explanation.

Timeout for Art – ES Coffee Timeout Project

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ESCoffee, Group Projects, Painting projects, teamwork, Timeout for Art

“ES Coffee – Be Part of It!”

Old logo waxing out – New Logo of red coffee cherry waning in…

“It is much more rewarding to get to the top of the mountain and share your experience with others than to show up by yourself, exhausted.” ― -Shandel Slaten

After a three-day search, American Airlines located my missing luggage on Tuesday, and I found myself with a free afternoon in Guayaquil (Ecuador). A quick check with Miguel Rendon of EScoffee confirmed that he was in town, so I popped in to say, “Hi” and talk about coffee and art.

Little did we know that an impromptu art session was in our future! After a quick dash to the local art store, Miguel and I returned with acrylic paints, brushes and two painter’s pallets. Half an hour later, the entire staff took a Timeout for Art!

I WILL NOT BE BROKEN – Teamwork

After the deluge. Where are the low areas, the ditches, the washouts?

I will always remember the year that Guanacaste Costa Rica recieved 50 inches of rainfall in three weeks.  The third week brought torrents, and the 7-inch rain gauge overflowed night after night.  I wasn’t surprised when Rio Bejuco jumped its banks and flooded the small valley.  Landslides and swollen rivers blocked all roads, and we were without power as well.  Unless one has a well-stocked pantry, supplies are often difficult to find.  After helping friends shovel mud from their homes, I was brought to tears when the first Red Cross vehicle delivered foam mattresses and basic food to my rain-soaked  and less-fortunate friends.

Cecilia – Pueblo Nuevo-Islita Costa Rica- We shoveled mud from her home for hours, but with each hour, more people showed up to help!

Bonny Raitt sings, “That was then and this is now,” and this week my attention has been on Nicaragua.    My friend Debbie at Isla Ometepe blogs with professionalism and knits well-researched facts with poignant stories about her beloved Isla Ometepe.   Not only are there concerns about the proposed canal that will surely desecrate that unique area, but this past week brought earthquakes, torrential rainfall and mudslides as well.

Muddy roads near Limon Nicaragua

Please take a few minutes to read her posts, and perhaps some of you can help with with donations (candles anyone?) for the little village of Los Ramos, destroyed by this week’s mudslides. The last satellite check (10:00 pm Tuesday night) showed rain over Nicaragua and most of Central America.

http://retirenicaragua.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/ometepe-island-mudslides-and-destruction/

http://retirenicaragua.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/we-must-be-living-in-a-vortex/

http://retirenicaragua.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/help-los-ramos-rebuild/

This one’s for you and your friends, Debbie (and Ron!):

Thanks for whatever you can do to help; leaving a comment on Debbie’s posts will give a boost in morale!  Z

2012 flooding – Manabi Ecuador

Whirlpools…

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guayaquil airport, koi, mississippi river

Koi swirl the waters of the Guayaquil (Ecuador) airport pond.

Have you ever had moments when your hands were full of tasks, your mind full of ideas, yet your transmission stalled and refused to move forward?

With about 12G of images to sort and a month’s worth of new stories, I find myself a little bit trapped in “Groundhog Day” as I embark on my third day of trips from my hotel to the airport (across the street) in search of MIA baggage.

I never noticed the new addition to the Guayaquil airport until something turned my attention in that direction. Short story coming soon!

The trip to the USA went well, although a detective would have had a difficult time tracking me!  Thanks to my dear friends and family who shared the duty of escorting the Zeebra up and down and up that Mississippi River and back once more —all the way to New Orleans!

From the waiting room of Dr. Tillman’s clinic in Vidalia, Louisiana. One never wants to be sick, but wow, isn’t this a lovely setting to soothe the soul!

More soon when I can sort through the whirlpool of stories and decide where to start!

Until then, it’s time to return to the airport and inquire about those lost bags! Z

Yes, it’s time to say, “Good Morning-Buenos Dias” to those golden koi!

Z

Timeout for Art: Gone Fishin’

“We did this!” (Koen Family) “Gone Fishin'” project…

“Time is but the stream I go fishing in. I drink at it, but while I drink I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is. Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains.”–Henry David Thoreau

My oldest sister’s family and I took a Timeout for Art two weekends ago. Retreating to their cabin on Lake Chicot near Lake Village, Arkansas, we threw our energies into a collective painting project. My sister Kate retrieved some of her favorite lures that provided inspiration for the design.

We took turns drawing lures, while I urged them to draw and paint with the spirit of a child so that accuracy played little importance.  (Serious fisher-persons sometimes have trouble altering the colors of authentic lures!)

Time flew as we swapped colors, admired each other’s work and urged the bashful ones to ‘paint for just five minutes.‘     Once Dana quietly asked, “How did you mix that color?’ and she watched a silent demonstration and then replicated the chartreuse color.

Ole Mississippi, She’s Calling My Name…

Tags

mississippi river bridge greenville, mississippi river natchez

The Mississippi River Bridge near Greenville, Mississippi and Lake Chicot, Arkansas

WordPress requested images of signs this week, and I’ve been snapping photos of road signs while traveling up and down that grand Mississippi River. Here are a few peeks of the river!

Timeout for Art: Sculpting with Clay

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crafts for family, halloween art, Pumpkin art, sculpting pumpkins

“Just wait and see, Charlie Brown. I’ll see the Great Pumpkin. I’ll SEE the Great Pumpkin! Just you wait, Charlie Brown. The Great Pumpkin will appear and I’ll be waiting for him…”
― Charles M. Schulz

This week’s Timeout for Art will surely inspire a few of you to purchase a package of modeling clay, a small-to-medium sized pumpkin and start having fun!

From Little Rock and Monticello Arkansas, I introduce you to three unique pumpkin heads! The following photos illustrate a fun option for creating October mascots!