Julio’s Musings Around Columbia County, New York

Cuban Folk Art

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

I had previously posted a blog entry about the renowned Cuban Folk Artist Maria Victoria de Bernard. She is one of the many artists that have come to Columbia County, New York in the past few years and set up shop in this idyllic rural community about 120 miles north of New York City. The reasons for the influx are as varied as the individual artists therefore I won’t try to posit a one size fits all explanation. Well, I can’t resist listing at least one reason! Perhaps its the fact when you are here, you actually have a sense of where you are. It is not a cookie cutter assemblege of strip malls, franchise store fronts, tract housing with similar looking McMansions for the want to appear rich but soon to be poor, Hummers etc.
Mind you , it takes major effort and commitment from the concerned citizens of Columbia County to keep it this way and the new residents of this community , with their unique esthetic are championing this effort.
Ms de Bernard, has agreed to post regular blog entries on a weekly basis called appropriately enough “Voice of the Columbia County Artist”. That is her title not mine. I will give her total editorial freedom which is not something she was used to in Cuba, her birthplace where she lived until she immigrated 10 years ago.

[tags]Maria Victoria de Bernard, Columbia County,Cuban Folk Art[/tags]

Slide Show of Columbia County, New York courtesy of Julio Hernandez-Miyares, resident of Town of Gallatin.

Day at the Mall

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

Spent part of a balmy November fall afternoon in Reston, Virigina with Scooter O’Leary shown here on the lap of proud papa Super Developer Patrick O’Leary of Nsshutdown fame.
During the course of a little over an hour, there must of been about 10 people coming in and out of the Starbucks that asked to carry and/or pet Scooter. Scooter who is 5 months old and weighs all of 9 pounds is socialable with both Humans and other dogs of which there were a few taking in the fine afternoon with their owners.

I grew up with daschunds as that was my family’s dog of choice.
I had forgotten how absolutely cute they are.
Maybe I should get one for myself? Hey Scooter you dating anyone?

If you are interested in reading more about Scooter’s life in Reston, Virginia go to Scooter’s blog
[tags]Scooter Oleary,daschund[/tags]

Columbia County – Miyares Forest

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

A spooky morning photo of the Hernandez-Miyares Forest at the Columbia County Estate. One of my recent favorites.
The morning mist was burning off when this photo was taken. Admittedly this was a lucky shot. I was just testing out the camera focusing into the forest. I was not thinking about how it would come out with the mist and sun rays starting to burn through.

The forest goes back for miles in many directions. I have explored it but have not yet gotten to its edge. Coyotes,Deer and wild turkey inhabit its confines. Serafin Hernandez-Miyares was lost in this forest for three days and 2 nights. Did he reach the edge of the Forest?? I don’t know, none of us know. And never will!

[tags]Columbia County,Julio Hernandez-Miyares[/tags]

I just love the fact Serafin Hernandez-Miyares, a member of the Canine family and a cute one at that I would say, is now number 1 on Google Search. Interestingly enough, Scooter O’Leary, a friend of Serafin’s is number 2. Not surprising as a posting about Serafin’s escape and 2 days lost in the wilds of Columbia County, New York which linked to Scooter’s blog now entangles the two in the Search rankings.

Lets face it, the task was relatively easy. Hernandez-Miyares is not a common name and neither is Serafin. In fact, I kind of made up Serafin. Not sure if it is a legitimate name for anything.

Secondly, there is a lot of content I have promoted out in the ether. Serafin Flickr photos , dogster.com, my own blog.

[tags]Serafin Hernandez-Miyares,Dogs,Julio Hernandez-Miyares[/tags]

Employee of the Month

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

What does it take to be “Employee of the Month”? Just ask Rasputin de Bernard, a 3 year old Corgy shown here working his job as the official greeter at Hawthorne Valley Farm located in Ghent, a small village in northern Columbia County in New York State.

You have to be cute! That’s easy for a Corgy, they are born that way.
You have to show enthusiasm for the job even on blustery cold days which it was when this photo was taken.
You have to be social and respectful of the other dog visitors of which there are plenty as many of the human visitors bring their dogs with them.

A virtual friend of Rasputin is Scotter O’Leary owned by Super Developer Patrick O’Leary of NSShutdown fame.
Hey Patrick, when do you think Scooter will be an “Employee of the Month”?

[tags]Corgy,Rasputin de Bernard,Columbia County,Ghent[/tags]

Serafin Hernandez-Miyares sleeping

Originally uploaded by julio.miyares.

Well. since I last blogged about Serafin Hernadez-Miyares (by the way the #1 result in Google and Yahoo for that name) 3 days ago, he managed to escape again and disappear into the woods of Columbia County, New York. Its easy to disappear in Columbia County if you are a human being and even more so if you are a dog. Two cold nights he slept I don’t know where but from the looks of him , it wasn’t a pleasant place. Though he appeared Wednesday morning November 1,2006 on the front steps with a spring in his step and a glad to see you look albeit with a ravenous appetite, he is now in a state of total funk.

This is a picture of what he looks like though it was taken a few months ago so it is not the actual representation. What he encountered on those 2 lonely nights in the forest filled with other howling wild animals I shudder to think.
I am a camper and I have spent nights in even more remote locales but never by myself. Even with friends, a night out in the dark forest is a scary thing.

On a more positive note, I wanted to confer a welcome to a virtual friend of Serafin Hernandez-Miyares. Its Scooter O’Leary also the number one result in Google for that term plus a pretty cute dog to boot.
Here is Scooter’s link to his blog hosted by his proud papa super developer Patrick O’Leary.

[tags]Columbia County, Serafin Hernandez-Miyares[/tags]