Gallery Opening

The Secret Garden Art Gallery, about 1/4 of a mile down Carr 429, from the Lemontree Oceanfront Cottages, had its new season opening this past weekend. The tropical setting of the Gallery makes for a fabulous venue to display the art.

Roberto Ortiz, the owner, has new oil canvases up and his work is spectacular. Some canvases invite you into them to delve into their inner recesses while others are incredible explosions of tropical color.



Other local artists also exhibit there including your Lemontree hosts, Captain Ted and Bella Jane. Captain Ted has photographs from his most recent body of work, Sea of Memories, as well as underwater images taken out at Desecheo Island, Pr. He also has gritty San Juan scenes, black and white abstract nudes, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets for which Rincon is famous. In this image, Ted was able to capture a sereneRincon, PR sunrise of orange and blue.



Bella Jane's paper mache tropical fish are hanging in the front gallery and standing near them is being in a surreal school of tropical fish. Their colors are exotic and daring and never fail to bring a smile to the viewer! The gallery also has an array of artists who exhibit jewelry of all kinds including pieces using sea glass collected right here on the beach in Rincon.

Rincon, for a small town, has an exciting and vibrant art scene with galleries and continuing changing exhibitions at the Hotel Rincon of the Seas (where Captain Ted's photographs from his Sea of Memories collection are currently on view) and the Cooperativa Credit Union Public Space. As the season continues, we will visit openings and exhibitions and share those with you in the blog

Rehearsal

But wait... who can this be among the earnest players? Can it be our own, our very own BellaJane of the Lemontree? Yes it can be and... Yes she can.

This Saturday was the rehearsal before the big recital. Bella's group was accompanied by a bongo player and backed by guitarists. Her four classmates completed a perfect set and with much relief left the stage as completers of the Tiple class. Next term she will be in the Tiple workshop.

On Saturday a week is the recital.

Practice for the recital

Bella is learning to play the Tiple. This is a small stringed instrument that has many variations throughout the Spanish speaking world. It's not considered a "fine" instrument although they are always hand made by local artisans. Indeed the rustic quality and the "hills" origin of the instrument is one of its charms. The instrument is related to a Spanish medieval instrument that was developed in the 12th century. For a great history of the Tiple check this article out. The word Tiple means treble in Spanish and that characterizes the higher pitched sounds the instrument makes.

Bella became intrigued with the instrument when a local artisan spoke to a woman's philanthropic organzation about the instrument's history and how it is constructed. This fall, Bella has been studying the Tiple at the Conservatory in San Juan and next week will have a performance. This week it is a double rehersal. You can bet that we will write that up.

Orchids in the Garden

Orchids thrive here in the Caribbean. You see them hanging in their pots on porches and under protective trees and out in the open as well, casting out their incredible flowers for all to see. We have the traditional "corsage" orchids, of course, but what is so amazing, is the vast variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Here at the Lemontree, we have orchids that thrive in the flower beds. At almost anytime of year, we will have blooms thrusting upward to show us their beautiful colors. Today, this one was especially beautiful in the tropical sunlight.

Pizza

Who comes to a Spanish country thinking about pizza. You think about empanadillas, the spices in sofrito, the coffee, the stew called salcocho... but pizza...not really.

Well, if you were raised north of this place from time to time, you do get a hankering for some great pizza. Now I come from the heart of pizzaland... which for you Chicago readers is New York City...regrets. One of the virtues of Puerto Rico is that many on the Isla have spent a good bit of time in the New York area and when they came back to Puerto Rico they brought their taste for great pizza back with them.

One of our favorite places is Brothers Pizza which is located on the square in Rincon. As you can see this fellow has the touch. He tells me he wants to be a chef someday and is taking classes in culinary school. I've told him that if the other things he cooks are as good as his pizza he has a bright future ahead of him.

They don't do delivery here (its not NYC!) but if you call ahead the pie will be ready when you arrive. Of course it is fun to go into the square at night, order the pizza and then either soak up some of the Brother's 50's style atmosphere or take a walk and catch a late night game of dominoes which is likely to be in progress. The fellows are experts and the game is intense...more on this in another post!

Long Shadows of Fall

"I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me and what can be the use of it is more than I can see...."

Today was bright and clear. The waters were calm and the breezes gentle. I told Ted I was going for a walk along the beach with my camera to see what I could find. What I found was my long shadow of fall.

When we lived in the City, the children always thrilled at their long shadows in the late fall. We would walk along the sidewalks and their shadows would precede them. "Look how tall we are," they would say with a thrill in their voices.

The pictures show my long shadow of fall. The one on the right is on the sand and the one on the left is taken while I'm standing in the water. You can see how clear the water is and calm.

Just a perfect day for a walk along the beach taking pictures and watching my shadow!

Irene

Irene is the cat who chooses to live with us at the Lemontree. She actually did choose Bella. Here is the story. Last year we were tending to some business in Mayaguez when this very small kitty came up to Bella in a parking lot and began to rub on her legs. She and I looked at each other and after scouting around for a possible owner we took her home. Since then she has developed a rigorous schedule. Up with the dawn, meow... we let her out. She then scouts around the Lemontree and checks up on guests. Those guests that welcome cats she tends. Later morning... snooze. Lunch. Some lizard hunting and during the heat of the day a lot of laying about on cool tile. Towards the evening, more hunting. At dark... she comes in for dinner and social time and then to sleep.

A nice kitty life.

She is a great cat and most catlike. She looks after guests and keeps down any unwanted critters about the tree.

In Rincon we support the Animal Rescue Fund... known as ARF. This organization protects strays and works to find homes for them. We have had a few guests who come to the Lemontree for a holiday and leave with a pet.