It seems to me there are always some things worth celebrating here.  These children are so raw and beautiful along with patience and guidance of their teachers, parents and community traditions.  On the 22nd of March here in Mexico we celebrated Dia de Agua del Mundo 2010.  The Children of the Primaria grades 1st thru 6th gave a display of their art work of the importance of our water on the planet and how to respect and protect what we have for us and future generations to come.  Today in the kinder the children  ages 4 to 6 and parents gathered to create their own parade.  They were police escorted with parents, teachers and children dressed up to resemble something representing the spring.  They were butterflies, bees, little chickens, flowers...you name it, very creative...even buz light year !  These children have also been involved in creating their own garden, the first of many to come.  The educators are incredible and this is a public school...we are very thankful to be a part of this community.  Fort and Ellie meanwhile are in the works of building their swing set...works in progress, where there's a will there's a way. 
 
 
 
 Seems to me spring has arrived... although there is still little to no surf, you can find fields of purple lupin along the shoreline, just now our native christmas trees are ready to harvest (the agave flowering stock) perhaps mother natures timing is off kilter, but obviously I just understand what happens in this tropical desert on a small scale of the big picture.  One thing I am thankful to see is the shrimp boats have departed, perhaps the fishing will get good again.

No spring is definitely here.  The oriels and hummingbirds are sucking the sweet nectar of our aloes in bloom.  After the abundance of rains we have thankfully received since Christmas the flourishing yellow flowers have reached incredible heights, the stalks are providing a new beautiful fenceline for our property.  Here we have just one more example of our creative landscaping methods, utilizing what we have and making the most of it.
The cardinals are back, the combination of their brilliant red feathers against the clear desert blue sky is outlandish.  This year for the first time we have spotted a black cardinal nearby, no doubt once I retrieve my camera it flies away after sitting in one spot singing for minutes on end.  It just one of the countless photo opportunities I have let pass me by, words by no means compare.  "A picture is worth a thousand words"  so they say.

This past Sunday I took an unusual day off, went for an afternoon swim and a walk along the shoreline with a good friend.  We both confirmed that was the most amazing whale show either one of us had seen this year.  It was phenominal, a mother whale was teaching her young, splashing her tail numerous times in close to shore, the baby would attempt 1 to her 10...all I could say was "Thank you Great Spirit"  No doubt they are preparing for their journey back towards Alaska, like my good friend.  I will look forward to their return. 

Just days ago Ellie Fort and I went for a little venture thru the desert to the shoreline, no doubt Fort is barefoot...maybe one day he too will figure out that shoes aren't so bad.  We saw a school of dolphins just along the shore while we were playing in the field of Lupin...Truely, Simple Pleasures is Where It's At.
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"To live only for some future goal is shallow.  It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top.  Here's where things grow."  Robert Pirsig
 
 
 
 
 
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Photo taken yesterday 10 Marzo 2010 at our entry shop gate.  Epic time of year at the Crains with Aloes in Bloom.  Sign design by Gene Crain.
 
 
I remember well when my husband Gene asked me to stay a few weeks longer the night before heading back to Jackson after my two week vacation here in the Baja...I couldn't help saying "What's a few weeks gonna do?"  Wow

What can happen in a few weeks can change your life...for us, we decided to get married, and did 5 weeks after we met..."Imagine that"  Love at first site..

In the past few weeks here I have seen a red fox cross my path while coming down from my early morning walk up punta gorda.... A fence and big gate days later separates me as well as many others from our backyard wonder Punta Gorda...meaning Fat Point...it too is up for sale....if I had that extra 4 million I would buy it and preserve it like it is and tear down the gate.  What's that Jonnie Mitchell tune "Pave Paridise and put up a parking lot"...."seems ya don't know what ya got till it's gone" ............... Fort Ellie and I saw a snake I have yet to identity cruise straight up a 4' embankment after crossing the coast road on our way home from school...any input, it looks like a rattle snake without the rattles.  We have had a Tsunami warning. According to NASA the planet has shifted it's orbit after the Earthquake in Chili......ya know the normal stuff, yep...never a dull moment.  Oh, Yes...and a sighting of a semi with recyclables halfway up the Baja Peninsula...Progress in Motion!  This could even be a Miracle in Motion!!!  Thanks for the photo Mario and Michelle! see www.desertsoaps.com As Michelle puts it "Amazing.  Pass it on if some people are in doubt of the recycling program, cuz this is proof!"  Andale...!

This week at the La Playita schools we have been celebrating Dia De La Familia, it is officially celebrated the first Sunday of March....Yesterday we experienced  a 2 1/2 hour seminar to encourage parents to have a healthy family lifestyle....a discussion every family could partake in. On Sunday the Families get together to celebrate one another....Happy Familia Day to you all.  Disfruta/ Enjoy One Another to the fullest.

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family"  Anthony Brandt