Do Not Close to the Cliff!

I didn't heed the warning sign -- Do Not Close to the Cliff.  Last June I fell off and it's taken me almost a year to regain my sassy, but I am so over it!

Today it suddenly hit me that I have a month's worth of barely used photo files from May/June 2014. I found a big grab bag full of surprises!

Notice all the mojitos lined up on this counter at Varadero?  They're waiting for my summer return!

#100HappyDays

Island Funk

I'm up late listening to the roof blow away, so that somehow inspires me to edit old photos.  (Guess the weatherman was right!)

These free online magic photo wands and the sound of rain make me happy!  Another one of my #100HappyDays (nights).

H2O

There's nothing the locals love more in Arizona than a storm -- with lightning, thunder, and rain. According to the weatherman, this weekend's supposed to be a big event -- which translates to a chance of precipitation.

Last September the national news waited and waited in Tucson for a hurricane to hit and finally left with tails tucked between legs.

Soooooooo. Bring in the patio cushions, but don't hold your breath!

Personally, I like my water rather salty.  I'm not into countdowns, but my #100HappyDays photos resembling this should be posting live in a lot less than one hundred days!

Mayberry on Acid

One of the joys of visiting Bisbee is the small town ambience.  I was born in a small town (John Cougar Mellencamp?), but that's where the comparison ends.  They call Bisbee Mayberry on Acid and that slogan is dead on.

One visit we ran into a Texan who'd recently moved to Bisbee thinking it was a conservative small town in Arizona.  The man was highly frustrated.  After buying a cottage, he soon discovered Bisbee was a liberal enclave full of artists, free-thinkers and what he deemed as nefarious types.

Wall murals throughout the town signal Dorothy isn't in Kansas anymore.

But an adorable dog at the cottage gate reminds you that Bisbee truly is Small Town, U.S.A. straight out of J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady novels.

Then you stroll past another mural

before passing the Sea Shell cottage, formerly a miner's home.

Early 1900's cottages dot the town alongside murals with peace, love, and Eastern religion.

The Mimosa Market up Brewery Gulch carries organic fruits and veggies along with an impressive wine selection and home-baked goods.

You'd never see street art like this in my hometown.  Don't pee on the retaining wall!

You know it's a village when you see the 5 mph speed limit sign!

This mural serves as a reminder that Bisbee's just miles from the border and was part of Mexico once upon a time.

Brightly colored cottages line the town's lanes   

While young counterculture hipsters stroll Main Street.

Bisbee, Arizona.  Mayberry on Acid!

#100HappyDays



Fat Bastard

After all these blissful days of happiness I come home to Fat Bastard fouling my pristine courtyard.

While I love taking photos of things like this in the tropics

THIS is not your living room Fat Bastard!

The man promised to remove him from the Mexican bench at my front door before he left for pickle ball (don't ask) this morning.  His idea of Fat Bastard removal was chasing him through the drain hole in the courtyard wall.

As Arnold says, he'll be back.

#100HappyDays#DayofTerror

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm sitting here howling at a table in the morning sun drinking my mocha frappe reading the Bisbee Police Beat in the local paper.  Doesn't take much to make me happy!  (I'm a little warped.)

April 29 -- A man's guardian angel was on break when during a bible study the church's ex-pianist came in, choked him and hit him on the head.

A woman on Hoatson Ave. received a call from Jamaica with the news she won $200,000.

April 30 -- A dog escaped from a yard on Tombstone Canyon.  It was described as an older, small, tan, fat wiener-type Chihuahua.

April 22 -- A Bisbee woman reported a crazy guy approached her, then went into a trailer.

April 23 -- A Hereford man believes his neighbor is spying on him.  He called to find out if it was true.

April 25 -- An older woman ran over her own legs.  (Still puzzling over this one.)

A Hereford man reported something in his trash can.  He didn't know what it was but stated it was big enough to move the trash can.


#100HappyDays

Angel Murals

 

Rounding a corner and finding an alley full of angel murals to photograph = Happy Saturday!

 

#100HappyDays

Happy Friday!

Nothing's better than a weekend roadtrip!  Guess where we're headed?

Our destination's a funky artsy mining town in Arizona.

Craig's hoping for a meatloaf sandwich at Cafe Cornucopia for lunch.

Oops.  Cat's out of the bag!

Day 3 of #100 Happy Days!

The Deep Blue Sea

Day 2 of  #100 Happy Days -- Nothing makes me happier than the beautiful tranquil waters of the turquoise blue Caribe.

Preferably right out the back door.

#100 Happy Days

Lots of friends are challenging themselves on Facebook with this theme.  Since I've been struggling to post here, I decided to translate the concept to my blog.

Day 1:  My happiness today comes from that child of my heart.  Sometimes it takes a mom a long time to realize her child has achieved the success every parent should embrace.  That success would be finding the life they aspire to full of fun adventures, good friends, great love, fulfilling work, and whatever makes THEM happy!

Cheers to my son Mike!  One down, ninety-nine days to go!

Some Boats, Somewhere

I'm sure most of you can guess my favorite somewhere!

These yellow and blue Ultramar ferries bring us to Somewhere.

The car ferry in the distance departs as a snorkeling panga approaches the dock.

My favorite boats are the small simple pangas locals use to earn their living.  This seems like a good name for a boat!

Coca-Cola time on the Shirley.

A little Spanish lesson.  Tiburon Ballena = Whale Shark.

My favorite panga pic from this trip.

The pirate ship passes the Posada del Mar beach.  Aaargh.

Bally Hoo's a great place to sit and watch pangas dock and unload.

I finally googled Barrabas because the name eluded me.

Tour boat departing the docks behind Bally Hoo.

If you're still around at sunset, I love watching the fishing captains park their boats in the slips.  This guy makes it look so easy.  

A family arriving at sunset.

The car ferry passing the Posada beach.

As a footnote, it's a little ironic that I love taking photos of boats.  My first trip to the tropics, I got motion sickness floating on an air mattress off Waikiki.  A rough boat ride can knock me flat for days, so I don't take daytrips to Contoy, whale shark tours, etc...  On our last trip, I was so nauseated after the rough ferry ride, Craig brought home carryout for dinner.  Years ago, I refused to take the rough ferry ride off the island when a storm was approaching and got caught in a Cat 2 hurricane.

Pretty to look at, but I'll skip the ride!