Harbin Hot Springs Devastation Due To Valley Fire

Credit for these photos off facebook go to Harbin Hot Springs 

and Luiza Leite, luizaleite.com

Always a pretty bouquet in honor of those healing springs.

Favorite morning meditation & contemplation spot in the warm pool.

Long time resident of Harbin Dee (1927 - 2011) during her morning routine work out in the warm pool in 2006.

Main area of Harbin with view on the communal kitchen and showers with stairs ascending to the warm pool. 

Cats and skunks would hang near the kitchen, better be careful not to trip over them.

Harbin Hot Springs Swimming Pool

View from the trail up above over the sun deck, swimming pool and hidden the heart shaped pool where kids were welcome.

German speaking Omi, a frequent guest at Harbin, loves to smile, sing & swim.

Serenity, at the core of those hot and healing springs.

Harbin Gate Keeper to Altered States.

Deers with ferocious appetites cohabited in peace at Harbin.

Abundant trails became truly adventurous when walked at night in moon light.

Delicious blueberry pancakes for breakfast with good conversations & lots of laughter.

Harbin Restaurant with Stairs leading up to the Library.

Vegetarian meals savored among good people with open hearts and open minds.

Plenty of opportunities to come together to celebrate with ceremonies of peaceful intentions for the good of all in the warm pool.
I am certain I am not the only one feeling a need for just such, right now.

Harbin Hot Springs as it used to be, before a prior fire.

Harbin Hot Springs Now

Posterity Production posted all the photos that follow to facebook on Sunday September 13th 2015, 
after a devastating wild fire swept down the valley, through Harbin in to Middletown Saturday September 12th 2015.

The Heart, the essence of Harbin Hot Springs is still intact!
Harbin will be rebuilt. A phoenix will rise from the ashes.

Meanwhile it is up to us 'Harbingers' to nourish our inner vision of Harbin, a place of healing, of serenity, of beauty and of magic. 

We will hold it dear, and carry our vision out in to the world, bit by bit.

Harbin Lost to Valley Fire
Posted by Posterity Productions on Monday, September 14, 2015

9.18.15 PG&E: One of their power lines on contact with a tree may have ignited this fire. 

9.26.15 Update: ‪#‎ValleyFire‬ in southern Lake County is now 76,067 acres and 95%.

Today is the day of return for those that have been displaced due to the Valley Fire. It must have been a very long 2 weeks for Harbin residents who lost everything, their homes, their jobs, their community, everything. They are now all eligible for FEMA support and the collection of unemployment, thanks to the California's Governor having declared a state of emergency and thanks to President Obama's declaration of a major disaster (9.22.) with release of federal funding. Harbin's intent to rebuild is now official, but it will take time. Monday the cleaning up efforts will start. Check Harbin's website for further updates and for contributing to their Relief Fund if you are so inclined.

Update 10.16.2015 via facebook: Your donations toward Harbin residents and staff have totaled over $200,000! Please know that the result of these kind offerings serve to carry our community through a difficult and disorienting time. Should you wish to further support us in this manner please visit the bottom of the linked page.www.harbin.org

Update almost 11 months later: Faulty wiring to an outdoor hot tub caused the fire!

Bitten Off Too Much?

On the boundary of our Railyard park this Mama squirrel with tits hanging down heavy enjoyed an apple as we approached. Mama froze with a big piece of apple stuck in her mouth and did not dare move until we passed on, due to the presence of my two pups, who never noticed her up above their noses. I admit, I took my sweet time to take a whole set of pictures.

I seen probably this very same squirrel in the very same spot eating apple a few days earlier and I also noticed new tiny and very cute baby ground squirrels nearby on and around the red rocks. It always strikes me as very odd how these pesky critters evoke no aversion from me, while admittedly rats and mice still do.

Flowers Behind Ear - Pen Between Teeth

What is not to like about a man that sticks flowers behind his ears and pens between his teeth? 

No longer green behind his ears, this man writes furiously (with three pens or more) in public places in to big tomes at times. I wonder what he is writing about. He seems very private, not exactly approachable. I heard him sing in what sounded latin and watched him dance and enjoy live music. Stolen take after 7 pm on the Santa Fe plaza, with dogs, while in a hurry, with my Panaonic Lumix.

Sumo Settling In

Sumo settling in for movie watching.

Still Alice perfect any day, but especially perfect for a rainy afternoon.

Indian Market Art Santa Fe 2015

Donn Clark

Angelina Josephina

Angelina Josephina 

There is great beauty to be found

in those that hold a God or Goddess,

a Higher - or as I prefer a Lower Power

near and dear.

But it may be time to show more of our outrage

over 'religilous' hypocrisy.

I have never felt a need to explain or defend

my religious beliefs, or lack thereof,

nor have I felt a need to attack or ridicule others

in regard to their faith,

except when it concerns outright hypocrisy.

My Mom was a devout Catholic, 

believer in the bearded old guy up in heaven.

Ever since 4th grade,

when we learned that the earth was round

that really there was no up or down,

to look up to God in heaven

had become utter nonsense.

I did not have the heart though 

to debate such matters with my Mom. 

After all Mom gave credit to Mother Mary 

to have gotten her through WW II alive. 

Whatever gets us through,

stick or stones,

gods or bones,

was, is and will be good enough for me.

 I have great admiration
for those that seek to follow the will of their god, 

for those that are willing to lay their egos aside,

for those that seek thy will be done - not mine,

for those that offer their lives in service to their god.

Alas, it is a slippery slope.

Story of Isaac by Leonard Cohen

never fails to grab me.

A scheme is not a vision 

and you never have been tempted 

by a demon or a god.

Too easy to fall victim to deceit.

Lower self masquerades as virtuous higher self,

wrecks havoc with self and other,

the stories of oh so many gurus, 

preachers & teachers,

men and women we put on pedestals to revere.

Maybe it is time,
maybe we ought to be more like Bill Maher
expose the hypocrisy
challenge the hold religions world wide claim on societies.
No need to be mean about it,
but clear and firm because
enough is enough!

Take inspiration for your own hold on reality
and your own speaking out against bullshit
from John Oliver's Televangelists.

Sad & Bad

Called 911 on a guy in the bushes unable to get up yesterday evening. I tried to help him, but it was challenging. The guy nicely dressed in a light blue shirt and khaki shorts with a kind face had too much booze he admitted and simply wanted to go home. He pleaded with me not to call the cops! I got him to scoot over towards the bench and crawl kinda on it and eventually the ambulance came with 3 friendly, strong guys. Since he could not walk on his own they took him, against his will to St. Vincent Hospital. He pleaded with them to just give him a lift home "just a few blocks." No, they could not do that. "I will be worse off at the hospital, don't arrest me, I have no record." I felt sad and bad. Should I have gone home and gotten my van and attempted to give him a ride home? Would that have been enabling? How far to go when offering help? Was calling 911 truly helpful to the man? His knees and elbows were bruised and scratched, I guess from the fall in to the thorny bushes, his fly was open. With thunder's promise of a rain storm, for a moment I almost believed I did the right thing. But the storm passed us by, again, hm ...

Kid

Indian Market 2015

My Best Shot

I Stand With Planned Parenthood!

This is the year of 2015!

We are not going back!

Republicans did lose their moral compass. 

Harry Reid, Sen. Minority Leader

Short only 14 lousy votes (53 - 46, R needed 60 votes.)

Fact Check Planned Parenthood

"The U.S. government prohibits the sale of fetal tissue for profit and requires separation between researchers and the women who donate fetuses. Some schools go further, requiring written consent from donors." Learn more on how fetal and adult tissues are used in science, learn the facts and stop the blame and the assumptions and the demonizing of one institution that has done so much good.

Canine Meet & Greet

Dawson, Ray Masterson's service dog, a Husky meets a 9 month old pup, thankfully not for the first time. My dog Isabella-girl takes no longer kindly to impolite doggies that show no respect and get in her face. But Dawson, now 7 years old, has become a very friendly  dog, Ray has taught him well. He was not always mellow, as a pup he used to explode at my dogs and we would have a barking frenzy on our hands. This year has got me dodging dogs and has gotten me very tired of dog custodians that do not pay attention and are not proactive in avoiding unpleasantries. This little cutie here is a 9 month old male and a handful, but the lady says she always checks with others about her pup approaching, which I sure appreciate. I did notice though how Ray gave Dawson cues to take it easy with the little one. Shocking the dirty looks I get from those on the other end of the leash that somehow feel insulted when I pull my pups away in an effort to avoid conflict and keep our dogs safe!

 Balloons Are Free

- Tipping Is Expected

Boy Meets Girl

All Smiles

Green Coyote - Art In The Park

Green Coyote by artist Don Kennell, the newest work of public art on display at Santa Fe's Railyard park.

Approaching this strange, gigantic creatures, my pups were about to launch in to a serious bark attack.

This has got to be the cutest, most adorable gigantic coyote there is!

Not sure my pups, Isabella and Sumo would agree.

Yep, Don's work of art creates quiet a stir and grabs the attention of most anyone passing by, here two guys with one 33 year old parrot. 

Next, coyote with passing Rail Runner train, yeah!

This coyote has different colored, green and blue, brilliant, bright eyes created by the amazing artist Mitchell Berg.

Art in public spaces can really affect the community positively I was able to observed this myself. 

Don Kennell's Yard Dog staring from the park across one of our busiest streets over toward Whole Foods, really attracted people to it and the area. Kids would sway on the swing, families would have their picnics nearby, tourists would take each other's pictures with the sculpture, occasionally I would lend a helping hand. I felt a real loss when that work of art was taken down November 2012. Folks no longer gravitated to that area in the park. So, my surprise and joy was all the greater when I discovered this Green Coyote. I might add that real live coyotes have been sighted right near this spot as they like to travel along water ways such as the nearby Acequia Madre (Mother Ditch.) During Occupy, the longest occupation by a camp of a public space that started in fall of 2011, protesters made it a point to feed those real coyotes! At my first spotting of the Green Coyote a sweet young couple had taken refuge underneath it. This capture will linger in my mind only as I had ventured out  without camera, fearing, no expecting, and here in the high desert southwest truly welcoming more rain. I sure look forward to more photo ops with this most delightful, gigantic creature.

Well done, Don Kennell, thank you!

2 Million People Incarcerated!

2 Joints - 13 Years!

Grant Clemency To Non-Violent Drug Offenders!

I signed this petition:

http://www.bravenewfilms.org/grant_clemency

Black Lives Matter

Ella’s Song

Composed by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon

Founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock a cappella ensemble 

Refrain: 

We who believe in freedom cannot rest 

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes 

Verses: 

Until the killing of Black men, Black mothers’ sons 

Is as important as the killing of White men, White mothers’ sons 

And that which touches me most is that I had a chance to work with people Passing on to others that which was passed on to me 

To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail 

And if I can shed some light as they carry us through the gale 

The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on 

Is when the reins are in the hand of the young who dare to run against the storm 

Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me 

I need to be just one in the number as we stand against tyranny 

Struggling myself don’t mean a whole lot I come to realize 

That teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survive 

I’m a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard At time I can be quite difficult, I’ll bow to no man’s word

Posted in light of on-going police brutality against black folks, the latest victim we heard of sadly being a beautiful young woman, Sandra Bland. 

"This video of the arrest of Sandra Bland shows totally outrageous police behavior. No one should be yanked from her car, thrown to the ground, assaulted and arrested for a minor traffic stop. The result is that three days later she is dead in her jail cell. This video highlights once again why we need real police reform. People should not die for a minor traffic infraction. This type of police abuse has become an all-too-common occurrence for people of color and it must stop." ~ Bernie Sanders - from the Bernie Sanders For President facebook page.

"Part of the point is that the lived experience of black women is excluded from the public discourse. It’s never going to be their turn to have their voices heard, so they have to create the opportunities to make their voices heard. Protests are always criticized as being at the wrong time because those who need to protest are never the people writing the agenda. That’s the value of protest." - Tim DeChristopher interviewed by Bill Moyers

The unforgettable Robin Williams in top form.

Planned Parenthood Under Continued Attack

Republican presidential hopeful Mark Rubio calls for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, asks us to stand with life.

I personally benefited from low-cost health care graciously performed by Planned Parenthood (no abortions involved ever, but affordable breast and cervical cancer screenings.) I stand for the affordable care Planned Parenthood has offered for decades to women in need. I stand with Planned Parenthood in giving women choices as regards their own bodies. I stand with Planned Parenthood in support of modern women, from women to women. I do not support the trumped up charges and attacks by supposedly god-fearing, christian men that are willing to defend an unborn fetus, but do not care to support a mother with child with proper benefits and child care options. I oppose men that believe firing a woman from her job because she got pregnant could ever be fair and called for. I oppose men that profess to choose life, but are all too eager to send sons (not their own, but those especially from low income households) in to wars and harms way. I want to thank Planned Parenthood for the care I personally received. Don't let christian men that are ancient history take modern women back in time, don't let those men that should have no say in public policy making take away women's care and women's most important choices. I ask you to stand with Planned Parenthood, sign this petition.

Food Waste - John Oliver

Brilliant weaving together of Trump, DiCaprio &

the incentivizing of the giving away of food via tax deductions for businesses

by the one and only and incomparable John Oliver.

I never bought in to the idea that expiration dates are a law in and off themselves.

My neighbor of late has supplied my pups with plenty of expired high end, seriously costly meat tidbits to their delight.

40% of food never makes it to the table,

while we have kids here in New Mexico that go hungry!

A time will come when we will look back only to shake our heads in disbelief.

Mandela Day

"Mandela was born in 1918 and died Dec. 5, 2013, at the age of 95. 

He fought for decades to end apartheid in South Africa. 

Organizers urge people to dedicate 67 minutes out of the day to help others."

Today would have been Nelson Mandela's 97th birthday. In 2009 the United Nations declared July 18th Mandela Day - a day that honors his incredible life and legacy. Madiba believed we all have the power to change the world, and in honor of his 67 years of service to his fellow man, join me today in dedicating 67 minutes of your time to someone...anyone! You can read a book to grandmother, offer to buy groceries for a neighbor, clean up your neighborhood, volunteer at the public library, walk a dog... the ideas are endless... Use hashtag ‪#‎MandelaDay‬ so I can see what great work you're doing! ‪#‎Time2Serve‬ 

- Morgan Freeman

"Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu – it means you must serve your fellow man"

"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." Nelson Mandela Autobiography 1995

#MandelaDay

Each act of kindness helps to change our world for the better, 

make a difference, get involved this Nelson Mandela Day.

All Images Off Facebook

Impromptu Love Fest

Isabella wears her happiness at being out and about with a goofy smile 

that often proves infectious.