Saturday, March 31, 2018

It has been too long since I have been able to type on my blog.  We have been so busy enjoying our island life.  Time is just flying along.  I have been enjoying the beach a lot.  The weather is so perfect.  I have been in the water every day. 

This is Easter weekend and that means a huge celebration on the island.  Lots of people from the Brac and Grand come to Little Cayman for the Holiday.  It has been fun to be a part of the "crowds".  We have been enjoying watching kite surfers and sail boats in our waters.  This morning I discovered two tents pitched on the other side of the property next door to us.  Just tents, no people accompanied them.  Camping on the beaches is popular over Easter. 

We had dinner with friends last night under the full moon.  It was such a beautiful evening.  Tonight we went to the Little Cayman National Trust Easter Auction.  What an extravaganza!  This fundraiser topped anything in the USA!  Wow!  We bought a beautiful framed picture of a Trigger Fish, a large platter with a turtle embossed on it and a kitchen towel with a matching potholder.  My Easter basket runneth over!!

Richard has been catching fish.  This morning the guys went out and caught 17 tuna but brought in 13.  They had a fabulous time!  We are bringing fish home with us for sure.

Happy Easter!  Linda and Mike are hosting a huge Easter Potluck tomorrow.  I am looking forward to celebrating the Holiday with all our wonderful island friends.   

 

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

The week is speeding by.  I have been trying to get some projects done in the house before we have to head back to Iowa.  Today I cleaned all the ceiling fans and cleaned all the window blinds.  Actually, I still have two blinds left to do tomorrow.  Such a fun job!  Ha Ha!! 

We have been very slowly planning for our departure.  The process has become easier over time.  There is a lot to do. 

I feel bad for the tiny birds who are using the water I put out for them.  Hopefully, they will find somewhere else to bath and drink.  The green Anoli sleeps every night on our porch hammock.  He lounges on it like he owns it!  Super cute.  Every evening a little frog is on the bathroom window.  He keeps me company as I get cleaned up.  It is so cute to see his little belly and suction cup feet holding on to the glass.

Now it's time to beat Richard in a game of Sequence.

There is cute little frog.  He is at the top of the window glass.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

After a great nights sleep I woke up again in paradise!  Thank heavens!  There was a good breeze blowing today so this was an outside work day.  Richard got out the tall ladder and his pole saw and trimmed up the coconut trees.  Those fronds look light weight and breezy but they are heavy!  We did a bunch more trimming and cutting of jungle that forever grows back.  Now we are finished!  Next year it will hopefully just be trim work on our return.  I feel like I get a good amount of exercise doing this work.  I am kind of missing my weight lifting and workout routine though. 

I did a few other projects and pretty much relaxed a lot today.  I just love being here and "soaking" it all in. 

Richard climbing his tall ladder trimming the coconuts.

One of our piles of fronds.

 

Monday, March 26, 2018

Our beautiful sunset.

I just got back into the house.   The evening is so beautiful.  I sat on a beach chair and watched the sun set.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky.  A soft, gentle breeze would occasionally blow by me to make sure the no-see-ums could not find me.  There I sat under a nearly full moon, down by the water, with the temp still at 79.  With a full moon on the sand, one could stay out all night and see just fine.  This is why I call it paradise!

Yesterday was a fun day working on projects and bike rides and going in the water.  We went to Hungry Iguana for dinner with a large group of friends.  It was a ton of fun!  While there, the guys made plans for fishing the following morning.

 This morning it was another up early day to catch the elusive fish.  The guys have a competition going, of course.  The "loser" has to bow before the "winner"  and present a gift of alcohol.  Brian's boat caught 9 tuna!  Richard and Mike caught 2!  What!!  We had quite a party on the dock to clean fish and celebrate. 

After a good bike ride and an afternoon in the water I will sleep good tonight with the windows open enjoying the cool Caribbean breezes. 

Party on the dock!  Guys bowing down to Brian (the winner)!

Saturday, March 24, 2018

It's another beautiful day in Paradise!  Boy, do I love waking up here.  Today I headed outside early to start painting again.  I wanted to be finished before noon.  The sun just gets really hot then.  I finished!  Everything looks so clean and beautiful!  Our house looks brand new.  I also did some touch up painting inside the house too. 

Richard and I ate a leisurely lunch on the porch.  I love sitting there just watching the birds and the pretty water.  One could just sit there all day!  But no!!  I got my suit on and got in the water.    It is so great to get a big project finished and still have time to have fun. 

Friday, March 23, 2018

Today we awoke to a beautiful day with a bit of a wind from the northeast.  I quick did a load of laundry and it dried in no time.  This was the perfect day to paint the porch railings and everything that is painted white outside.  I had wanted to do this way back in January.  What a lot of work!  That sun is hot to work in too.  I will start again tomorrow around 6:30 - 7:00 before it gets so hot and sunny.  It's a huge project but needs to be done.  There is a lot of upkeep on property here.  We want it to look nice.  One day we will have to hire this stuff done as I am not getting younger!  Luckily, Richard seems to not get any older so he can keep working away on this stuff!  I love how new and clean it all looks. 

Needless to say, the whole day was not spent working.  We took plenty of breaks to enjoy being in our beautiful paradise. 

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Wow!  I will start my post writing about Wednesday, (yesterday).  Richard and I went fishing and took some friends along.  It was fun.  The water was flat and it was a beautiful morning.  We caught a Rainbow Runner.  What a tasty, wonderful fish!  Our friends came for dinner so we could all enjoy our fresh catch. 

After lunch the four of us also went snorkeling to Point of Sand.  We went out to the breakers and over to the east side.  This is a hidden gem of an area!  Joe had seen a lion fish there in the past so he brought his spear along and he caught that bugger!  Very exciting!  We had such a great time!  Joe cleaned the lion fish and prepared it and brought it along for dinner.  We ate it as an appetizer and it was spectacular!  Boy, Joe can cook!  We were all hungry after our busy day in and on the water.  What a wonderful day!

Today Richard went fishing and Greg went along.  They caught a Skip Jack tuna.  I enjoyed not going out.  My morning was spent on a bike ride and beach walk.  It was great to be on my bike again.  The south sound is inundated with seaweed!  Nasty stuff!  Makes for a lot of clean up for the resorts and homes in that area.  This afternoon, I went in the water here at the house.  It was fun but I got a bite or something on my left hand and it immediately swelled just huge.  I seem to have extreme reactions to anything now.  Thank heavens for Benedryl.  It is still swollen but not burning anymore.  I was lucky this happened at home and not out.  I guess I should always keep a Benedryl on my person anymore.  What a riot!!

We had fish tacos for dinner tonight and I just wanted to never stop eating!  Yummy!

I took this photo today of the side of our house today.  

Joe attacking the lion fish.

Sunny day on our beach today.

 

Our Skip Jack Tuna.