Orchids I keep - Oeceoclades maculata

I keep orchids. I wish I could say I grow orchids, but in reality I acquire them, try to do what I read or hear works, and they usually manage to make it. Sometimes they even bloom.

In January of 2007, on a trip to Chichen Itza with friends I acquired this orchid. (don't ask)It was in loose rubble of stones and woody debris. I decided since I found it in ground I'd plant it in ground, this is called terrestrial.

Orchids are quite difficult to name until they bloom. For whatever reason I have not been able to find a source to identify orchids by leaf, only by bloom.

Therefore until it bloomed this was just simply my Chichen Orchid.

So, I have had this orchid since January 2007 and it is blooming. This is a small plant and the blooms are no bigger than a dime. The flowers are not flashy or showy, and in all honesty kind of a boring little flower, but hey, it's mine, and it's blooming. I'm thrilled.

the pencil is for scale, just a standard #2 type pencil

According to my Orchid book this particular orchid is NOT native to the Yucatan, but is considered a noxious weed. This plant made it's way to the N.American continent from Asia in grass seed.

I don't have the ability to take a good close-up so have pulled this photo from the internet just so you can see a good representation.

Oeceoclades maculata - Photo © Peter M.C. Werner

Puppies, and Garden - and puppies in garden

The puppies went on a road trip on Friday. They went to the hacienda which is how we found them, on the way to the hacienda. They gave no indication of recognizing the route at all.

Here they are travelling

and at the hacienda. (Note to self, not a good look)later in the day they went back to the vet for a follow up. Vet says Tech looks really good, but Corre has an infection under the skin on the top of her head. She probably got a puncture from a plant or cactus, and because her body is full of bacteria it is a sudermal infection. She got an antibiotic injection, and 2 prescriptio antibiotics. The swelling is going down so she'll be fine

Today was their big day to socialize. I decided to take them to the Dog Park near our house. I left the house about 7:20 with them both; Corre on leash, and Tech in her own personal Tech Transport device.

I must really want you to see this to take, well to show this picture of my armpit. This is my French Market basket, so you know I must think this is one 'special' puppy.

We got to the puppy park, and the gates were locked so we waited,

and waited, and waited just a bit more. then came home.

and enjoyed some time in the garden

this is Tatie, not exactly on best buddy terms with the puppies yet, but tolerating them much better now!

Tropical Fruit - Sapote

These are a pair of Sapote.

The outer skin has a feel similar to a Kiwi, but without the fuzz. These fruit are best eaten when they are quite soft to the touch.

Open them up and inside is a single shiny black seed about the size of an almond or just a tad bigger.

I think this is one of the sweeter fruits so prefer just 1/2 a larger, or a small size fruit as a snack.

I serve them just cut, and with a spoon; the flavor is like a cooked spiced pear; you know, poach a pear with simple sugar, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and voila, Zapote.

I'm not an ice cream eater, but I can see how they'd be a great addition to a bowl of plain vanilla ice cream. Or so I've been told.

Go, Enjoy!

Updates to Previous Posts

After I posted Front Wall Project - Se Acaba, there were several requests to see what the inside looked like. Well - hereit is. It still needs to be painted, The new wall is painted, but not the rest of the house. I've planted a few things in the garden, but there is still more needed.

These shots are from the side where we park the car looking to the other side. You can see the porton (Garage door), and the garden.

This shot shows a bit of the front of the house, like I said, it needs paint.

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In the post about Pitaya, I mentioned the vine growing on the wall. Well it has produced one bud now turned to blossom, and should also end up producing a fruit. It is an amazing flower so I'm posting a few too many photos of it.

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From the Apagon Mundial post - we weren't actually at home that evening, but we did prep the house for our absence, with the exception of the fridges, yes two, and a night lite for the birds. We were at a little soire hosted by friends Ricardo and Spike. So at the appointed hour we switched out all the lights, and the radio, and sat in the moonlight and continued with our visiting. After 20 minutes or so someone started turning on lights and we all bemoaned the brightness and used way less lights the rest of the evening.

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OK and a few gratuitous puppy pics

Introducing 'Corre' and 'Tech'

BACKGROUND: A friend, who has a hacienda currently undergoing renovation, is on vacation. During this time we, Tom and I, are going to the hacienda to check and review the progress, and to make the payments to the workers.

Friday, on the carretera (highway, ha - it's a road wide enough for 1 1/2 vehicles) between Acanceh and Cuzuma we are going along and up ahead we see this puppy just running up and down the highway, as we pass it turns and runs after us. A truck passed us and the puppy turns and runs after that one. I look at Tom, tearing up and say 'We have to get her off the highway', Tom being all knowing and wise pulls over, turns and we go get her, which was not easy. Luckily she had fairly well exhausted herself or I may never have got hold of her.

Introducing 'Corre', which in Español means. he, she, you, or it RUNS.

We hadn't gone more than 1/4 mile with Corre when I saw this sitting in the high weeds by the side of the road.

Again, Tom, being all wise and wonderful, looks at me rolls his eyes, and again pulls over. Smart Man!
The area where 'Tech' was had the smell of putrification, which we later found out was probably where people were dumping feathers and viscera from cleaning poultry. It took a bit of coercing and a submissive act on my part but she came to me. Covered in ticks, and fleas.

So this is 'Tech', which in Maya means flat nose, after her first bath

So anyway. They have been with us now for 2 days. They've been to the vet; they are anemic, have parasites, need nutrition, and Corre has a bacterial infection from scratching fleas.

They've each been bathed twice. Most of the fleas are gone, the ticks are ALL gone. They are insane when food is put in front of them, I'm sure this will change with time, they are getting B complex vitamins for the anemia, they've been treated for parasites. And if they make it OK for the next week or so, they'll start getting their necessary immunization injections.

You can rest assured they will be featured prominantly in future posts.

Izamal Artist - Esteban Abán Montejo

We recently went to Izamal, it was our first time.

What a fascinating area. There are so many things to see and do; There are quite a few arqueological ruins, the incredible Convent of San Antonio de Padua, the beautiful all yellow historic center, The Arts and Cultural center, the incredible people, and the artists and craftsmen.

Rather than try to cover the entire day I want in this blog to introduce jeweler Esteban Abán Montejo. He is a proud Maya artist of jewelry made from cocoyol, and henequin.

His workshop and storefront are called “La flor del cocoyol, Lol-Tuk”.

The jewelry workshop was particularly interesting but be prepared - don Esteban will regale you with demonstrations of how the materials are prepared for jewelry production, he will entertain you with songs in Maya, and spend quite a while talking about Mayan language, Mayan culture, and Mayan people. He is an effervescent man with boundless energy, enthusiasm, and a great pride in his culture and heritage, AND he and his apprentices make some beautiful jewelry.

The cocoyol seeds are buried or piled in a mound for 14 years while they breakdown from their protective covering They are then harvested, polished, drilled, and graded for various pieces of jewelry.

The part of the henequin used are the spines; which are harvested one by one, drilled, cut, shaped, and polished.

This link goes to a story about don Esteban in the Diario from August 2008 http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticia.asp?cx=51$1401011700$3889608&f=20080817

in spanish of course.

It was a great day. But a long day, and we still didn't see everything we had planned for the day. Even though the trip is only about an hour outside Merida, I'd like to go back and spend the night. It would be really great to visit ruins in the morning, along with the Convent, have a leasurely lunch and siesta, visit a few artists, and then enjoy the center in the evening and visit with the people of Izamal, then visit Chapels, and more artists and craftspeople the next day. We were plum tuckered out by the time we got back.

Front Wall Project - Se Acaba!

It is Finished (Se Acaba)

From This -

To This - in just 9 weeks.

Now I just have to paint the numbers on, get the light installed above the door, and put in a doorbell - and I actually thought I was done there for a minute!

Apagon Mundial, WorldWide Blackout

A friend sent me an email with the following World Challenge. I checked my calendar, I'm available, and have penned this event in.

Can't hurt - right? and it's only 10 minutes - so what the heck, let's give it a try!

(I've altered the English translation just a bit for clarity)

APAGÓN MUNDIAL EL 17 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2008 ESTE APAGÓN SERÁ DE 21:50 A 22:00, A LA MISMA HORA LOCAL DE CADA PAÍS EN TODO EL MUNDO.

On Wendesday, September 17, 2008, I invite people around the world to turn off their lights for ten minutes – from 9:50pm to 10:00pm in their local time zone.

Oscuridad Mundial: En Septiembre 17, 2008 desde las 21:50 a las 22:00 horas. Se propone apagar todas las luces y si es posible todos los aparatos eléctricos, para que nuestro planeta pueda “respirar”. Si la respuesta es masiva, la energía que se ahorra puede ser brutal. Solo 10 minutos y vea que pasa. Si estamos 10 minutos en la oscuridad, prendamos una vela y simplemente la miramos y nosotros estaremos respirando y nuestro planeta. Recuerde que la unión hace la fuerza y el Internet puede tener mucho poder y puede ser aun algo más grande.

World Darkness: On September 17, 2008 from 21:50 to 22:00 hours. Proposal is to delete all lights and if possible all electrical appliances, so our planet can 'breathe'. If the response is massive, energy saving can be incredible. Only 10 minutes, and see what happens. Yes, we are 10 minutes in the dark, we light a candle and simply be looking at it, we breathe and so does our planet. Remember that in union is strength and the Internet can be very powerful tool.

XX's and OO's mean Hugs and Kisses

XX's and OO's mean Hugs and Kisses.

Here in Mexico we have a chain of convenience stores called OXXO; which is pronounced OX O. They are quite like the 7-11's in the States.

We have plans to take a trip to visit Puebla and Oaxaca. The plans include a flight to Mexico City, so I've started watching airfares. I found a resource for tracking and searching airfares here in Mexico; kayak.com.

This past Tuesday, quite late an email from Kayak came in-it indicated that for 2 roundtrip tickets via Aviacsa between Merida and Mexico City the right then and there price, including taxes and fees was $2222.24mxp. That's like $111.00US for all my friends up North, and No I don't mean Progresso.

OK so here it is 10PM, I'm pretty sure Aviacsa office here is closed so I decide to go ahead and book, thinking I can go pay at the office tomorrow, or at the very most it's worth it to book using our US CreditCard, inspite of the currency conversion fee. So I get to the last page and it gives me payment oiptions, and right there where says payment must be made by 2359, it offers OXXO as a payment selection.

OH MY GOSH - You'll never believe, but for 5pesos I can pay at OXXO. Yes, that's right, for a 5 pesos fee (50cents USD) I can pay for my ticket at OXXO. I printed a copy of the invoice, we raced up to OXXO and had our tickets all paid for in less that an hour from the time I made the reservation - oh yes XX's and OO's to OXXO.