Pico de gallo anyone?

This is Jared...my 20-year-old son. He's going to college and works part-time. He got home tonight and said he had an overwhelming urge for pico de gallo. He had bought all the ingredients and set to work. (He uses a knife like the professional chefs. I've never been able to cut things that way.)

Here's the result in a bowl...

...and on a chip. It was excellent...all the right ingredients of tomatoes, cilantro, lime, onions, etc.

Jared's never been to Isla, but he and his girlfriend went to Acapulco last year. Yeah, I know, it's not Isla, but it IS Mexico, so it's a start for him. Here's a cool picture his girlfriend took when she was parasailing.

And my favorite picture of him in Mexico...looks like it could be an Isla picture with the stray dog. Apparently, "Bonita" was a faithful friend the whole time they were there.

She reminds me of this little sweetie on Isla...

I think Jared is a "chip off the ol' block."

Wimberley, Texas...

So I took a quick trip up to Wimberley today...

I really wouldn't consider it a "road trip"...it's only about a half hour away. I would think a road trip should be at least 100 miles to be legitimate.

Anyway, you have to go on this road to get there...

And this area of Texas is called...

That's right...the Devil's Backbone. Don't ask me why...I don't know. Maybe because it looks so desolate?? This is also called Texas Hill Country.

I guess everyone has their own opinion as to what is attractive scenery-wise, but I think it looks a tad bleak. But there are people down here who think this is drop-dead gorgeous. To each his own, I guess.

So here is one side of the historic end of Wimberley...

And here is the other...

It's a quaint little town...much like Gruene. Gruene has the benefit of having Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas. That lends itself to people having fun and dancing, etc. Wimberley is a tamer touristy town...more artistic and caters to the older crowd. Cute little shops...

This little place is one of my favorites and seems to have the most talented artists. Look at this table...

All those little pieces of wood have been painstakingly laid out...this must have taken months to make. But then again, this same table has been sitting in this store for over four years (to my knowledge)...so you wonder if all that effort is worth it.

I love the pretty glass pieces. I hope those hanging pieces are secured tightly. Don't even want to think what kind of mess that would be if they fell.

I thought this was interesting...and unusual.

As was this...

At first, I thought these were kind of entertaining...but then, I thought, "What's with the claws?" Seems like kind of a strange way to depict cat claws...they look more like white stubs.

Here are some lawn art dinosaurs in case you're interested.

Then on to the typical Texas western stuff. An unsual hanging...

Tapestries...

Western dining...

Texas toilet paper holder...

Texas vase...

Texas chair and lamp...and saddle...

The Blanco River runs through Wimberley. It's a much smaller river than the Guadalupe that runs through Gruene. No tubers or swimmers...but it's pretty.

I walked down to the edge of the river and saw these guys and thought, "How cool!" Then, as I stood there for awhile, I realized they were fake. How lame.

Saw a stained glass store. I talked to the owner and they've been in this same store for the past 27 years. Wow. She said most of their business comes from people coming in and requesting their own work. After my attempt at stained glass, I will have to admit she was very talented.

I also found a place that was trying to find homes for stray cats. Gotta love them for that. Here was one sweety available for adoption. I love the little hanging bed she's laying in. Unfortunately, I guess the only place you could hang these in would be in a cage. They look pretty comfy, though.

I always like the Mexican influence in the gift shops here. These are actually made locally in Texas, but they definitely have a Mexican feel.

These were pricey little items from Oaxaca...

Interesting character...

Then I found these...photographs of Mexican doorways. Look at the prices...this one is $300.00.

This one is $350.00.

And this one was $600.00...Oh, my God.

These were unframed and were only $15.00.

I've seen photos from Isla lovers that are 100 times better than these photos and it just bugs the shit out of me that someone could get $300-$600 for a lame photo that they think is "all that about Mexico." My humble opinion...and little rant for the day.

Macro, macro, macro!!

Since so many people are posting macro photos, I thought I'd join in. I just started out taking random photos of things that meant something to me. This is a little angel my aunt in Connecticut sent me...it sits on my desk to remind me of her love.

This is just a little thing that hangs from the chandelier in my dining room...no special meaning.

This is from a Valentine's gift I received.

This goes way back. When I lived in the dorm of Centennial Hall at the University of Minnesota back in 1976, I used to play a lot of foosball...in fact I was known as the Foos Queen of Centennial Hall. One day when some guys came by to repair the table, I asked if I could have the broken player. Here he is...I still have him 30 years later.

Then I got into photographing Isla memorabilia. Here's my little keepsake of the blue posts that used to line the Malecon.

Remember when I did the post on the posts being dumped off on into the water? I will always miss those blue posts. They were much better than the ones they have there now in my humble opinion.

Here's a pic of my pareo of Frida. It hangs in my office underneath my virtual beach scene that my sons gave me for Mother's Day last year.

This is my favorite Isla necklace.

My leftover pesos.

The sun I got on Isla which is hanging on my kitchen wall.

And last, but not least...here's Ol' Blue...the stud that lives behind my house. My ultimate macro photo. Ya' gotta love him.