Playing in the Rain with Flowers

While this is my first time pupsitting here on another housesitting hill, I've been to this home numerous times in the past. The plants have always intrigued me, they thrive! From morning until evening the blossoms open and close with the growing intensity and then the waning of the sun; in 30 minutes what was furled tightly closed can open boldly, in a surprising burst of color. Hey, I'm easily entertained!

So today, even though there are water views that start long before the sun crests the surrounding hills, I played with flowers. The dog traipsed along with me, back and forth, looking slightly befuddled at what this temporary treat giver was all about. Treats matter, do what you like, lady.

I think I know what these are but I need to check first. Especially before eating.

I took an earlier shot of the flower below. It was completely closed and it was still pretty dark in the dawning time. But when I loaded it up it was slightly out of focus. I went back out to see if I could get it right but it was now opening to the day. Maybe I'll find one tomorrow. 

Bougainvillea in the rain

It's easy to imagine climbing inside some of these plants,
if you have a slightly odd imagination.

And yes, the water view.

Have a wondrously waxing and waning Wednesday. Do something wishful.

Tidying Up

You know how, after you take down the Christmas tree or after whatever celebration you celebrate, including New Year's Eve, there are, for a few days or maybe weeks or months, bits of debris that pop up? Not bad debris, just that errant Christmas ornament that rolled under the couch or the tinsel you find in your bedcovers or shards of that champagne flute behind the trash can (ok, that's bad debris). Those little reminders of times had over the holidays? That's how my photos are for me. So here are some of the last leftovers that didn't get included for one reason or another.

I was still housesitting up another hill when I heard what had to be a parade. A very close parade. Hopping into the golf cart, I was barely down the hill and around a corner when there it was!

Saturdays at Zach's are becoming a nice habit. Sometimes a special menu, some arts to buy, good music that drops in...nothing the same and everything good. 3 to I'm not sure. Check it out, especially while Ed and a few others are on island.

There was a definite mellow vibe going on here,
more like a Sunday brunch feeling, at a really nice hotel or
out on a very big boat on a perfect day. With friends.

Just love for no reason at all except for love

Duck AND tuna carpaccio And there was more on the menu
 but this caught my attention.
Yes, it was THAT good.

Some sad news for those of you who knew Les. Sad but hey, he was 90 and had a hell of a life. His daughter wrote a truly amazing tribute to him on fb but I'm just going to share the photos she attached, to remind us of the Les we knew here. Who could forget the sound of his bagpipes, wafting over the water in oh most mysteriously sounding ways? Or the sight of him walking, from wherever to wherever, in his high socks, brogue-ish walking shoes and khaki shorts, his dress shirt and bush hat? No one who saw him. So to Les, I was glad to have met you, ave atque vale.

This next has nothing to do with the holidays - I guess neither did Les - except that it happened during them, but it's my blog and so it goes. 

After many years, the stainless steel sink in the houseboat had served, and over served, its purpose, along with the faucet, which looked like it had been dragged up from 20,000 leagues under the sea. Something new was in order. Something that wouldn't rust. Because one of the first lessons to be learned in island living (unless it's an island in far Northern climes) is that stainless does not mean rustless. 

I am fortunate enough to have a talented friend who did the deinstallation and installation without anything going wrong and a whole lot going right. Of course, now the counter needs a facelift, but that is how home improvements go, it appears. I'm inordinately excited about this sink and I felt Nancy nodding approvingly. It's acrylic, heavy duty, won't rust and not expensive, in case you need to do the same. 

Sitting at Dinghy Dock, enjoying happy hour, sometimes we think of people we want to share it with, so here's this, just in case you aren't here now. 

And this. I don't know if there is a training ship in the harbor or not, I didn't look, but that's what this crew looked like to me.

Sitting on the dock of the bay

If I already posted this, sorry. But it's a view I really like, sunny or cloudy. When it's sunny, at a certain time in the morning, the reflection on the water is almost unbearable on the eyes, but also incredibly beautiful, the boats seeming to float in a brilliant mirror of silvery golden light. Not on this morning, but that's ok. 

I'll leave you with this brave and beautiful image of visual hope. At least, that's how I see it. 

Have a tackle your turf Tuesday! Do something ticklish. 

A Culebra adios 2018, feliz 2019!

Calendars are the way we mark our time, our seasons, our events both personal and at large, locally, nationally, internationally. The marking of the New Year, while it occurs in vastly differently time zones (right now, it's 3:30 a.m. in Hawaii, the party hardly over, while in Australia it's 12:30 in the morning, our tomorrow morning) it is celebrated, or at least noted, on some day, over all countries across the Earth, no matter what calendar is being used. But let's stick with the Gregorian calendar here. 

From the ball drop in Times Square in New York City to smashing dishes on your neighbors door in Denmark (for more international ways to mark the night, check this out from Wanderlust) to our family celebration on Culebra, we'll mark the old and new year, whether we make resolutions, break resolutions, go out, stay home, rock around the clock or rock our dreams before midnight comes. That's life as humans on Earth. 

Here's a bit of my Earth, saying good-bye hello. Taking care of a not happy with explosive noises critter meant I was home early last night, but up until then...

I started my end of the year with a walk on the beach next to the ferry dock. There were a few people enjoying the beach, I found some good sea glass and a piece of great cheny, and watched what I was later told was a bullet sleek mackerel, skipping across the water chasing a much smaller, very fast bait fish. That was a bit of magic for sure. 

Waving to Vieques, on the rocks

How many waves and years had to pass to make this erosion?

I came back to town later on in the late afternoon, to test the waters for the big night. It was really quiet, and while I know for business owners that is not a good thing, for one night of the year, it's a very welcome thing, letting it be more family than tourist event. 

One of my favorite Juans

And then it was the prelude to the Big Night. 

I remember when I got a bottle of Tito's for my birthday,
four years ago, ok, almost 5. I'd never heard of it.
Now it's a standard here. Smart!

American irony. Paper straw, plastic glass.
Just like we like it. 

A drink stop at Dinghy Dock rewarded me with a good conversation and seeing this very classic dinghy tied up among the rest. 

While I was chatting with some people on the sidewalk, out of the corner of my eye I caught the shimmer of Monika and Olivia.  

Happy New Year, y'all!

I love these two!

This is who I was talking to, and getting blessed by (the priest, not Mañengue and his son Giovanni). Brave priest to take on the three of us.

The tables were set up for families, waiting to claim them to enjoy the party in comfort. 

I swung by Susie's to wish them Happy Happy; they were busy but not too busy for hugs. Two friend couples were enjoying the really beautiful evening and what was to come later in town. I didn't even think about taking a photo until I was halfway back up the hill. Oops. 

And now it's today, the first day of the new year. A little sun, a little cloud, pretty much a metaphor to pay attention to. There will be brightness and no doubt some darkness in the year ahead, let's just hope that scale is tipped very heavily to the bright side!

Have a full of timely tactics New Year Tuesday. Do something to make your dreams into reality. Start today (ok, start tomorrow).