Party!

Last weekend J and I held our annual birthday party. We think this might have been the 5th version of it, but are not quite sure.

We celebrate both of our birthdays at our little home with some of our favorite people. We buy a keg of local beer and drive up the coast to buy fresh oysters.


This is how things looked like last year:

Sunny bar.

Most of the party happened outside, in the sun.

This year J made mole from scratch, something my mom cannot believe since in Mexico people still make it by grinding everything by hand over a metate and it takes days to make. His version is a modern one that uses a blender instead (à la gringa, as I like to say), and is super tasty! His mole was a big success. We will see what my skeptical mom thinks about it, since she has asked for the recipe.

Another highlight was the weather, that just did not want to clear in spite of us delaying the date in hopes for sunshine. It was drizzly and cold, so we lit a fire and stayed mostly indoors. We even had a Horizontal rain moment! Our friends seemed to enjoy the weather, as it was a radically different ambience than usual.

Hosting the party is a good excuse to see our friends and clean our home.

It looked so nice I just had to show you!

Overcast bar. The weather got way worse, with heavy horizontal rain later on.

You can get a glimpse of the results of the campaign in this photo.

State of Mind II (with alternatives).

Okay, so the weather is improving and tomorrow might actually be sunny (crossing my fingers!).
But today is still a bit dark and rainy, so here are a couple of options for you to deal with that.

a. Wake up slow, stay in bed and pretend there is no world outside (and eat banana pancakes if you like them, but I don't, so there's an alternative inside this alternative and mine was cinnamon toast).

Jack Johnson- Banana Pancakes (Kokua Festival 2010)

b. Get up and dance!

Hollerado - Americanarama (via Mighty Girl)

Creatures.

These two monsters keep me warm and make me happy on a crummy rainy day like today.

Something tells me they have no intentions of going elsewhere anytime soon.

Elizabeth Taylor.

by Andy Warhol, of course.

Farewell Elizabeth Taylor, one of the most talented and beautiful actresses of our time, who was already a legend before her death.

Here is a tribute to her by Paul Newman.

State of Mind.

Today I am unhappy about:

War in Libya (and anywhere).
Natural disasters.
Possible nuclear catastrophe.
Non stop rain.
Canceling plans because I was sick on my Birthday.
Making J sick.

Photograph of Edwin Roscoe Mullins' sculpture
 at the Glasgow Botanical Gardens by Sonia Rebelo  via deviantART
Buy a print of this picture here.

Today I am happy about:

Human solidarity.
Japanese culture.
A warm home.
My Birthday.
Fresh fruit & custard tarts.
Feeling better.
Being able to take care of J in return.
Impending Spring.
Magnolias.

Photo by Bjørnar Egede-Nissen (Meikon) via  deviantART.
Buy a print of this photo here.

From Dark to Light (A Forest In Her Mind).

The whole situation in Japan following the Earthquake and Tsunami last week, with the possible nuclear catastrophe that they (and us) face now has left me feeling gloomy and sad. I think about the people there constantly, wishing them well and worrying about their future. I could write about that, but I just cannot bring myself there as it would make me even sadder. 

I could also write about the flash backs I have had lately about my own childhood experience of the 1985 earthquake that left half of Mexico City destroyed and its people scarred; and of how it was also an incredibly uniting moment for us as a people, of how everyone got together to help each other in any way we could and how that experience made me believe more in humanity and its potential. But again, it is a sad memory that I would rather not revisit now.

So, to bring myself to a brighter space (and hopefully you too) I have chosen instead to show you something that makes me happy.

Elsita, one of my favorite artists, has created the ultimate paper cut piece. It is called A Forest In Her Mind, and it is gorgeous in many ways. The concept is incredible, and the execution just blowed my mind. I wish I could someday make something half as pretty as this.

If you are in or around LA on April 16th, make sure to stop by the opening of her three-girl-show at Giant Robot 2 Gallery.

And please take me with you!

Piece and photos by Elsita 

Japan.

My heart goes out to Japan and its people after the 8.9 earthquake and following Tsunami that struck them yesterday.
Natural disasters can strike us all, so us that have the fortune of being well today should come together to help in any way we can.
If you wish to make a donation to help those that have been affected, please visit Red Cross or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Farmer's Market (rainbow).

Happy birthday, love!

... and the month of non stop partying officially begins!

Bowerbirds.

, 

photo from National Geographic by Tim Laman

I recently discovered the peculiar Bowerbirds and their unique nesting habits.

To woo their ladies, these little birds from Papua New Guinea decorate their intricate nests with everything available, even colorful bits of trash. No two nests are alike, and they are all incredible.

See for yourself:

photo from here

photo from here

You can read the whole National Geographic article about Bowerbirds and see more photos here.

Ojos de Perro Azúl.

"We Have the Blues Together (2011)" by George Rodrigue

I just found one of my favorite short stories online!

Ojos de Perro Azúl (Eyes of a Blue Dog) by Gabriel García Máquez is a beautiful story that has haunted me ever since I read it for the first time a long time ago. 

I still think about it after a dream filled night, specially if those dreams involve "strangers".

I hope you enjoy it!

R

PS. I can't believe how adequate George Rodrigue's painting is to illustrate this post. I would love to ask him if he was somehow influenced by Gabriel García Márquez' story, as many of his paintings include blue dogs.

And how weird is it that García Márquez' birthday happens to be tomorrow?

Happy birthday Mr. Gabo!

Take me to your leader...

My Martian orchid has bloomed.

Hello Gorgeous!

Photos by RR