What Happens When You Jump

Sometime in my adulthood my mom said to me that “Just when I think you couldn’t do anything more to surprise me, you surprise me again!”
Sometimes I think I can see when I’ve done something that might suprise someone who thinks they know me and have figured me out. Today is one of those days!
I’m [...]

You know that analogy about the importance of being flexible (in the face of  change) like a willow tree?
I had a gazebo on my roof, poles secured in buckets of earth.
Three male friends (not blaming men, but I think it is interesting!) very strongly suggested that I secure the poles to screws stuck into the [...]

Caldo de Pescado
INGREDIENTS
2 red snappers, descaled and chopped into several pieces, bones, organs and all.
fava beans, red lentils or moong dal, cooked till very soft with chopped vegetables of your choice, garlic, onion, and turmeric powder. (for example: chopped carrots, brocolli, spinach, chayote squash etc.)
1 can coconut milk
fresh stalk of lemon grass (if you only [...]

I arrived at the home of Don José to learn the process of and help with the preparation of barbacoa in honor of his granddaughter’s quince años (I’ve had barbacoa de rez (cow meat) and de borrego (lamb). The meat is tender and delicious and I had been told it was cooked overnight in a [...]

I remember in Biology class in college learning about blue green algaes, that they were the first food on earth and that they contain the most energy directly from the sun. I remember learning about sun energy and how when we eat, we are really eating sun energy. The further away from the direct source, [...]

I was told that a common wild plant that grows here, called “Palo de Agua” can be used to whiten whites.
I conducted an experiment and besides being fun, it was effective!
Here is how I did it:
1. Put water and laundry soap in a bucket
2. Add white clothing/cloth (It really was more yellow than you can [...]

June 6, 2009
This morning, I was following Don Romulo who was searching for dandelion plants to show me, because I like them so, when we arrived at some banana trees. I glanced up, “Are we going to have any more bananas, Don Romulo?” We found a large green bunch and he said, “Look! Those are [...]

Summer 2008
I breathe you. I try.
Where are you and why are you not breathing with me? That is why I labor. You stand below Life, feet stuck in the belief of stuckness. Waiting. Still. Unmoving. Afraid to be noticed, seen, breathed by life.
You are a substance to be inhaled and exhaled by Creation. We breathe [...]

Spring 2008
I’ve been working on getting internet in my bungalow for about 3 weeks. Without it, several times a week I spend most of the day walking down into town, checking email, going to market, doing other errands, and returning back home either by walking or combi (public minibus) by around 4. That’s practically a [...]

Cabbage Salad with Brown Rice Salad:
Thinly sliced cabbage, cut into bite size lengths
Slivered onion
Freshly chopped garlic
Cooked chickpeas
Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped