Joe “Bass” Skyward

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Joe Bass Skyward

Uniquely Joe – “Hey Dudes!  Hey Dudettes!  You won’t believe what’s next! “

“Unique –  Being the only one; being without a like or equal”  Merriam-webster.com

Joe and I met in front of a cattle chute in the little village of Pueblo Nuevo de Bejuco – Guanacaste, Costa Rica.   Knowing that the noon bus would soon be careening around the curve, I walked to the corral where another person was standing near the dusty intersection.

(Joe emailed this cattle-chute photo several years ago.)

“Are you waiting for the bus?”  I asked the tourist that seemed a bit out of place.

“Bus?  There’s a bus?” he replied with wide-eyed wonder.

“Yes,”  I smiled, “it should be rolling through any minute.”

I don’t recall exactly how Joe mysteriously landed smack in the middle of the dusty cowboy pueblito, but he happily climbed aboard the “Bejuco-Jicaral Express,” the only public-transportation option for the rest of the day.

Playa San Miguel, Costa Rica

I was traveling a short distance to Playa San Miguel, and in the ten-minute ride Joe decided to bail out and experience what is often called one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.

As the cliché goes, “The rest is history.”    Joe’s unique personality warmed the hearts of the people in the area;  one only had to mention his name, and others smiled.  Wanting a part-time respite from his California life, Joe purchased a parcel of land and built a retreat where he embraced Costa Rica’s ‘Pura Vida’ culture.

I join many who are sobered by the news of his death.

Costa Rica Eclipse Sunset

From Loudwire:  “The music world has lost another talent as bassist Joe Skyward, best known for his work with Sunny Day Real Estate and the Posies has passed away at the age of 57.
The rocker, born Joe Howard and also known as Joe Bass, had been fighting cancer over the last two years. The Posies alerted fans to Joe Skyward’s passing via a Facebook posting. ”  

For the rest of Loudwire’s obituary, go HERE

A more-worthy tribute will take time to gather information, photos and perhaps some testimonials from those who knew him.   My deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones.

Z

Ecuadorian Birds – Name that Bird!

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A Little Blue Bird Told Me, Ecuador Birds, Identifying Neotropical Birds, Property for Sale near Mindo Ecuador

 

Reference material for the female racket-tail hummingbird doesn’t show a racket ‘tail,’ and the male doesn’t have the white breast… Thanks in advance for a proper ID!   When illustrated reference books seem lacking for details,  I often check Nick Athanas’ Antpitta site.. Check out his magnificent portraits of Neotropical birds.  (Antpitta.com – Booted Racket-tailed Hummingbird)

While updating the bird list for the property, I was pleased to count over 90 species of birds – and the ones that live on the other 95 hectares are still unrecorded!

Calling all birders – can you help with identification for any of these UFBS – Unidentified Flying Birds?    I will be offline until next week but look forward to your feedback.

Let’s look at those birds!

Costumes of a Different Color

Capes of a Different Color – Acrylic by Lisa Brunetti

“It gripped him: that cross was not the cross of Christ, but the cross of the Ku Klux Klan. He had a cross of salvation round his throat and they were burning one to tell him that they hated him! No! He did not want that! ”  Richard Wright – Native Son,  Pubished 1940

(Ecuador) – As various towns and cities throughout Ecuador prepare for tomorrow’s Good Friday Procession, I will be tucked away in the cloud forest and hope to finish the above painting.

Re: 2015 Procession —  Although I had read and admired photos of Quito’s parade, I experienced a visual shock from seeing thousands of capes and pointed hats/masks that reminded me of Mississippi’s KKK dark history.  

Timeout for Painting Signs!

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Mindo Ecuador, painting signs for trails, property for sale ecuador, Timeout for Art, trail signs

Why is Barb chuckling as she sits on the bench?

(Rio Cinto/Mindo Ecuador) As Barbara’s “work visit” comes to an end, we’re reflecting on how much we packed into this past month.  She can now add sign painting, wildlife guide and landscape design to her resume!

Thanks to a guide’s visit to the property, Barb has been officially infected with the birding bug!

Join us for a walk along the pond to critique the signs!   If we’re lucky (and quiet) we might spot an otter!   Adding Whimsy to the Trails 

 

Lisa & Barb

Timeout for Art – Cattle Roundup!

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cows in ecuador, mindo ecuador rio cinto ecuador, Timeout for Art

Would this make you smile?

“Some little thing in my brain stretched, and twisted, and turned until I was pulling all kinds of things from the dark corners of my studio, and this was the result.” Karen (of Stone Soup- KarenSameNow)

(Mindo Ecuador) One can allow unexpected challenges to ruin one’s day (or night) or one can try to find the humor in frustrating moments. With Barbara around, it’s easy to burst out laughing instead of wanting to shout with frustration! My friend Peter (bird guide and electrician) saw my hand-scrawled note and burst out laughing!

“Does she really expect me to move when there’s delicious grass on the property?”

Yes, my brain stretched and twisted and decided that a quickly-drawn illustration might best describe the cattle’s destructive tour of the gardens and trails! The note needed few words to deliver the message to the owner of the cows.

Every time we tried to herd the cows back to the gate, where they’d found a weak part in the barbed-wire fence, they bolted to deeper and difficult-areas to reach in the old pasture areas. At night they tipped back to the yard in order to raid the hibiscus, the orchids and the impatiens.

The Scout

At one in the morning, we were sitting in the truck waiting to ambush them if they returned, as they had sent a scout to see if we were sleeping. Half an hour earlier, I peered out the bedroom window to see a peeping-cow staring back at me!

They finally gave up, but at 7 in the morning they were back.   We herded them toward the gate, where I had taped a note to the owner of the cattle.  One cow inspected the note and sampled it – YOW!  STOP THAT, SILLY COW!