Tags
Bartering, El Matal update, Hotel Ciragan Jama Ecuador, Places to stay in Jama Ecuador, Timeout for Art, Trading Gifts
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” ― Maya Angelou”
Ramon touches up the entrance at Hotel Ciragan…
My dear friend, Gloria, who owns Hotel Ciragan, often refuses my money when I stay at her place in town. “You owe me nothing,” she smiles in her elegant style. “That’s OK,” I accept with a smile, “Two can play this game…”
Sometimes it’s very easy to dress up a plain wall…
From 2014 – (Before the bright new colors were introduced outside)
Rooms 5 and 6 in the front ‘older’ section.
Now whenever possible, I show up with paints and brushes, and I try to leave a little smile for others to enjoy. 
The ‘bridge’ between the original area and the new complex.
When I don’t paint anything, I insist on a compromise, and I make sure to leave a tip for the sweet people on staff… 
Ciragan stonework on new area
Numbers for Ciragan
The simple-white mirror seemed lost, and the faux white tile and plumbago (from the gardens) adds interest to the bathroom.
It’s lovely to accept gifts gracefully, and it’s also fun to give with a cheerful heart! (Room Rates at Hotel Ciragan: $ 25 singl $ 35 double $ 45 triple…) Phone: Jama/Manabi/Ecuador: 2410153
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(El Matal Update: This morning’s waves were large and fierce, though they rolled in on a slightly-lower tide. The lower end of El Matal suffered more than the upper end. Here are a few photos from this morning’s walk.
This fits well with the WordPress Daily Prompt of ‘Barter,” which came out two days after this was published. (I almost titled this “Bartering with Art.”) I’m heading home to Casa Loca to resume more timeouts for art – but first I have a waterline to repair! Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
The hotel is lovely. But your friend comes out ahead on the deal!!
It’s fun to leave a surprise, and they often vary. I try not to make them too feminine, however…most of the times the botanicals are painted from specimens that grow in the gardens. thanks, hugh!
Beautiful work, as always, z!
thanks, ruth! some days i start rolling with the paint and don’t want to stop! last week i did work on four different areas!
I would love a guest who painted little thank you gifts. 🙂 The plumbago is gorgeous.
too bad a great big ocean separates us! funny, i haven’t painted a ‘serious’ plumbago ever, but really enjoyed painting the one on the wal! theres a plumeria about to bloom at the riverhouse, and i look forward to doing a study of that..
I look forward to seeing it.
same here. it’s one of those ‘street rescue’ plants, so i have no idea what color its blossoms will be! i hope white, as they’re the most fragrant!
What a lovely way to return a favour. I love your small decorations around switches and mirrors. You can come and stay any time you want to at my place!
i’ll be sure to pack paints and brushes before heading in your direction! thanks!!!! z
How fun!
A fried of mine used to make beautiful switch plate covers. Imagine my surprise when I was in a little motel in a small town that had hot springs – and there on the wall was one of her pieces! It is a delight to leave a piece of art somewhere. and it’s a delight for all of those who get to see it later.
how fun to find your friend’s work in the motel! every so often i will meet someone who has this ‘eureka’ moment and exclaims, ‘oh! i know who you are – you work is in the hostal where i’m staying!’
We always enjoy your art, but those faux tiles really amaze me. Great work and a fantastic way to return the gifts of love.
well it helped to have the real tiles right there in front of me for reference! i
are you still receiving rain? we had a good rain three nights ago and then sprinkles last night – it’s amazing the difference real rain vs manual watering makes on the growth…
What a beautiful way to play the game! Just love the little touches that you’ve left at the hotel – I’m sure not only Gloria loves them, but the guests are sure to enjoy the uniqueness that you’ve added.
Last week when I painted the geranium leaves, I wondered why I had ‘missed’ that light switch for so long. It looked so much happier, and I had stopped with three leaves, then later added three more. Sometimes it’s hard to stop painting!
Yes, but look at the results – I love the free-style of the leaves.
You have a big heart. Keep spreading your art. Best wishes on the waterline.
waterline’s repaired and hopefully will withstand occasional doses of extremely-high pressure. every so often late in the night, the municipality water dpt turns up the pressure to fill above-the-roofline water tanks that most houses use.. that pressure finds any weak link in a water line!
thee vultures perched on the power pole near the house and one sacrificed its life by perching on the transformer. the sound was like a musket firing. 24 hours later, the problem was repaired!
It is the details that add so much interest. The trick is to add just enough: not too much, to overwhelm, and not so little that the decorative touch seems lost. You have a real knack for getting it just right.
I brought you this: a book about blackboard chalk art from 1908. I have no doubt you’ll find it interesting, and there may even be some things that will be helpful to you in your teaching. Note that the entire book can be downloaded.
It’s really wonderful, and reminds me of the way my early teachers used to decorate the edges of the blackboards. In a way, it was much like what you’ve done with the switchplates!
thank you! i’ve downloaded the book and look forward to enjoyin it on the larger screen /computer at home! am in town pulling a late-night catch-up (ha) on the internet. z
Hey…anytime you’re headed to Idaho…you can stay as long as you want at Rangewriter B&B+cat! 😉
your comment gave me a great smile! i’ve enjoyed several days of immersion in various paintings, and it’s been a soothing time. i might see if the magic carpet wants to venture out in a day or so, if so, we’ll check the idaho weather! thanks! sounds like a great option!
Lovely gesture, Lisa. Kind, as always and a constant reminder to return the love.
Waterline? UGH!
Be well, Amiga. ❤️
I think your friend did very well on the trade. You did a nice job.
Beautiful artistic touches, Lisa. You’re welcome at my house, any time. 🙂
I love the perspective you caught in that second photo!