20 month dry spell

Off to town today. John will work on strengthening his muscles at the gym while I pound the pavement in an attempt to stay"heart healthy".

I have tackled a new canvas which has resulted in awkward results... so the afternoon will be spent correcting or obliterating yesterday's colours and shapes. This is what happens when a person doesn't lift a paint brush for 20 months!!! OMG!!

I knew that it had been a long time but 20 months seems incredible. Then I started to think about everything that we have done in that 20 month period! Held a solo exhibition in June 2015, sold our home at the end of November 2015, transitioned to a gypsy life, made two trips to Greece(2 months each) and toured the Balkans, flew twice to Mexico for two month visits, in between we have inhabited our friends' apartment in Vancouver and my sister's extra bedroom in Cloverdale. There has not been a sustained calm period that has prompted me to ponder new creations or to lift a paint brush. It has been a "gypsy-life experience" with two suitcases and a car trunk load of miscellaneous stuff!

So...now I will experiment with a new style on elongated horizontal canvases. Magic might happen!

I love the bus!

I love riding the bus from Mismaloya into Puerto Vallarta. Early this morning we were the only gringos in a busload of Mexicans on their way to work. The driver of our ancient carriage was very skilled at navigating the 18 sets of "topes" (speed bumps) that line the route to discourage speeding.
The seats were slippery and we had to reposition ourselves with every bump along the way. After we disembarked, it took a short walk to adjust our bones back to where they felt comfortable again!

The driver has applied silver paint to his dashboard and cashbox.

He drives, shifts gears and makes change for the passengers.

Sitting outside at Dee's Cafe we savoured her handmade scones which are reminiscent of the way baked goods used to taste before they were mass produced and wrapped in cellophane...delicious!

A new bike rack on display across from Dee's.

On my morning walk I spotted a Magnificent Frigatebird 

with his red sac exposed to attract females that were perched nearby.

On the return trip to Mismaloya we had the same bus & driver with the added enjoyment of a young singer and guitarist onboard. He serenaded the passengers with one Spanish song and two songs in tortured English. I think that everyone was relieved when he left the bus.

Since we don't board the bus at a regular stop we have to wave wildly for the driver to stop and pick us up. On the return trip it is even trickier because if we don't stand up in time and ask him to stop we could end up half a mile past the house. The trip costs fifty cents each way and is always guaranteed to provide entertainment!

Saturday walkabout

Into town this morning for the gym and a walkabout.

Enjoyed coffee, muffins and hugs at Dee's Cafe.

Mismaloya sunset

A lazy Friday

Two more guests arrived yesterday so we have a full house for three nights before they head south to an Eco-Reserve site where they will be "roughing it" for one week in a palapa...no doors, windows or hot water! Should be a challenging experience for them.

We decided to have a laid back day today...no trip into PV...just whale watching, reading and writing. The other guests are in charge of dinner prep (I cooked last night) so we will just laze around the property in various locations until the cocktail hour.

Due to a snowfall in the Vancouver area I have had requests for sunny photos!! Not sure whether that makes you feel happier to know that we are here and you are not...but...!

This is where we love to sit in the mornings

and in the cocktail hour!

One of the "protected" trees on the property.

It is a resting spot for birds of every size and colour.

New Puerto Vallarta letters painted by children.

Shadows

Our home in Mismaloya

We are looking out at the sea this morning, listening to the waves and to the many varieties of birds that flit from tree to tree. Our home for the next two months is beyond amazing.

Kitchen

Kitchen

Dining Room

Living Room

Pool looking into living room

Pool looking from living room

Bedrooms (3) looking from rooftop over living room

Cantilevered living room

Liz Taylor's resting spot (from Night of the Iguana)has been remade