"I am not a stranger here...for all of us are
the same...people."

Beyond Borders

I went to Mexico. So what else is new...many of you have gone too...and some have written blogs on their trip. Better blogs then I am able. Words don't come easy, in fact my daughter is the one to edit my attempts of writing. But the ten day experience prompts me to share with you what is there...through pictures. Images do a lot better telling the story, one that is truly beautiful. I hope that some day you may get the chance to go beyond your borders. Enjoy...

San Miquel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

An early morning walk...the pastel colors, only
present at this time of day, were amazing.

The patina of the walls were beautiful by themselves...add the dalmatian and...well let the picture speak for itself.

As an artist...this place was rich...as a human it opened my eyes to how rich I am.



Beauty in the colors....beauty in the people.

Augustine Gonzales

We went for ten days...my sister, niece, and friend. We were met by 35 plus other women and men from Canada and and the US...all there for a rug hooking camp. We are talking about the centuries old folk art of hooking woolen strips of cloth through the holes of a canvas! The difference, and the beauty of this camp was its connection with the small village of Augustine Gonzales, five km. outside of San Miquel de Allende. Here we met the 20 women and one man who make up the 'Rug Hook Project', a grass roots effort started by 'Mujeres en Cambio' of San Miquel.
With out exception the best part of the trip was the time spent in the village. I didn't rug hook. I took pictures. Take a look...

A closer look at what they do...

The designs of the rugs are all from the individual artists. The wool is hand cut into strips 1/4 inch wide. The wool is given to them by people who visit them from outside the country. It takes many hours to complete one rug.

The money they make by selling these rugs has helped in paying for the surgery when one broke their leg during a farming accident (I believe it had something to do with the oxen). It has helped pay for new seed to plant, for a tractor to finally plow the fields, for

cancer treatment for one small boy.