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Friday, May 21, 2010

Cantera

100_0525         My hope for all of you reading , in addition to the well known phrase ‘I hope you dance…’, is that you have something in your material world that gives you repeated pleasure at the very sight of it.

        Large or small, old or new, bequeathed or bought, known or unknown, I hope you have something that may be breathtaking, even if only to you.

100_0524My cantera fountain, or Big Daddy as I call him, is mine. 

I have shared before that Big Daddy was my gift to myself , using money from my very last teaching paycheck, the year I retired.

Since then, I have collected other cantera pieces, all at a bargain, that provide the same pleasure.

In fact the experience surrounding these purchases is just as memorable.

I found Big Daddy on 5 mile line in Alton, a small community near where I live. 

The gentleman that helped me said ‘Si senora’ to everything I asked.

I spotted this bird bath , and he managed, single-handedly to get this in the back seat of his car, in order to deliver it to my house that same day.

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And then there are my cantera birds.  These were at the flea market I go to north of Mission , that also has goats, roosters, horses, avocados, mangos, and hay for sale.

 I fell in love.

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IMG_0984 My next cantera piece is a retablo with Our Lady of Guadalupe, also called the Virgen del Guadalupe, which is the Catholic image of the Virgin Mary. 

        I found this outside a Mexican food restaurant in San Juan, where I stopped to get a cup of coffee while exploring one Saturday morning.

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Cantera is a quartz based volcanic stone, often hand carved ,from Mexico. It has many shades, but I prefer this limestone color.

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34 comments:

  1. Beautiful! I want some!
    I'm glad you have things that make your soul dance!
    Kenda

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  2. Those are beautiful. I had not heard of that stone before. I love it!

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  3. Oh my! Aren't those pieces just magnificent!!

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  4. Would you please start calling me on some of these adventures!! I would love to go. Called you on your Birthday and left a message...hope it was a good one.
    I love all your pieces.
    JB

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  5. Laura, ohhhhhhh, I love them all! But that fountain is the best ... & that gorgeous madonna ... beautiful!

    Have a fantastic weekend.
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  6. I'm not familiar with this stutary but it is so gorgeous...thanks for the introduction!!!

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  7. What beautiful pieces to have in your yard. Love them!

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  8. How lovely! I've never heard of Cantera, but now I will be on the lookout for it. It certainly gives your gardens an exotic look!

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  9. Laura, your fountain is grand, love it! Your garden area is just incredible, truly beautiful, peaceful and serene.

    Have a great weekend!

    Nancy

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  10. Laura, I just love seeing the things that you have that are from Mexico. It's so neat how we can be from the same state but see such different things. I really never saw or had access to the beautiful Mexican items that you've shown on your blog.

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  11. I love Cantera! Unfortunately, you don't see much in Tennessee. Your collection is beautiful!

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  12. Beautiful pieces, that fountain is magnificent!

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  13. What beautiful pieces! A simplicity that is just gorgeous.
    Brenda

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  14. Love to say the word "cantera". It brings back beautiful memories of haciendas in Comala, Mexico near the Colima volcano. Your fountain is beautiful!
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  15. Laura, every piece of your cantera is so beautiful... I'm glad they make you smile. They made me smile today, too.

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  16. Your cantera collection is gorgeous! I can understand why they make you smile!

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  17. Great pieces and great stories! I guess that's the best part about having a great collection. I'll be on the look out for cantera pieces now, too.
    Patricia :o)

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  18. I love the one with the birds! So pretty! Come say hi :D

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  19. You just think you retired from teaching. Everytime I come here I learn something new. I love these and now I need to know more. Big Daddy is just as good looking as Cat Daddy...maybe more! I adore the retablo.
    Please continue to educate me...keeps me young!
    Debbie

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  20. I agree with Trash Talk, I have learned something new tonight. Your fountain is just beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  21. Laura these are wonderful. I'm sure that they do bring you so much pleasure, because they are so lovely. I love fountains and hope to find one someday that will give me the same pleasure that yours does you.
    hugs

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  22. Laura,
    Thanks so much for the info and I LOVE that beautiful fountain! Hope you have a FUN weekend:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  23. how lovely. Your yard is beautiful and so obviously makes your soul sing..;p

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  24. great pieces Laura..thank you for sharing...

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  25. Laura, these pieces are gorgeous, I've never seen it before. I love the color and "weight" of them. The Virgin Mary piece is just wonderful!
    xo,
    Debra

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  26. It's always a great day if you learn something new and thanks to you today I learned about Cantera. Your fountain is beautiful and I agree that we all need something special that always makes us smile.
    Have a great weekend,
    Leah

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  27. Gasp, it is sooooooo beautiful! The little birdies too:) Have a blessed day and big 'ole HUGS!

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  28. Now I want some too! Those are all beautiful pieces and would give such joy to look at each day too!

    Manuela

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  29. Oh Laura, how beautiful all of those pieces are! I LOVE that fountain! I don't think I'm familiar with cantera. It may not be available in my part of the world, but I'm sure going to start looking for some. I love the "old world" look of it. Thank you so much for sharing these beauties for Favorite Things Sat. laurie

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  30. Laura, your catera collection is amazing. I love the limestone color as well. Thanks for this beatiful post.

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  31. What beautiful images... love your blog... i just discovered it and will be back... Fay

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  32. Love your "big daddy" fountain and your collection. I bought a wicker chaise for my front porch with my last teaching paycheck. Ahem! I guess I need to up and moving
    Annette

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