More From El Tuito

Pat, Bonnie and Elaine at Casa Tejedora pozole night dinner in the garden

Kissiah's mama and baby pic

Kissiah's pic of milking for drink at early morning farm  visit

Jenny thinking about her law practice or rowing?

 Kissiah still pondering after a job very well done

Donna contemplating her very difficult weaving

Cande toward the beginning of her tapestry

Pat and Bonnie out for a ride at Rancho Primavera

I'm in Oaxaca now but it isn't quite time to walk away from El Tuito yet. Before I go any further, I want to thank Jean Pierre and Yael for giving us the gift of Casa Tejedora once again. It was more than magical. I also want to thank Pat and Bonnie for hosting Art and providing him with one exciting bird sighting after another. I'm sure we'll be back before long. Rancho Primavera is an amazing place. Check out their website when you can.

The group from this year's retreat at El Tuito had an extraordinary time both in the studio and out. When many of us returned to Vallarta for one last night at Hotel Rosita, it was like old home week. We were  joined by Donna's husband and some very dear friends from days gone by. Elaine shopped 'til she dropped (nearly) and had to make a trip back to the airport check-in when she finally hit the baggage  inspection station upstairs. It seemed they didn't like the idea of her carrying her newly acquired hanging seat any further. We waited for her in "Henry's" restaurant and were relieved when she finally reappeared and hadn't been swallowed up by the downstairs gang of officials. Actually, they were pretty nice to her and didn't charge her additional fare.

Art and Elaine joined me at my gate because I was first to leave. What a process this traveling business is. Sometimes perfectly ordinary and sometimes full of surprises. I'm not a big fan of the Mexico City airport because I've experienced so many last minute but not well reported changes there. So, with some trepidation, I entered, had an offer to carry my day pack upstairs immediately and all in all experienced many kind and thoughtful gestures. No glitches!

That flight from MX was the quickest seeming I've ever experienced and the collectivo was right there and ready to take me to Las Mariposas. I'm all signed up at the Instituto Curtural Oaxaca for classes to begin next Monday. I've paid my tuition there and rewarded myself with a delicious late lunch/early fish dinner at "Marco Polo" on my way home. Spent the morning visiting with old friends and will head out for the Textile Museum this afternoon. I'm going to post a few more pics from the retreat and reunion before moving on over the next few days.