Tzumindi Creatures

On our trip last month to Patzquaro we decided check out the nearby town of Ihuátzio where the prime industry is making fanciful animals out of the local reeds. I loved the directions to one of the studios: To find Tzumindi you have to go from Pátzcuaro toTzurumutaro and then take the road that leads to Tzinztuntzan till you get to Sanabria, turn to the left to head to Cucuchucho leaving behind on the left side Ihuatzio, beware of some "invisible" TOPES and then you're done. Well, that's about right.




There were real-life horses grazing in front of the Tzumundi studio where Mario Lopez Torres works his magic.

We knocked on the gate to his home and he invited us in to see his work. Most of his business is through catalog orders so his creations are stacked haphazardly on shelves.
These toucans began as sturdy wire frames
and the thick reeds were woven to give them shape. Their beaks and eyes are metal.
Need a lifesize cactus or bull? This is the place to come.
This photo of my pig friend is for a friend who gets pigs for gifts; you know who you are.
I ended up buying the commodious sewing basket on the left on top of the table.

Revolution Day 2009

Although Revolution Day in Mexico now has an "official" day, the third Monday of November, it is celebrated in San Miguel with two parades later in the week, one for young children and one the next day for older children and adults. Everyone loves a costume!







Most schools participate, if not in costume, then performing feats of gymnastic skill.
I was particularly enchanted by this young girl getting her photo taken on a papermache horse. She rejected the prop rifle but happily accepted the guitar, placing her floppy stuffed dog in a prominent position.
Afterward, her mom treated her to something red and sticky on a stick. I'm guessing maybe candy apple?
If you are a fan of cute children dressed in revolutionary costume, you can peek at my previous year's post of this same event. Obviously I am a fan.

Next year, 2010, marks both the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution, and the 200th anniversary of the beginning of what became the Mexican Independence Movement. The planning nationwide for this celebration has been going on for at least a year so it should be a big one.

My Favorite Street

I love this view as we walk down Montes de Oca to the center of town with the Paroquia in the distance. Here is another view from an old postcard.
I have no idea when these were taken, maybe the 40s? The second one is a bit further down the same road because you can see where it ends at Barranca. And here is what it looks like today, taken from the same spot as the first one.

A Raptor for a Visitor

This beautiful raptor is a Crested Caracara, also called a Mexican Eagle, and is depicted on the national seal of Mexico. He showed up in the yard of our neighbors yesterday with a long rope tied around his leg and seemed relieved to have found a sanctuary. They called Ecologica to see what they could do to help him and the agent said he was probably taken from the nest and kept captive his whole life.For now he is safe and will be cared for in this beautiful garden until Ecologia decides how to handle his case.

Mmmm Breakfast

This morning was chilly and we had the fireplace on. It all looked so cozy with our new little red rooster proudly crowing on the mantle.
He joined us during our recent trip to Talapaque, near Guadalajara.Just so you don't think we starve for fruit here, I took a photo of the fresh strawberries and bananas available most of the time we are here. We had been getting luscious blackberries in the market from Michoacán and actually saw the berry fields as we drove through there on our recent trip, but the season seems to be over until next year.
The napkins and rings are from the Sunday market in Tonala near Guadalajara and the table runner is from Ross in San Antonio Texas. The label says Made in India but it fits right in.
Our plates are a copy of an old Puebla design made and bought locally. My mother brought similar plates from Puebla during her trip to Mexico in the early 1940s and my family ate on them for special occasions. Nowadays tableware is clearly marked "lead free" but in those days, I wonder.

A One Street Town

This weekend we headed to Santa Rosa, a small town near Guanajuato about 2 hours from San Miguel, in search of a Saturday diversion and their their famous pottery. The diversion was a scenic drive through forested hills to this unusual restaurant
overlooking the city of Guanajuato and the La Valenciana Church (built between 1765-1788) in the middle distance.

The town of Santa Rosa is arranged along a narrow ridge road with buildings perched along the edge. It is not a particularly scenic town except for what you can see looking off the ridge; most of the buildings are of this vintage and condition.
The famous pottery turned out to be this large collection in the one shop that was open. Because of the steepness of the ridge, you enter from the top and go down several flights of stairs through the showrooms. We were hoping to visit a factory and see where it is made so we'll have to return during the week.
The church is the one building that is very well taken care of.
What struck me as most charming was the post office, tacked on the front wall of a sweet shop. It contained everyone's telephone bill, bank statement and other official mail.
One more reason to love life in Mexico.

El Día de los Muertos

The week before Nov. 2nd we were on our road trip near Patzquaro, Michoacan, well known for it's beautiful Day of the Dead festivities. The sugar market vendors were lined up under the portales, anxious to sell their sugar sculptures to be used in altars or ofrendas.













Well, some were not as anxious as others, and perhaps bored by it all.
We found different types of sculptures this year such as this large heart
and molded chocolate skulls.
My goal was to find a Frida sugar skull, or at least one I could modify, since this year my personal ofrenda was going to include Frida.

In addition to sugar sculptures, the traditional marigolds used in the ofrendas were easily obtainable throughout the market stalls

or from door-to-door vendors.
By the time we returned to San Miguel the cut paper flags were flying. These are papel picado and it is still possible to buy the thin tissue paper flags although when flown outside they tend to be made of plastic now. Still, they are festive.
These in front of the church are of paper and are nearly in shreds from the winds.My own ofrenda this year has tiny papel picado flags that I found in Patzquaro, along with a larger one with a figure of Catrina, the skeleton woman in her big hat on the left. Last year I felt that what my niche needed was tassles so I stenciled those on below.
Both my parents and Bryan's are represented again this year in my ofrenda and I did find a sugar skull that, with some eyebrow enhancement and colorful flowers, could accompany the Frida tin nicho box I made.Speaking of eyebrow enhancement, Yoli (3rd from left) decided to throw a channeling Frida dinner and here are some of the lovely guests. (The guys wouldn't play along as Diego Rivera.)