Feliz Navidad

Wishing you all a wonderful and restful holiday season.

I hope it's relaxing and enjoyable with your family and friends.

Life is unpredictable so it must be enjoyed whenever possible. Treasure every moment.  Cherish every loved one.

And remember to keep a look out for owls hiding in your trees:)  All my best!  Happy Holidays!

Unfurl

From within, there is a passion or fire that has continued to burn.  It has been there for a long long time.  And yet for some time, it had been diminished.

Over these past two years, I've been able to rekindle that fire like I did in my twenties.  Like the Phoenix from the ashes, I feel like my best work is yet ahead of me. Luckily my partner has been there for me over these past years to keep me sane.

I wake up each day with an excited hurry to rush out that door and explore.  Over these next couple years as I release myself from debt caused by education, buying a home etc I will continue to end this chapter of my life quickly so that I can fly again.  I want to travel not once or twice a year but often. Whenever.

Turning 40 has been amazing.  I thought creatively it would end after my 20's but just when I least expected it, the magic and sparkle has come back again.  The passion was always there.  I was just so busy getting muddled up in the game of life that I forgot to keep hope. What happens when you surface above politics?  Above debt? Above petty arguments?  When all of that daily stuff becomes white noise and no longer matters as much?  Travel, here or there, is in my blood.  It has been there my entire life and soon all the hard work will pay off.

I lost a friend last year at the young age of 47.  I lost a Grandfather at 56.  I have friends who have lost parents at 50.  Everyday must count from here on out.  The video "Try" below begins a two part series about trying and not giving up.  Life is work.  There are no shortcuts in relationships, work or finances. There are no quick fixes with drugs or miracle weight loss programs.  "Try" is also not giving up.  And it's also about doing my best in everything I do. Soon, very soon, my wings will unfurl as I continue to  make those last steps towards this new chapter of freedom.  And adventure.

Stay tuned for the posts "Try" and "Birding Etiquette" over the next two days.  More tomorrow....

What's In A Name Anyway?

Celebrating year two of "Las Aventuras" has been something of a work of love and art.  So where did the name come from?  What does it all mean?

"Las Aventuras" was a title that stuck in my head for a long time.  I'm a Spanish instructor and have travelled all over the world with photos and useless information that friends and family don't really care about....except me:)  So the title speaks of adventure through my eyes.  For many years, I would travel everywhere and take pictures without having a place to show them. My students benefit from this knowledge as do I, but that's really about as far as it went. "Las Aventuras" demonstrates the duality in my own life.  Spanish instructor by day; gardener at heart; a photographer, explorer and wilderness aficionado on the weekends and vacation.

Pepe, the Howler Monkey in the Amazon of Peru

When coming up with the name, I thought "Las Aventuras" was a better name than "The Adventures". I know some bloggers look at the title and think, "Oh Spanish....yuck!!:)"  Years ago Spanish dictated my life.  Today it is "fused" into my being and it's difficult to differentiate my Wisconsin and Mexican sides.  Some of my friends call me a "Bean Burrito"...white on the outside; all beany on the inside.  I'm not sure that's politically correct, but there is a message for students.  If a boy from Wisconsin could speak Spanish fluently, so could they! 

Cuzco, Pero

The exotic sound....because words are sounds....of "Las Aventuras" rolls off the tongue better than the English translation.  The truth is that we all live our adventures in different ways.  I choose for this blog to focus on the adventures of the garden, the unknown, the unexplored, travel, nature and the mystery of what is to come.  The title leaves it open for interpretation and doesn't limit me to one particular thing and allows me to track the garden progress around El Presidio. 

My camera equipment and photography skills get stronger...

If there are words that can describe this blog, it's about our inner beauty dealing with the crazy routines of our busy lives.  It's finding the time to create art and the adventure that surrounds it all.  I have a lot of questions that need answering and I will pursue those answers until my final moments of life. So I travel and travel and travel to places that have some mystery left behind them.  And it's my personal adventure of self discovery and an awakening to an inner peace that I haven't felt for a very long time. Plus writing is therapeutic. "Las Aventuras" sums all of these attitudes into a place for all to share. And....it feels good.

Happy New Year from Las Aventuras!!!

Taken in Parfrey's Glen in Wisconsin back in '98.  It all started with an idea and a question.  What more is there? Let's find out.

I'd like to wish all my followers a Happy New Year!!!  It has been an incredible year blogging for Las Aventuras.  Of course there is more to come next year, but for now, I thought it would be fun to recap this years highlights and put it all into a video.  It's hard to express how much work went into this blog when it all was really fun to put together.  However, I did have moments of frustration and some screaming was involved.....especially on the posts that were erased after several hours of work! Be safe and we'll see you back next year for more fun and exciting adventures around the Tucson garden.....and beyond!