Cheering up in early July (Mamika).

You may or may not know this, but I have been sad lately. Some days are better than others, almost normal, but then on days like today I feel gloomy and lonely. The remaining creature had gone outside, I was alone and a bit worried about him, so trying to cheer myself up I looked up "cheer up" online. I know, quite desperate, right? One does what one has to do... I felt silly and did not expect much. If anything, my search would keep me entertained. Amongst the babies and kittens I was feeling even worse, but then I ran into Mamika, the ultimate super hero.

Boy did she cheer me up alright! She is a lot of things I love in a single wrinkly package: an old lady with a cool sense of humor, kick ass, unafraid to make a fool of herself, game for unheard of adventures, avantgarde at 91 years old. 

The Mamika project began when photographer Sacha Goldberger's grandma was a bit sad, so he decided to propose a fun project to cheer her up. How about shooting some photos of her in outrageous costumes? Lucky for us, she agreed, and the result is the most amazing set of photos I have seen in a while.

So popular has she become that in a followup session she has found a younger lover called Mr. Papika.

I hope they make you smile as widely as they have made me.

Have a fun Fourth of July weekend everyone!

R

All of these amazing photos of Mamika and Mr. Papika are by Sacha Goldberger.

Let's.

Via Style/swoon, via Flickr

Checking in.

This is just a quick check in to let you know things, and us, get better day by day.

I still dream about him every night, and I still catch myself calling out his name or looking for him on his favorite chair. I sometimes think he will stop by, like nothing happened, in spite of the evidence. Yesterday someone called me to say she had found him. Poor woman. I broke out crying. I wanted so bad to believe her, to just drive down to her place to pick him up.

But ever so slightly the sadness visits get farther apart from each other.  

I have been trying to keep occupied, to be distracted.

I am excited because good friends are visiting us today and we will get to explore around.

It should be fun.

Frijol.

Last weekend Frijol, our sweet cat, was eaten by a coyote.

At first, because he was semi-feral, we thought he was just exploring the neighborhood. But after a  couple of days we started to get worried. I spent all Monday making flyers, calling vet offices and visiting animal shelters. That afternoon we found him, or what was left of him, in the vineyard just a few feet away from our home. I know that sounds rough, and it was and still is, but we are relieved to know where he was and what happened to him. The worry that kept us up at night has been replaced by sadness. 

He was a wild cat that loved to roam and be free, and we have realized that he died the way he lived. Like a friend of mine put it: live by the fang, die by the fang. Sad as it is, he had the death we suspected he would one day have. We just didn't know it would happen this soon.

He was an avid hunter, a sweet loving companion and the smartest cat I have ever met. His latest trick was to sit to receive a treat! I wish I had a video of him doing that.

There is a huge sad emptiness where he used to be in our lives.

He and his crazy fangs will be greatly missed.

Mind trip.

Today I am taking a break from unpacking and, by closing my eyes, I am going here.

Have a nice weekend!

Sister.

Yesterday my sister visited us at our new place for the first time.
If you knew her you would not be surprised she waited until the last box was here to do it, but in all fairness  she moves in a different time plane than the rest of us.
We had a nice relaxing time catching up.
I  hope she makes it up here often.

It's over!

The never ending move is over! Yay!

No more driving back and forth, no more hauling stuff, no more exhaustion!

Our new home is filled with piles of boxes, but they will be gone in due time.

For now, we breathe in and relax... and stare at boxes, he he.

Leonora Carrington.

Leonora Carrington, one of my favorite surrealist artists died last week at age 94.

She will be missed.

The Giantess or Guardian of the Egg (1950)

Quería ser pájaro (1960)

Portrait of the late Ms. Partridge (1947)

"One has to be careful what one takes when one goes away forever."

— Leonora Carrington (The Hearing Trumpet)

Photo: Reuters/ Daniel Aguilar.  Read Reuters report of Leonora's death here.

Walking around our new neighborhood.

The vines are beginning to  "bloom". How can such an anti-climatic flower bring such joy?