Sunday, March 19, 2017

It is our last night on the island for this year.  The time went so fast!  I guess it is because we were so busy and having so much fun.  What a vacation it has been!

Tonight we ate dinner out as my kitchen is packed away.  I have enough supplies just to make breakfast in the morning.

I went in the water this afternoon.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky!  I had to force myself to get out.  It is so great to just walk out the door onto the beach and get in the water.  Paradise!

Tomorrow will be spent in airport world, and for sure, I will thinking about what I was doing the day before!

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Hello from paradise!  This morning it was wonderful to wake up and still be here on the island.

 About 7:15 the power went out!  It didn't come back on until 12:30.  I was starting to panic!  Without electricity we also have no water.  The time was put to good use anyway.  I started packing up my kitchen and bath for the remodel. It turns out, I have more things in my cabinets than I originally thought.

After lunch I went in the water and truly enjoyed it.  No matter how long I would be here, it would still be hard to leave.  When I first got in the water I almost stepped on a smaller stingray.  I think I startled him.  He didn't notice me and I sure didn't see him either!  I wasn't out long and I almost bumped into the biggest turtle I have ever seen in our waters.  Once again, we both startled each other it seemed.  Our heads were about a foot and a half apart.  Boy, was that cool!  His whole body came up out of the water!

Tonight we had fresh yellow fin tuna for dinner with potatoes, broccoli, carrots, green and red peppers all cooked on the grill.  We also had a nice green salad as I am using up food.  We had chocolate gelato with brownies for dessert.  I have been eating an awful lot while on vacation this year.

Richard went to Iggy's to watch ISU play basketball again tonight.  The game doesn't start until 8:45.
I skipped tonight.  

Friday, March 17, 2017

Today was a windy day so it was perfect for doing laundry.  I have plenty of it to do as we leave in a few days.  I like to wash all the bedding and every little thing.  We put the big double kayak away and took down two hammocks.  The tiki torches are put away too.  Tomorrow is the day I will store all the kitchen and bath cabinet dishes and all.  A new kitchen is coming soon! Fun, Fun!

Last night we went out for dinner with a group of friends.  We had a great time.  Afterwards we watched a late ISU game.  The night before, we had friends at our house for dinner.  The night before that we went to friends too.  So we have had a lot of late nights.  I may need a vacation when I get home!

Richard is waiting to play cards now.  He loves for me to win!

I almost forgot!  I went snorkeling here at the house this afternoon.  I didn't see a thing!  It was fun though as I just love the water.  Maybe I can still get in tomorrow too but everything has to be dry to store when we are gone.  There is that nasty thing called preparing to leave that I have to do too.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Another day in paradise!  Richard went fishing with Mike today.  I headed out on my bike ride/beach walk and didn't get too far on my walk when I noticed some rain in the distance.  It was heading at me at a good pace.  The sun was everywhere else!  What the heck!!  I turned around and got to my bike in the rain.  It was very light rain.  I rode home in a light rain so I was nice and cool.  I out ran it a little before home.  It didn't even rain here.

This afternoon Richard went diving and I went snorkeling.  He went with Greg and Tom wanted to go too but his neck is bad.  This worked out fine as then Tom went snorkeling with me.

I am tired tonight but it could be because I am getting a little sad.  We leave soon.  My vacation is coming to a close.

Monday, March 13, 2017

I am finally writing on my blog again.  We have been so busy having fun that I just run out of time!  Last night we didn't get home until 10:30 and that was late for me.  We had dinner at some friends.  We watched the big orange full moon rise over the water while we played boccie ball on the beach.  We used coconuts for balls and did we ever have fun!  Linda had tables set up on the beach so we could eat out under the moonlight!

The night before, we were at Patti and Toms for dinner.  Tonight when I had to cook, I had almost forgotten how!

Our resident Iguana, Rocky, has become very familiar with us.  Yesterday when I went out to hang my laundry out I almost stepped on him.  He was on the porch!!  Of course he didn't move.  I had to wait on him.  He had come up to get a drink out of the Frisbee that I keep for the birds.  I was wondering if they drank.  It is amazing to watch him maneuver the steps.

Today Richard and I played  paddle ball (it is like badminton) on our beach barefoot!!  No stickers!  I have worked so hard to get our beach to this point.  We had fun!

Plans are all finalized with Robin to remodel my kitchen.  When I come back next year it will be completely different.  I'm excited but also nervous about it.  He is also doing our bathroom.

This is our last week on the island.  I plan on enjoying every minute of it!  It will be a long time before I return. The plan is to stay a lot longer next year.

Frigates having a feeding frenzy for scraps as the fish are cleaned.  That is Tom's head that bird is going after!

Fish having a feeding frenzy while the guys clean fish at the dock.  There are sharks, stingrays, tarpons and more!

Beautiful full moon rising over the water.  That is tiny Owen Island under it.  

Brian holding a 30 pound yellow fin tuna he caught yesterday.  

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Another day in paradise!  It is a beautiful day!  I so love it here.  This morning I got ready to go out on my bike ride and beach walk.  Richard was laying in bed so I asked if he wanted to come too.  He said yes!  So I waited and we rode together.  This is the first time he ever went with me.

We stopped and saw Brian coming in from fishing.  Linda and Mike were there too.  They had just gotten in last night.  After our visiting, we walked back to get our bikes.  Richard's bike had a tire blow out!  It happened just sitting there waiting for us.  Good grief!  So he rode my bike home to get the truck and I layed in a hammock at Southern Cross Club.  Oh, what a life I lead!!  He came and got me, we put the broken bike in the back end of the truck and headed home.  I lounged on the beach awhile and called my mom.  It is so fun to call her from the island!

We ate lunch at the Hungry Iguana while watching the ISU basketball game.  They won their first Big 12 tournament game!

This afternoon, I went in the water.  It is hot, sunny and the water is warm.  I had a wonderful time! I got cleaned up and layed on the beach to read awhile.  We ate dinner on the porch while watching another beautiful sunset.  Somebody pinch me!  I must be dreaming!

Monday, March 6, 2017

Today our paradise was super windy!  We have never had this strong of wind here in all the years we have been coming.   So, of course, we worked.  The giant rocks that we thought we would move next year, got moved today.  I am so glad we moved them.  Our beach is looking so great.  There is one small area that we want to remove trees on and then we are finished.  I never thought we would get to the point of being finished.  What will I do then??

Tonight we went to another lecture series presented by CCMI at Southern Cross Club.  It was very interesting.  This time the students presented on their projects and they were so talented in their work and their presenting.  Too bad the parents of these college students weren't there to see them.

We met some old friends at SCC tonight.  They come every year to the resort and it is fun to catch up with them again.

Here is a shot of where we removed the giant rocks.  They used to be to the left of the new coconut tree that is in the center of the photo.

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Today was the big boat day!  Two technicians from Grand flew here to work on our boat motor.  They worked all day replacing what seemed like every square inch of the motor.  The only parts left now are the computers.  Turns out, our motor has two computers!  Of course, they are super expensive.  Now they are trying to locate them on Grand or we will have to get them from the US.  When all is said and done, we will about have a new motor!  Will it finally then work???

We are better off than a fireman here on the island.  He lost his boat today!  It was tied to a buoy and overnight it came loose!  The boat along with the buoy is gone.  All the planes flying today were watching for it.  We are all hoping it is found. It will be hard to spot as it has a blue bimini top and a blue interior.  The water is blue!  It will blend right in!

I worked on the beach this morning moving rock.  I decided not to keep the half moon design wall I had made.  The really big rocks will take two people to move and we will tackle that next year.  I get plenty of exercise and weight lifting while on this island.  It is great!

 There is a lovely breeze blowing in the window this evening as I write this.  Our weather has been so hot and perfect.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

What a day in paradise I had today!  Our weather is sunny, hot and perfect.  I went on a big early morning bike ride.  When I got back, I hung out a load of laundry.  Richard and I lounged around on our beach.

After an early lunch, we met Susan and Joe and Tom for snorkeling on the north side.  We had such a great snorkel!  We saw several eagle rays.  They are so beautiful!  Every time I have seen them, they are cruising along the sandy bottom.  This time they were soaring through the water.  Now I know why they are named "eagle" rays.  Just like an eagle soars through the air, eagle rays soar through the ocean water.

Later afternoon I read my book down on our beach under a shade umbrella.  What a life!

Our beautiful eagle rays!

Can anyone find the flounder on this picture?  They are so camouflaged  We saw two of them today.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Our time on island is just speeding by.  Here it is March 1 already!  We are having just beautiful weather.  It is so wonderful to be here!

Last night I went to Ladies Night.  Susan picked me up so I didn't even have to drive.  It was at Pirates Point Resort.  Susan Howard decided to have it at her home though which is on the resort property.  Wow!  I wish everyone I know could have been there with me.  Her house is so beautiful!  I want everyone to see it and enjoy the wonderful time I enjoyed.  She served us all champagne on arrival.  The hor d'oeuvres were so yummy and the meal was prepared by PP chefs so I needn't say more!  We ate outside on her wrap around deck listening to the waves lapping on the beach.  Us ladies know how to have a good time!

Richard and I attended a program on Monday evening educating us about mercury in seafood.  It was presented by a scientist from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University.  She is working on a study at the CCMI here on island.  We have decided to continue to eat our fish.

I have been spending my days riding my bike, beach walking, laying around on the beach reading, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking.  That is how to spend the winter!  Yes!!

Here is Rocky.  He came up on the porch today!  I came walking up the steps and there he was!  What a character!