Plantas Y Maderas - Garden Benches

As they say..."we dodged another bullet".  Thanks for the thoughts and prayers headed our way, I do believe they were heard...Mom :) Don't even want to think of what a class 5 hurricane would do to us...the biggest I've been thru was the strong class two and that was years ago.  Mother Nature has her way of showing us who's boss.  We are thankful for all the gifts she provides us daily and realize she deserves our respect wholeheartedly. 

Yesterday we got our first blue skies for days, which is the norm here year round...that's perhaps why the weather fascinates us so.  Today we are getting the clearing winds.....the humidity has now dropped to 60% from 88% wow, feels dry and cool. 

Also haven't had internet service until this afternoon, our only connection to the world.  We don't have a phone, imagine that...gotta love it. 



By the way this Saturday 24 October 2009 is a celebration happening throughout the world  170 countries and 4000 organized events....ultimately respecting Mother Earth and bringing awareness that we need to get together to protect her basically from us... 

see     http://www.350.org/350-Action-Gallery

The lightning show last night was outragous, without a drop of rain.  The sound of the surf pounding inland was intimidating, folks headed out as fast as possible early this morning, by car, by plane...while the intensity of the hurricane diminishes, still preparing for the worst, hoping for the best...enjoying the moment.   Our children are now singing "rain rain go away come again another day"  hmmm, where did that come from, we live in the desert.  It's beautiful

Another one of life's great mysteries upon us.

This has been an incredible 6 weeks of rains replinishing the desert.  It was 7 years ago this month that I first came to Baja to meet my destiny.  In these seven years I have never seen it so dry as it was before our September 1st rains.  The heavens have continued to bless us with water, the plants continue to bloom and are happy, green and healthy.  If you click on the category LIQUID GOLD you can see the contrast of what these life giving rains have done for us in just one month.

  Photos above:
Left.  View from our rooftops towards the zaca godess.
Middle.  Desert continues to bloom. 
Right.  Predicted hurricane headed our way. 

Hurricane Rick will most likely bring us more rain, but presently the winds are at 160mph...with days to come before it will hit land, anything can happen.  Keeping a close eye on the storm.

In the past, my first summer here, I remember hurricane Marty...pregnant with Fort 100mph winds waiting for our tin roof to blow off.  In the midst of the night outside holding a flashlight during the big winds and rain while Gene dug a trench to divert the sheet of water flowing thru our property away from our casita.  Unbelievable, it sounded like a freight train inside ...while we laid in bed holding hands, eyes wide open, ....

I remember a neighbor saying they clocked the winds at 100mph, then 5 minutes of calm, then 100mph the opposite direction.  Guess that would be the eye of the storm  :)  wow.  Hurricane Marty was classified as a strong class 2.  Hmmm

We are celebrating today.  It has been four months since my husband Gene had a serious accident in our woodworking shop.  (See photo below, not for the faint of heart).  He was using a Templaco boring jig for drilling locksets in an entry door, The 2 1/8" bit broke thru the backing block and hit his right wrist just below the watch band...stopping just short of damaging the bone.

Fortunately Ellie and I were here to rush him to the hospital in San Jose del Cabo, a normal trip would take us 45 minutes....but this trip was record 15. 

Once we arrived at the clinic, he was immediately attended to, hooked up to IV's and cleaning the wound.  Right away our family doctor, Dr. Cerda arrived as we requested along with trauma specialists Dr. Luis Cardenas and Dr Juan Liceaga.  As the nurse held up his wound (photo below)  Gene asks "how does it look honey?"  my response..."fine"  nodding my head to him to assure him he would be alright....phew, holding back my emotion best I could...as  Dr. Cerda looks at me, what happened Terri?  He and Dr. Cardenas both said in spanish it wasn't good...yep, and the prayers continue.

This may be a third world country, but the care and the attention given by these incredible people is first class!!  I told them right then and there the priority is taking care of Gene, but they need to know that we don't have insurance, our woodworking business has been hit hard due to the economy and we will have to work something out as far as payments.  Before the surgery they gathered together and with the clinic gave us an estimated cost of the surgery and hospital stay, they were gracious and agreed to work out a payment schedule.  I can't begin to imagine the response and outcome if we lived in the states at this particular time and with this intense injury.

The surgery was expected to be two hours, but because of the cut of the drill bit it was more difficult to reconnect the 3 tendons and 1 nerve (ulnar) than predicted.  It turned out to be four long hours and we were lucky to have neighbors to help out with the children and a community that was very giving and supportive, we were feelin the love.

We continue to be amazed with the skill and the efforts of the doctors, there is no doubt they took this on as a challenge and did all they could to have a successful outcome.  Dr. Juan Liceaga (photo above L.) is a God send, there is no doubt in my mind.  As he puts it he is only an instrument, it is God that is doing the work.  He has continued to see us for visits in his office and has adopted our children as his grandchildren.  An incredible man who also donates his time to perform surgery on children with cleft mouths.  In fact today he has an incredible challenge, one of the most difficult cases he has ever seen...

If anyone can create small miracles, Dr. Juan Liceaga is the man. 

For the weeks and months to follow, Gene went through a series of steps to regain use of his hand.  The human body is incredible.  Dr. Juan Liceaga said, now I have done my work, it is your turn and a lot of prayer. 

It was weeks later that Gene was to begin his intense physical therapy.  At this time we were introduced to Erika and Adrian (photo above R.).  They along with Gene's will power have been incredible.  Working together 5 days a week 2 hour sessions for 50 visits they have managed to accomplish the impossible. 

Erika is expecting a baby in the weeks to come, yet she continued to work throughout her pregnancy to help assist in this incredible healing. 

We are forever greatful.  It is my birthday today, and I am very thankful....we have a lot to celebrate.  Gracias A Dios.  Thank you Great Spirit.....

The Lakota have a beautiful word for this Wichoni mimi meaning life-giving rains

This video was shot from the front entrance of our home

When I lived in the states, it was common that you would fence in your cattle, horses, your livestock.  Here...it's open range.  Yes we put a fence up, but it's to keep the cattle, horses, burros out.  Imagine that. 
On the rugged roads of Zacatitos you keep your eyes peeled, you may see a burro, horse, cow, road runner, fox, coyote, bob cat/ lynx, deer, iguana and yes rattle snake. And if you are busy while driving looking out to the sea for whales, dolphins, bat rays, bait balls, a tuna bite or just checkin out the waves, be sure to have one eye on the road.  In the mean time,  remember your younger days when you mountain biked to get around the knarly mountain paths, because these roads will rejuvinate your riding/driving skills.  No stop signs, no road signs no street lights, no seat belts, no pavement....It's raw and it's real living.

Just over a year ago we had a good friend from Jackson and her two children join us for a visit..During a night of their stay with us, no doubt they were awoken.  "Get em out, YAH! Yah!...get em out!"  My husband Gene and I were giving encouraging words to our dogs to do their job.  Meanwhile we were walking/running with long sticks in the black of night thru thick bush and throughout our paths trying to get T-bone, the well known big local cow, out of our property.  These animals are huge! and with horns to boot! But they can get through a small space of your fence line and then you can say adios to your plants...these guys are hungry.   Remember that night Heidi?  As I recall the next morning hearing you say "What was THAT?" :) I have had at least one moment recalling what it must be like running with the bulls in Pamplona Spain.  We have had several memorable sleepless nights as have other folks in our community.  T-Bone is only one of many, but this big bull is a legend in these parts....he ain't named T-Bone for nothin.  Haven't seen him around in a while, hmmm.

We are now able to offer more options for your garden benches.  

We are working to create a beautiful and unique design specifically for you...with a variety of carvings and finishes...the choices are limitless.  Please link  www.plantasymaderas.com for further information on 3D carvings  that we can do.

This is a sea of Plastic, it's real...see Protecting our Waters in the more... category for more information.  Please feel free to comment with any ideas or updated information, etc..This is open for comment.    

Mine sweet and short:
               Our Waters Are Worth Protecting, It Is All Connected.  
                     "What have we done?  and What can WE do?

We live in a very rural setting...it takes 30 minutes to get our children to the closest school which is only... 8 miles away.  The roads can be so knarly it's possible you can't even get there after some heavy rains.  And if it rains, it's so rare ...they most likely will close the schools, so be prepared to take an one hour trip for nothing.  How classic is that, no school because it rained, yep...it can happen here.  This photo is taken just around the corner of Punta Gorda, great site of the Zaca Goddess, an the best looking part of the coast road.

Both my children were born here, Mexican citizens as they say locally Choyero's...and they say it with pride.  Ellie just turned 4 today and is already speaking more spanish than I could possibly comprehend at the age of 36.  I guess that's what you get for sending your children to an all spanish public school, none of the teachers, mother's or students speak a lick of english.  So you can imagine..I am also going to school.

Wow, what a concept, if only we had that kind of education growing up.  As raw as it may seem, we are feeling very fortunate and blessed.  Happy Birthday Ellie, I am very proud of you... you are beautiful.