Sunday, March 31, 2019

Last night we had big news from Natalie.  Michael gave her a ring and they are engaged!  We are so happy for the two of them. 

Today I saw a really tiny baby iguana down below in front of our storage room.  I hope he makes it to adulthood with all these feral cats hanging around.  I stopped a cat from catching one of our little geckos yesterday.    I wish the DOE would do something about them. 

Richard has been doing a lot of fishing.  We have tons of fish and will bring some frozen home with us.  Things are pretty relaxing around here now.  I just have been enjoying being here so much. 

Friday, March 29, 2019

What a relaxing, lovely day on our island paradise.  There was a nice breeze today and the humidity and dew point were both in the 60's today.  Temp was in the 80's but it just felt perfect to me.  Our nasty no-see-ums are gone!  We opened the windows all day today!  It was glorious!  After dinner we sat outside and enjoyed the sunset and lingered a long time.  The water is flat and there is absolutely no sound at all.  It can really be quiet here.  Like a sound proof room quiet! 

Late afternoon, I walked out on the dock.  Richard said he has been seeing a Lemon Shark swimming around there.  Sure enough, there he was.  A very nice size one!  A large barracuda had joined him and also a small barracuda.  There were other fish in the sea too!  This evening three turtles were swimming around by our mangrove having the best of times. 

Here is a picture I should have included on last nights blog post. 

Here is a picture of me waiting to meet Prince Charles.  

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Super beautiful day here on our paradise island again today.  We presented well for our royal visit from Prince Charles.  I shook his hand and welcomed him to the island.  He is quiet spoken and was very friendly.  It was a fun day for us on the island.  CCMI (Central Caribbean Marine Institute) invited residents to be on hand for the Prince's arrival.  They set up covered seating and even served us food.  I was sitting in the front row and was one of the first who greeted him.  It was fun to visit with everyone while we waited for his arrival. 

I have photos but they are on my phone and Facebook. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

It's official!  Richard and I have become a couple of wimps!  We have been running the air conditions ever since the kids left.  We did shut it off right after they left on Saturday.  After getting into bed that night we were bothered by no-see-ums.  They were bad!!  So that was when we turned it on.  Sunday and Monday, even during the day, the no-see-ums were awful.  Today, they finally seem to be giving up the fight.  I so love having the windows open but we cannot let these crazy bugs in.  They come right through the screens! 

Our weather has been so beautiful!  Barely any breeze and a gorgeous blue sky.  The water is like glass.  Fishing has been good, water play has been fun and lounge chair time has been so relaxing.  I'm living the life! 

Yesterday, CCMI (Central Caribbean Marine Institute) filmed a presentation on our property.  They worked down on our beach in the hot sun all day.  This will be used when Prince Charles and Camilla are on island Thursday.  I wonder if I should wear a fancy hat to meet them at our airport.  For a tiny island, we sure have a lot going on!

Sunday, March 24, 2019

This morning we had clouds with a little rain very early.  I took advantage by doing my workout.  It was great to not have the hot sun on me.  I almost finished and there was the beautiful sun!  Our property needed some trimming already, so I worked on that today.  I have everything cut way back but it will grow right back again for next year's arrival.  After all that sweating it felt good to spend time in the water this afternoon.  Then I relaxed on a beach chair under my umbrella.  It was just like being in heaven.  This is the life!

I found some photos of the kids visit that I didn't post yet.  I am still missing them.

Here we are over at tiny Owen Island for lunch.  Sheldon & Emily are in the center of photo.

Emily & Sheldon are sticking their tummies way out for the pic.  Silly kids!

This is a shot of a menacing barracuda bothering us while snorkeling at Point of Sand.

Saturday, March 23, 2019

This morning we said goodbye to Emily and Sheldon.  After they got on their plane, Richard and I went to Iggy's and had breakfast.  They just started opening for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  We enjoyed eating on their deck on the edge of the sea.  Once we were home, I got to work on laundry.  I managed to do two loads with our nice hot sun and breeze.  I also cleaned up the house and kept busy so I wouldn't be too sad.  It is so quiet when the kids leave. 

Yesterday we tried to do a morning shore dive but the waves on the north side didn't cooperate.  The kids couldn't do a deep dive as they would be flying the next day.  Since that plan didn't work, we paddled the kayaks to Owen Island and ate a packed lunch.  It was a hard paddle back home as the waves were against us.  No time to waste though...once home, we immediately got ready and went to Point of Sand for a snorkel.   These kids have a lot of energy!  We try to keep up!  I didn't have to cook supper as we had planned to do Friday night pasta night as SCC.  It was yummy!  After eating, we headed to LCBR as Emily wanted a strawberry daiquiri.  It was late when we got home but we still managed to play some Euchre. 

What a week!  We enjoyed a lot of special times together.  Our friends kids flew in on the 6:00 PM flight this evening.  They needed help hauling luggage so we took our truck and loaded up.  It was fun to see everyone and enjoy their excitement of being together.  That was us a week ago when our kids arrived.  Time sure flies! 

Thursday, March 21, 2019

We are having fabulous weather here in paradise for Emily and Sheldon's visit.  It has been a busy past few days.  Tuesday the guys took the boat out and fed the sharks in the morning and we snorkeled on the north side in the afternoon.  The water was calm and wind was low but the water was murky and had debris in it.  I have never seen it in this condition.  We still saw a lot and had fun. 

Wednesday the four of us went out fishing and caught 8 black fin tuna!  It was a riot!  We had so much fun!  We quit a little early and dropped Emily and Sheldon off at the fishing dock at SCC so they could dive with SCC.  While they went diving, I went to the grocery store.  I hit pay dirt! The barge came in and there was sour cream and guacamole so that night we had fish tacos for dinner.

Thursday, today, we had breakfast at SCC and relaxed.  After lunch, we went to Point of Sand and went snorkeling.  It was great!  Conditions were wonderful! This evening and every evening, we played euchre and games.  It has been a lot of fun!  Our days are flying by but that is because we are so busy.   

Who is this mystery man trying to keep sun off his face?

Here is the happy fisherman!

This ray was huge!  He was super active and we enjoyed watching him!

This is a pretty butterflyfish or a rock beauty.  I'm not sure.  Very pretty!

 

Monday, March 18, 2019

Hello paradise!  We are having so much fun here with Emily and Sheldon.  This morning was dead still.  Absolutely no wind!  The guys went fishing and came back late so I thought they were really catching a bunch.  They returned empty handed!  They had tales of lots of missed big ones but who knows!  The afternoon was spent diving.  Conditions were perfect.  We ate our meals out on the porch and had ice cream by teki light.  This evening we played euchre. 

While eating lunch today, we had visitors.  Lionel and his girlfriend stopped by on the porch to visit.  These are iguanas.  He hasn't told us his girlfriends name yet.  When they were ready to leave, she left us a gift! 

Friday evening Richard and I went with friends to LCBR for dinner and karaoke.  Our friend sang a Caymanian song and she did such a good job.  I'm trying to convince her to go professional! 

Saturday, Emily and Sheldon arrived on Grand.  They spent the night there so they could dive the Kitty Wake wreck.  It sounds like they enjoyed their stay there.  We were wishing they would have been here Saturday evening.  We went to Iggy's in the evening.  The Barefoot Man was performing there.  I think the kids would have enjoyed the show.  This guy was so entertaining!  It was out on the deck and the weather was wonderful.  What a fun evening! 

Here is a blurry photo of Cutie Pie (night heron) hunting down by the kayak dock.

Emily and Sheldon arriving!

Lionel's girlfriend.  He was with her but hid for the photo.  

Cute picture of Lionel's girlfriend.  Notice her jewelry on her neck. 

The gift from Miss Girlfriend!  A nice pile of Poop!  Right on the porch!

Thursday, March 14, 2019

It was another sunny, gorgeous day here in paradise.  Waking up to my beautiful ocean view every morning just gets my day off to the best start.  We had our eggs and toast breakfast out on the porch.  I had avocado with mine.  That was the last avocado.  I went to the store today and they had a few things in.  There were no avocados but they had a good amount of bananas.  These bananas were not even good enough to mush for banana bread.  How could they send such a mess to our island store!  I was amazed!

Today after lunch I headed to the water.  Just as I was getting in, I looked down and I saw a Paleheaded Blenny.  When I first spotted it I thought what is that weird shell?  I stared at it awhile and quickly ran up the beach to get the camera.  Richard spotted me and saw it too.  I never did get a photo.  He was amazing!  Looked very prehistoric!  I was just a ways into the water and scared up a big turtle too.What a day! 

Wednesday, March 13,2019

As I sit here typing my blog post tonight, the sky is still red off to the west.  We are still enjoying these beautiful sunsets.  Today the weather was not as "close".  The dew point was down to 70 and there was a nice breeze blowing.  We enjoyed it, of course!  I so love having the windows open and being a part of the outdoors.  Lately, we have been enjoying getting to know the morning doves here on our property.  They are called Zenaida doves.  For some reason they like being around us.  They come to the water dishes we have out and practically ask for new water.  They are such characters!  I refresh water dishes here for the birds a couple times a day.  Even the iguanas have been caught drinking from them.  The bananaquits still get the award for the most entertaining though.  Their baths are quite a sight to behold!

Tonight for dinner I fixed chicken and baked potatoes on the grill and green beans.  It was such a plain meal but did it taste good.  We are lucky to be eating so well.  Our grocery store is empty again and the barge isn't coming in until Monday!  Not even any oranges or bananas!  Emily and Sheldon are arriving Saturday and I would like to feed them.  I do have potato chips.  I stocked up!  Sheldon and I both love chips!

Life is good here on our tiny island paradise.  We have been enjoying our time with our island friends and making the most of every single minute here. 

Sunday, March 10, 2019

This was a beautiful weekend here on our island paradise.  We have been busy in the water, being with friends, fishing, relaxing, reading, watching our birds, iguanas, and cutie pie.  It is nice and hot here and I love it. 

What a short post! 

Friday, March 8, 2019

Another beautiful day in paradise.  What a treat to wake up here.  Last night we were invited to friends for dinner.  That helped me get over my sadness from the kids leaving.  Today I seem to be my old self.  I have been so enjoying just relaxing here.  I helped Richard haul some trees he chainsawed down, did serious reading in the beach hammock, and did some banking/bookkeeping.  Mostly, I did nothing!  I can't drink in the beauty of this scenery enough! 

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

This morning the water is completely flat again.  So pretty.  Richard went fishing but got skunked.  I did a workout and washed beach towels.  We had used all of them over the busy week.  Of course, I spent the afternoon in the water.  It is hot and sunny here.  I dried off on a beach chair while reading.  What a hard life!  I took some photos of the entrance to our driveway.  I have worked really hard cleaning trees and bushes out of the area.  Photos help me track my progress for next year. 

It is so quiet here with Natalie and Michael gone.  Now I am looking forward to Emily and Sheldon's arrival. 

Driveway entrance

This was taken early in the morning and it was already very hot!

Too shadowy to show the clean up.  Lots of dead fronds and trees/vines removed.

Our Gecko Shack sign needs some work!

End of driveway.  Cannot see the new coconuts growing. But they are there.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Hello from paradise!  Today was a sad day for me as Natalie and Michael left the island.  It is so hard to be a mother.  Boy do I miss my sweet Natalie!  We had a busy, fun week exploring the island.  They arrived on the last flight in at 5:30 on last Tuesday.  We drove to the house so they could freshen up and then we ate at the Hungry Iguana per their request.  It was such a good meal and we managed to keep the kids awake to eat it.  We went to bed early that night.  Our time together went so fast.  It is hard to believe that was a whole week ago already. 

We got up and had a nice breakfast and started a tour of the island.  This was Michael's first visit and Natalie wanted to show him the whole island.  Our first stop was the Little Cayman Museum.  We got lucky as Tanya was there and took us on a tour of the the grounds and the museum.  She introduced us to about 15 iguanas.  She knew them all by name!  There is a little Booby that fell out of its nest being kept on the property.  It will soon be mature enough to be released.  What a treat to meet that little bird.  We continued on our tour.

The next day we toured the second half of the island as we took our time getting around.  We spent time on Point of Sand.  I packed a lunch and we ate there.  It is hard to remember all the things we did.  I cooked supper and we played a couple games before bed. 

We took the kayaks to Owen Island, we floated on the floaties in front of the house, we took the big boat to Owen Island and put out the anchor,  (what a fun day we had swimming there),  we snorkeled on Point of Sand, we took the big boat out around the whole island.  We stopped and jumped out of the boat on the north side to snorkel.  We bicycled, walked, layed in beach chairs, layed in hammocks and on and on and on! 

Natalie got a little sunburn, Michael did too, but Richard gets the award for the worst burn of the season!  His back is fried!  Somehow he didn't have his shirt on at the right time in the boat.  Ouch!

We ate our meals out on the porch and also ate one night at SCC and another at LCBR.  One morning we had a special treat eating breakfast at SCC.  These two like to eat out! 

I took a few photos.  Natalie took some great pictures she will send to me soon.

Holding hands on the beach.

At Point of Sand.

Eating at Iggy's their first night here.

On the north side at Bloody Bay wall.

On the deep sea boat traveling around the island.

Michael made a fan out of the frond of a Silver Palm.  We were all impressed.

Here are the cuties on our beach.