getting back in the grove

a start of the totem picture

starting to paint again

March 27 Thursday 2014

Shannon informed me I should update my blog so here goes. Decided to start painting my totems( small virgin) . I thought I might try oils. Well I opened my oil box and what a mess. So I had to clean the tubes. What a job It took all morning and part of the afternoon I had the picture drawn out.( want to do a 24x48 for behind my couch. this is a 12x24) I had worked on Derby Pats dog but I am not too happy with it. We have been busy with the house too . Our light in the kitchen are up. The poor guy pit a hole right through to the living room but he patched it and I have already painted it. The track lights for my treasures look real good . I am happy. The fireplace man came today and checked it out as there was a lot of soot. He also said that the logs were in backwards. Tonight I can read by the fireplace. I have had no after effects with the radiation and am feeling good. Even my knee is feeling better.

back to normal whatever that is

March 4 Tuesday 2014

Things are settling down ,suitcases unpacked and put away and grocery shopping done. Sherri nicely had the heat and water turned on. I had my first radiation treatment yesterday and go back Wednesday and next Monday. No ill effects so far and not painful. The snow is just about all gone but the weather is cold. I sure miss the coffee, mangoes and avocados .

Centralia Washington

February 26 Wednesday 2014 Centralia Washington

we drove 554 miles and arrive at 4;30 . The Siskyou were clear of snow even at 4,310 feet. A lovely drive through the mountains . We should be in Vancouver tomorrow.

La-Corning Ca

Feb 25 Tuesday 2014 Corning Ca.

We leave LA 8am 63'outside We are in heavy rush hour but get into the HOV lane . We drive 494 miles and arrive in Corning at 4pm. 76' out .I run across the street to the olive pit and spend $35. Yum

Belize to LA california

February 24 Monday 2014 back to LA

We fly from Belize city to Miami in 3 hours, then Miami to La in 6 hours with a 3 hour time change. We arrive exhausted. Americian airlines had good seats with more room the usual.The end of a great trip especially if you are into ruins. Will elaborate latter. Must rest as we leave for Vancouver tomorrow. Hear there is 12 inches of snow in Vancouver. Oh Lord

Laminai Belize

February 23 Sunday 2014 Belize

Today we take a boat ride to the ruins of Lamanai. There is an abundance of crocodiles that make the adjacent New River their home. Nestled amid thick jungle vegetation alive with exotic birds and howler monkeys. Laminai boast the second -largest pre-classic structure in the Mayan world with a magnificent High Temple. The site also features the 13ft. Mask Temple. The Mayan lived in Lamamai for more than 3,000 years. Excavation began in the 1970. Less then 5% has been unearthed. Our driver stops to show us iguanas. Black bellied whistling ducks, osprey and a jackanna are some of the birds. We drive 25 miles up the river. We find a lesser night hawk sleeping. The snake cactus were very interesting. On the way back our guide spots a crocodile. Tonight is our farewell dinner .

Yaxha and Belize

February 22 Saturday 2014 Belize

We go to Yaxha where survivor was filmed in Guadatemala. Our guide Rolando was there helping with the filming in 2003 it took 2 years to film He was able to bring his family to the site. We didn't walk the 250 steps required to get to Yaxha only 9 went . Our bus driver took us birding. We saw small toucans and the large one with the huge beak. We also saw a roadside hawk. It was like night and day when we crossed the Belize border. Guatemala had a lot more poverty. There was a real Caribbean feel in Belize. The Amish and the Mennonites are also here plus a large Asian group , so a real mixed bag.

Tikal 2014

February 21 Friday 2014 Tikal

After breakfast we head to Tikal-a Mayan city with magnificent 1,800-year old complexes , a UNESCO world heritage site. At its peak Tikal was home to an estimated 1000,000 people. Immersed in the Peten jungle in Tikal national park. 6 square miles that contain about 3,000 structures-including temples, pyramids,tombs,palaces,ball courts,and terraces- the tallest which rise above the leafy canopy. We see coati's a racoon like animal and spider monkeys. We do a lot of walking this place is huge Bill even climbs to the top of the temple as there where stairs up. What a view. We have lunch in the park and a couple of families of coati ( raccoon like with long tails) scrounge around. We will sleep good tonight tomorrow is a long bus ride to Belize where we visit the ruins of Yaxha.

day 10 leave Antigua and fly to Flores

February 20 Thursday 2010 ,

I financially got my camera charged but in the meantime I use Bills camera and did not bring the part to connect the camera to the computer so will have to wait for those pictures when we get home. What a mess with Picassa not posting pictures on the blog. They will put then on email so will do my bet. After breakfast we go 2 Guatemala Mayan villages- Santa Marie de Juses famous for their aprons .First a very friendly market. We watch the locals and join in,with the laundry. We pass many coffee tree on the way to San Juan del Obis to famous for it's cocoa roasting. We get samples and try to toss the beans and grind them. Then we go to see a potter that makes chicken buses with clay. All in all a very interesting day before we fly for 1 hour to Flores.

Antigua day 3

February 19 Wednesday 2014 Antigua day 8

This morning we head to Antigua's Zocola or main square and embark upon a walking tour of the city one of the oldest and loveliest- full of Spanish Colonial and Baroque architecture, narrow cobblestone streets and graceful stucco homes-A UNESCO world heritage site. Antigua ha 31 churches but only 15 are operating. Santa Domingo, owned by the Castel brewery now owns the huge complex that was The Convent of conception and the monastery very interesting as it is now a very large museum. We visit a silver museum, a glass museum, pottery and candle as well. We see a replica of the mural at Bonampack Chiapas Mexico. A great display of old and new pieces using different mediums. We see the big yellow church La Merced kept safe from earthquakes with it's huge columns . there were lion statues with flutes that whistled in the wind used to keep the pigeons away. We go to Pedro G Cobin a co-op for selling goods. We stop briefly at the zocolo and return to the hotel for lunch and a rest before dinner.

day 2 Antigua

February 18 Tuesday 2010 Antigua

Breakfast at the hotel first before having another full day of adventure. We go to the local market – huge something for everyone we even found a battery charger for my camera as I left mine in a hotel ( the joys of getting old and forgetting. ) Next we get a great experience we take the chicken bus to San Antonio. 13K away from Antigua. We stop at the town center and visit a school and a kindergarten class supported by the Grand Circle foundation. Soooo cute as they sing and preform for us. A home hosted lunch is next. A very primitive home but very gracious with a taste of regional specialties - chicken and vegetables in a spicy sauce. Our bus brings us back and we visit a macadamia nut farm. I get a quick facial using macadamia oil. Then on to a jade factory before going to our hotel.

Antigua day 1

February 17 Monday 2014

Another full fun day. I bow out of the zip line optional as there were 8 not 5. Breakfast at the hotel first then on our bus to Antigua in Guatemala. We walked around a colourful graveyards above ground- no cremations. We visit the market in Solola then we go for lunch at San Antonio Palo Po. I had a salad big mistake as I got the runs latter. Guatemala is on the ring of fire for volcanoes. 31 volcanoes in all of Guatemala. We go to IXOQI a school for ladies who learn sewing and cooking. This is not run by the government but by an organization .We stop at a leather town-Los Pasasosl. We watched them make boots and purses .We are 3 nights in Antigua

Lake Atitlan Guatamala

February 16 Sunday 2014Not a good start- go to use the hotels WIFI and is only good if you use their computer but I need to use mind to post pictures got up early for nothing . Bill picks me up and we go for a very good buffet breakfast. A boat ride meets our delight as we go across the lake. In Santiago we see the indigenous people and learn their ancient beliefs and crafts preserved in the Mayan textile with their distinctive geometric patterns. The lake is encircled by 3 towering volcanoes.-San Pedro,Toliman(the tallest) and Atitlan. There are 37 volcanoes in all in Guatemala. We are hounded by vendors as we walk the streets. We go and watch a shaman preform his ritual. We get back on the boat and go to another town San Antonio Palopo across the lake for lunch. There is no road around the lake. 11 towns surround the lake. The residence wear traditional Mayan clothing. We watch weaving with a hand loom. Back to Panajachet to our hotel where our guide gets me on WIFI still cannot upload pictures

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Honduras to Guatamala

February 14 Valentines day 2014

another exciting day We first visit a newly dug ruin right beside the hotel (K'an Koj Witz) small but interesting. Today we go from Honduras to Guatemala and stop at a small town of Estanzuela to visit a small museum of Paleontology. Great fossils of prehistoric creatures that once roamed the Guatemala's fertile lands.  We stop at a cashew roasting farm . Very interesting.We continue a very long drive to Guatemala city where we stay at Hotel Stofella . Arrive with a complimentary drink and a piece of carrot cake for Valentines. Picasa still will not post pictures so will email them

Copan and horsebackriding

February 13 Thursday 2014

Wow Copan is everything I imagined. We get a 4 hour guided tour in very good English. Copan Honduru's most significant pre-columbian . We explore
the Great plaza, scattered with altars and lined with carved with stone columns called stelae. A rectangular  alter with carved portraits of Copan's Mayan rulers date AD 711-736. The most impressive remnant is the hieroglyphic stairway-63 steps with 2,500 glyphs. We  also we see wild macaws and motmot.(birds) Lunch next in the town of Copan. Horseback riding yes I went. We visited a very poor Mayan community at La Pintada where children have cornhusk dolls for $1. Back to the hotel to get ready for dinner in town

can't post pictures sorry

sorry trying to download picassa but it will not post??????

San Salvador, Guatamala and Honduras

February 12 Wednesday 2014 San Salvador

After a breakfast buffet we get a bus tour of the city. We enjoyed the beautiful national palace and the Cathedral in the city center. The streets were a hustle of many venders selling their wares. We walk the zocolo and admire the statue in the center Germido Barrios 1909 we wonder at the tomb of Romero Gaidamez waiting to be canonized an archbishop. WE stand in awe at the inside of Santo Domingo Sueno.Then we are off to see an archeological site, the Pompii of the Americans- Joya de Ceren, a remarkable intact dwelling that was preserved for centeries after being buried by volcanic ash. Dating back about AD 600, the ruins were the homes of ordinary people. This site was discovered in 1976 and is still being excavated. Next we travel to Honduras for lunch at Rancho Alegre on Lake Coatepeque in Santa Ana .. We have no problem crossing the border but we do have a police escort. Our hotel Clarin Inn for dinner. We stay here 2 nights

let the adventure begin El Salvador

let the adventure begin

February 11 Tuesday 2014

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN

went from warm Cal. To 30 degrees in Dallas then up to 96 in El Salvador. Uneventful trip no trouble with custom etc. The airport full of press as that lost fisherman lives here. He was found in the Marshel Islands. Met the first 7 people at the airport.will see the other 5 at breakfast. We stopped at local mom and pop stalls selling their local staple ( Pupuseria – rice pancake like things stuffed with cheese and other stuff )delicious (70cents beer $1.50) arrived at our hotel around 8. Bill got a bottle of scotch at the duty free in the airport in Dallas $20