Scout

I was asked if I'd mind passing this on. How could I mind?. I mean, this dog is so cute its enough to make a budding case for optical diabetes onset. Really.

Since yesterday was the ever more successfully growing Animal Welfare Auction (and I love my chaise lounge! thanks so much for bidding for me after I had to leave, Michael!), I'm hoping maybe some one of you is in the mood to have a puppy, a small, ridiculously cute puppy. If so, get in touch! Scout is waiting.

Play, sleep, run a few miles later on

I look excellent in pink!

Giving a friend a hand...er...tooth

Oh Yeah, I have had my first round of vaccines (OUCH), and I got a clean bill of health from my vet. I feel great!

Dragonflies and Destruction

Molly got a photo of Lola and Lucy home for a snow day yesterday...holding their Culebra dragonfly magnets. Snow indeed! It's odd to see the girls all wrapped up in warm clothes against a LOT of snow instead of in their bathing suits and shorts...Thanks Molly! David looks hard at work there, yikes (that's him, crouched over with snow shovel in hand)!

photo credit: Molly the Mom

The house in the background - yes, it's a house, not a small inn - is one that was built across the street, destroying a beautiful woodland, and breaking a lot of ordinances to get what they wanted, where they wanted it. We're not the only ones, sadly enough.

Bill Kunke, who takes those wonderful underwater photos around Culebra - among others, was kind enough to telepathically know I wanted photos of where the pink house used to be and sent along a couple of his own for use here. If you don't remember the house, it was one of two private homes left on the waterfront, and had a wonderful porch, surrounded with alamanda vines, loaded much of the time with flowers. Laws were broken here as well. Why don't we just sell Culebra to the highest bidder...oh wait! We already are... And people wonder why we get so agitated about selfish, greedy, destructive people. I think there is a song about that...'they paved Paradise, put up a parking lot'.

photo credit: Bill Kunke

Another view of what is no longer there...

photo credit: Bill Kunke

(late addition) I just got this photo from Bill...in case you've forgotten what was destroyed
photo credit: Bill Kunke

She said it...

Free Range Friday

Last night was BYOB Thursday at Dinghy Dock, which is growing week by week, adding to social life on Culebra, such as it is. I don't know exactly what Neil made for us, but it was something Mexican and something good. Blaise and Angie, a couple from California visiting Walt and Grady, got me teary with very kind words about the blog (that wasn't the teary part, but great to hear), and the offer of a camera loan while mine is in the camera hospital. Sweet! So one or the other will be coming soon and I can get back to sharing the beauty and bizarreness of Culebra with you all again. Yippee!



As I type, I have banana bread baking for the Treat of the Day at the cart later on. Milka's had some finger bananas in the other day (and the veggie guy often has them) and I can never resist them (and neither should you). I've used this recipe before and it works. The recipe comes from cooks.com.

FLUFFY BANANA TEA BREAD

1 2/3 c. flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 c. butter 1 tsp. vanilla 1 c. mashed bananas 1 tsp. soda 1 c. sugar 2 eggs 1/2 c. sour cream 1/2 c. chopped nuts Combine flour, soda, and salt; set aside. Combine butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla; cream with an electric mixer for 1 1/2 minutes. Add bananas, nuts, sour cream and flour mixture. Mix by hand until barely mixed; let set 5 minutes. Pour into greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan or greased muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out partially clean. Bake 10 to 15 minutes for muffins.

I substituted plain yogurt for the sour cream and added some ginger as well. I also sliced a couple of left over bananas to lay across the top of the mix before it went in the oven. Don't be afraid to add other things as well, like coconut flakes, or allspice. Banana bread is very forgiving about additions, which I like in a recipe. The Kitchen Aid mixer I bought from Teresa has made baking so much easier. It's old but still does a great job and I'm so glad for it, even if it takes up too much counter space. Thanks, Teresa!

If I'm feeling ambitious, I'll tackle the veggie stand later on. Winter brings customers like locusts on a wheat field and we're all glad for the veggies guys, who work hard and faithfully all year long, showing up week after week even when it is only those of us who live here year round. So use your waiting time to chat with your fellow shoppers, along with seeing what everyone else is buying. Somehow I miss things every time until I see it being handed over for totaling up. Sometimes whatever it is is the last one. But sometimes it can be something hidden under someone's shopping bag.... It's a great time to exchange recipes too.

A shot of the veggie stand on a not so busy morning

Have a fruitful Friday! Do something friendly.

Bags aren't packed, not ready to go

I booked my ticket for Maine yesterday. Well, I actually booked my ticket for Boston, the closest big airport. And then a shuttle to...someplace I'll find out about sooner than later I expect. Someplace near or in Boothbay Harbor, where I'll be spending the summer with Laurie, working in her hot sauce/art gallery and exploring this part of the world.

Since I've lived in the Caribbean, I've never been gone longer than a month or so at a time, so the idea of leaving for a whole summer, plus an extra month to travel around the US seeing my brother and my children and grandchildren has an element of 'yikes!' to it. But Maine is beautiful, I have a few friends up there and my 95 year old aunt lives in Montreal; it will be good to see her. I'm debating taking a train out west, for the slowness of it, having not seen much of the country in the last 15 or 16 years. And despite my at times negativeness about America, it's a beautiful country in many ways and I miss road trips (I'm already ready to be back and I don't leave until June...sheesh).

Laurie's store is a combo of hot sauces and an art gallery. Just learning the hot sauces will be an experience...take a look at only PART of the store! I figure if nothing else, I'll come home with some awesome recipes for a new sauce!

photo credit: Laurie Knowlton

It looks like one of those beer bars with 89 gagillion types of beer...

For now though, it's good days in Paradox. Except for things like my (and so many others) favorite house on the waterfront being demolished...against all permits. I don't know the whole story yet but will find out as the day goes along...more later.

An osprey?

The other afternoon I was coming home in the dinghy when I saw a bird perched on top of a sailboat mast. It was one of those 'what IS that?' moments; it wasn't a vulture...it wasn't a gull, what...was it an osprey?? I've heard they are here but I've never seen one and being camera-less, I had to rely on my own faulty memory, but it sure looked like one to me. Except for the fact that its beak was more like an albatros'...maybe one of you bird people can set me straight on this.

I used to live on Merritt Island in Florida at one time. The little house, on about an acre, was across from the Banana River. Behind the house was an old wonderful structure I was told used to be a fish house. It was built of what looked like telephone poles, wooden walls, huge sliding doors and a concrete floor. The wood was still redolent of wood smoke, a very fine aroma. I thought at one time I'd buy the property and make that the house...shoulda woulda coulda. But behind even that was a little creek and marshy area full of old trees that was a rookery for ospreys. Every afternoon, at 5 on the dot, one of the birds would fly out of the rookery and over my house. My landlord, who became a good friend, was across the street on the river side. I had 'river rights' meaning I was welcome to come over and watch the river or go fishing. We devised a not so complicated system of raised and lowered blinds in case dolphin were coming by in the afternoon, which they did most days, just in time for cocktails.

Off to the side of his property was an old dead oak tree. The 5 o'clock osprey (also in time for cocktails) would land on this tree, observe his kingdom and catch fish much easier that ourselves (and it was pretty easy for us, the river teemed with fish back then). Snagging his evening meal he would perch back in the tree to get a better grip and then soar off back the way he came, to share his meal with the family. We would salute him and watch the sunset on the water, dolphins plying their way north or south, with the occasional jumping fish and even more rare occasion of seeing otters playing by the shore.

Where I grew up on the Florida barrier islands

All of that to say, oh oh oh I hope it really was an osprey. I hope it lives nearby and that I'll see it again. Or maybe that was the moment I get, which is fine even if it's not enough. Greedy me.

Busy busy busy zzzzzzzzzz

Today was spent on the big island doing what we just love to do over there, shopping and eating. I'd gone over by myself but ran into George and Jane and Judy, who had similar but bigger missions. Which meant that I got almost everything on my list (which fit in one small bag) and they got everything on their lists (which fit on three dolly's and countless bags). A fun day, no whales seen but a lot of laughter. Lunch was with some friends of G, J & J, a wonderful couple (who live in a condo that made me forget I was in the Fajardo area at all). We were served an excellent lunch as well. I drooled over the photo of their gorgeous Alden sailboat that they used to sail over here regularly until a couple of years ago. I guess when the captain starts pushing 90, that's allowed. As ever, it is always good to get home...the cat was happy too. No, I didn't get a camera today, the photo is from another shopping trip...soon come.

I got this in email today and it was refreshing to see that we're not the only ones who get 'the questions.' Enjoy!

Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia ? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK )
A : We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
__________________________________________________
Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA )
A:Depends how much you've been drinking.
__________________________________________________
Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden )
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.
__________________________________________________
Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK )
A: What did your last slave die of?
__________________________________________________
Q:Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia ? (USA )
A: A-f-r-i-c-a is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Au-s-tra-l-i-a is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not ... Oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.
__________________________________________________
Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA )
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
_________________________________________________
Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia ? (UK )
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do...
__________________________________________________
Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA )
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is... Oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys' Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
__________________________________________________
Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia ? (UK )
A: You are a British politician, right?
__________________________________________________
Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany )
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.
__________________________________________________
Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can Dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA )
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-m-e-r-i-c-a which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
__________________________________________________
Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA )
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
__________________________________________________
Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia ? (USA )


A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
__________________________________________________
Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia ? (France )
A: Only at Christmas.
__________________________________________________
Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA )
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first

___\

It's all about Sean

I/we recently got an update on Sean from Nancy, who has done a heroic job of keeping many us who feel so very far away closer with news. Since I get asked a lot about how he is doing, I thought I'd dedicate this post to filling everyone in. ☛ I don't think Garrison Keillor has this effect on everyone, but after seeing him speak at a great show in Jacksonville, Sean needed to get to Mayo (the hospital) to deal with a health emergency. It ended up with a lot of unknown issues as in "it could be this or that" The doctors poked and prodded and made their pronouncements. The upshot is that now he is home, ("It's good to be free") on air from a can, which he and Nancy have named Fritz, while different scenarios are being looked at. Personally, I think the bracelet thing is getting over the top, but the colors are good. How do you get a hospital to issue port and starboard colors?? Only Sean...

So their Valentine's Day was spent in hospital. Yes, it sounds and was a tough moment in a series of them, and it wasn't at all a party, but look at our stud muffin and his chica! I traded this photo for some palm fronds from here, which I'll be sending on Monday, to get Sean back to making birds, fish and the whirly gigs he makes with them (can we get a bowl? a hat?). I think I got the better end of the deal. While the situation is one that makes each day for him and Nancy a gift, the gift of enjoying life for every minute of it is one Sean keeps giving to us. And the love that flows is, indeed, seriously good medicine that can't be bottled, injected, or bought.

If you don't have the pleasure of knowing who Sean is, sorry that you haven't gotten that life joy. For the rest of you, postcards are always welcome...email me for the address if you like. Regardless, take a life lesson. When your body decides to throw you under the bus, check out the chassis, and roll with it. There is a lot of life on the other side of the dark still to be lived.

Hoodie Hoo Hoodie Hoo!

It's Hoodie Hoo Day! At noon today, go outside and call out - loudly - "Hoodie-Hoo!!"
to chase away winter bits and thus hasten in Spring.

I wonder if we say it backwards here, will winter arrive?

card by Camilia Erikkson

Yesterday's chocolate chip muffins got a big thumbs up from the girls, Lucy in particular was literal about it. Today they requested mango muffins and of course that is just what they are going to get, especially as it is their last day before heading back home. Because they love purple and pink I've added some raspberries for a touch of color, along with the orange of the mango. They smell pretty fine baking, hopefully they'll taste as good.

photo credit: Molly the Mom

Hoodie Hoo and these faces to look forward to? It's going to be a good day!

Late addition! From David Rose (Dad of Lucy and Lola)

"Here is a picture of a waterspout at Zoni yesterday.
Pretty impressive! See you later for muffins."

Free Range Friday

While I can't post photos of the process, the morning will be devoted to making chocolate chip muffins for the Treat of the Day, at the request of Lola and Lucy. Maybe I can get Molly to take a photo of the finished product (hint hint), preferably while being eaten by the girls. I seem to be on a mint kick lately and what is better than chocolate and mint together? So I'll put in some of that as well, just to see what happens. Something delicious I hope.

Here is the recipe, taken from a fun site called Mr. Breakfast (who took it from BethH, so thanks, Beth!). A number of comments said there were too many chips...we'll see about that. I'll let you know what the verdict is.

Chocolate Chip Muffins
(12 servings)   

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup light-brown sugar
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter -- melted and cooled
• 2 eggs - beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 package (12 oz) chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans -- chopped

Preheat oven to 400 F. and grease up twelve muffin cups.

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, stir together milk, eggs, butter, and vanilla until blended. Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add milk mixture and stir just to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Spoon batter into muffin cups; bake 15-20 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center of one muffin comes out clean. Remove muffin tin to wire rack; cool 5 minutes and remove from tins to finish cooling.

Serve warm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday I asked for guest photos and Sue Morris, a friend of mine who comes down pretty often with her family, sent along the following photos, along with the accompanying letter. Thank you, Sue! Wish you could all be here for the Animal Welfare Auction on the 27th.

Hey MJ!  I saw you are looking for photos and thought I would pass a couple along, though don't feel compelled to use them.  They are from the most recent Culebra dog we fostered up here, who ended up taking 8 months to get adopted.  Her name is Zena (which they kept) and she had been hit by a car when AWC got her, then they treated her for heartworm, and finished by getting her spayed and on a plane up here to us.  She had a lot of people pulling for her and she even got to go to our cell dog training program.  In the end she was adopted by a family from southwestern Indiana and the dad drove 8 hours to get her in a snowstorm.  These are pics of her with her new canine sibling (Zena is the blonde), who loves to play with her, warming up by the fire.

Okay, this is shameless propaganda for my agenda, isn't it??

What happiness looks like:

Sue
Roses Rescue
www.rosesrescue.net

Lucky Zena! Lucky family to have her. Be sure to check out Rose's Rescue link.

Have a flawless Friday! Do something frisky.

By the way, season's here

Season (what we call the time of year when visitors are an obvious presence in the street, the bars and restaurants and the beaches) was slow coming this year, but I do believe it has arrived. Lots of familiar faces around, back again for warm weather and glorious beaches. Winter here has been unseasonably warm but if you just came from 0 - 15 degrees, that's a good thing!

The last two days have been postcard beautiful, 

and that enhanced a few fold by the smiles of Lucy and Lola.

(photo credit: Molly the Mom)

Since I will be cameraless awhile, if anyone wants to send in shot they've taken around here lately (or, hell, a good shot period, I'm photographically starving here!) send it to me via my email at: caribemj (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks!

Lots of people are reporting whale sightings between here and Culebrita and off of Punta Soldada. Even the ferry from here to Fajardo is providing some shows. So keep your eyes open!!

Mardi Gras!!

Today in cities and towns all over the world, Mardi Gras will be celebrated. Mardi Croix on St. Croix was Saturday. but I bet people are still celebrating and/or recouping today with the fortunately placed Sunday, then President's Day as a gapper...it's a great party which has expanded hugely since I went to the first one in 2002. Thanks for the t-shirt, Lia!

Mardi Croix 2010, Michael Justis bikin' it - photo credit unknown

One of the best drinks I know that has become associated with the New Orleans party, one of the best well known and oldest in the US, is a mojito.

The best mojito to my way of thinking, is a frozen mojito. And the best frozen mojito is from Mamacita's (it took me awhile, but I got us back to Culebra...you have to have faith, grasshopper!) I've watched this being made quite a few times and never really pay attention, except for the final delicious result - to me, this is NOTHING like a regular mojito, which I find sort of boring...or maybe I just like the 7-11 sort of Slurpee thing going on with the frozen one...slurpees for grown ups!.

 So I'll check for sure but this looks sort of close to the recipe: remember, this is for one, a good full bunch of mint is going to be needed and the color should be deep, beauteous green - if it isn't, add more mint!! I can't find a photo online even close to the color - they are mostly a collection of wimpy looking lemonade type colors, rather than the liquid mintiness of my favorite. These are dangerous... just so you know.

Frozen Mojito
(recipe from PBJ)
3 ounces light rum
5-10 fresh mint leaves
1 ounce lime juice
2 tablespoons sugar
ice cubes*
1 ounce club soda
Place rum, mint leaves and lime juice in a mixing glass and muddle (bruise the mint leaves to allow them to release their oils). Strain the mixture; place the liquid into the blender and discard the muddled mint leaves. Add the sugar and enough ice to cover the contents of the blender. Blend until smooth. Add club soda and pulse several times to blend. Pour into a serving glass and garnish with mint sprig.
*Let your ice stand at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to let is melt just a little. This will help it to break down better in your blender.
Yield: 1 mojito

And what to eat to stay in the spirit of the day? How about gumbo??? This recipe is taken from the Farmer's Almanac:

REAL LOUISIANA GUMBO
4 servings

• 1 gallon oyster water
• 1 cup roux (equal parts flour and oil)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 5 pounds hen, cut into large pieces
• 2 pounds andouille (smoked sausage made with pork and garlic), cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 gallon oysters
• 2 teaspoons gumbo file (or to taste)
• salt and pepper

In a large pot, bring the oyster water to a boil. Dissolve the roux in the boiling water, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Add the onion, celery, pepper, and parsley. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Add the hen (hen is used because the tougher meat stands up better than chicken to the long cooking time) and andouille. Simmer for 2 hours, or until the meat is tender. Add the oysters and boil for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the gumbo file and salt and pepper to taste. Serve over rice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have no idea what's going on in town for Mardi Gras tonight but there is never too far to reach an excuse for a party around here, so I'd bet a bar crawl could be in order - before the seriousness of Lent kicks in, if you are so inclined (which I am not...'giving up' is not in my vocabulary).

However you celebrate, have a great Mardi Gras!

Oh, is this thing still on?

Another summer like day, very strange for February! The water this morning was glass still and I almost felt guilty disturbing it with the wake of the dinghy. But as Tony says, "It's ok, MJ, it goes back after awhile." Tis true! It was a good way to start the day, followed by a session with Suzanne, leaving me feeling relaxed and rubber legged. Thanks, Suzanne and thanks, Lorraine for the gifting!

I'm in the process of looking for a camera that is not full of rice and narrowing it down. Too many choices! I think a trip to the big island is going to be in order, some things need to be touched and held before purchasing and a camera is one of them. As mine was almost attached to my hand most of the time (and will be again) it's got to be right. So keep your fingers crossed!

In the meantime, here are some oldies.

A rain day in my yard

Rainbow Rock

 

Ferry dock diving

 

Leaving Culebra (for the day) 

 

My own Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day, Valentine....

Cowboy Junkies Mariner's Song

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is good! I hope your day is filled with it...be it friends, lovers or your good old dog (or bear).

Fair warning

In the name of all things couple-ish, I'm posting the poem below for the few who haven't remembered that Sunday is Valentine's Day. I know exceptionally intelligent, savvy, and not too terribly romantic women who have dissolved into exactly the sort of women they can't stand, for want of a card or flower, even one snipped from a neighborhood yard, on Valentine's Day. And I have no doubt more than a few men have secretly wanted to be the recipient of a chocolate or two themselves behind a bluff exterior of 'What a ridiculous day.' Very few men ever get bouquets of flowers sent with love. Give it a try, just for the surprise of it. Fair warning!

St. Valentine's Day

by Norah Pollard

My father was unable to hug me
or talk to me. He could never say
"I love you." He was too shy.
Too, his mind was in
another world.

But whenever he came home from his journeys,
he'd bring me presents—Little Lady Toilet Water,
that grand midnight blue Stetson,
those many Waterman and Parker pens,
the pocketbook with the brass eagle clasp.
And for all occasions, overblown cards
with the puffy scented satin heart or rose
on the front. Inside, his scraggy signature,
"To my Paddy, from her Daddy."

When you did not give me
a Valentine today,
I was undone.
And I wept in the shower
even though I am an adult and know
gifts are materialistic shallow
commercially driven wasteful crap.

But why, why could you not have
Wasted some mute love on me?

Yikes

Due to my impatient buffoonery I am, for the time being, minus a camera, after pitching myself off the dinghy yesterday into the canal with my backpack on (and no, alcohol was not involved...my dance with grace was, though). Hopefully the 'stick it in a bag of rice to dry it out' trick will work. If not...well, I'll fall off that bridge when I come to it!

In the meantime, there are other things going on. And to you people stuck up North because of the horrid weather, we're all rooting for you to get down here sooner than later!!! Stay warm!

I heard there are going to be some really good items at the sale, so check it out!

Last night was a lot of fun at Dinghy Dock. If you are missing the Thursday Happier Hour, check it out. Neil makes some great appetizers (last night was a Mexican theme). It'sBYOB and donations for the staff cleaning up after us...a good time on the water side!

Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk Day

Along with it being the above, it is also White T-Shirt day. I don't know if I have a pure white t-shirt any longer after working at Susie's. Do you know how hard it is to get lobster squirty stuff that flies out like a child flinging a hose about out of your clothes? But I'll do my best. Just don't ask or stare at any stains please. It's not my fault.

It is also Inventor's Day. Maybe someone will invent a thing for opening spiny lobsters safely. Something like those incubators premature babies are put into, with the plastic lines holes for one's hands to reach in. Except instead of a darling wee one, there would be a spiny lobster, no longer elusively alive but viciously dead, ready to pierce my skin and squirt juice into my eye. I have the last laugh of course, when finally the tail is hacked cut through and I manage - in a little game I play to see if I can - to pull out that succulent meat in one humongous piece. Oops! how did that little bit fall into my mouth? I have NO idea (but I did go wash my hands, promise).

A morning wander in the yard after watering the gardens...

 

  

  

 

Some more before

I wrote the other day about being in New Zealand for Kylie Kwong's restaurant for her combo Valentine's / Chinese New Year dinner. In case you couldn't get reservations in time but still wanted to celebrate in such a fashion, Jaden of Steamy Kitchen has offered a menu solution. And from Carroll Pellegrinelli at about.com comes a simple, sexy and elegant dessert, just light enough to follow those several courses earilier. Or you could make a pb & j picnic and have it on the beach, with chocolate milk chasers.

Since my home is too little to be able to re-arrange the furniture much, I take my urge to change things out in the gardens. Yesterday, one of the most beautiful days in the year (again), I spent a fair amount of time, on and off, doing just that. Container pots got moved around, old plants pulled, soil readied for new seeds that have yet to arrive. A tidying up, if you will. I had bigger plans for the day but the pleaure of playing with dirt overcame most of them. Plus, I went to meet Susie's sister, who is on island for a couple of days. Similar and of course, not, it was great to meet her. We are surrounded by a culture that holds family dear, but for many of us, family is far away and rarely met, so it's always good to meet a friend's family from 'out there'; and Carol is no exception. I think she'll be back sooner than later. All in all, a good and satisfying day off.

 Cheep and Chirp, growing up

This is the time of year that so much in the garden looks rusty to me. What a good surprise to find that the orchid I thought would bloom last month was saving up for a triple now

Another one of the 'lost' photos that reminds me of why I love Culebra...

Have a wickedly fine Wednesday. Do something wistly.