Traveling Shoes .... Mexico

I'm missing Mexico ........ when my husband and I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico we usually spent as much time as we could during January/February in Old Mexico. Now that we live in a more temperate climate (One residence in a Mediterranean climate the other coastal) we don't feel the same need to slip off to the hot tropics. The political climate has worsened over the last few years as well ...... in the past we would load up the suv and head down through Tucson and drive all over Mexico. Not now - hope it gets better soon. The above photos were taken in Zihuatanejo - one of our favorite destinations. We usually stay the first few days at the Las Brisas in Ixtapa. A stunning resort hotel designed by Ricardo Legoretta (photos below) and then hot foot it over to Zihu to stay at Casa Luna in a quaint little cabana ( that's my husband in front of the cabana ) with a small kitchen and an outdoor shower - all in a lovely garden setting. Having a kitchen is great because we love shopping the mercado for fruits and vegtables then heading down to the village beach to buy fish from the local fishermen.

I photographed this beautiful model on the beach in front of Las Brisas for a fashion spread. The gorgeous caftan she is wearing is white linen adorned with semi-precious stones, silver beads and tassels from designer Toni Hnasko for Neiman Marcus. Love it - too bad the photographer doesn't get to keep the clothes!

Happy New Year!

And so ............. the holidays are over.  December was a whirlwind - the first 10 days were spent on a road trip with my dearest friend (More on that later).  Upon my return the holidays came rushing at me like a train.  I stepped off the tracks and avoided most of it.  Didn't decorate, baked a few things - and headed back to Sotto Il Monte to spend Christmas with friends and fellow wine lovers from  New Mexico.  We were blessed with beautiful weather and able to have Christmas brunch al fresco in the courtyard.  

We started off with Bellinis - Prosecco infused with white peach juice to accompany the salad of baby greens, raspberries, pomegranate seeds, almonds and goat cheese.... topped off with a balsamic vinaigrette.

For brunch ........ Spiral sliced honey glazed ham from Apple Lane Farms, cranberry compote made with port and Texas oranges, potatoes Au gratin and asparagus with lemon & hollandaise sauce.

And the vino ........ It was a special day - so I opened a special wine.  Amore de Tuscano from my favorite Texas winery ..... Torre di Pietra ...... TexasHillCountryWine.com.

Amore is a Sangiovese and Syrah blend with dark chocolate and black cherries on the front and creamy oak on the finish.  Ooooh la la!

Franco brought a bottle of Brinley Gold Vanilla Rum - Thick rich rum with more than a hint of vanilla.  A perfect pairing for the pecan tarts, pumpkin pie and coffee ...... decadent.

New Year's was spent back at the Pied a Terre .  Jim made the omelets - I made the mimosas!  Brunch out on the terrace watching  the egrets and herons swoop over the water.  Happy New Year!

Looking For Grace

"Go in search of grace" ........ Photographer Keith Carter said that to me and a room full of other photographers in San Miquel de Allende, Mexico....... I've thought about his words many times  and try to not only keep grace in my images ..... but also in my life.

That afternoon I photographed a young woman taking her elderly grandmother for a walk in the park.  Patient and attentive ... the young woman held onto her grandmothers elbow - to catch her if she missed a step.  I photographed the older woman's hands.  Long slender fingers - full of grace.

The last of the Paper Whites drifts down to the table top - graceful to the end - the holiday season over.