Finally some art! I finished some small paintings that I had started as demos at least a month ago. It felt good to be in the studio instead of at the computer editing my memoir.

Senor de la Columna

Last night the preparation for the procession of el Senor de la Columna began. The neighborhood was filled all night with people decorating this one street in San Miguel.The street is covered in grasses and camomile flowers

A unique statue of Jesus is carried by pilgrims that walk through the night from a church in another town. They reach San Miguel before dawn. Free coffee is passed out to the pilgrims.The fireworks started at 4:30 am. I considered getting up to witness the spectacle, but reached for my earplugs instead and went back to sleep.

I checked on the aftermath of the celebration after I returned from meditation this morning. By 8:15, the street sweepers had piled the grasses, flowers and palm in piles ready to be picked up by truck. The paper and plastic decorations that are strung across the street are left in place until they disintegrate.

This photo was taken by Trish Synder. She lives on the street. This is part of what a missed.

11:30 this morning, the street had been swept clean.

This is just the beginning of the observances of Santa Semana.

encaustic, collage and shellac

 This wonderful painting were made by Cynthia Hamilton, my daughter who lives in San Francisco.

 We work quite differently, as is usual in encaustic, but I wanted to share a couple of her paintings.
 These make me wish I could get shellac in San Miguel.

 I belong to the Edible and Medicinal Plant study group. We meet once a month. Different local plants and herbs are shown, tasted and discussed. I believe that nature gives us healing plants in what ever local we live and I am curious what the high desert of San Miguel offers us for our health.

This month we met at the large municipal market where we met with a man who's grandmother began teaching him about herbs and how they are used in healing when he was 7 years old. He is well into his 60's now. He explained all of his herbs, mixtures and how to use them. I found it interesting that there were many mixtures for diabetes. Thanks to Coca Cola, and ignorance of nutrition for the rampant spread of that illness in Mexico. The original Mexican diet, couldn't be healthier.

The front of the market is mainly produce and flowers

Of course, there are always piñtas

Tlalpujahilla

The day before we traveled to see the butterflies,  we explored the town where we were staying, Tlalpujahilla. This pueblo is so differently than San Miguel, that I had the feeling that I was in a different county. The houses and the many trees give it a distinct feeling. This particular town is known for its blown glass ornaments. This is their main business. We visited the workshop to see the glass fruit and flowers being created. After the glass is cool, it is dipped in a silver solution; cooled and then dipped again in colored enamel. I bought a box of the glass fruit.

It was hard to choose which to buy

a still life of glass flowers and fruit

drying shelf

birthday cakes

photos of possible choices of cakes

Opps. I almost stepped on the resting turkeys

sloped roofs and different colors

The store that sells the glass ornaments

a beauty supply shop

re-painted and held together by duct tape, the shoe shine booth still provides shade