Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Gardens, tagged birds, Cedar Waxwings, flocking birds, fountains, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos on February 9, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Snowbirds continue to arrive in Oaxaca. For the past several days, Cedar Waxwings have been flocking to my fountain — the first year they have come to Casita Colibrí. They are great fun to watch and seem to have distinct personalities.
Though I must say, they make a huge mess!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Celebrations, Culture, Food, tagged birthday dinner, food porn, home cooking, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, terrace dining on February 5, 2021| 8 Comments »
It’s been a whole month, so I figured it’s about time to again showcase the culinary creations by my friend, neighbor, and cocinera extraordinaire, Kalisa. If you can’t take the mouthwatering temptation, I advise you to step away from the blog post now.
Just so you know, the last two are not everyday fare — they were for my birthday. (Please, don’t ask.) I think Kalisa outdid herself!
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Food, Holidays, Religion, Restaurants, Travel & Tourism, tagged Candlemas, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, Día de Candelaria, food porn, Levadura de Olla Restaurante, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos on February 2, 2021| 4 Comments »
Today, besides being Groundhog Day, it is the Christian holy day, Día de la Candelaria (aka, Candlemas, Presentation of Jesus at/in the Temple, and Feast of the Purification of the Virgin). In Mexico, tradition calls for families to bring their Niño Dios (baby Jesus), decked out in new clothes, to the church to be blessed. Alas, in the time of Covid-19, the Servicios de Salud de Oaxaca (health department) has called upon Oaxaqueños not to gather this year and, while the doors of the Cathedral will be open, the faithful are asked to stay home if their Niño Dios was blessed in previous years.
Custom also calls for the person who bit into the baby Jesus figurine hidden in the Rosca de Reyes (3 Kings Cake) during Día de los Reyes Magos to host a tamalada on Candelaria. As I write, tamales are steaming all over the state. The virus will not stop the cocineras of Oaxaca from rising before the crack of dawn to make and serve tamales. As I previously mentioned, I munched down on a figurine. And I wasn’t the only one — my neighbor and friend Kalisa also had the “pleasure.” I must confess, we took the easy way out and pre-ordered our tamales from Levadura de Olla Restaurante. I can’t wait to eat them!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Creativity, Culture, Health, Travel & Tourism, tagged coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, cubrebocas, face masks, hat stand, Jésus Sosa Calvo, KN95 masks, Matlacihua Arte, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, tree stand, wood carving on January 29, 2021| 8 Comments »
You may remember the beautiful hat tree I commissioned from the San Martín Tilcajete workshop of Jésus Sosa Calvo. In these mask-wearing times of Covid-19, it has taken on a new function.
No longer serving as a place to hang my hat or market baskets, it now holds my collection of cubrebocas (face masks).
In case you are wondering why there are seven of them hanging on the tree, each KN95 mask is labeled with a day of the week, so I can rotate them.
New function following fabulous form!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Churches, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, clouds, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, silhouettes, sunset, Templo de San José, views, vistas on January 25, 2021| 13 Comments »
January sunsets in Oaxaca are spectacular. Looking west, behind Templo de San José, Basílica de la Soledad, and the mountain Monte Albán sits atop, they often have me dropping whatever I’m doing, dashing out the door and onto the terrace to gaze — before the magic disappears into darkness.
Occasionally, the camera is nearby.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Creativity, Culture, Flora, Travel & Tourism, tagged Amanda Gorman (poet), container plant, Crown of Thorns, garden, inauguration poem, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, Primavera amarilla, street art, The Hill We Climb (poem), trees, urban art, wall art on January 21, 2021| 14 Comments »
Four years ago today, we were marching in the streets of Oaxaca — part of a worldwide post inauguration day response to the dark days we could see coming following the results of the US election. Alas, it was far worse than our imaginations could take us. What a difference four years makes! At yesterday’s inauguration we watched as a young woman in a dazzling yellow coat, with her brilliant words and luminous spirit, captured the dark and replaced it with trust in our power to bring light to an imperfect country. Thank you Amanda Gorman for your inspiring words and presence.
When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never ending shade?
And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us…
For there was always light.
If only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
Quotations from The Hill We Climb, a poem written and read by Amanda Gorman at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamela Harris.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism, tagged archway, arquito, Barrio de Xochimilco, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, sculptures, street art, urban art, wall art on January 17, 2021| 14 Comments »
The second Sunday in 2021 walk took us to Xochimilco (“X” pronounced like “S”).
We never know where our feet will take us and who we will meet along the way.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged anthurium, flower of the day, house plants, Mexico, Michoacán furniture, Oaxaca, photos on January 13, 2021| 8 Comments »
When I was twelve years old, I met one of my (still) best friends. While my family’s garden consisted of roses, camellias, fruit trees, colorful annuals, and lawn and our indoor plants were limited to African violets, hers had Japanese inspired landscaping outside and tropical plants inside. After all, they had been to Hawaii! The orchids and anthurium seemed so exotic and I was impressed. Eventually, over the years, orchids became one of my houseplants of choice but, for some reason (maybe cost?), I’ve never had an anthurium until now.
While shopping for poinsettias last month at my favorite seasonal plant pop-up shop (1/2 block up from Mercado Sánchez Pascuas on Tinoco y Palacios), I saw this anthurium (anterio en español), the price was 1/5th the cost in el norte, and couldn’t resist.
My goal is to find a talavera pot for the anthurium (aka, flamingo flower, tailflower, painter’s palette, and laceleaf). In the meantime, set against my beautiful old hand-carved and painted desk from Michoacán, my Christmas gift to myself brings a smile — much needed during these challenging times. And, according to Wikipedia, it is “effective in removing formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia from the air” — though I suspect that’s not a problem here at Casita Colibrí.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Barrio de Jalatlaco, Bouler, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, stencil art, street art, urban art, URTARTE, wall art on January 9, 2021| 4 Comments »
Last Sunday’s first Sunday of 2021 walk…
Going to and from Barrio de Jalatlaco, there is always something old and new to see.
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Food, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged El Día De Los Reyes Magos, food, los tres Reyes Magos, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, Rosca de Reyes, Three Kings cake, Three Kings Day, Wise Men on January 6, 2021| 5 Comments »
Feliz Día de los Reyes Magos / Happy Three Kings day! Today is the day Gaspar, Melchor, and Baltazar bring gifts to the children of Mexico. In normal, non Covid-19 times, the municipal DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia) agency and private organizations sponsored a toy drive. Toys filled the Alameda to be given to the city’s disadvantaged children, along with milk and juice. Crafts, games, and music were set up to entertain. I haven’t seen or heard of any evidence it is happening this year. Let’s hope these children have not been forgotten.
In addition to kings bringing kids gifts, January 6 also calls for a special cake — the wreath shaped Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings bread). This morning, I walked up to Pan con Madre bakery to buy mine to share with apartment staff and friends.
And, surprise, there is a plastic Niño Dios figurine hidden in each Rosca de Reyes, remembering Mary and Joseph concealing baby Jesus from King Herod. If you are the “lucky” person to bite into it, you must host a tamales and atole party on February 2 — Candelaria (Candlemas).
Guess who the lucky person was? Yes, it was me!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Food, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged Christmas tablecloths, food porn, holiday dining, home cooking, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, terrace dining on January 3, 2021| 14 Comments »
Kalisa, my many times mentioned friend, neighbor, and cook extraordinaire, outdid herself in December.
It was a challenging but definitely delicious year!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Celebrations, Churches, Creativity, Culture, Gardens, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged Año Nuevo, Agaves Contemporáneos Oaxaqueños, Argiope, Avila Beach, Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad, birds, calenda, California, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, hindsight quote, lettuce, Mexico, New Year's Eve, Oaxaca, parade, photos, sculpture, spider, Susana Trilling, Templo de San Felipe Neri, Xochimilco Aqueduct on December 31, 2020| 25 Comments »
Hindsight is the ability to understand, after something has happened, why or how it was done and how it might have been done better.
2020 was a year that most of us would like to forget but that will probably remain vividly etched in our memory banks for the rest of our lives. It was a year our worlds became smaller and forced us to see what was before us. It was a year that we will continue to examine and try to understand. It was a year that has important lessons to teach about who we are individually and collectively.
With a renewed appreciation for the small things that bring joy and give life meaning, on this New Year’s Eve, I wish you all health, peace, and joy in 2021.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Benito Juárez image, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, cubrebocas, Danza de los Rubios image, face masks, Frida Kahlo image, masks, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, stencil art, street art, urban art, wall art on December 27, 2020| 4 Comments »
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged Alice in Wonderland quotations, Christmas decorations, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, Louis Carroll quotations, Mexico, monos, murals, Oaxaca, photos, Santa Claus, semáforo system, street art, urban art, wall art on December 21, 2020| 2 Comments »
Today Oaxaca regressed to “If you are able, stay in your house” Covid-19 semáforo naranja, seemingly for the umpteenth time, not that it seems to make any difference. A morning walk to Mercado Benito Juárez revealed restaurants continuing to offer indoor dining; a zócalo teeming with people, street vendors, and the tents of a plantón (protest encampment); and a mercado bustling with people. These days I feel like I’m living in Alice in Wonderland’s world…
“Off with their heads!”
“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. ‘Which road do I take?’ she asked. ‘Where do you want to go?’ was his response. ‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered. ‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.”
“Little Alice fell
d
o
w
n
the hOle,
bumped her head
and bruised her soul”
“What a strange world we live in… Said Alice to the Queen of hearts”
All quotes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Louis Carroll.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged Basilica de la Soledad, Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude, ceramic sculptures, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, Irma García Blanco, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, Queen of Oaxaca, religious celebrations, Virgen de La Soledad, Virgin of Solitude on December 18, 2020| 6 Comments »
It is a mostly quiet feast day for Oaxaca’s patron saint, La Virgen de la Soledad (the Virgin of Solitude). If you have ever been to Oaxaca you probably visited her at the Basilica built in her honor and seen images of this Reina y Patrona de Oaxaca (Queen and Patroness of Oaxaca) for sale, carried in religious processions, and tucked into niches.
In non Covid-19 times, she is celebrated with anything but solitude. A cacophony of chiming bells, brass bands, crackles, pops, bangs, and whistles from fireworks, toritos, and a castillo fill the air (and severely limit sleep) in the days and nights leading up to December 18. And the aroma of Oaxaca street food from stalls set up to feed the pilgrims who often spend the night of December 17, permeates the neighborhood.
Since her unceremonious arrival 400 years ago on a mule who laid his burden down and refused to get back up, “In critical moments, such as earthquakes, epidemics, droughts, conflicts, social upheaval and others, she has been with us, to give us her company. Not only on her feast day, but almost every day they come to give thanks to Our Lady for continued life and good health.” — Nicolás Ramírez García, Rector de la Basílica Menor. (My translation)
This year she has not processed through the city but instead remains behind the closed doors of her home in the Basilica de la Soledad. In order to keep her people safe from the virus, today her bejeweled figure does not preside over open air mass in the church atrium, the faithful are not able to line up to pray before her, light candles, and touch her mantle with bouquets of flowers and traditional herbs. Worshippers have been urged to maintain the faith from their homes and pray in front of their own images of La Virgen.
The Virgin of Solitude has been my neighbor for more than eleven years and I mourn the unnatural quiet, but look forward to next year — no doubt a celebration magnified in gratitude for surviving the pandemic.
*Irma García Blanco is one of the Grandes Maestros del Arte Popular de Oaxaca and is the daughter of Oaxaca’s grand matriarch of decorative pottery, Teodora Blanco Nuñez.
Update: While the doors were closed, based on photos in this article, apparently a limited number of worshippers were allowed into the Basilica for the mass celebrated by the archbishop.
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