Turkeys

 A sight to see, wild turkeys...
I like to see them in the wild...it's not uncommon around here...

These are true wild turkeys.
Wish I could've gotten even closer, but I scared them, even at the distance I was zooming.



 Here's a true story my son wrote (for Esquire Mag) after being involved in butchering turkeys....
(this was from a year ago... still memorable...we made our turkey in a garbage can, a la 'trash can turkey' which actually turned out really good.   Anyway, the photos are taken on Kevin's (our neighbor) farm.  And these are farm raised, not wild.
Maybe some year, I'll raise my own turkeys...
...but I doubt it!
     (warning.... graphic photos....)     'Happy Thanksgiving'

How to Really Cook a Turkey? Kill It Yourself.  

Veterans' Day & Isla Naval Base

Was waiting for an appropriate time to post some pics I took of the Navy Base, 'Quinta Region Naval' on Isla Mujeres (Armada--5th Region).  These were taken when I was there just after Ind. Day in mid Sept, and they left the colors up for some time after that.
There's a lot to like about the island, but the fact there is an actual Mexican naval base here, is certainly a plus--not only for the extra protection they provide, but it feels like being among family.

 and here it is lit up at night, again shortly after the Mexican Independence Day, in mid September.

I love to see their ships out patrolling either in the bay, (this taken as I was on Playa Sol, so not far from there) or out in the open ocean.
Or, even just offshore from the base, where you can often catch sailors (marineros) going on a training mission (the naval school is a part of the base--I think they provide officer training, though not entirely sure.)
One can shop in the Navy store, pass by the Navy housing area, and in general, see a Navy presence around the island.  It is very reassuring.

 

My mother (a couple years ago) thought she could use her Navy Annex card to get her usual discount at the Navy store. I had to explain that this was the Mexican Navy, not the American Navy.  We still like to kid her about it.
My father retired as a Commander (though in the Navy Reserve, at the time)...he did active duty in WW2 and was stationed on Guam. My husband  & brother were both in the Navy (both on ships) & in Vietnam, Japan...+ other places; father-in-law, Marines (Iwo Jima). In general, though not raised on bases, I'm comfortable around them, and seeing uniformed Navy personnel....that's why--it feels good here.
I especially like that Isla is the easternmost point of Mexico--there is a job to do here! Lots of lookout!

Passing by the Naval area, after arrival on the island, feels welcoming. I remember being newly married and living in Morocco and working on the Navy Base in Kenitra...I worked the cafeteria with Mohammed and Abdullah. Different times (wish I'd learned more Arabic than the few words I did--concentrating on French instead...). Señor spent his days off on his 'secret, classified' station doing 'moon research' across from the Russians, who were managing a logging station (or was it olive production?) Those were the 'cover' stories...different times, huh?  The antennas at each were a bit of a giveaway.  Later, in Maine, another Navy base, and we lived in Winter Harbor.  So...from Morocco & Maine, to Isla... fun comparison.  Cultural contrasts for sure...Good memories...
Happy Veterans' Day!

Island horses

As I am still mentally reliving my trail ride of a week ago, it reminds me of horses I have seen on the island.  

This one I've seen more than once, on separate occasions, grazing between water plant & cemetery in outside La Gloria. I must remember to bring more snacks...

This struck me as so nice, as perhaps the owner or caretaker of this healthy looking horse was giving a ride to a kid on the crossroad to La Gloria, rounding the corner, & walking right outside the cemetery wall.  This is a great size horse, suitable for adult or child.  I'll bet this boy was in heaven... 

I sometimes wonder how the horses got over to the island, but assume they must have been in a trailer, & come across on the car ferry... Then, I wonder how they liked that.

This is probably the horse from the first photo, but I wish I had video, (or at least, more clear photo) as the rider galloped several times along the small path in front of the sea, back and forth. I was fairly shocked to see him riding so close to the edge at such a fast clip. Obviously, he had good control and the horse was well trained.
How thrilling & what a sight to see from my deck at Casa Colibri'.

I've heard that the small path that goes down to the sea (a continuation of the gravely, cross-island road here, not far from Punta Sur) is on a strip of land that may be for sale!!! (Apparently, it would be combined with one of the lots on either side as it is too narrow by itself for any other purpose.)

Anyway, that would be a shame, as many dog walkers, and nature lovers use this path.
I think there should be a petition or something to maintain the path as a walkway for public access.

Cemeteries & Hanal Pixan

The old (original) cemetery in downtown Isla Mujeres--some flowers up for Dia de los Muertos, and a young woman adding fresh flowers. However, as in US for Memorial Day, many of the flowers are artificial. A new twist seems to be more of the solar powered lamps, which Sr. found especially popular at the newer cemetery, down the island just outside Colonia La Gloria. He took these pics downtown.
I really like the fresh flowers.  I appreciate the extra effort one makes to bring them.

     Another photo shows someone cleaning up or redoing the lettering on a grave.  Just down a couple stones to the right, notice the truck engraved on a tablet. It almost looks like a delivery truck, which may have been the occupation of the deceased.
     The Mayan name for this holiday is 'Hanal Pixan.'  I think mostly on Isla it is a family centered holiday, where many get together and share a meal, either at home or downtown.  It is a holiday, so no work.  I'm not sure how many 'camp out' and have all night vigils at the cemeteries with their ancestors spirits, who may return on this night, which is why there may be food offerings on small altars (especially foods enjoyed by the deceased).

Personally, I think it's kind of a nice tradition.  It's personalized.
I left some brownies and snacks for my dad last year (more around Memorial Day). Maybe I'll leave a beer next year!  And definitely, some Green Bay Packer stuff during the season now.
Actually, I am starting to see more of that kind of individual treatment in the local cemeteries around here too.  Strangely enough... another job I once had was as a cemetery flower caretaker.
I know that seems unbelievable....but it's true.  We were farming, we needed extra income, a local flower shop owner was giving up his seasonal cemetery flower box planting and caretaking part of the business-
What do you know...I bought the flower boxes... got a large number of his clients, and the rest is history.
I stayed with the cemetery flower caretaking business for several years (& worked in the flower shop part time during the week.)
  The first summer I dragged my 2 year old son, and my few months old other son, in a backpack carrier, around local cemeteries, watering at least twice a week.
As they got a few years older, they actually learned their 'water' routes and helped me quite a lot.
We often went in the early evenings, when their dad was milking, and made it back at finishing time, just before dark.   They remember it well.  Those were good times. We all worked together.

As one of my co-workers, Becky (from the flower shop) signed on a card she sent me--
              'until we meet again--in the flower shop in the sky....'
brings back a lot of good memories...in the flower shop, in the cemeteries...


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Below is a bit of a post from Lonely Planet, describing the 'Hanal Pixan' event in nearby Valladolid...
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I also arrived just in time for the next big event on the Yucatecan party calendar, Hanal Pixan. You probably know it better as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), at the end of October and the beginning of November. All that skull-chic you associate with Mexican folk art–that’s Day of the Dead stuff, and, more important, it’s central Mexican stuff. In the Yucatan, the aesthetic is a little different. Hanal Pixan doesn’t dwell so specifically on the skull imagery. The name means “feeding the souls” in Maya, and the emphasis is on the altars for the deceased, where you place traditional foods and candles and flowers. Usually, they’re private–in houses or offices, but not a huge public show. Or it didn’t seem that way to me the last time I was in the area for the holiday, a few years back.
This time, though, I think I was in the right place at the right time. In Valladolid, schoolkids got out early to enter an altar-building competition in the lawn area in front of the big convent. The altars were dedicated to family, or politicians or public figures. Imagine a history or science fair, but rendered in palm fronds and marigolds.
I know it makes me sound like an 80-year-old to say it, but it was just so nice to see all those young people working together!



Hopefully, this is a custom that will be preserved.
There wasn't a photo of the final altar, but one can imagine it must have been splendid...    Valladolid would be a good place to go next year!

Vivos y Muertos....

It's 'Day of the Dead' in Mexico, today, Nov. 1st & into the 2nd.  I'm hoping to get some fresh fotos from Isla, if Sr. will send some...but, after the (non)hurricane (Tropical Storm Rina), he hadn't seen many signs of celebrating, especially since there has been quite constant rain and flooding now.

But, anyway, it's my own special celebration as it's been exactly 5 years ago (Oct 29, 2006) since I suffered my horse accident, and came 'oh so close' to being among the muertos...

Abby, Carole (sister), Amelia, Melia, Grace & me  Kris) !     my compañeras...

I celebrated the day by going on a trail ride, happily accompanied by my sister & 4 of her granddaughters. What a great day it was, last Saturday, as we rode through fields and enjoyed the day.
For me, it was 5 years since getting on a horse--not that I've been fearful, but since I no longer have horses, there just hasn't been an opportunity (and I would also never go now without a helmet).

This felt so good, I want to do it every year now.
I want it to be a sort of 'Memorial' trail ride.
In the way that 'Dia de Los Muertos' celebrates the dead through those living who commemorate them, it's a way to be alive & still remember.
The good thing is it's a shared experience.


I send thank you's every year to those who found me, and one of them often sends me little postcards, just signing them 'your friend on the road.'  Silly little things like that mean so much.

I don't take much for granted any more, and try to be more appreciative, more in the moment...

I use the days this time of year to recount my story (I was found lying in the road near my farm, by passers-by, who 'saved' me by notifying my neighbor, (husband being in Mexico!)  which resulted in an ambulance call (she had EMT training & knew I'd had a head injury), an MRI at my local hospital, a med-flight to University Hospital in Madison, a scan & an immediate craniotomy ..and the rest is history...  or, I should say, NOT history, as I survived, and it's life...story...(there should be such a word...lifstory!)  The horse ( named Cowboy) that  I was trying out for the first time, must have thrown me as I tried coaxing him back over a bridge out on the road...I really can't remember, as I suffered a concussion. Going into the surgery, my neurologist apparently told my son I may not ever write again (being right-handed) & could lose language skills (I had a hematoma, and pressure on the left frontal lobe).  Luckily, all went well & I'm thankful to my finders, my doctor, for his immediate attention & also my family...all for hanging in there for me.  I probably am somewhat changed, as I make decisions differently, based less on what I 'should' do, & more on what I want to do.

In the intervening 5 years, life has been good.  I have 5 granddaughters...one per year...
I celebrate life...  I'm aware of & have been close to death...it's coming...but it's not here yet....

“Girl With Death Mask,” Frida Kahlo

by Fiona on May 27, 2011

 

 

 

My own post-surgery scar & head wrap is much scarier looking than anything I'm posting here.  I look at it now & then, but hesitate to show it.  I like the idea of the mask, by Frida Kahlo...it incorporates the dual nature of life and death.

 

By Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo’s 1938 painting “Girl with Death Mask (She Plays Alone)” resides in Nagoya City Art Museum in Japan. In it, the girl is wearing a mask one might see during the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) in Mexico. The Day of the Dead is on November 2nd, where those living commemorate the memory of the dead by celebrating them.
The mask the girl wears is reminiscent of La Calavera Catrina (“The Elegant Skull”) that is commonly associated with the Day of the Dead. While the Catrina is a zinc etching from 1913 by Jose Guadalupe Posada, the image of the feminine skull has become a touchstone for the seemly morbid celebrations.
This little girl appears to be very young; in some analysis of the painting, it is speculated in is a self-portrait of Kahlo as a child.  She is aware of life in that it leads to death and there is an element of resignation in her pose that says, “I know you’re coming, I accept you.”