Happy Earth Day

I feel a personal connection to Earth Day, because:
My former state senator, Gaylord Nelson, introduced & succeeded in passing the legislation for it;
My state is home to 2 famous, outstanding pioneers in conservation: Aldo Leopold & John Muir;
I was coming of age, 18, when Earth Day was first observed in 1970 & it is still memorable to me.

Plus...I love everything earthy! I live on a farm (when not in Mexico); I garden and have lots of trees; I live by a river & a marsh (or, a sea, in Mexico);  I conserve & recycle; I love nature & participate in CRP (Conservation Reserve Program).  I believe in cultivating lots of green space.
 So...there's the global connection, & the local connection. On the farm, & on the island.
With animals, the land,  sea turtles, and the sea.
 Still, this is a yearly reminder for me to do more for the Earth. 
I need to learn to leave a smaller footprint, conserve more, & waste less. Share resources more...

Here is history of Earth Day for anyone interested.  I think my state's pioneers-- Aldo Leopold (Sand County Almanac) & John Muir--the 1st conservationists & naturalists... should get more credit.

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Where Did Earth Day Come From?

Apr 20, 2012; 8:09 AM ET

This week marks the 42nd celebration of Earth Day, but what exactly is Earth Day, and how did it get started? This global recognition of the importance of environmental consciousness is typically credited to the efforts of three men- Senator Gaylord Nelson, activist Denis Hayes and activist John McConnell.
Photo courtesy of Tomasz Domagala
At a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization conference in San Fransisco in 1969, environmental activist John McConnell introduced the concept of Earth Day. He proposed a day in which people would celebrate the beauty of the planet, as well as raise awareness for ways to preserve its natural resources and protect its species. His idea gained immediate support, and the first Earth Day took place in a few cities on March 21, 1970.
Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, senator Gaylord Nelson was working on a separate plan for raising environmental awareness. According to the Nelson Earth Day website, he got his idea after observing college students protesting against the Vietnam War. It was watching these students come together to bring attention to their cause that lead Senator Nelson to the idea of creating a massive, cross country awareness demonstration for the benefit of the environment. His event had millions of participants and was first held on April 22, 1970. It has been observed on April 22 ever since. Not only did Nelson want to focus on protecting the environment, but he included ideas about world hunger and poverty as well.
In a first Earth Day address he gave in Denver, he said, "Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all living creatures."
Senator Nelson addresses the Denver rally. Photo courtesy of NelsonEarthDay.com
The national coordinator of Nelson's Earth Day was an environmental activist named Denis Hayes. Since he had such great success organizing the event across the country, he, along with others who helped him coordinate the day, founded the Earth Day Network. This group works year round to create and increase programs for environmental education on local, state, national and global levels. It also helps to coordinate and maintain specific Earth Day events, among other efforts.
Today, Earth Day is observed in 192 countries. Whether it's a massive public rally, a private event, or an individual contribution, there are many ways to participate. Efforts can range from organizing environmental fundraisers, to planting a tree, to taking care to use less water and paying extra attention to how many lights are left on. For ideas on what you can do to help, visit our Earth Week collection of stories and news reports, or visit the Earth Day Network website.

The Geography of Bliss...

 The Geography of Bliss,

  .....One Grump's search for the Happiest places in the World...

a book by Eric Weiner,

NPR correspondent... who usually reports from the gloomiest places on Earth, took a year to travel & research, journeying to 10 countries to examine definitions of what happiness is, and concludes that
'where we are is vital to who we are. '
I won't say which countries he found the happiest, but having lowered expectations...creativity...culture...relationships, connections...helped in the ratings.  By the way, beaches were optional!   ha,ha


 I just finished reading this book, and myself  having traveled a lot already this year (Spain, Morocco, Mexico), have been thinking a lot about this subject and was delighted to read this travel memoir (part foreign affairs discourse, part humor, part self-help in a way).
It just hit me at the right time, in my own search...

And, it just also happens that my older son, his wife & kids, just left for Shanghai last Friday.  He's lived in China twice before, once as a kid years ago, with us.  And now, with his own family as his wife takes a medical position there, and he does his writing from there (and luckily, for a journalist, that should be doable).

So, naturally, I'm thinking a lot about geography, happiness, culture, etc...a lot lately.
Here is a photo my son just put on facebook, with his kids opening their minds to a new culture.
Although it was 29 hours, door to door, as he said... it is seeming a world apart already.
Like our recent visit to Morocco, years removed from our first time there...this visit to China for them will have some culture shock components as they navigate the territory with children in tow.
I am eager to see how it goes, and can't help but think it's a great opportunity for all of them. 



SO...I continue to think about culture, travel, ideas and happiness and how that all correlates.
Just heard on NPR that we (in the US) are the most mobile people on Earth.
Does that mean we're still seeking...or just adventurous, or have more connections...or just can afford it?


Whatever, in the end, Weiner comes full circle to the famous words of Henry Miller, with which the book, The Geography of Bliss, opens: 'One's destiny is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.'    (from,  'Brain Pickings'  online review)

The Wall....and the Dress

Well, I've been waiting for a time to sneak this in, and the time seems right.
Especially since I just posted pics from Casa Colibri.   And now, the outside -- esp, the wall.

But, not only the wall...(which my son painted a year ago, in a  fanciful fun design...)
           a dress which seems made to match the wall!    How incredible is that!

I found this dress at one of my favorite shops, St. Vincent de Paul...(I'm a regular...will confess...)
   ...and vintage things--c'mon!         This dress...I knew it would look  great next to the wall--they share the almost exact floral pattern-- so last fall when I was here I made it a point to pose, in my Vinnie's dress, out by the wall...and did the 'self timer' foto....

Voila!

So,
that was a fun
experiment.

What came first?
The wall...
....or the dress?
(ha, ha ...the wall) 

And shall I search for another, and have my son do a recreation next year?    Such silly fun.

What's really great is that the orange flowers are (were) blooming, and came up to the height of the flowers painted on the wall.   Such artful timing...
I'll give Manuel credit for that; he did the planting, but maybe not even he knew--the magic of the match.

And an article I just read makes it all the more artful: San Diego art museum is doing an installation called 'Art Alive' as is my more 'local' museum in Milwaukee.
So, the point is that floral designers create floral  arrangements to interpret art works there, and they are displayed under the art work, and have elements of style and color which enhance the art.

Hey...are we on the cutting edge or what?  My son is an artist (& a wedding photographer, if anyone needs that--
    (...more advertising, why not?  :)    http://nat.davauer.com )
     
  but, whatever... art, fun, whimsy---it's all good.

Casa Colibri' fotos

Should really be out painting the name of the house, ON the house...  well, maybe tomorrow...
Meanwhile, here are some fotos...

The kitchen:
cupboards with dishes
gas stove & oven
microwave, coffeemaker, toaster, etc.

Center Island with stools
water jug by kitchen sink with drinking water

folding chair under window---can go on patio

dish drainer for drying dishes
shelf & counter of Tikul stone

fridge

door, locks, to stairway
(one flight of stairs to upper unit)

lower unit rented long term to a
wonderful, friendly, local boat capitan.







It's not a huge space, but very convenient use of space.
What there is  is a huge yard, lots of grass, and plenty of outdoor space --- wall & shrubs make privacy.
Hope to continue working on a large garden with lots of trees, flowers, and plantings...

A nice walk down to the sea, right outside.
Many people walk their dogs there, but it's a gorgeous walk along the seafront to the south end of the island.  Not much beach--mostly cliffs.

Many walkers/joggers pass by in the morning.







Still in the kitchen.  Door to right of fridge, leads into large bedroom;  Sliding door, out to patio.
Long cot (or, may replace with a futon) allows for extra sleeping space in the kitchen/dining area.
Bookshelf stocked with variety of books, many maps of the area  (and wine!)  
Clear view to sea, even from kitchen, looking east.

King sized bed in bedroom.
Cable tv in cabinet  (in front of loveseat)

also, WI FI

and AC  in the bedroom/bathroom area



There is a small balcony off the bedroom also.
Sliding glass door--great view of sea.

Really nice large bathroom;  Tikul stone vanity

and pretty nice large shower, as well.

 Best part --the patio.   I could sit in the hanging hammock chair all day.
also--a futon on the patio, just in case you never make it back into the bedroom. 
Lots of seating....tons of breezes...          Friendly people walking or driving by love to wave!

   (I'll post this to the Casa Colibri'  web page also)  www.facebook.com/RentIsla

Golf cart

the trials of owning  golf cart...
would swear we had the slowest one on the island....got used to that;  even Denito commented on it in his guest post.  It was so embarrassing...
and multiple times into the mechanic for this and that... maybe even 5 times in my few weeks here.

My son struggled with it his whole time here...we just learned to go in the 'slow lane'...
it's an island...learn patience....learn to slow down...              those are good lessons to learn & practice. 

But dying just once too often, at night,  & requiring a taxi home, last minute. .. that's no fun either....
so, finally, happy to say...our mechanic (maybe because he had to drive it home in its latest slow state) has supplied us with a fix that is a joy.  We are flying down the road.... It is a thrill.   Gracias Lenin!!!

I actually passed another golf cart today.
Unluckily, my guests have gone and were not able to take part in this marvelous & unbelievable transformation.  But, their daughter, here just one day longer, is able to testify that it is true...
The golf cart starts consistently, runs very reliably and even with some pep, and stops when turned off.
Small but significant changes like this makes one so grateful...makes life so enjoyable....

Driving around in a golf cart, especially on a semi-tropical island--peculiar perhaps, but such a treat--
especially when everything is working.  Maybe this won't last.  But I will enjoy while it does. 

 And, little kids remember rides in golf carts.
Golf carts, views &  sea air....it's kind of  magical... especially, for little kids, but for big kids too!
definitely memorable.