27 Saturday Feb 2021
The story about the Brown Wood Rail is now available on BirdwatchingDaily. Thank you, Birdwatching Magazine!
Thanks also to those of you who shared tips on working around the new Block Editor. (The ‘Add Link’ does not seem like an improvement either!)
Some people have adapted and show us by example that adaptation works – but is there anyone who absolutely loves the new Block and prefers it over Classic?
See the story about the Brown Wood Rails here: BirdWatchingDaily.
08 Saturday Aug 2020
Posted in Ecuador, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Portoviejo Ecuador – August 8/2020 Strong afternoon light provided an easy excuse for a stroll to Parque las Vegas after five this afternoon. Several blocks before the park, a dozen street cats posed for a portrait session. A dear older lady feeds those cats – and five times as many pigeons each afternoon. Her kindness warms my heart.
The earthquake-damaged city of Portoviejo slowly rebuilds.
From June 2020
The Plumeria and Royal Poinciana trees’ flowers caught my attention, though my goal was the larger park – surely busy on this Independence weekend. (August 10 is the official date.) Keeping my camera tucked inside my bag, I observed various small groups enjoying an outing in the park.
March 21,2020 – empty exercise lanes in park
A lone man sold inexpensive kites at the intersection beside the park, and several people flew their kites from the amphitheater’s highest point. A gaggle (!)of young boys pedaled their bicycles along the exercise lanes at full throttle; each one wore the socially-responsible face coverings. I considered pulling out my camera but decided to take my own visual snapshots to imprint that scene to long-term memory.
Today the water hyacinths claimed someone’s ball!
Two more youngsters kicked a soccer ball across a vast expanse of concrete. Already built like a long-distance runner, one agile child sported official soccer attire, knee-high ‘stretchy’ athletic socks and serious black running shoes. About six or seven years old, he illustrated a seriousness about his sport. I wondered if he would one day become a world-famous soccer player!
The late-afternoon sun provided dramatic light for admiring and photographing the various species. The Neotropic Cormorant, Striated Heron and Purple Gallinules competed with the lone turtle for my attention.
Content after half an hour of communing with the aquatic residents, I began my return trip.
A ground-level picnic caught my attention, and I glanced in that direction. Four women. Fresh flowers. A white china tea pot. A straw mat. Already passing them, I paused and asked permission to photograph them. They invited me closer.
I asked if they were celebrating Independence Day? (No…) or a birthday? (No… We live nearby and are just out… We do this often…) We talked briefly about the earthquake – still imprinted on the people of Manabi. I commented on the flowers and the beauty of their setting. One lady pointed to another and said, ‘My sister gets credit.’
They all get credit, as each person contributed her own serenity and natural beauty to their outing.
“You are all artists!” I said to them and motioned to the flowers, the mat, the easy and natural style of their entire setting. “You have provided a gift to my heart and to my soul,” I thanked them again and left them in peace.
Not planning to be out tonight for internet, the finale with those four beautiful women prompted me to go home, write this, process the photos and share them with all of you.
Hopefully their little tea party has warmed your hearts as much as it did mine! I’ll end with a fun closing – the selfie while walking down the hall… It too made me chuckle!
Still doing well, gracias a-Dios!
Happy Independence Day to everyone in Ecuador!
Lisa
08 Wednesday Jan 2020
Posted in Ecuador, NATURE, One Bird At A Time, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
SHHHH! Bird Specialists in Training! (Part One)
(Poza Honda Reservoir – Manabi Province, Ecuador) Just past ten in the morning, our birding party of three peered beyond the rustic bamboo corral in hopes of identifying the raucous oropendolas that had been playing hide and seek with us for the past two hours. Luis Saltos – bird guide from Chone and Mindo – and I were guests of “Don Jorge” Arnet, owner of a lovingly-tended tract of land at Poza Honda. (Jorge also owns the house that I rented for the past two years before I moved to Portoviejo.) The three of us were conducting an all-day census of bird species in the area with hopes of the area being approved for Audubon’s 2020 Christmas Count. We had been birding since 6 A.M. in intermittent drizzle.
A few hours earlier that morning, two birds buzzed us, and we exclaimed, “What was THAT?” as I snapped two out-of-focus images of the rapidly-vanishing birds. “Oropendola?” I looked at Luis for confirmation. “That whooshing sound?”
Left: “Jorge” Arnet, owner of Casa Poza Honda and coffee/cacao farm; Right: Luis Saltos, bird guide from Mindo and Chone.
We consulted several books and hoped to see those birds again. The (McMullan/Navarrete) Fieldbook for the Birds of Ecuador places all species of oropendolas in other areas of the country. This particular elusive group of birds must have taken a holiday vacation to Poza Honda, and we were trying to decide, “Russet-backed or Chestnut-headed.” Two years ago my friend Xiomara and I saw and photographed one Chestnut headed Oropendola, so my bets were on that species. Photos are oh so important in documenting out-of-range species, even if the photo is a bad one.
I waited at the next curve and watched Oropendolas fly towards my friends. “Did you see them?” I exclaimed later, “Yes!” they replied, “Lots!”
There were fleeting glimpses of ‘a lot’ half an hour later – then another viewing half an hour later near the bamboo corral. The Oropendolas were out of sight, but my drizzle-baptized camera managed to document one Rufous-headed Chachalaca in the distance, one Tropical Gnatcatcher way up high, and a Long-billed Hermit inspecting flowers along the living fence.
‘Don’t forget about me,’ says the Golden-olive Woodpecker!
States the mule: “A year ago there was one lone human staring at the birds. Now there are four!”
The last thing I expected to see was another human on the seldom-traveled road and staring at the three of us. A tall, lean and well-scrubbed young man, he wore an expression of curiosity as if observing Santa Clause placing last-minute gifts beneath a tree – or gnomes and fairies in another realm. Continue reading
11 Monday Nov 2019
Posted in Ecuador, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
boceto – Poesia/Ivo Uquillas – ©2017
Portoviejo/Manabi Province/Ecuador
My friend Alexandra Cevallos Castro recently sent an email, “Lisa… Ivo will be reading his poetry and I’d like to invite you to attend…” – – – and I certainly attended!
Alexandra Cevallos Castro
Alexandra and Ivo Uquillos have known each other/have been friends forever; we met in 2012 when they graciously supported the opening/inauguration of The Mola Series. Ivo and Alexandra also presided over the opening of “Lisa Brunetti – A Journey” which opened last November in the same Museo Portoviejo.
Between those two events, all three of us have dealt with personal challenges, including the 7.8 earthquake’s collective imprint on our psyches. (April 2016) I experienced the earthquake from a barely-safe distance in Mindo’s cloudforest, while Alexandra and Ivo witnessed their beloved city of Portoviejo fragmented into crumbles. The people – numbed and trapped in raw emotions of angst, fear, worry and sorrow – often struggle to reclaim a sense of peace, and the trauma is often branded deep into their souls.
Just this past week while I was walking to the market, two ladies stopped me and asked, ‘Where are you from?” and then asked, “Where were you when the earthquake hit?”
When they learned that I was from Jama, their faces sobered. I quickly changed the topic to a slightly-lighter one, that of the dengue/chikungunya epidemic, as many people in this province now identify with chikungunya’s lingering side effects. We swapped stories of cramped hands and crippling gaits, which are often amusing to replicate when one is no longer suffering. Epidemics and natural disasters often unite people – even years later.
Another friend recently shared greater depth into his own personal hell of the night of the earthquake. Numbness provides a buffer, and it might take years to process trapped emotions and view them with neutral vision. Sometimes there are no words, no artful ways to deal with emotional trauma, and with time or with a patient listener, we open those windows that we slammed so tightly shut, and we release the pain. Slowly the inner burdens, observations – and sometimes guilt – are acknowledged and eventually released.
Near Rio Jama/Ecuador – The locals and the birds in the canals and ponds kept me entertained!
Almost each week in the six or so years before the earthquake, I walked from Casa Loca (at the last bend of Rio Jama) into town along the same predictable route. I often paused to say Hello to friends at the edge of Jama, and the second stop was to greet friends Chana and Arturo at their small tienda near the center of town. If I bypassed their corner, Arturo might spot me when he rode his bicycle through town. No scolding was needed – Ecuadorians have a talent for speaking without words! My final stop before leaving town would almost always be my friends’ tienda, and I often pulled up a stool and sat for ten minutes or half an hour – depending on the demands of that day. I departed either on foot or via mototaxi, also depending on how many purchases I carried home.
When friends wrote to say that my own beloved town of Jama had been devastated by the earthquake, I made several ‘remote’ imaginary walks through that town. When I ventured near the corner of the tienda, I sensed a great loss. “Chana? — Arturo?” Flitting between the two options, I felt a stronger loss regarding Chana. Each time I did that exercise, I sensed that someone had died there, most likely Chana. Moving on to the center of town, I also paused when I pondered ‘Rosa’ the matriarch who presided over the area facing the park. Several other areas prompted me to pause and ponder, but concerns about Chana and Rosa were the strongest.
I was not surprised when friends wrote to say they were sorry to pass along news of both women’s deaths. My premonitions prepped me and helped to soften the news. Months later I spent several hours at the cemetery and paused at many new graves, including my friends.’ After I left Rosa’s site – lovingly planted with new roses, two Burrowing Owls escorted me out of the cemetery. Coincidence? Naming them Chana and Rosa, I smiled at the thought of my friends watching over those who loved them.
Chanita and Rosita, the guardians of the cemetery.
During October’s (2019) recent protests, I walked the almost-empty streets of Portoviejo. It seemed quite eerie that most businesses were closed, that people were home and unsure about venturing out, that the corner tiendas offered not even a banana for sale – while the absence of traffic sounds and absence of people imprinted on the gringita’s psyche. It was like walking through a ghost city, yet the policemen held silent vigils at strategic points.
Perhaps that is why I cried when Ivo’s words captured my own emotions, of another who walks the streets and ponders the silent trauma of the masses. His poem captures universal grief and concern, especially following a disaster.
Ivo Uquillas
With Ivo’s permission, I share one of the poems from page 15 of his book ‘boceto’ – translated by Alexandra Cevallos Castro. He wrote this after the earthquake, when – unable to sleep – he walked the streets of Portoviejo each night. (Ivo’s original Spanish version follows the English one.)
EMPTY SPACE
Empty space, no one in the streets,
Face of abandoned cemetery.
City covered by loneliness
No one goes in, no one goes out,
No one goes up, no one goes down.
No one sits outdoors
To see no one pass by,
No one gives out hugs,
No one lives
No one is in the spaces,
No one thinks, no one talks,
No one buys, no one sells
No one gives credit, no one steals,
No one is silent, no one sings,
No one shouts, no one walks,
No one chases, no one runs away,
No one dies,
No one passes by, no one goes away,
No one plays anything
No one cries,
No one moves anything,
No one opens doors, no one laughs,
No one writes love letters,
No one leaves traces in the void.
No one is there,
No one says goodbye,
No one.
ESPACIO VACIO
Espacio vacio, calles sin nadie,
rostro de cementerio abandonado
ciudad cubierta de soledades
nadie entra, nadie sale,
nadie sube, nadie baja,
nadie se sienta afuera,
a ver pasr a nadie,
nadie reparte abrazos,
nadie habita en los espacios,
nadie piensa, nadie habla,
nadie compra, nadie vende,
nadie fia, nadie roba,
nadie hace silencia, nadie canta,
nadie grita, nadie camina,
nadie persigue, nadie huye,
nadie muere,
nadie va, nadie se va,
nadie juega a nada,
nadie llora,
nadie mueve nada,
nadie abre puertas, nadie rie,
nadie escribe cartas de amor,
nadie deja huellas en el vacio,
Nadie esta ahi,
nadie dice adios,
nadie.
………
…and yes, I cried.
08 Friday Mar 2019
Posted in Ecuador, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
March 08, 2019 – Currents of strong water over the Poza Honda dam. The water reached the 108 mark yesterday.
Poza Honda/Manabi/Ecuador — With a meter of water over the dam, four inches of rainfall sent Poza Honda’s waters rising another meter. Not only did Wednesday night’s rainfall send floodwaters downstream, it also sent another mass of water hyacinths downriver as well.
Several landslides blocked the road on the far side of the dam, but that was a very minor annoyance compared to what the folks downriver are experiencing.
In front of Melissa’s House
Big landslides, no – trees and bamboo down, yes!
If this weather pattern continues, and the flooding makes international news, remember that the little neighborhood where I live is fine.
I’ll be off line until Tuesday, weather permitting!
Have a good weekend!
21 Thursday Feb 2019
Neotropic Cormorants /Poza Honda/Ecuador
Our friend Hugh Curtler wrote this week about Friendship, a post worth pondering. Reading off line, I wrote a reply to send when on line (now) but circumstances dictate responding via a just-received example of friendship.
In my unhurried off-line reply, I mentioned one dear friend who emails about twice a month. She always asks, “Lisa, How are you? How’s your back? Do you need anything? Are you OK?”
Dady inspecting the Squirrel Cuckoo watercolor at Museo Portoviejo
This past Tuesday I dropped a music CD at her house after visiting the nearby Portoviejo Museo. Stocked with ‘survival’ groceries in case the heavy rains provoked more mud slides, I needed to get home before dark.
At sunset I photographed the reservoir, which lacked about a sneeze worth’s of water to send the excess over the spillway.
That night and last night we received more heavy rains. The waters now reach the high-water level, and the surplus is surely generating enough electricity to illuminate the planet!
Water hyacinths cascade over the spillway, and chocolate-colored water marks the beginning of Rio Portoviejo. After taking photos, I drove to Ayacucho to make progress on neglected cyber tasks.
Waiting in the inbox was an email from my friend Dady. The subject read “Lisa Are You OK?”
“Hmmm,” I thought, “she must know more about something than I!” Continue reading
15 Wednesday Aug 2018
Posted in ART, Ecuador, INSPIRATION, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Portoviejo/Manabi Province/Ecuador – Thanks to the magic of scheduling a post to be published at a specified date and time, this should reach you when the inauguration of Nomadas en Ecuador begins. What follows is my ‘Artist’s Statement’ written specifically for this event. Enjoy! Continue reading
16 Monday Jul 2018
Posted in Ecuador, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
One year ago – my closest neighbor Melissa
Poza Honda/Manabi Province/Ecuador – One year ago I first visited this little coffee farm, inhabited by one family of five, one young married couple, the owner, three dogs, two cats, an always-changing number of free-range chickens, several squirrels, a micro-community of Howler monkeys – and thousands of birds. Rosa, a single ‘older lady,’ lives in her authentic campo house on several acres which this property surrounds. These lovely inhabitants of this ultra-petite community graciously allowed one artist to wean into their neighborhood.
July 22, one year ago – I booked for one night and stayed ‘forever!’
Rosa
Birthdays are quiet events, shared with the immediate neighbors. Period. No aunts, uncles, grandparents or friends from nearby towns are present for these lovely and quiet gatherings. Lovingly-prepared luncheons are served, and then the cake is presented to the person of honor. Conversations easily roll from random subject to random subject, and I always remark on how fast the pre-teens/teens are growing. The first gathering was for Melissa’s birthday in October.
Please leave your shoes at the bottom of the steps! Come inside!
11 Wednesday Apr 2018
Tags
ecuador butterflies, google map where are the images in google maps, Lisa Brunetti art, Museo Portoviejo
Google Earth has sent ‘congratulations’ notices to say that a few of my images – like this one of Poza Honda – were very popular.
Poza Honda/ManabiProvince Ecuador – Have any of you ever added images to Google Earth-Maps? It’s always been interesting to peruse those images and explore areas that we know well or to ‘cyber travel’ to new destinations without leaving home! The Satellite Image option helped me fine-tune my search for a new place to live, and reference images were very helpful.
This past week on Google Earth, I entered some GPS points for where I live – before passing them along for scientific reasons; almost immediately I hit a glitch. I could not find a place to type the coordinates. Perhaps that option is somewhere on the page, but I did not find it. Next I looked for my pinned images, and they were gone! In fact, there were no pinned images to anything on the map. Towns and places of interest were marked by name only. The letters were small and difficult to see – and my laptop has a large screen!
Google Chrome browser… note how tiny the bottom right options appear. That’s where one finds the photo options.
Eventually I found the image option, which on my windows browser showed in a long horizontal strip at the bottom of the page. There were photos from different areas, and mine could not be accessed until scrolling east on the map, leaving the house site out of view. After I selected and enlarged one of my ‘popular’ images, a little arrow-type bar zipped from the photo and pointed into the middle of the lake! Ha, I had to laugh – it was several kilometers from the right location and was obviously submerged at the bottom of the reservoir!
Opera browser provided slightly-easier to view options.
The Dec 3rd earthquake, which rattled the house for almost a minute, must have nudged this particular GPS point into the lake!
Unable to drag it back in place via the old system that worked well, I opened a new window and did a search which took me to a Google Earth/Maps forum. Oh my, demons must have firmly attached themselves to those who make decisions for Google Earth/Maps, and they have made a lovely mess of what was once a well-managed site.
I moved to another quadrant that I know well – the area around Jama, and I remembered that someone had posted a picture of a Royal Poinciana/Flamboyant. I was curious to see if it still marked the correct spot. In real life, the tree was within view of where I once lived near the mouth of Rio Jama.
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)still stands, though the nearby farmhouse was destroyed in the April 16, 2016 earthquake.
Flamboyant/Royal Poinciana paired with the Green Kingfisher for a great photo op – The rear balcony of Casa Loca. 2013
There were zero photos of that area, but there were new ones from 2018 of the community of La Division. Checking various photos in the town a few kilometers inland, I discovered that the lovely flaming Poinciana tree had been magically transplanted to Jama! (Jama, still recovering from the earthquake, could actually use several dozen of those lovely trees!) Continue reading
10 Tuesday Apr 2018
Posted in Ecuador, PEOPLE, PHOTO CHALLENGES, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Tags
An artfully-served cup of Ecuadorian Coffee!
Cindy Ricksgers’ ‘Good Morning’ post reminds us how two simple words have the power to brighten another’s day. The rest of Cindy’s ‘Good Morning’ post is HERE.
“Some days I wake up grumpy; other mornings I let him sleep.” (From a cocktail napkin)
When I lived in Costa Rica, the howler monkeys often slept in the canopy over the roof of my studio/casita. Some mornings they awakened quietly, and other mornings they began with pre-dawn guttural sounds that slowly increased into grumpy roars. On those ‘grumpy’ mornings I would go outside, gape up at them and smile as I replied in my heart-felt “Good Morning! BuenOs dias – Umph-umph-umph-umph!”
My attempts to mock their passive ‘we’re happy and content’ sounds seemed to pacify them. After five or so minutes of quiet time in their presence, I began my day and they began theirs! Like any living being, they just wanted to be acknowledged!
My friend Francisca smiles when I walk into her tienda and state, “Good Morning -BuenOs dias!” and she repeats, “Gud morning!” It’s a ritual that gives us all a refreshing chuckle, especially when she is the one that laughs the most. Ah! The power of a smile!
She’s an archaeologist; he specializes in roasting cafe over a fire. The secret ingredient in their coffee is happiness!
Friends Stephen and Xiomara sample that lovingly-roasted coffee!
An impromptu moment in Cayambe Ecuador…
It’s always great to see a familiar face in a crowd of strangers, especially when he gives such a genuine smile!
Birthday Traditions
(Can you imagine how different our world would be if all scowls were replaced by lighthearted smiles? Would it feel strange if we embraced each day with a heart as happy as his?)
Participants in this week’s WordPress theme helped wrap smiles around the world.
…..
My friends remain in a holding pattern while taking shifts at the hospital. Even though the patient’s condition is still listed as critical, the doctors say that he is very strong and has an amazing will to live. The family is finding moments to smile, and at times they laugh. They send heart-felt thanks to many of you who are sending strong energy and prayers in their direction. Thanks, also, for your comments, which I’ve passed along while stating the many countries you represent.
24 Saturday Mar 2018
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary) Off-Balanced – 3b: Into a state of surprise from the unexpected
Poza Honda Ecuador – Four times each year, the alignments of the earth and sun prompt me to reserve the day – or strategic hours – to observe the sun’s placement. These dates are more important to me than the first day of the new year.
Cayambe Ecuador – Peaceful cultural gatherings in honor of Mother Earth during the equinox and solstice dates.
Being attentive to the subtle rhythms and movements of our planet reminds me of how things change yet remain the same. It also reminds me of the importance of our planet, our own lives, and our responsibility to be good stewards of this amazing planet. In many areas, we are failing in the latter category.
High noon shadow – uh-oh, this shadow suggests that the photo was not taken in March or September, but probably inJune or December. (It was the June solstice 2015)
Ah-ha! This shadow suggests that the photo was taken at high noon during an equinox! (High noon March 20 2014)
In today’s quickly-changing world, it’s comforting to confirm that the sun is directly overhead at high noon during the March and September equinox dates. Just like a precisely-tuned clock, the sun continues its daily march until it reaches its June or December solstice date, pauses, then begins back-tracking toward the other hemisphere. Only twice a year does it visit the same spot, and I enjoy confirming that some things remain the same – no matter what else is happening on our planet!
Quitsato Sundial – near Cayambe Ecuado- The equator and the lines of the solstice and equinox.
Hacienda Guachala’s ancient sundial, located very near Quitsato’s solar calendar near Cayambe Ecuador.
Cayambe’s very-special Solstice Ceremony 2017
Those noon shadows teach easy lessons, especially when someone asks, ‘Isn’t it always in the same place?”
“No,” I smile, and demonstrate the natural rhythms between our sun and planet.
The solar calendar at Casa Loca often puzzled first-time visitors, until they witnessed the sun’s ever-changing position on the western horizon.
Marking the equinox – 2013
Recording the sun’s shadow. March 20 and a week later – March 28, 2013 – Casa Loca
Some days the sun hid behind the clouds.
And some days the shadows were strong..
This past week Melissa dropped in for a visit where I now live at Poza Honda. After swapping a few stories, she grew serious and gestured to the floor and asked what was the significance of the items on the floor. I had forgotten about the floor! Continue reading
31 Tuesday Oct 2017
Posted in Ecuador, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
A few days ago after a leisurely ‘Birding Walk,’ I noticed several citrus trees that were loaded with small mandarin oranges. I asked my neighbors why no one was picking them.
Melissa
“They’re too sour,” Melissa said with a dramatic twist of her face; “Nobody likes them.”
“Seriously?” I marveled, “May I go pick some? I also would like to get a higher view of the trees where I saw a mystery bird.
‘Whoo’s Watching?”
There’s that sneaky little owl!
The mystery bird was absent, but the Peruvian Pygmy Owl watched from overhead.
The cafe, cacao and citrus area offers a great view of the houses below. Moringa grows up here, as well as down near the house!
Moringa
There were several ‘mandarina’ trees with the tiny little oranges. I sampled one, which was almost like eating an extra sour Lifesaver’s mandarin candy!
Nearby another tree was in full flower.
My imagination went a bit crazy as I pondered turning the mandarinas into little Jack-O-Lanterns!
26 Tuesday Sep 2017
Posted in Ecuador, INSPIRATION, NATURE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Tags
adubon, artist in nature, brown wood rail, observing wildlife, orange-fronted wood rail, poza honda ecuador, Solitude, thoreau
Peruvian Pygmy Owl – 4B Pencil & a Splash of Watercolor
The above sketch, left in Casa Poza Honda’s guest book, seemed appropriate since the owl dropped in to say, “Welcome!” on my first visit to what would become my new home. This area has yet to be invaded by the snaking tentacles of telephone and broadband cables, which is a blessing, yet it has altered my ability to stay in touch with the outside world.
Pacific Pygmy Owl – Casa Posa Honda – Manabi Province
Since I take great comfort in complete immersion and solitude in nature, I have appreciated the opportunity to apply Thoreau’s attitude, ‘…to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach…’
Almost dark, view from the end of the trail…
This beautiful forest, a place to connect deeply with nature, supplies a perfect environment to study the flora and fauna. As soon as I am settled, I hope to present what affects me strongest via drawings and studies. That is not easily done when interacting with the world on a daily basis, so I am grateful to reclaim a life that gives me total focus without distractions.
Morning Squirrel
Almost every morning is spent in complete silence as I merge with the rhythms of the natural surroundings. Before the daylight has wiped all traces of night from the scene, the Whooping Motmots can often be seen perched near the house. By 6:15, the Brown Wood Rails tip-toe into the yard on their predictable paths. Photos in such low light are always lacking, so I now watch quietly and appreciate their unique beauty.
After the first hour of absorbing, watching, listening, I usually venture outside and take an extremely-slow amble downhill. Continue reading
12 Tuesday Sep 2017
Posted in Costa Rica, Ecuador, NATURE, PAINTINGS: ACRYLIC, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Tags
azul plata cumbia, brown wood rail, costa rica, Ecuador, living with nature, Panama, Slow Internet
A frustrated Long-tailed Mockingbird – near Portoviejo, Ecuador
A very contented Toucan in Panama…
A deer in my friends’ yard in Costa Rica…
A very-rare Brown Wood Rail in the yard at the Poza Honda Ecuador house!
Ambling along a shady road with Marie in Costa Rica….
Don’t forget to look up when walking! – Costa Rica
Variegated Squirrel in the park near the Municipality Office – Nandayure Costa Rica
In the past three weeks I’ve been from Ecuador to Costa Rica and back via a stopover in Panama to visit my friend Barb. These were quick-but-very rewarding visits that combined ‘business’ with pleasure. Comparing the three countries, I definitely give Costa Rica and Panama the top scores for quality of internet!
Panama wins on shopping opportunities as well as the dramatic skyline contest… Continue reading
18 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in Ecuador, INSPIRATION, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Tags
Leisbert Moreno, Organista Leisbert Moreno, portoviejo ecuador, Portoviejo Ecuador Catedral Concert
Portoviejo – Manabi Province, Ecuador – Letty Quadrado, a dear friend from Jama and Portoviejo exclaimed, “Lisa! I live here, but you know more about where I live than I do! How did you know about this concert?”
With a smirk I replied, “A little inside information; the owner of the house I am renting is the person who has been repairing the organ for this concert!
I learned more over the past two days and stopped by the cathedral to meet the young maestro in person. He is not only dedicated to his music, but he has charisma as well!
Organista Leisbert Moreno
So what inspired a young man from Portoviejo Ecuador to devote his life to the discipline and training to become an organista? The catalyst happened when he was a teenager; Leisbert’s father Pasqual Moreno played the organ in Portoviejo. When his father was sick and unable to play, Leisbert was the substitute!
With no prior experience for performing in the cathedral, Leisbert pulled the two doors inward for privacy and focused on his task!
The experience propelled him into new directions! Leisbert has been studying for three years in Roma/Rome and has also studied in Germany. He is the only professional ‘organista’ from Ecuador, and will be playing at 8:10 pm on Friday night/tonight in his home city of Portoviejo!
Friday night’s program – with Spanish titles – includes:
Leon Boellmann – “Suite Gothique”
Paul Barras – “Meditation Et. Cortege”
Johann Ludwig Krebs – “Tocata y fuga en la Menor”
Eugene Gigout – “Tocata en si Menor” Continue reading
12 Saturday Aug 2017
Posted in Ecuador
Portoviejo/Manabi Province, Ecuador — Passing along information from Jurg, owner of Casa Posa Honda, who happens to also be the person who tunes the organ in Portoviejo’s Cathedral!
“It will be the first time for an Ecuadorian organista to play in Portoviejo.” – Jürg Arnet
Organ Concert: 18th of August, 20.00 – Portoviejo – Manabi Province – Ecuador
“Catedral Jesús el Buen Pastor, Alajuela, Portoviejo”
Cathedral’s Website
Cathedral’s Facebook
Cathedral –Google Maps
I hope to update with more details around the 15th or 16th.
See you there?!
Z
11 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in Ecuador, INSPIRATION, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
“When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.” -Paulo Coelho
Manabi Province, Ecuador – Years ago when making the commuter flight from Quito in the Andes to Portoviejo on the Pacific coast, I often studied the landscape below. After marveling at the beauty of Chimborazo poking through the clouds, I wondered about the lower elevations as the plane prepared to land. A large body of water always intrigued me, and I assumed it was ‘never-never land’ – perhaps like the Darien Gap swamp between Panama and Colombia.
Or like a cypress swamp in the Southern USA….
“A man will be imprisoned in a room with a door that’s unlocked and opens inwards; as long as it does not occur to him to pull rather than push.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein
Several months ago, my friend Xiomara helped rekindled that interest when she mentioned she’d be working upriver from Portoviejo. Deciding to close the chapter of ‘Casa Loca,’ it was time to move forward, and many places held my interest. I had been combing the Province via Google maps in search of a quiet area with a good source of pure water – away from pollution and surrounded by natural forests. I did not want to make a temporary move, and I suspected that patience would be rewarded.
Scouting via Google Maps, I was disenchanted – and shocked – at the continued deforestation. Out of curiosity, I zoomed to the little hamlets where Xio would be working and was delighted to see that large body of water! We coordinated meeting when she traveled to the area, and while she was working, I scouted around, loved the extremely-peaceful vibe, and returned for a second day of exploring the area. The locals pointed me to the ‘Swiss cabanas’ which turned out to be so much more than simple structures! Continue reading
04 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in Ecuador, INSPIRATION, NATURE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Tags
Casa Poza Honda, Manabi Province Birds, Orange-fronted Barbet, poza honda ecuador, santa ana ecuador
Pacific Pygmy Owl – Casa Posa Honda/ owner’s garden – Manabi Province
“I think the most important quality in a birdwatcher is a willingness to stand quietly and see what comes. Our everyday lives obscure a truth about existence – that at the heart of everything there lies a stillness and a light.”
― Lynn Thomson, Birding with Yeats: A Mother’s Memoir
My new home offers a serene immersion in nature; the birds – many of them new to me – stop by often, as if to pay proper respect to the newcomer. This post shares some of those birds – one species, if the ID is correct, appears to be quite special!
Calling all birders! Is this an Orange-fronted Barbet?
The RED LIST states:
Population: This is a poorly known species and no population estimates are available. It is considered generally uncommon.
Trend Justification: A moderately rapid and on-going population decline is suspected owing to habitat loss.”
And here is its range map: EBIRD-Orange Fronted Barbet
If you like birds, then scroll on down and meet more of the feathered members of the neighborhood!
“The Neighborhood’ is pictured below:
With the truck loaded with large frames, paintings and rolled canvases, I stopped on the dam to photograph the ‘Reservoir Poza Honda.” “Home” is straight across, tucked near the base of the slope.
Home sweet home; this is the yen to Casa Loca, yet it also represents a total immersion in nature. It provides a perfect setting for the next chapter.
La Casa
Look up…
Look down!
Look out the window:
6:30 am
“There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.” – Robert Lynd, The Blue Lion and Other Essays
There is an impressive buffer of natural and planted vegetation between the house and the lake. Would you like to walk down to explore the grounds with me? Perhaps we’ll see a few birds! Continue reading
31 Monday Jul 2017
Posted in Ecuador, INSPIRATION, NATURE, PEOPLE
Ofelia Bus terminal – Quito Ecuador
“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” – Henri Matisse
Casa Loca – Wildflowers – Rio Jama/
“Happiness, not in another place but this place… not for another hour, but this hour.” – Walt Whitman
Andrea – Playa El Matal – Ecuador
“Today: Soak in what’s real and what’s real is unhurried. The ground. The air. The exhale. The planted seed. The shift. The season.” – Victoria Erickson
About a month ago, after first scouting an area via Google Maps, I drove along various country roads, exploring with an artist’s curiosity. Great impromptu moments greeted me at each stop, and though I cherished the moments, I knew there was a jewel of a place waiting to be discovered.
This tiny community met almost every “wished for”criteria onmy list. but Life nudged me forward…
Yes, I am in the process of moving, poco a poco, and I will spend most of this week moving the more difficult-to-transport items. I will not be online often, but will be writing offline to share more information about the new area I will call “Home.” I look forward to sharing the stories!
A pure and abundance source of water was part of that criteria…
Enjoy the random images taken in the past month. I should be back online tonight. Continue reading
29 Saturday Jul 2017
Posted in ART, Ecuador, INSPIRATION, PAINTINGS: ACRYLIC, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Can you see Hotel Andino down there?
“In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself.” -J. Krishnamurti
Quito Ecuador – This past week Miguel, owner of Hotel Andino, sent an email to warn me to expect ‘something different’ for my one-night stay. When I arrived, Miguel explained that they were full with an out-of-town group of business people, but there was one option. He seemed hesitant, and I said that I loved surprises –“… Show me the space!”
We went into the main part of the house, and I wondered where in the world an extra room could be, and then we stepped toward a petite door located beneath the staircase. Like a child, I grinned and waited for Miguel to open the door. Continue reading
08 Saturday Jul 2017
Posted in Ecuador, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Tags
I’ve never seen this view or this glass-topped table for two…
There’s a magical arch sculpted through a red-hibiscus hedge…. Continue reading
29 Thursday Jun 2017
Posted in Ecuador, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Before the Inti Raymi-San Pedro parade – Cayambe Ecuador
“Haven’t seen people reading newspapers like they used to,” Amy stated in a recent post. – The World is a Book
The above image was taken the week before she published two photos of people reading in public areas. The comment thread supports that reading ‘hard copy’ is a vanishing art.
In contrast, here’s an image from last night’s San Pedro-San Pablo event on the Pacific Coast.
Jama Ecuador – Waiting for Showtime!
14 Wednesday Jun 2017
Posted in Ecuador, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Jama Ecuador – Each week oversees the repair or slow destruction of earthquake-damaged buildings in the area. A few buildings worthy of saving now have stronger spines and will preside over the newbies. Some city blocks are almost empty, and one adjusts to seeing open skies where two-story buildings once stood. Some might see an empty lot, but many ‘ghost buildings’ still reside in the memories of many.
Before the earthquake: Once upon a time sun-loving plants welcomed visitors to the central park.
The old park in the center of town was razed, and a new ‘historic’ one will replace it. Less than two blocks away, a second much-larger park will have areas for strolling, sitting, exercise, skateboards, as well as providing public bathrooms and a little sandwich shop. Progress throughout town is slow, and the incoming and outgoing streets serve as dump sites for construction materials like gravel or sand or are littered with debris waiting to be hauled to a landfill.
One friend pointed to a well-built two-story house that appeared to have few structural problems. “See that little house in the back?” She pointed and then added, “They live there because they are too scared to live in the big house.” Continue reading
15 Monday May 2017
Posted in Ecuador
Jama Ecuador – My creative mind immediately painted the room’s interior walls with vibrant colors. In seconds, that easily-accessed area of my imagination organized what was inside, traveled to the market and returned with tossed-aside crates previously used for transporting fruits and vegetables. In another direction, my mind found discarded boards from construction projects, which could be altered to make shelves.
Click, click, click – My imagination zoomed with ideas. It would almost work for a temporary studio… But – wait… water.. .a sink… a bathroom.
“Perdon,” I asked with an awkward approach, “Do you have a bathroom? Water?” Continue reading
21 Friday Apr 2017
Tags
Don Juan Ecuador, earthquake relief projects, Enrique Males, https://artesxmanabi.org/galeria-fotografica/ artesXmanabi, Jama
A nocturnal beach performance – Bellavista /Don Juan/Ecuador
From the acoustic-friendly cushioned experience at Quito’s National Theater to a rustic sea-level setting on the beach at Bellavista/Don Juan, ArtesXManabi left a trail of beautiful memories. Please visit their website and facebook pages, and give them a ‘thumbs up’ for their kind and generous efforts. If you live in Ecuador, perhaps you can coax them to continue their show in your community!
The slideshows showcase the events, including one dance workshop – on the beach – with the children!
ArtesxManabi – Slideshows
Thank you, ArtesXManabi for your display of unconditional love for your fellow man.
Lisa
16 Sunday Apr 2017
Please join the sparrows in one minute of reflection…
“The earthquake was presaged by a magnitude 4.8 foreshock eleven minutes before the main quake struck,[19] and followed by over fifty-five aftershocks in the first twenty-four hours.[20]” – Wilkipedia
Jama/Manabi/Ecuador — This post is scheduled to be published on the one-year anniversary of the 4.8 earthquake that preceded the historic one that hit 11 minutes later. Imagine what it must have been like to wonder, “Did we just have an earthquake?” as the twilight faded into the night, and then be jolted into a nightmare that shattered the coastline.
El Matal – April 2015- destructive waves
April 2015 – end of day El Matal
This year, at 6:58 pm, the people of El Matal and Jama will release hand-made lanterns at the time the earthquake hit a year ago. I will witness the lantern release at El Matal and then attend the mass that follows in Jama.
Please join the sparrows in a moment of reflection, not only for those who are opening tender year-long wounds, but also in support for closing those wounds. May this also extend to all who are suffering worldwide, as love for our fellow man is greatly needed.
Below are images taken yesterday and last night at various events in honor of those affected in the Canton of Jama.
11 Tuesday Apr 2017
Posted in Ecuador, INSPIRATION, NATURE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Yachana Lodge, Rio Napo, Eastern Ecuador
“What are you all looking at?” Douglas, the owner of Yachana Lodge asked Xiomara and me.
I smiled and replied, “Atmosphere.”
Continue reading
06 Thursday Apr 2017
The trees are watching! Near Rio Cinto-Mindo Ecuador
Sometimes a work of art ‘just happens’ as if some invisible hand guides the process. Everything aligns as if magically orchestrated.
Watercolor by Lisa Brunetti – With no pencil prep, I focused on one part of the flower then went straight to painting; the initials strokes of paint slowly evolved into the study of the Thunbergia flowers.
Othertimes a work of art requires preparation and homework, which starts as a spacial gathering of information and honing that data until clarity guides the artist forward.
The Muir quote has always fired my imagination, and I pictured trees frowning in disgust or wide-eyed with fear of being felled or even timidly hiding and peering from behind rocky facades. While pondering ways to illustrate the quote, I began seeking out and studying the twisted growth of mature guava trees – cousins to crepe myrtles – to merge the illusion of limbs and antlers. Continue reading
04 Tuesday Apr 2017
Posted in Ecuador, INSPIRATION, NATURE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Photo courtesy of Yachana Lodge – Napo Province – Ecuador
“Yachana?”
With painting supplies, boots and flashlight already tucked into my bag, I’ll be Yachana bound soon!
“Boots? Raincoat? Flashlight?”
Yes, because I am a seasoned ‘Girl Scout’ and know to be prepared, especially if I’m returning to the gateway to the Amazon. This time I’ll be even closer than I was on last month’s trip to Cosanga!
I’ll be taking trusted travel ‘needs’ AND a new pad of Canson Watercolor Paper AND very-special brushes! Thanks Pachamamas!
You must be wonderning, “What is Yachana; where is Yachana?”
Don’t worry for even one second that I will be treading in uncharted or unsafe territories! Continue reading
01 Saturday Apr 2017
Posted in Ecuador, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Tags
Casa de la Cultura Events, Don Juan Ecuador, Earthquake Relief Ecuador, Enrique Males, las Artes por Manabi, Patricia Gutierrez
QUITO, Ecuador – Life sometimes gives us sweet little packages wrapped in unique ways. Because I planned to visit Quito’s Casa de la Cultura regarding the ‘on hold’ exposition of my paintings, I reviewed their website last week: CASAdelaCULTURA
The ‘Events’ page mentioned a fundraiser for the coastal community of Don Juan, which is 10 kilometers from Jama in Manabi Province. Casa Loca is about half way between the two areas!
Looking up the coast to Don Juan and Punta Prieta/Punta Blanca
Rio Jama’s “La Boca’ area – before the earthquake: Can you spot Casa Loca?
A fundraiser for the community of Don Juan? My imagination raced with possibilities as I tried to connect the WHERE with the WHO. Who inspired this, or was it a random and compassionate person or persons who visited Don Juan and realized they could use some support?
My plans were to be in Quito at Casa de la Cultura the same day the Las Artes por Manabí would be held at the National Theater! After the meetings – which went very well, I inquired about the event. Yes! It was scheduled for that night!
Friends Stephen and Xiomara joined me that evening, though we were not quite sure what we would be watching! We gladly paid our ten dollars to help support the Don Juan community in the canton of Jama.
Don Juan, Punta Prieta – from 2014
The show, which showcases Andean Contemporary Arts, started around 8 pm. Enrique Males, a popular musician, has been creating melodies for 50 years and calls attention to ‘cultural respect.’
Patricia Gutierrez and Enrique Males
“…His songs remember famous people of Andes. For example, the indigenous general Rumiñahui (from spanish conquerors of Quito, 476 years before) or Mama Dolores Cacuango, a political figure of 80’s that talked about human rights, but from the thoughts and traditions of indigenous communities.
With all this context, the performance tries to remind the people to love Allpa-Mama (Mother Earth), to be at peace with themselves and with each other.
The connection with Don Juan’s people is the joy for life, the desire to improve and be more sensitive and creative, using Arts and our ancestral culture to be a big family, from the coast (Jama) to the Andes (Quito). ” – Sayri Wladimir Cabascango – Las Artes por Manabí
Like thrilled children, we sat toward the front of the National Theater and looked forward to the show.
Image in the background is from a preColombian Jama Coaque Sello/Stamp.
Information about the community of Don Juan.
Poet Diego Velasco Andrade
The stage went dark, and as our eyes adjusted, musician Enrique Males swept us into a magical realm.
16 Thursday Mar 2017
JAMA – MANABI – ECUADOR – Young Valentina sits in the doorway while her Aunt Marie and Uncle Edgar show cracks in what I thought was their temporary home. Marie and Edgar, I discovered, live elsewhere.
Ecuador – There seems to be a running clock/calendar that keeps track of the days and months since the earthquake destroyed much of Ecuador’s central and northern coast. Each month when the calendar approaches ’16,’ I note the time and remember the 7.8 earthquake that hit just after 7 pm on April 16th. Does anyone ever get past that feeling of premonition – or wondering if it might hit again?
13 Monday Mar 2017
Posted in Ecuador, INSPIRATION, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Mindo Ecuador – Garbed in raincoat and mud boots this past Saturday around dark, I trekked past Mindo’s Catholic Church on my way to the market. Through the whoosh-whoosh sound of my rain gear and the drizzle hitting the roofs and sidewalk, a stronger much-sweeter sound brought me to a halt.
Mindo’s Main Street
“Is that a violin?” I wondered, then followed the beckoning music until I stood in the doorway of the church. The church was empty aside for one lone figure standing to the side near the front row. In formal attire, perfect posture and with violin at his chin, he seemed like a mirage. Or was he a life-sized poster? No, that was a real person standing there, and his music was pure and sweet.
Captivated, I listened for a very short time, and decided that my presence was most likely an intrusion. I bowed slightly and backed away, all the time wondering who was this person and why was he in this empty church? I resumed my trek, bought my token items and returned for one more discreet glance before going home.
A second person was peering inside, and this younger woman and I exchanged mystified expressions. Who was this person, and why was he there? Continue reading
08 Wednesday Mar 2017
Posted in ART, Ecuador, INSPIRATION, PENCIL DRAWINGS, TIMEOUT FOR ART - Quotes
Tags
a child's first drawing lesson, cosanga ecuador, pachamama birdwatching journey, teaching children to draw, Timeout for Art
The Texas Pachamama Christmas Fairies brought a huge assortment of art supplies. The airlines might have taxed them for extra weight!
Cosanga Ecuador – Napo Province – See Map
The Pachamama Birding Group also brought treats for the teacher… Really really really-nice treats! Watercolor paper! Brushes! Sharpie Markers – not used ones like at my drawing table, but brand-new ones with precise points!!!! But that’s for another post. Check below to see the view from the table where I took a 30-minute personal timeout for art:
The Pachamama Christmas Fairies delivered high-quality art materials 8 months early!!! Thank you Pachamamas!
… While the ladies were out birding, the two boys and I sat on the front porch for an impromptu art lesson.
Remember Jordan and Rudy?
Please join me as they experience a fresh pad of drawing paper while they discover the magic of a well-sharpened pencil. Continue reading
07 Tuesday Mar 2017
Posted in Ecuador, NATURE, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
When setting out on a journey, do not seek advice from those who have never left home. ~ Rumi
Ecuador’s Andes: Eastern Slope – Cosanga – Western Slope -Mindo — Having just returned from a ten-day trip to the eastern side of Ecuador, I chuckled when I read Judy Edwards‘ Thought For the Day, shared above.
My friend Susana had often mentioned their ‘little cabaña’ tucked in a quiet area somewhere on the ‘Eastern Slope” of the Andes in the Napo Province, gateway to the Amazon. Over the past year, she’s been fine-tuning details for a birding tour for a group of ladies from the USA and had asked if I’d help during their time at their Cabana El Aliso. The tour would start on March 1st in Quito, end on March 10th in Mindo, with lots of great experiences in between.
Cosanga area landscape
Of course! I would love to help! I looked forward to seeing their cabaña and the surrounding landscape, but first needed to take care of my life on the Pacific side. While in Jama, I received an email from Susana regarding plans for the week before the birding tour.
“…hopefully we can travel to la Cabaña El Aliso. How about Friday, Feb. 24th? This weekend (25-28) is Carnaval and I would like to spend these days in the Cabaña. Can you come with us.” – Continue reading
21 Tuesday Feb 2017
Tags
cemeteries, jama april 16 2016, Jama ecuador earthquake, people who died in the ecuador earthquake
Jama Ecuador – Recently many people opened their doors and hearts and invited me into their private sanctuaries; they shared stories of the night of the earthquake and the days that followed. One person, Marcos Cevallos Mendoza, seemed more affected than most, and I was eager to find him again and listen to what he had to share. One person pointed me to one corner; another said, ‘No, I saw him about ten minutes ago near the new market. ‘
Almost sunset – the buildings are gone, but spirit remains….
As I stopped at random places to ask for Marcos, heart-wrenching stories added more frayed threads to this town’s patchwork tapestry. Some suggested that I check the cemetery, which offered an instant solace from the reconstruction chaos in the center of town.
Just to the right of the entrance, seven people share the same day of death: April 16, 2016. Four of those were Marcos’ wife and three of their four children.
