Latest Happenings around Padre Island & CorpusChristi

Back on track, after a busy two weeks. It is pupping time for the bottle nose dolphins ( February and March). We keep up on a local blog by Tony Amos, UTMSI (University of Texas Marine Science Institute) research fellow & director of ARK (Animal Rehabilitation Keep). That was a mouthful. Tony is a wealth of information, don't you love that saying :)
There is a percentage of pups that are still born, separated from their mother or victims of predators. Some carcasses wash ashore. Revealing they are neonates: there are no teeth, curled up uterus, folded fins, and tongues adapted for feeding upon mom's teats. Fascinating facts  about these young babies.
Last week over 200 green sea turtles were released from rehabilitation. They were rehabilitated at ARK with great success. Anyone can volunteer which is simply amazing in my book. You can volunteer for several days, one day, one hour. Over 30 vehicles transported the turtles to Padre Island National Seashore.
On a recycling note Corpus Christi has a nonprofit that is offering education and rain barrels to the public for a discounted price. The project is called "Catch a Drop". Citizens can purchase rain barrels which are subsidized and offered to the city's water customers at discount. Conserving precious water resources and protecting water quality is an important step. Rain barrels are an inexpensive proven option that make a difference in the backyard. Three components 1. conserve water  2. prevent water pollution   3. reduce sedimentation  in lakes, rivers, and streams. Captured rain water can be used for gardens, lawns, washing cars & pets.
So our first art experiences were awesome as well. The local coffee house provides some fabulous acrylic and oil painting portraits. I was able to take a few photos while enjoying a splendid cup of java. Coffee Waves is one of the few local businesses that has remained and built quite a wonderful business. Just as in any small town businesses come and go, ebb and wane, still and flow.  Life continues on as we move forward.  Love to all of you tonight. We are heading

to fresh fish markets tomorrow and Enya is chomping at my heels to write her blog so keep an eye out for hers next.

The Great Melting Pot called Life

How I love the melding of cultures, races, ideas and spirits. We all are one called the human race and we seem to forget this at times. I am reminded of this wonderful mixture while staying in Port Aransas. While visiting Corpus Christi Trace and I had a gentleman, with a very kind face, sit beside us and tell us his (and his wife's) story. They were taking care of his mother in law, who he spoke of with great love and conviction. He must have sensed we were kindred spirits... and you know I think we are. This fine gentleman had a proud aristocratic face, gentle large eyes that teared quickly, and a strong but gentle presence. He reminded me of Trace and was drawn to Trace for good reasons. Trace also accepts others and unless they give him reason to question their goodness is an open spirit.
(On this note I must admit I have made my share of mistakes on judging others but after quiet

reflection I usually kick myself in the ass and move forward:)
Back to my story. This gentleman, by the name of Casey, preceded to tell us about his children. Casey looked to be around late or mid 60s. He had raised three children who were successful and had all moved on in life. His wife often times helped at the women's shelter during her spare time. While helping their she became attached to a mother with 5 children. She has a large heart (as does Casey) and they were soon helping in all manners right up till the day the lady was arrested for dealing drugs. Casey said the children called and they knew, after visiting with the proper authorities, that they must take all five kids. There would be no other way after looking at the tears in these young children's faces (not to mention his wife's tears).
To make a long story short, Casey and his wife adopted all five children and have raised them through great obstacles, of which there were many. Adoption alone is not easy.
I just knew that we had an angel land next to us who felt he had much to share with other wee spirits. He said I have been blessed in my life and I have enough to share. As he got up to walk away something made him turn around and say to us, "Thank you for letting me share my story. I did not know if you would mind for I am Muslim." He is so much more than a word, a category, a definition, he is a human being living in a world that is not easy. We all know in our hearts, in our bones when someone is a good person. We are all facing difficulties and trials in life and thank goodness we have each other.
Once long ago we were all immigrants in unknown lands, trying to navigate life by the same stars that shine down upon every human being in the world. Let us not forget who we once were and how much farther we can go with peace in our hearts. Idealistic perhaps but full of love.
I have included a piece of art that touched my heart.

Rambling thoughts on Adversity

Adversity... definition: misfortune, troubles, difficulties, etc.   How one deals with adversities sets a stage for life's next act. I have often times cried my heart out and them promptly move on. When I say cried my eyes out, I literally mean cry my eyes out until my heart and soul are clear and can move on. As I drove into Corpus Christi this morning I looked for the pink flamingos and the beautiful white egrets.... and thus there they were. Fisherman were on all sides of them in the inland outlets. Extremely beautiful and poetic. I love watching the people fish with their backs set to the ocean breeze, their faces to the sun, pure enjoyment from all around them. I so want to bring my family down here to romp and play near the ocean inlets.
How does this coincide with adversity one might ask? The birds, the fishermen. the water itself all face great adversity in life. Pending weather, changing seasons, human interference (such as trash and pollution to name a few) all serve to be adversities to overcome. Simply put one must do the best you can. Gratitude's, thank yous, blessings for all we have in our life... this is so important. Trace and I get up in the morning and start the day with blessings and a great cup of coffee ... it sets the tone, a melody of which there is no denying. It simply gives us wings like these great birds before us. Who knows what the catch of the day will be.
This morning as I drove I heard a new song by Jason Mraz  "Three Things". It is simply brilliant and sums up how we feel. I have included the lyrics and site to listen to it if you are so inclined. Love to all. Annie                                                                                                                                                                      http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jasonmraz/3things.html

All living creatures

Today was off.. yes strangely off.  I looked to the sky, to the water, to the land where all creatures subside..there, yes there lied the peace that provided calm. As I drove to Corpus Christi, very aware that life can change in a heartbeat, I was aware of the many birds above and along side of me. Among the white egrets and the white pelicans there stood a pink flamingo.. yes perhaps a common sight among the Gulf inhabitants but a mysterious wonder to me..straight out of Alice in Wonderland or some fairy tale. The apprehension of troubles that invade us lifted ever so slightly and I began to breathe, yes just breathe...it is totally free (as I had a dear friend point out to me). 
Life is precious, sacred, timely. Seasons and tides come...go.. flowing from our heart center, from Sacred Mother Earth. We are a part of this sacred flow. Allowing this flow, breathing deeply, richly strengthens our resolve and forward movement. Forward movement allows us the freedom to live life to the fullest. 
Some of the green sea turtles of Padre Island were recently stunned by cold waters. Many are caught, rehabilitated (by warming them up, checking them out and de-barnacling them) and set free. Careful watch, gentle love, warm hearts allowed some to survive. Survival but more than that..sustainability so that many more 

continue...
People linked to all living creatures leaving a map of love, of long extended breaths, of release from life's unsettling moments. 

Enya's ramblings

Hello there ... I'm Enya... yes I can type, I can run, I can stare with the best of dogs. I decided it was time to let the public know what I thought of beach life... absolutely love it. Now mind you the salt water is awful on my tongue but running and jumping through the waves, now that is the life!! I'm slowly adjusting to my friend Annie setting doggles upon my face... ridiculous but helpful in the bright sun....Life is good

Restoration and Exploration

Here we are on our third day out.. landing in Kerrville Texas which is along the Guadalupe river. An excursion, an exploration, a time of restoration. Does one call this a vacation? Not exactly.. perhaps a time to explore new art scenes and art galleries, a time to create on site and allow creative expression to unfold, a time to show my work and sign up for art classes! A holiday of spirit, a time of respite... ..
Enya prefers to think of this as a time to smell the roses and every bit of substance that puts itself in her pathway. She loves her time next to the steering wheel on a perch of considerable height for a wee bosty. She loves the interaction with people and dogs at various locations along the countryside. This morning she met a therapy dog who is traveling from military station to military station providing help for soldiers returning home. A proud beautiful dog who was well behaved.. we both marveled at her. Enya loves the snacks and the new smells as anticipation builds for the ocean sites. Kerrville is 300 miles away from our first destination and you can smell the salt air... soft and breezy. k
Travels cause us to be present in the moment, grateful for the moment while soaking up the geography that floats by. One is aware of the open road and the reflections of other lands that we glimpse. Long forgotten homesteads litter the path from Billings Montana to Casper Wyoming, from Casper to Lamar Colorado where the signs of drought were beginning to show. From Lamar Colorado through the panhandle of Oklahoma and Texas. As we entered Lamar the abandoned homes began to appear from the landscapes. Ghosts from long ago seemed to wave as we silently drove by. All creek beds were "dry as a bone" as my father would say. Hard-working folks who scraped a living as they could. Reminders of my days growing up in Laredo Montana and watching the unfolding of seasons and weather patterns that ruled the day and my father's spirit.
I thought of the words sung by John Cougar "Little pink houses for you and me"...  Many of these wee homes revealed pride and tenacity. Every small community we drifted by had a museum that was well kept and full of memorabilia. Our first night in Casper was uneventful. Not that Wyoming doesn't contain beauty or talent.. just think Annie Proulx came from this country with her cutting prose. Wyoming seems to be a land of tenacity born of stones & scrub brush. I often wonder about the feminine spirit that would have existed on this land years ago.
Our second night was spent in Dumas, Texas. As we began our journey to Dumas, humming the tune "I'm a ding dong daddy from Dumas" we watched a sunrise that revealed a sun halo...yes a sun halo. If you haven't seen this phenomena it is remarkable. A full halo (or partial halo) forms around the sun (or moon) due to ice crystals in the air. The circular halo is referred to as a 22 degree halo because of it's radius around the sun at, you have it, 22 degrees.
Further down the road, as we left Fort Collins in the dust, we were to feast our eyes upon a rookery! Yes, yes, I know many of us have seen a rookery but I (and Trace) have never seen one with 7 herons in it all perfectly happy watching traffic zoom by. I quickly sketched in my book (but we were on a mission so no stop). What a perfect start to a gorgeous day!!!
A dear friend of mine sent a link for the "best" rendition of ding dong daddy of Dumas. I have included it below. Love to all of you and thanks for coming along on our exploration.
Blessings your way
Annie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W671d5w3zHU

We are off to see the Great Road Wizard...

Once again we prepare for the open road.It is extremely exciting and engaging preparing for the open road. This January it is quiet and reflective as we pack bags, plot menus, pull out books and binoculars, prepare our bikes, and last but never least decide which art supplies will travel with me! As the quiet, reflective moments settle in I realize I am going to miss not only family but my new home, my studio, my new found friendships. Yes two months will pass quickly but I will miss everyone a great deal. So my writing begins..
My reflections cause me to ponder the connections that run from the North Rocky Mtn. Divide to the South Rocky Mtn. Divide.. yes, there is a connection just as there is a Santa Claus (in my world). I am ecstatic about the thoughts of connecting the energy from Montana to the energy of the south. How that will play out I'm never quite sure but until we ask the questions we will never know the answer. 
I will begin with several blogs a week.. one from the viewpoint of Enya, my faithful black and white friend who (like me) has one eye in the heavens and one eye on earth. This allows her the clear vision needed to keep me on my toes. Just one look from those eyes and I know when something is awry, or calm or perhaps funky. One blog from the birds point of view.. yes I feel they have a point of view so once a week we will have a page dedicated to our marvelous winged creatures from the east. And once a week you will have an artistic perspective coming at you.. please feel free to comment. I will add photos of excitement or wonder. Thank you for joining me on this trip. Much love to all. Till we meet again at snorts and giggles. Annie