“Asking someone to describe what something sounds like is like telling a blind person to guess what I look like.” Chester Bennington, lead vocalist for Linkin Park
What a wonderful way to start the week than by immersing oneself in a Sound Bath. This unique experience was held at our yoga studio with a young, passionate couple from Colima. Sound therapy is created with overtone-emitting instruments, such as Tibetan singing bowls composed of various materials: crystal, copper, steel, pottery, etc., accompanied by other ancient musical instruments along with beautiful voices.
As you lie still on a floor mat, we were quietly guided through gentle meditation with the sound waves washing over you … as all the cares in the world dissipate. The only thing you hear is the music enveloping you as in a mother’s safe embrace. Pure bliss and tranquility … perfect for decompressing after my week in LaLa Land.
Back in the Saddle … Napo’s (horse wrangler) birthday cabalgata (horse ride) of about 20 riders took us to a beautiful plateau overlooking the lake. Here we celebrated his Cumpleaños with shots of tequila ~ two bottles were sacrificed! Onward and upward
Ride #2 we explored a new, beautiful trail. What with the plentiful rainfall, wildflowers are beginning to appear amid the lush landscape. Galleta, a horse ridden by Pat, was losing a shoe, so what to do? You call the Horse AAA – Napo shows up and soon enough Galleta was properly shoed and off and trotting … Heigh-Ho.
David, after 6 weeks of recuperating, finally returned to Sit ‘n Fit class. Everyone warmly welcomed him with abrazos and James, our fearless maestro, played “The Stripper” in his honor (the very first song played when we attended our first class). Even with being seated, the class wiped him out, but slowly he’ll be returning to full throttle to James’ lively disco beat.
Leafcutter ants! Oh my … David discovered a nest of these nasty buggers in our backyard. This species of tropical, fungus-growing ants are endemic to South and Central America, Mexico, and parts of the southern US. Leaf-cutter ants can carry twenty times their body weight. They cut and process fresh vegetation (leaves, flowers, and grasses) to serve as the nutritional “starter” for their fungal food cultivates (it’s like active dry yeast for baking). A large colony can strip a tree in one day. Unbelievably, they are also capable of cutting through human skins! David quickly set out to find a way to exterminate the nest … with thanks to Clare.
The second round of Mexican Train dominos with our nonagenarian neighbors, Cleo and John. This time they hosted at their lovely home with an outstanding view and a sizable kitchen that I’m in love with. We played for an hour and a half – this time for dinero. John’s the champ, winning 30 pesos.
Afterward, we drove down to nearby Viva México restaurant, their de facto “kitchen” – they dine there most days. Upon arrival, owner Augustin welcomed them with the kind words, “abuelo and abuela.” He runs a nonprofit that distributes food to the town’s most needy people. Cleo and John volunteer early every Thursday morning. One of these days I plan to join them. We enjoyed dining al fresco and being serenaded by a young trio of men singing and playing their hearts out.
Dinner Saturday at our favorite restaurant to celebrate the first time we met 11 years ago … come to find out that after all these years, I was late by one month, it’s July 8th, not August; uh oh – can’t trust my “Outlook.” A change was quickly made to the calendar program.
On the Menu … mashed potato and spinach enchiladas, with homemade red sauce (tomatoes, garlic, onions, jalapeños, and dry red chili) garnished with cheese and black olives served with fresh salsa, crema, and a side of refried black beans.
