Enjoy and thanks again.

Washington is the young Peruvian man you see in the photos with the kids below. He was my guide when I was in Peru. He lives in the Sacred Valley in a lovely and quaint town called Ollantaytambo (say: Oy an tay tam bo) He grew up as a child there not speaking English and singing to the tourists to make a little money. A wonderful lady from the US took him under her wing and helped him get an education. Today he is pretty fluent in English, Spanish and Quechua (native tongue of the ancient people).

(more…)

Night of Artists is a spectacular event that I participate in each spring. This year it is being held at the Trans Alta Arts Barn in Old Strathcona. You can visit the official Night of Artists web site for more information. If you wish to purchase tickets - I have limited quantities for Saturday the 26th and some for the 27th - at the discounted rate of $20, about $8 less than from the box office (after taxes and fees).

Tickets can be paid for by Paypal and sent to you by mail, or by cash and picked up from me in person. Please contact me for more information or to let me know how many tickets you want and for what night.

I haven’t been to the Winspear in quite some time, nor the Citadel and I’m thrilled to have the pleasure to attend both this week. On Wednesday I went to the Citadel’s production of Beauty and the Beast, with my fabulous friend Melanie who was gracious enough to give me her husband’s extra ticket. That performance was magnificent.

Right now there is a fellow making some announcements. He started by telling us about “After thoughts” in the lobby after the show, and proceeded to introduce none other than, us in the blogger room. The concert maestro was just introduced, Bill Eddins. And we’re off and blogging . . .

(more…)

So on Friday February 22nd I will attend the ESO concert and write about it on here before I leave the building. How cool is that?

Watch for it Friday night and maybe an article about us in the Journal.

In your thin scruffiness,
black and white against
sand and stone, I think
of your well-groomed, fattened
relatives guarding luxury
in North America, as you
guard for the hand in the south,
that feeds you, no matter
how sparse, the dry bone.

- Sandra Mooney-Ellerbeck

(more…)

you are the definition of endurance
standing firm against the backdrop of your native country
and I am the same
wedged between the busy streets and avenues of my own

we are no different really, you and I
your eyes a watercolor of secrets
tracking survival from the dusty grounds
pulling in a wish, inventing a dream that might save you
while my own secrets flock to my eyes
from the weathered places I track daily
a lost mother, a broken union between man and woman
things too painful from the past pushing in

we both stand in our dry surroundings
contemplating life through the history of our fortunes
yet we are not broken by the paths we are forced to take
we breathe scraps of hope into our skin
and the flush of them covers us
makes us into something strong
turns us into a signpost of resilience.

- barbara mitchell

(more…)

Hands of Time

The toil of your life
is carried in your hands in
the earth stains upon and
under your fingernails
as much as in the thinning
gold wedding ring around your
wrinkled finger.

Your hands in their tired
silence upon your lap
go beyond language barriers;

and words are not needed
to tell your story.

- Sandra Mooney-Ellerbeck

(more…)

My journey to Peru began in January 2007 when I met a lady at a seminar in Vancouver. Diana and I connected immediately because we both had similar visions – to take people on tours around the world. I want to teach people about photography and art, she wants to guide women on spiritual journeys. Peru actually wasn’t on my list of “must visit” places, but when an opportunity to go as her assistant and official photographer arose, it was too good to pass up. I was about to learn how different this trip would be from your regular tourist vacations, and for that I’m SO glad.

(more…)

My brief glimpse into the lives of the people of Peru, from the children in the streets to the oldest woman woman in the sacred valley along with all the color and contrast have been put into what I’m calling Visions of Peru 2008 Calendar. There are a few copies left at $20 plus s/h so make sure you order early. As my FREE gift to you and my way of sharing these beautiful colors, please enter your email address in the form to the right to receive a free Visions Of Peru screen saver based on the images in the calendar.

There are only a few of these left. Paypal is available for making payments if necessary.