2026 First Update
In many homes in Perú, families set up a lovely nativity scene (“Un nacimiento”) complete with painted paper scenery and ceramic holy family, magi, and animals. This is my MIL Mamá Irma’s nacimiento.
Holiday:
January 6 was Día de los Reyes where children in Latin America put out their shoes in hopes that Los Reyes Magos will leave them gifts. Three Kings Day (Twelfth Night) in English. Our kids did not put out their shoes, as I don’t think my husband’s family ever really celebrated it. My host family, Los Palacios in Miramar, Argentina, DID celebrate it back in the late 90s, so I have a fond memory of the holiday. You may enjoy some additional info here.
Some folks even prepare a King Cake (which shares similar European Epiphany celebrations origins like in New Orleans) with a baby Jesus inside. I always wondered why there was a baby inside NoLa King Cakes, now I know!
Here in Perú on Jan. 6, my husband Jhan’s mother took down her Christmas tree and put away her nativity set, and Jhan packed to head back to the States for a month or so.
Jaguey House Project Update:
The house is now MUCH more accessible!! We no longer have to walk down a slippery, sandy, rocky, cliff-like hill to get to the kitchen door! Papá Miguel managed the project for us from afar, and it basically finished up in the 2-3 weeks after we arrived in Perú. I am thoroughly delighted with the progress, so I thought I should share some photographs. I can already imagine the jardineras (planters) filled with dirt and compost, and planted in aromatic herbs, flowers, and palm trees.
This is the view from just inside the large portón behind the house (the main entrance from the Panamericana side).
This is just to the right, you can see the large jardineras (planters) on the right side.
This is the view looking toward the Camaná side of things on the first larger platform. There are additional jardineras and a sitting area directly behind the house.
This is the view of the staircase looking up from the bottom. The house door into the kitchen is just off to the right of this image.
This is a photo of the house with the new outdoor staircase and jardineras from the chacras (farm fields) below.
In the studio:
I’ve been working on a medium sized floral painting. Last year, my dad took a photo of some of the amazing gladiolas that grow here along the irrigation canals. I had him airdrop it to me and started this painting during the last of our stay back in February 2025. It then languished for the past nine months while I tried to sort myself out (potentially will write more on that another time). In recent years I’ve been having some health struggles and was also thrown a life curve ball, but I’m still working through my feelings on all of that and will think about what if anything I’d like to share. I might become a YouTube series. I’ll keep you posted. In any event, here’s a couple quick photos of my studio setup with palette and my work in progress.
At my in-laws’ place I have this lovely little table that I share with my kiddos. And I paint on a travel easel from Cheap Joe’s (sadly they closed in March 2025 after 40 years in business).
Here’s my current work in progress (WIP).
For the curious, this is my travel sketchbook. I purchased this in Carrollton at Paperworks - SO love the Mary Oliver quote!!!
Here is my most recent sketch of my tiniest studio assistant.
Inspiration:
I’ve had a bit of a heavy feeling lately. It is somewhat due to the general unrest and uncertainty of world events…an anxious-when-will-the-other-shoe-drop sort of feeling. I’m thankful that we have safe places to live and family and friends in both countries. I’m lifting up those who are not safe just now, wherever they are in the world, whatever their fight. I’m contemplating how I might translate some of what I’ve been thinking about and feeling into my creative practice. I think people are using a lot of sound bite style, short quip type content to further divide us all. I personally need to refocus on quiet, slow living that’s more in accordance with my faith, and I would like to share this contemplative living philosophy out with others. I’m hoping that it may serve as a help to others, but it’s still in the brainstorm stages.
I hope you’re hanging in there and remembering to breathe! Grab a cuppa and take time for stillness. When and how will you find a quiet moment for contemplation this week?
