December 16 2013

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Los Barriles.  Roger has put up a lot of lights all around the perimeter of our roof line, our Mexican Christmas tree is lit and is wearing a quilted tree skirt, and a double wedding ring Christmas hanging is decorating our tv set.  I confess the western Washington Christmas color of the quilts look a little out of place, but they are reminders of other places and spaces!  After a good 6 weeks of work, I think we are pretty well settled in here.  During the first week or so of December I painted our first wall mural.  I've included photos of the process.  What a surprise when I realized my tree branch went off into "no where"... which had to be fixed of course.  The days have cooled off some though the afternoons usually warm up.  The winds are brisk for the most part now and the kiters are loving it.  We've had lunch out on the beach a few times, hunkered down side of the wind just to watch the sail boards and kiters out there having a ball.  We had Thanksgiving dinner here in the park, quite a delicious affair. AND of course the big news that evening for us, TelCel finally hooked up our home phone and internet!  Last Sunday we participated in the park cookie exchange, my very first.  I am still 'learning' how to use the gas oven on our fine stove; friends gave us two large tiles to put in the bottom of the stove, which helps even out the heat and hold a more steady temperature.  Christmas eve day there is a fun gift exchange here and then Christmas day is a big potluck with park folks bringing side dishes etc.  We have really been blessed this year and we know it.  Roger and I hope wherever you are, you are experiencing the joys of Christmas, the friendship and good health we all give thanks for.  Happy trails...

Saturday 11/23/13

We crossed the border at Tecate about 3 weeks ago!  We have been working hard getting our little home put together.  After selling the motorhome this summer , we had to move a lot of those belongings down here to Los Barriles.  During the summer in AZ I made cupboard curtains,  covers for tv and coffee machine, placemats etc.  We bought a refrigerator for our outdoor kitchen as well as an outdoor cupboard and other small items.  Roger got the outdoor fans up and the light covers.  We had a Mexican worker come in and remove a small wall - the purpose for which we could never determine!  The new space will be home to my "arbor de Luz" (lighted tree from last year and piece of art now).  We are still fussing over internet and phone connections, but something's are on Mexican time. Our 5th wheel has a small kitchen which is what I have been using.  We made the decision to really move to outdoor living and use our outdoor kitchen full time for the most part.  Our kitchen bar works great and now that we have a full size refrigerator, it just makes sense.  The weather still gets pretty warm (usually in 80's w/ humidity) but the fans make a huge difference.  I'm including some photos of our progress.  You may notice a lot of references to "outdoor" and that,s because the charm of Baja is outdoor living!  The photos of our dining table are included.  I knew exactly what I wanted and managed to pretty much pull it off.  Then I noticed a couple of 'flakes'... decided to check out the manufacturer website so see their recommendations for painting tables.  Hmmmm. maybe should have done this BEFORE I painted....  Seems they say the tables cannot!! be painted due to materials they are made from.  So I 'repaired' the couple of flaked spots... and we will see how long the whole things holds together.  It does look great now and the painted chairs make the ensemble.   We bought a Mexican cell phone and expect to get it hooked up today.  A trench is being dug across our road here in the park to accommodate the cables for internet and home phone lines.  THEN we can hope the Mex phone company will hook us up.  We've had the modem and phone for awhile now..... Roger went on his first park guided quad ride into the hills here Thursday.  I have taken a couple of art classes and have signed up for 3 more after Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving will be here in the park and so will Christmas I think.  I will even join in on the cookie exchange in December as my new outdoor stove works great! 
Well, that's about it from here in Los Barriles for now.  We continue to 'refine' our little home here, looking forward to the holidays.  We hope you and yours are having a fine fall into winter.  Happy trails....

Arizona Summer

We have had a very busy summer, 2013.  After returning from Baja California in early May to Casa Grande, we headed to Washington state in late May to attend our grandson Kevin's graduation from high school.  It was a great time to check in with our family.  Our grandkids are growing so fast.  We had picnics, small get-togethers whenever anyone was available.  Jason and Candi moved into their new house in Buckely before we left.  We also camped with my sister Nancy and her husband, Lon Buck,  at nearby Thousand Trails parks on two occasions.  We returned to Casa Grande in July.  We made a quick trip back to Los Barriles  in August to take a load of 'stuff' down to our new 'home' at East Cape RV Resort.

Now it is mid September and we've just sold our Safari RV.  It didn't make sense to have it sit in storage for a major part of each year.  With the new place in Baja, we are pretty well  committed to 6 months there.  We are not sure what we will do/go/be come next spring, but we will return to Casa Grande and the process of figuring it out. We will be leaving Casa Grande the end of October.  Still a lot of sorting, storing, dumping, packing to be done before then.  My photos are of Kevin and his folks, Ryan and Jenny at graduation, the Koehn men, 3 generations of them, grandson Ollie contemplating his granddad's bald head, and one more shot of our 'new' home, (woman is owner of the East Cape RV).

April 7, 2013 News!

Well, here it is April in Baja.  We are surprised to report that we've bought an RV site in the East Cape RV park in Los Barriles!  We also bought a 2010 34 ft. 5th Wheel to park there.  In the photos here the furniture and motorhome belong to the current renter.  Our 5th wheel will be moved onto the site on Wed., 4/10.  The frame you see is called palo de arco. which is a type of wood and type of building that is used a lot here.  The whole structure was pressure washed, cleaned, sprayed and stained in just the last couple of days.  It looks great!!  Beside the parking spot, there is a small building called a bodega which includes a cement building which houses a toilet, shower and plumbing for washer and dryer and well as room for storage shelves or whatever.  I am thinking washing machine!  The outdoor kitchen attached to the bodega has a new gas 6 burner stove, double sink, a bar extention and lots of counter space.  We've bought 6 typical patio chairs and a coffee table and side table.  We will also buy a 6 ft. table for eating/etc.  When we return in the fall we will bring our 'extras' from AZ etc to round out our furnishings.  Then we can decide what else we need to feel at home.  This park has a pool and spa, has lots of activities and is only about 300 yds from the beach.  It is literally right down town in Los Barriles and we can walk everywhere -well, we'll take the quad to buy groceries and maybe carry our lunch to the beach!  This moves surprises us - we'd said "never buy again", and yet the urge was too great!  Now we don't have to worry about a different place to rent each winter; we can leave our 'stuff' here and find it when we return.  It is possible that sometime in the future we will just fly down and not even make the drive as we do now.  The biggest selling point though, was the location and amenities in the park.  I had to include the photo of my latest tee shirt... pretty well says it all!  So remember to live your dreams... and happy trails...

2013 Winter Paintings

I have been painting this winter, as well as doing the mural.  These aren't the best photos, unfortunately.  The line on the right side on some is the crease in the archival bag used to protect the work.  The first and second photos are collage watercolors.  They are two of my favorite pieces so far this winter.  Collage is so much fun and gives a new dimension to the work.  I love color and here in Baja, color is everywhere!  In February Mike Koehn, my brother-in-law, and I participated in the Artists Studio Tour here in Los Barriles.  Mike is a great photographer and had a fine selection of his work to display.  I had paintings and photos of the murals I have done here.  We had lots of visitors and felt it was quite a success.  I am sure we will do it again next year, even if we were nervous wrecks before hand!  I hope you are doing what you love - it makes like so worthwhile... Happy Trails....

Catching Up

 I received a commission to do a 24ft mural for a friend in Los Barriles in December, 2012.  These first 2 photos show each side of the wall with the post  in between.  The moon sculpture is on the left side; the lounge chair wall is to the right.  The fringe hanging down under each  arch is from the palapa roof above.  The wall to be  painted is about 2 1/2 ft. behind the arches.  It is probably about 9 ft tall.  What a challenge!  I did a couple of drawing from the ideas we came up with and Jon selected the one he liked best.  Then I made up paper patterns for placement and visual effect.  The photo below shows this process.  The kites in the air are paper patterns.  The windsurfer board in the water is outline of a pattern.  The rocks and pelicans have been started with the paint process.

The following photo is the finished results of work on the left hand side of the wall.  The painting continues behind the post to the right side, so it is one continuous work.  The next two photos show the same process on the right hand side.  Jon wanted his beach cabana and his quad included on the wall.  You can see the work is done in layers, adding definition and detail.  Jon added the finishing touch by adding coral and sand to the ground below the painting, so it blends right into the whole view.  This project was done over several weeks.  It truly represents the view he sees when he goes down to the beach.  Kiterboarders and windsurfers love this area for the sea and wind.  The Sea of Cortez and Los Barriles combine to make a wonderful place to be.  I am very grateful for the opportunity to do the mural and had a  wonderful time doing it.  Jon's a great friend and boss!!  I finished it middle of January, 2013.     Happy trails.....

December 11/2012

We've been here in Los Barriles about 6-1/2 weeks now.  We are well settled into our casa with lights on the deck and our very own Mexican Christmas tree.  We've found a dental hygentist and I've visited my favorite 'beauty shop'.  Weather was very warm and often kind of humid when we first arrived but now it is generally very pleasant.  The kite boarders and sail boarders are often on the water and make for our entertainment.  Last Sunday we went to the Arts Fair and did a little shopping and had lunch. l Saturday market has also started.  Both of these events combine 'gringo' and local artistans who bring everything from jewelery, paintings, textiles, food, wood furniture and more.  I've also been painting with varying results.  Our deck is a fine place to paint, with a great view of the water, town, and mountains.  The other big event in the last couple of weeks is that we bought a quad and are really enjoying the ride!  Roger has ordered a 'back seat' for it so we wont feel so 'tippy' when riding in second position!  His brother Mike will be bringing it down when they come in January (we hope).  I'm sure all of you are getting ready for the holidays.  We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and safe and prosperous New Year!  Feliz Navidad... happy trails .....