Feliz Navidad

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

Love and Light and Peace

With Gratitude, xo

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p.s. I am a big fan of Yoga with Adriene. She offered a free new program for the new year. Check it out if you are interested in beginning/continuing a home yoga practice. http://yogawithadriene.com/

Motul snapshot

Last week Ellyne from the International Women's Club organized a day trip to Motul, which is a small city around 45 km east of Mérida.



Our first stop in Motul was for breakfast to have huevos motuleños which originated here. This dish consisted of eggs on a tortilla, topped with black beans, cheese, diced up ham (I tried to pick most of the ham out of mine) and peas, and salsa. It was very good.

Then we browsed around the mercado for a bit.

 

In the main plaza, we visited a church of course, a monestery, and a house/museum of Felipe Carrillo Puerto.  (8 November 1874 – 3 January 1924) He was a Mexican journalist, politician and revolutionary who became known for his efforts at reconciliation between the Yucatec Maya and the Mexican government after the Caste War. He was governor of the Mexican state of Yucatán from 1922 to 1924. -from wikipedia

 

What I learned and found intriguing was his romance with Alma Reed, an American journalist. Apparently this is commemorated in a famous song he had commissioned by poet Luis Rosado de la Vega, and composer Ricardo Palmerín, called "Peregrina", also made into a movie, says wikipedia. Sadly, there is a tragic ending to this story. (I am going on a separate tour around Merida that shows places they frequented and tells of this love story.)

We visited a cave-like cenote that is more beautiful that my photo shows.

We explored the grounds of the beautiful Hacienda Chenché de las Torres. The architecture resembles a medieval fortress with two towers, and the original owners, Count and Countess of Miraflores, modified the original building to look like a castle.

  

And afterwards we were served a nice lunch at a home of local hacienda workers. We had this black bean soup which was delicious with homemade tortillas. Then a dish of chicken with rice, and lastly a local special dessert (a sort of sweetened bean pudding- ) but I think it is an acquired taste called something like postre de frijol.

I enjoyed this trip, and it was a great experience to visit and learn about a nearby city.

create adventures...

I saw this quote is on a t-shirt. It reminds me of 'artist dates' part of Julia Cameron's prescription from her famous book, The Artist's Way (I may have mentioned her before). An artist dates is a weekly solo outing to explore, inspire yourself and fill the inner well.

It reminds me to get out of the house on days where I have free time and no plans. Maybe I will document a simple Artist Date in the near future.

I also see it as a reminder to accept opportunities that come my way = potential new adventure. After joining the International Women's Club, an opportunity appeared for 'editor of the newsletter'. My initial reaction was  that it sounded fun, creative, and an opportunity to learn a new skill. So I inquired. Now I am in the process of learning how it's put together and learning what is involved in this volunteer position.

This is from the small book, 'Meditations from The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron:
"As artists, we must learn to be self-nourishing. We must become alert enough to consciously replenish our creative resources as we draw on them - to restock the trout pond, so to speak. I call this process filling the well. In filling the well, think magic. Think delight. Think fun. Do not think duty. Do not do what you should do - spiritual sit-ups like reading a dull but recommended critical text. Do what intrigues you, explore what interests you; think mystery, not mastery."

don't change

19 years ago this day... Michael Hutchence left this world.
Here is my annual memorial tribute with my favorite INXS song:

From the Gut

Trying to move forward.

Today at the English Library I borrowed a book I knew of but never read by Chris Guillebeau, "The $100 Start Up - Reinventing the way you make a living, Do what you love, and Create a new future".
It's time to motivate, and I am hoping for some ideas and possibilities to find/create a new livelihood.

A house I passed on my walk to Slow Food

Tumeric-Ginger Kombucha

I  walked up to the Slow Food Market on Saturday and bought some Kombucha from the couple who sell fermented foods. I am curious if I notice any improvements. Kombucha is a fermented beverage with sweetened tea and is supposed to have good health properties, including probiotics, for a healthy gut. Our gut is responsible for the majority of health and overall well-being! This is an informative article by Kris Carr, Wellness Expert - http://kriscarr.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-gut-health/

I have regular email conversation with my super-health-conscious friend in Quebec. She studies a lot on health and nutrition makes adjustments to her diet as needed. We both agree, as much as possible - "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”- Hippocrates

N o v e m b e r

Slightly cooler days
Epic ballgame for the Cubs World Series win!
Nanowrimo month
Clocks move back
Daylight lessens toward winter

We cast our votes from abroad
hoping for the best
on U.S. Presidential election day.

Remembering to stop
breathe deeply
and consciously.

So thankful for
friends
family
opportunity
love
and grace.

oct 31

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