Sincerely, Your Neighbors.

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Today on my way back home I stopped at my neighbor's house, the one who provides me with bamboo for my permaculture endeavors. I had a loaf of bread for her and was happy to see her out and about... walking her cute little dog... enjoying her garden. What she shared with me today made me feel...

... arghhh.

She's always had a beautiful garden. When she moved into the neighborhood, her first garden project was a dragon topiary... I knew I had to meet her, even though I wasn't much into gardening back then, I appreciated her daughter's creativity. It was because of her pile of mulch on the driveway that we decided to stalk the tree service company to get our own mulch. And her house is an obligated stop during trick or treat night. Her son and daughter decorate and dress up to put up a good show for the kids. Their decorations are always nice: "Peace...", "Happy Holidays", and the like.

Well... she told me that they've recently received a letter signed by "the neighbors" demanding the "clean up" of their yard, and they (the neighbors) also took the time to leave a couple of pages of the classifieds section of the newspaper, along with a typed note "suggesting" the sale of the car that's always sitting on her driveway. The letter came from a post office in Orlando, but she's pretty sure she knows who did it, because this person came to her house and told her that "us, the neighbors" were going to get together to establish that "we" didn't want anyone to buy that property.

Really, people?
Don't you have anything better to do?
Why is harassing this lovely lady so important to you?
She has one of the most beautiful gardens in the neighborhood. Her son & daughter work hard every Sunday to keep it nice for their mother to enjoy.
These are GOOD people, nice neighbors, friendly and for what I've seen, a loving family on top of all.

I am NOT one of the so called "Your neighbors" and I wish for them to find a more productive way to spend their time. We chose this neighborhood to avoid HOAs and their non sense neighborhood rules and threats.

And she's not the only one. My friend J is being harassed by her HOA. All she does is advocate for conservation. Hers is a wildlife garden, but they've demanded the trimming of her trees, and the "weeding" of her yard.

Just when I'm still shaking my head over that woman in  Oak Park.

Give me a break!

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Only fairies of the good welcom.

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Husband and I took a hike today. We started late because I realized Daughter had used up all the memory in the camera and she had been so creative in the process, that I just couldn’t delete any of her “short films” to make room for photos. It took about half an hour to upload everything. I’d missed last week’s hike when they found an eagles’ nest and saw the owl that lives in those woods, so I was looking forward to that. I brought my canvas bag to collect “treasures”. I hadn’t been back there since the wild fire happened back in may. It sure has recovered since.

  

Two days after the 1st. wildfire I took this photo from the house. It had rekindled.



I don’t know if it was because this time we walked without Daughter but it seemed like a shorter hike… a lot shorter. Anyhow, when we were almost at the nest site the eagles were on their way out and flew right above us. The nest was empty when we got there and we waited and waited and finally headed back, hoping to find the owl. No luck either. So I took my “How tiny I am and how big is the world” shot and kept on walking. Husband helped me collect some more plants for our little backyard pond. I should say some more snacks for the Boys, who eat every single plant I try to get established around the pond.



No eagles.





No owl.





Collecting seeds.



My found treasures





His found treasures



Back at home, thirsty and all we headed straight back to the pond, put the plants in the ground and then I saw it… one little tomato ready to be enjoyed and celebrated, even though the plant looks so sad and dry. Little tomato even had a smile for me and I honored that smile and ate it… all of it… sweet delicious little multicolored tomato.



The Boys.



I noticed that the sugar cane has shoots coming out, can’t wait to harvest some of the older stalks and chew the sweetness out of it while sipping a delicious cup of Mexican Ponche de Frutas. I stared at the Boys for a while, very relaxing activity, to the point of deciding to just sit down on the grass and enjoy the blessing of having the time to take it all in. I took a few shots of the sky as a big cloud came rolling in, wrapped my camera in my bandana and stuffed it under my shirt, laid my little canvas bag under my head and just laid down.



It started to rain.



When the clouds open and so did my eyes I noticed that someone had stayed with me the whole time, and my mind went off with the same though I’ve had for the past three weeks every time I’ve looked at him: “You killed my Girls, my beautiful and beloved chickens”. He came closer , chewing on a piece of a broken rubber ball, sat down next to me and gave me this look, sort of: “What’s with you today? Now you’re just acting like a dog, laying there, staring at the tiny flowers, smelling the grass…”
And I looked at him, so happy, all rained on, chewing on that old leftover of a toy, wagging his little tail, smiling.



He was there the whole time.



Tiny flower.



 



“What’s with you today? Now you’re just acting like a dog, laying there, staring at the tiny flowers, smelling the grass…”



It’s been a little difficult for me to get over the death of my Girls, and after all, he is a dog, and dogs do that, they sometimes kill small animals, and I loved those chickens so much...
Anyway, if the trade off for healing my feelings about the dog are moments like the one we had today, so be it. I’m game.





I guess the fairies of the good have moved into our garden. And I'm not just saying that, we had a brief visit from a big time fairy of the good. 





Daughter made this sign yesterday, and built a bridge between the two piles of mulch, so the fairies of the good could get to their new home.
Simply Beautiful.







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To blog or not to blog

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Today as I was driving home from work I wondered wether I really wanted to keep blogging or not. It really made me focus on the issue, I turned the radio off and thought about it... a lot.

I figured that the way I had envisioned my blog and the way I was trying to accomplish that vision had been a bit complicated, so I downsized.

A few months ago we brainstormed about a name for a page that could eventually evolve with us, even in the case of us moving to another town and such. We all agreed on Simply Aldea.

We are not moving, but I am transitioning for sure. I needed a clean start, with a simple process.

So much has happened and changed in the last year, I've collected files and files of photos I want to share. And I will. I decided that even if it takes me a month to come back to the keyboard, so be it... I will still share those little moments of joy, peace and love.

I've met very interesting people along the way and I will be sharing their moments as well, for they also give me joy, peace and happiness.

Son and Daughter have grown so much I find it very difficult to look away from them. I don't want to miss a moment of their lives.

I'm having a great time, no matter how tumultuous things are out there with occupations and long drives between me and my friends.

I got a job. Most of the time I get to do what makes me smile and what feeds my brain. Two days a week I get to have lunch with a few of my favorite people. I can't pull a 3-festivals-in-a-day stunt anymore, but now I can afford to take Son and Daughter to the movies.

I'm looking forward to Miyasaki's next.

Life is good.

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New Beginnings School Garden I

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We first walked through the school grounds in the spring, when I was fresh out of my permaculture design certification course. The school used to be a department store, so the layout is a little unusual. Instead of a courtyard there is a parking lot in the back and one side of the building where the students exercise and play. The basketball court is in front of the school, in the middle of the parking lot. The other play area is a shady narrow strip of lawn to the side of the building, populated by pines and oaks, and a drainage swale that runs along the strip. Because of the nature of the school we've been asked not to use certain tools or materials, so it's been a challenge. Thinking this through occupied my mind a lot during the summer and we figured we could use tires for the reading garden and we'd worry about the food gardens later.

So a couple of weeks ago a friend of mine whose family owns a tire shop in town mentioned something about having to haul the tires away and I knew that was our chance. What a way for things to come together at the right time.

Our first work day was very inspiring and energizing. We were there early to receive the tires and place them. One of the stores next door donated the planters for the front door of the school and offered to send their volunteer team to help out. So next Wednesday we'll be adding soil and plants to the tires and hopefuly we'll also be planting a reading tree.

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Rainbow Bridge

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Dear Rosario,

Although we never met, I want you to know that you've been on my mind. Ever since I heard about your passing, I'm feeling a little ashamed because I don't know how to express my sorrow to people who've lost a loved one. My view of death is a little different, I guess. And you were loved, I can tell, like very few times I've seen a beautiful creature like you being loved, and talked about, and remembered. I can still see your photograph coming out of the wallet for everyone to admire your beauty. 

Today I got to read a tribute to you, it had your picture above it, almost seems like you were smiling. My heart kept sinking as I was reading and a few tears came out in honor of souls like you, who find a way to cross paths with beautiful people like Loret, Joanna, Mine, Lalo... who love creatures of your kind in a way I can't understand sometimes.

You made a mighty good Blizzard, I understand, and just like Bique, Maiko, and my own Piti, you gave love and happiness to my friend the way only creatures like you could.

So long.

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Wildflowers and Pollinators

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Florida wildflowers and native plants and
their relationship/importance to native insect pollinators

at their meeting on Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall
101 W. Dakin Av,
Kissimmee FL 34741

THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO THIS FREE EVENT

Read more...

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Happy Birthday Beautiful Son.

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May 10th is Dia de las Madres in Mexico, but 16 years ago I also became "Mamina" for the first time.

Te amo Cachito de mi Corazon.

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A very long birthday weekend. (Friday)

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After a lovely time at Bok Tower and a two hour drive to Grandma's we were ready to call it the day. When we arrived she had a cake ready, but we were stuffed and exhausted. Mornings at Grandma's are delicious. At home we stick with oatmeal or toast, but she likes to serve "a good breakfast". Actually she loves serving a good meal anytime. As soon as breakfast was over she was back in the kitchen to make her famous homemade noodles, which are one of Husband's favorite foods. I had to clock a few hours of mandolin practice but decided to go to the park instead. The Great Backyard Bird Count was scheduled for that weekend and we wanted to test our newly acquired bird knowledge...

...all right bird watchers, you can stop laughing now, at least we try. We headed for the park and started counting: two black birds, four anhinga... no... cormorants... no... anhinga... one eagle... no wait... it's a vulture... a turkey vulture or a black vulture?... I don't know, what's the difference?... how about that one? what kind of duck is it?... duck?... that's not a duck, it's a plastic bag... and so on. Like I said, at least we try. 

Earlier that week, Daughter got a toy fishing pole and was determined to use it. I wonder what kind of imaginary fish she caught. Back at Grandma's dinner was almost ready and what a dinner it was. I love how Grandma sneaks into the kitchen with the kids right after dinner to get the candles on the cake ready and leads the birthday song. We always talk about how we should try to eat less at Grandma's, at least to have room for dessert, but it's useless... it's Grandma's food for crying out loud. Somehow we managed to stuff our faces with noodles, cauliflower casserole, shrimp, salad... and cake again.   

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A very long birthday weekend. (Thursday)

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I've been trying to organize the picture folders in the computer. I realized I had not edited pictures since February, except for the ones from Daughter's birthday. The morning went by while I was going through pictures of Husband's birthday weekend. I had a big smile on my face the whole time. This year we decided to celebrate his birthday a little differently. We've been wanting to go to the moonlight carillon concerts at Bok Tower for the longest time and with perfect timing he was able to take a few days off work, the kids had student holiday on Friday and the concert was on Thursday night. So while he was still at work, the kids and I prepared chocolate cake and packed it up for a nice moonlit picnic. 

As soon as we arrived to the gardens the concert began and we had to rush through the cafe to buy ice cream and drinks. The kids and I also agreed that to make this one different we were going to wear party hats, so we made up a story about a special hat event or contest to get Husband to bring his fedora. We brought our own. Son wanted to wear the fedora so once we announced the real purpose of the hats, Husband decided to wear Blue Horse. We managed to sing a quick birthday song between carillon songs. I forgot to bring a candle and neither the cafe or the gift shop had them for sale, except for scented pillar ones. So Husband cranked up the flashlight and pretended to blow the light. I was looking forward to listening to "Red River Valley" but husband wanted to make it to Grandma's house early, so we packed everything away and headed for the car. I got to hear the song from the parking lot after all. It was a beautiful concert and Bok Tower is one of my favorite places. It already seemed like we had a great weekend ahead of us.     

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