April 11, 2008, The once and former bird walker, By Carol Wheeler, Running for the angels in Chicago, By Donna Quathamer, Help teens of Nezahualcóyotl:, Seeking camera donations for photo workshop, Mujeres en Cambio luncheon for April

The once and former bird walker
By Carol Wheeler April 11, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Although birds figured prominently in her introduction to San Miguel in 1973, Fen Taylor joined Audubon Mexico (based in San Miguel) only “about 15 years ago,” she says. And because she didn’t want to be a secretary or a fundraiser, and she had gone on bird walks in the past, she decided, “All right, I’ll lead bird walks.” The rest is history, especially to the thousands of people who’ve been on her famous monthly Audubon Sunday bird walks over the years.

Recently, Taylor decided she could use a break from the regular responsibility. The rest of us wondered how long her retirement would last when we heard her say, in almost the next breath, “A nature walk. Now that’s what I’d like to do.”

Even her name is nature-embedded (despite being named Elinor at birth, she just decided one day that she would be Fen; that was before she found out it meant “swamp”). This natural wonder arrived in town from Maine in 1973 after selling a house and thus for the first time having the money to do what she wanted to do.

At first, she thought she’d go to Europe but, “someone said Mexico was much more foreign than Europe so I came down here.” Then someone else suggested San Miguel and next, “someone on the bus” suggested the Hotel Sautto as the place to stay. It was January, high season even in those days, and it could have been hard to find a room. “This woman on the bus had just vacated a room at the Sautto so she knew one was available,” Taylor recalled. “I got there about 10 at night and banged on the doors until I woke the night watchman. He showed me to the room—a bed, a tiled bath, a beamed ceiling. No windows but big double doors. I felt like I was in heaven.” And then the next morning the birds were there to welcome her. She threw open the doors “and there were five peacocks sitting there in a tree right outside my room.” She saw it as a sign and stayed.

By the time of the peso devaluation, Taylor had bought a house on Suspiros and she could ride it out there. But after a while she fell in love with another house, on Cruz del Pueblo, up above Chorro, as she recalls. “It’s not a street,” she says, “it’s a flight of stairs.” But by then, she was so broke she decided she had to go up to El Norte and get a job. She had been an artist in the States, as she remains here. There it was illustration, here it is painting, the fine arts.

She did go back, she planned everything out, and came back down “just to pay my taxes and get the house rented.” But then “this delightful gentleman met me on the street and.…” That was [the late] Fred Taylor, a Canadian painter who had lived for some time in San Miguel. He was 22 years older than Taylor but “he was a delightful man, a wonderful man. He was a charmer. He was very persuasive. He courted me and… .” Reader, she married him. And never needed to return to the States again.

In the meantime, Taylor had been courting the natural world. Or was it the other way around? She had always gardened, always had a connection to nature, from Maine to San Miguel. But she found it simpler here, with running water and electricity, after the Maine woods. She could indulge her fascination with the world around her more easily and more comfortably. She gardened devotedly and skillfully (still does) and for a time wrote a gardening column in Atención, collected in About the Garden, a book exclusively about gardening in San Miguel.

Now she lives out in the campo on eight acres, in a serene and beautiful house she designed herself, which is off the grid (except for the gas refrigerator and water heater). A studio for her painting has something of the fey, magical quality of Taylor herself. A pond filled with 25 fish is thickly spattered with water lilies and trimmed with water iris and papyrus. Mesquite, nopales and big trees are beautifully shaped and trimmed. There are two pampered dogs and a variety of birds, day and night. It all speaks to (and answers) Taylor’s recently expressed fear that “nobody will ever know what a passionate lover of the natural world I am.” Be assured, we do.

Carol Wheeler is a member of the board for Audubon Mexico and a contributor to Atención.

Casa de los Angeles is once again an official charity of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Last year 22 runners from both the US and Mexico ran for Team Casa de los Angeles and raised US$25,000. Even more are expected to participate on October 12 in Chicago.

To run a marathon is no small feat! No pun intended. The runners’ commitment to Casa de los Angeles isn’t just on the day of the marathon. Runners begin training months in advance of the date. They are training now! San Miguel de Allende can be proud of those who are training to run for the families of Casa de los Angeles.

One of these marathon men is the director of Casa de los Angeles, Miguel Hernandez. When asked why he runs, Hernandez responded, “Casa de los Angeles is like my second home. I want to be a part of this marathon to raise awareness and to raise money so that we can continue the good being done for the less fortunate of San Miguel.”

Casa de los Angeles is a community of caring people who gather to nurture children, serving the needs of the less fortunate and treating all persons with dignity and respect as they work to make better lives for themselves. Founded in 2000, Casa de los Angeles has grown to serve 63 children from 48 families. In addition to daycare, the center provides a place for mothers to find the support and help they need to make good lives for themselves and their children. Casa de los Angeles provides medical care, a food bank, summer camp, transitional housing, emergency shelter and scholarships. Casa de los Angeles will open its second center in August of 2008 to serve 85 more families.

You can support the Team Casa de los Angeles marathoners by visiting the website http://marathon.casadelosangeles.org or the center itself on the corner of Prolongación Pila Seca and 28 de Abril with your pledge. Your donation will help Casa de los Angeles expand its services to our community.

Donna Quathamer is the founder of Casa de los Angeles.

This June, a team of art educators and photographers will work with teenagers of Nezahualcóyotl, a sprawling dusty expanse of low-income housing, and the second most populous municipality in the state of México.

It is also considered among one of the most dangerous places in Mexico, due to rampant crime in the area.

Photographers will teach our students, ages 12–17, photojournalism and story-telling skills, while creating awareness about social issues present in their lives.

As always, Project Luz needs the support of our friends and art community to succeed. We currently seek donations of old or new digital cameras to provide for our students. If you feel you can donate or assist us in obtaining camera donations, please contact:

Holly Wilmeth
hollywilmeth@gmail.com
or call 415-111-3189

For further information: www.ProjectLuz.org

Project Luz seeks to inspire and empower economically and socially underserved children in Latin America. With the help of dedicated and established artists, we provide children with resources (workshops and mentorship) necessary to build creativity and confidence in order to make a positive difference in themselves and their communities.

The Mujeres en Cambio monthly luncheons help raise funds for educational scholarships. Currently more than 150 young women from the ranchos around San Miguel go to school with the group’s help.

Entry to the next luncheon is by ticket only, available now at Casa de Papel, Mesones 57A. The China Palace restaurant will prepare lemon chicken, the main dish. Salads, side dishes and desserts will be supplied by our members.

For further information, call Roger Hind at 154-6552. Sorry, no phone reservations can be taken..