another day in paradise

Six new pieces are finished for the exhibition in June. A decision has to be made about whether or not to create a "signature" piece. I think that a Christmas break from paint and brushes will help to clear my mind and inspiration will flow in the New Year! Maybe!!

This local music store caught my eye this morning...

...and lilies continue to light the pond!

Christmas trees

We discover Christmas trees everywhere!

La Cruz Sunday market

This morning we travelled out to the Sunday market at La Cruz.

The flower vendor's display was gorgeous.

A young artisan had created these unusual beaded necklaces.

A close-up of two necklaces...Salvador Dali and Frida Khallo.

Each one takes about 30 hours to create.

I didn't ask the price because I felt that they were priceless!!

A busy day

Yesterday was a busy day. 

After shopping at two markets we returned to chores.

The guys were applying gesso to six large painting surfaces.

John decided to trim the ixora plants around the perimeter of the patio.

Between dips in the pool, preparing meals and adding a few brush strokes 

to a new painting, I was kept busy for the day.

Processions for Our Lady of Guadaloupe

Good news...John thinks that he is feeling better. It has been a long week for him...started with a fever and lingered with a feeling of weakness and lack of appetite. This morning he enjoyed a real meal of pancakes and sausages for brunch. ..a sure sign of recovery!

Doug and I walked down to the Cathedral to capture some of the festival spirit. On the last day of this twelve day festival there were endless processions to the Cathedral including one led by the PV Filarmonic Orchestra. It was wonderful music leading a parade of hundreds...some in traditional costumes, others carrying babies, all bringing flowers to lay at the feet of "Our Lady of Guadaloupe".
The processions will continue until midnight on December 12th (tonight).

The Virgin of Guadaloupe is considered to be the patroness of Mexico and Central America. Her shrine in Mexico City was visited by over six million pilgrims on Dec. 11 & 12, 2009.

For a small fee you can have your photo taken with one of these images.

Filarmonicos ready to lead the procession.

Orchestra members

Mini caballeros!

An unwilling participant!

Las senoritas

Love the moustache!

That's quite the bull whip!!

Everyone gets a sprinkle of Holy water when entering (or passing) the Cathedral!

This procession passed below the house last night,

a navigational nightmare for the traffic controllers!

Painting class

Yesterday our host and I spent the day at a painting workshop at Kathleen Carrillo's studio/gallery in downtown PV. Seven students attempted to emulate her style with a whimsical painting of food and wine. We had signed up for the class in order to share her exuberance with colour and her unwillingness to use "two-hair" brushes!

Kathleen has a similar style of painting to Tracey...bold, colourful scenes on large canvases. It was an exhausting day...hours of standing on a cement floor in the heat.

Below are three images. Which is mine?

Which is Kathleen's...

and which is John A-P's???

Sickness!

Illness has struck the Quinta. Doug has a cold and John is running a fever. Two of us have our fingers crossed that they haven't shared their germs with us!