Earthquake Stories – From John & Mary in San Clemente

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earthquake manabi ecuador, John and Mary McDonald, San Clemente Ecuador, terremoto ecuador

John’s idyllic coastal bus ride didn’t end so pretty…

John, thank you so much for sharing your story!    I was not only there with you as you found your way through miles and miles of mazes, but I was also enduring the earthquake at San Clemente with dear Mary…

From 2012 – John and Mary in Cruzita Ecuador

Mary, even if it’s painful, it might be a catharsis to share your experience.   Sending you both my love and comfort.    Z

Here’s John’s story:  Earthquake First Report

They might not be able to reply, but let them know you appreciated their story.

Z

The Buddy System

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helping others, jama ecuador, olive ridley sea turtle in ecuador, rural life on ecuador's coast, San Clemente Ecuador

Snowy Egret

(Ecuador)  Life on the river often times distracts me from my daily goals.  It’s hard to leave scenes like this and focus on my work!  – But wait!  Part of my work is observing nature!  Sigh;  it’s a hard job, but someone has to be part of nature’s buddy system!

I enjoy living a tiny slice back from the ocean where the tranquil river mirrors the landscape – or would that be a waterscape?! At high tide, many birds perch in the mangroves and others guard the boulders near the house.   At low tide, the pelicans flop flop their wings in the water while the ibis, egrets and herons forage in the shallows.

My neighbors the birds

My neighbors the birds!

Several hours down the coast is the petite community of San Clemente.  My friends John and Mary emailed two nights ago with breaking news, “They’re hatching!!!!”  The Buddy System is alive and well in that community where the locals gave a rare nest of baby turtles a magical bon voyage party!

See their post HERE: Tortuga Birth Announcement

and Dave’s report HERE:Turtles in Town

There were more global nature sightings this week! See Cindy’s great photo story HERE: Baby Hummer Crashes into Window.

How’s this for a wake-up setting?! Serene Canoe Morning – Rio Jama /Ecuador August 01, 2013

The true purpose of this post is to call attention to a friend’s family in southern Mississippi and activate the Buddy System.  Please read Joylene’s post and spread the word;  I’m hoping there are some groups out there that might help through fundraisers.

Read Joylene’s story about her daughter-in-law HERE: Help Heaven Get Her Life Back and help if possible!

We should always savor quiet moments.

Good luck, Joylene.  If I were there we’d auction a painting or get those Steel Magnolias to gather ’round and find new options.   Z

This & That – October

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balsa boats of Playas Ecuador, Ecuador, high energy and rain, High Fives & Flutterbys, John and Mary McDonald, painting concrete floors, Pelicans, Playas Ecuador, San Clemente Ecuador, This & That

Amigos!  How great it feels to be well and 100% Zeebra again!   Your get-well wishes surely helped speed my recovery!  Thank you!

Zeebra Frog – Copyright Lisa Brunetti

I am recharged and in full-throttle creative mode!  On Sunday and Monday I prepped five or six large panels for painting – (three to five coats each!)  With a wheelbarrow, I moved a dump truck load of earth and then transplanted small trees and flowers to better locations. These bursts of energy* usually precede heavy rains.  Over the years, friends have witnessed this strange occurrence and stated, “You might have warned us.”    (*Do you think that a subtle change in barometer triggers my creative output, or does my creative output discharge into the atmosphere?!!!)

Tornadoes, straight-line winds, 30 inches of rain in one week – those are some of the most memorable storms that followed an energy binge!  Many times after painting for ten or twelve hours, I put down my brush, and half an hour later the rains begin.  The rain seems to diffuse my energy, and later I have little desire to paint or shovel or scrub the house spotless!  Every so often when I realize that I’ve been rolling for hours, I pull in my reins and say, ” Uh-oh… prepare for rain.”

We received a barely-noticeable drizzle last night, and I smiled.   It’s the first in months.  Typical for the first rain after the dry season, we also lost power!    We will lose power a lot in the next six months, so when I vanish from cyberspace, suspect lack of electricity!

A repair & maintenance and improvement project kicked off today at the river house.