Art in the Mountains

Wilma and Angel, two of our frequent gusts, told me about their trip to Jayuya and their stop at a gallery with artesania and paintings. They told us of meeting Miguel Angel Guzman, painter and musician, who not only impressed them with his painting, but delighted them with his guitar music and voice. They were so enthusiastic, I had to get off my mountain and check this place out!!

As you wind on Rt.140 heading towards Jayuya from Utuado there is a white building with bright Taino graphics and paintings outside. Galeria Saguay open Fri,Sat,Sun. 9-5

Olga Reyes welcomed us into the gallery and showed us her latest work.

After chatting up a storm and looking around, selecting items for us to sell at TJ Ranch, Olga led us downstairs to the gallery where her husband paints and displays his art work. A combination of Puerto Rican lore and Picassoesque brightly painted canvases are displayed in the cool cellar of the gallery. Miguel took his time to explain his work and his life in New York and on the island and then delighted us with a concert on his guitar. It was truly an afternoon to remember.
To top off the excursion, we headed down the hill on Rt. 140 and found a comfortable place to get a bite to eat...a pincho stop on the road...with cool breezes and delicious munchies!!

It's raining cats and dogs

It was raining for days...and not just tropical afternoon showers...it was raining hard and it was raining all day long. In addition to finding all the leaks in the roof, we found...or rather they found us...cats and dogs. This was a week of animal stories.

Anyone who has traveled in Puerto Rico knows that one of the most difficult things to see is the amount of stray animals on the roads. Skinny and mangy, animals are left to fend for themselves. Road kill is frequent. Dumping unwanted animals on an isolated country road is prevalent.

Before the strays showed up, we had a doggie guest, Titleist...a service dog who warned his owner if he needed to take his seizure medicine. We never saw Titleist in uniform...he has a vest he wears to go to restaurants, etc. but he quickly became part of the family. Just ask Puppy.

After Titleist left, Maxine appeared. She didn't arrive at the gate, like most strays...rather Tina took Rafael and Tony to the bottom of the hill to save her. Rafael lives part time in Ciales and the family dog watching over his mother's house was taken, so he was in the market for a new one. Abandoned in a box, she was not in good shape...but was in good spirits. Tina took her to the vet to check out her mange and dangling leg. While first sleeping in a box in the garage, Maxine made her way to the balcon the next day and when Rafael picked her up, she was already part of the family. Good Luck you guys. I hope things work out ok. After promising a home for Maxie, he found out his brother had already gotten another puppy...oh. well...now the dogs have company while taking care of the house.

Now we just have a kitty problem. She was so shy...curling her back and hissing ...
and today I found her in my room. Ay dios mio...what to do. Puppy barks...he ignores our cats, except to eat their food...but this black kitty really gets him going. Anyone want a kitty?