April 16, 2022 Saturday

 I haven't posted for a long time.  I'll have to think back to update things.  Emily and Sheldon both arrived and we had a wonderful week together.  Very hard to say goodbye.  They did a lot of diving and hung out at the pool and just enjoyed the island.  They seemed pretty happy and were sad to leave. 

The other day, when I returned from my morning walk, I was down on our beach.  I looked in front of me at the water and there about 2 feet from the edge was a hammerhead shark!!  He was probably 5 feet long or a little more.  First I thought it was a nurse shark but there was no denying it was a hammerhead!  When Richard got back later, he said other people on the island have reported seeing them too.  I guess they come in to have their young. Glad I wasn't in the water then!  

Richard has been catching tons of fish.  He is happy!  The day before yesterday, he caught a record size Tuna!  Very exciting!!  We donated it to CCMI.  Central Caribbean Marine Institute.  They are having a fish fry.  

We are flying home on Tuesday.  Monday we have an appointment to get Covid tested.  One still has to test negative to get into the USA.  The weather here has been spectacular!  We have been snorkeling tons of times.  Our reefs here are in perfect condition.  The water is smooth, warm, and lovely.  I've seen every fish imaginable and turtles and sharks and on and on!  So fun!.  

Our truck did arrive.  I was surprised how nice it is.  We never saw it before purchasing it, so I was relieved.  The air conditioner works which is great since it has been very hot here.  I've started getting some things ready for our return home.  Today I cleaned ceiling fans and of course, did laundry.  We went to the Little Cayman Trust House Easter Auction this afternoon and evening.  They have a live and silent auction.  Richard made off with a really special bottle of rum.  A private stock bottle! 

April 19 is fast approaching.  We will get home about midnight!  It's a long day of airport world.  

March 28, 2022 Monday

 We are enjoying another beautiful day here in paradise. Little Cayman, that is!  Life is busy here.  Today while eating our lunch on the porch, Lionel the huge iguana, lumbered up the steps to join us.  He just sat with us and walked around a little and mosied away. What a riot!  There must have been about 25 birds came in to the bird bath while we sat there.  It is just an old tiny frying pan I set out for them. They seem to love it.  I love how the birds settle right next to us and bathe.  We continue to be entertained by the variety of wildlife here on the island.  It is so different than in Iowa.  

Saturday, we were at the Hungry Iguana for a BBQ and live music.  We sat near the waters edge and the view is gorgeous.  What a fun evening.  Another thing we can't do in Iowa.  The music was provided by a guy singing to recorded songs. He was super talented.  It was very popular songs and from a wide variety of eras.  Somehow he tried to sound like Sinatra singing New York, N Y. and a popular Elvis song and CCR and all my favs.  Everything had the Caribbean beat to it though.  It was fabulous! But, the guy is the meter reader here on the island! What a riot!  He sang for two hours straight with no breaks.  

Our new truck should finally arrive this week.  We haven't seen it yet so it'll be a surprise.  Hopefully, it's not in bad shape.  I wonder if the air conditioner works?

Emily is coming for a visit and we are thrilled.  She will arrive on the 7th. of April.  Some serious diving will commence during her stay.  Poor Sheldon isn't coming.  He has a work trip and Emily didn't want to stay home alone. 

Things are still very quiet here on the island.  It is lovely, but very different.  Our tiny grocery store finally got some supplies in a few days ago.  What a relief!  For two weeks there were not even any potatoes.  Richard has been catching many fish so we are happy about that.  The waters are calm, clear and lovely.  Snorkeling is a dream! Our reefs are in beautiful condition.  

March 18, 2022 Friday

 I'm still here in paradise! The weather here this year has been really great.  Pretty much hot and sunny every day with a nice breeze.  If I sit in the shade with a breeze it is absolutely ideal.  I am sure living the good life! 

Today, we bought a new used truck.  It is on Grand yet.  Our current truck has seen its better days.  This environment is hard on things.  Someone is buying it though, so that is good.  The poor thing won't go to the junk yard.  

We had a great snorkel again today.  We saw a very large beautiful angel fish, a nurse shark, a huge school of blue tang, and numerous others!  On the way in I spotted a flounder laying on the bottom just a few feet from shore.  He was almost invisible!  All you could see was his eye moving.  What fun!!  How lucky am I to be able to snorkel whenever I want!! That's why they call it paradise!  

Tonight we are watching ISU play in the NCAA tournament.  We had an early supper of tuna so we don't miss a basket! 

   

March 10,2022 Thursday

I'm still here in paradise!  This poor blog has not been tended to lately.  I've been busy having fun and enjoying being here.  Our weather has been pretty much perfect everyday!  

We have plenty of fish to eat as the fishing has been great and the boat is in good repair.  We snorkeled in a new spot yesterday and got lucky to see a "slipper lobster".  It is also called a "spanish lobster".  It looked totally prehistoric!  Walking along the bottom, totally ignoring us gawking at it!  Six legs!  We also saw lobster the size of humans!  I've never seen them so big! Lots of them!!  

People have started arriving to stay at the little resorts here.  They are no longer empty.  It is not up to normal yet but this is so encouraging.  Thank goodness!  

Tomorrow we will hit the water again.  We are so lucky to be here.     

February 28, 2022 Monday

It is the last day of February already.  I haven't been updating my blog a lot this year.  This can mean I am too busy having fun or just too lazy to type!  Yesterday the wind died down and this morning the wind speed is zero.  The still days really heat up but we haven't turned on the air.  I wonder if today will be the day! 

Friday we went to dinner at Southern Cross Club with friends.  One of the original founders of the Club was on island with his family. It was his birthday so SCC set off fireworks! What a display!  It was way more spectacular than the City of Ames 4th of July celebration.  What a treat!  A huge cake was served to all and there was LIVE MUSIC!  We had so much fun!!!  There are some really talented people on this island.  We sure get entertained a lot.  I know they set off fireworks on New Years Eve here every year too.  We have never been here then but everyone tells me they are spectacular!  

Yesterday, we went lobstering.  We got three!  Talk about exciting!  Today is the last day one can harvest lobsters here. The season is ending until December 1.  Tonight we are getting together with friends and having a lobster feast! Yes!

Richard went fishing for tuna this morning with two guys.  They caught nine!!!  He said they could have got more but that was enough.  I'll say!  Tomorrow Greg is going along and they will catch more but will share with people who don't fish. 

This morning on my walk, the mosquitos went along!  With no wind they hitched a ride on my body.  When I got back to the house I practically bathed in Cortaide!  It is so fun to walk and go on bike rides here.  This is living!  Time to go out to my hammock on my beach and read and watch the beautiful Caribbean waters.  

February 22, 2022 Tuesday

Hello February 22!  It is 2-22-22 on a Tuesday (Twosday!!!)!  It is a gorgeous day here in paradise!  I've been sleeping really well here.  I guess paradise agrees with me!  

Last night we had friends over and fixed tuna.  It was just like old times on the island.  The wind has been blowing so there is no fishing for a few days.  Luckily, we have some in the freezer.  This morning after my walk, I worked on the yard.  I have to make sure the sand burrs don't take hold again.  It has been my goal to eradicate them and it is not easy!  

Richard and I are excited to announce we have a new pet!  He is a tiny Common House Gecko.  They bring good luck!  We don't have to walk him, feed him or entertain him!  He doesn't even make a mess! 

Time to head to my beach and relax in a hammock.  I can't miss a minute of this beautiful day!  

February 18, 2022 Friday

Things are busy here in paradise!  It has been hot and not windy again.  Today, Richard caught 7 large tuna!  They could have caught more.  We will eat a long time.  It's a good thing because our tiny store is so empty.  I ordered food and I don't want to do it again.  

Last night the Cayman government suddenly announced changes to the Covid testing requirements.  The every other day of testing on the first week of arrival is over starting today!  Everyone is thrilled!  It cost $30.00 US every test!  

I've been doing a lot of relaxing lately.  My daily walk has to be completed early as it really warms up here in a hurry.  We are discovering why afternoon siestas are popular. The heat makes us sleepy.  Today, we talked about starting up our air conditioning. I love having the windows open and the ceiling fans spinning. We have zero bugs yet!! This has never happened before!  It's crazy!  I sat out on the porch after sunset tonight again with no bugs.  Even on the beach in the evening!  Richard says I will jinx it by talking about it!