tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049093553583176682012-02-15T05:37:09.920-04:00Island Woman's CulebraWhat happens on Culebra doesn't always stay on Culebra...Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.comBlogger11601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-38169811273286504192012-02-15T05:34:00.001-04:002012-02-15T05:37:09.930-04:00Culebra WindfallThrough a serendipitous series of events, we, meaning Culebra, are fortunate enough to be getting a cutting edge documentary on the reality of wind turbines, on land, people and air.
I posted the trailer for Windfall a little over a week ago, not imagining we'd actually be able to get the whole film here, but that's just what has happened. It began when Nancy told Lolly about my interest in windIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-60520066651700151022012-02-14T09:00:00.001-04:002012-02-14T09:23:49.234-04:00Happy Tuesday/Day of Love, Martyrs and Other Historical NonsenseOh shoot, I meant, Happy Valentine's Day. Actually, it's Happy Saint Valentine's Day, in honor of that poor bugger who refused to give over his Christianity for paganism, perhaps, with nothing romantic about it, unless you consider having your head kept with other relics and honored over the centuries romantic. But needs must, romance must have its way and here we are, centuries and pathetically Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-89873607567876410612012-02-13T07:53:00.001-04:002012-02-13T07:55:27.483-04:00Good Morning, Culebra Monday!What a difference a name of a day makes. Yesterday's tranquil quiet seems even more quiet compared to the busy feeling of now. Cars and trucks with engines torqued, zooming by (at 35 maybe even 40!mph), radios loud as a strong cup of coffee, that far off rooster is now right outside my window, even people walking are talking in close to shout volume.
I've got my list of to-do's to be done, but Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-17799043201055332892012-02-12T09:00:00.000-04:002012-02-12T09:00:35.291-04:00What I Missed on Culebra YesterdayYesterday, showered, dressed and geared up to attend the AWC auction in the afternoon and the (thank you, Bill Kunke, for getting the information to me!) Victor 'Cucita' Felix Munet celebration, I went from feeling great to feeling like...erm, staying home. Some belly bug that lasted the day and night. Could we rewind, please?? I feel great now! Oh, we can't. Sigh.
I doubt not that a great time Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-90158428126063643332012-02-11T08:40:00.001-04:002012-02-11T08:44:00.130-04:00Saturday in the Park...Ok, the Library and the Plaza.Today at 3 is the AWC auction at the library! Don't wish you'd been there, just be there. This evening, at the plaza, there will be a tribute to the 'PanMan'. I'm trying like crazy to get all the info on this and can't find it (where did I put that digital message anyway?). If you knew this guy, you'll be there. If you enjoy steel pan music, you'll be there. If you know all the details including Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-61054140838330132482012-02-10T07:15:00.000-04:002012-02-10T07:15:35.877-04:00Keepin' It SimpleToday is marked Full.
G'morning, Moon, in the first light of day
G'morning, birds, out to play
G'morning, Mr. Fisherman, heading away
And now, back to the bread life.
Have a fulsome Friday! Do something filling.Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-28758112364553251602012-02-09T07:16:00.003-04:002012-02-09T07:31:18.611-04:00Don't Forget!
Fuggedaboutit, we can't fix everything!
First, a reminder! The annual AWC (Animal Welfare of Culebra) auction is this Saturday, so mark your brains and your calendars! The following is from Mary, one of the many tireless workers of AWC.
Hola,
I am overwhelmed by the generosity of this community. Donations for the Animal Welfare of Culebra have poured in, and I know that you all support Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-85307006909237017892012-02-08T09:37:00.003-04:002012-02-08T09:48:08.858-04:00Some Culebra This and ThatYesterday was one of those days that seemed all over the place, in a good way. When I needed to be out and doing errands, the sun was out, enough for the laundry to dry. When I was answering email bread orders, it was cozy inside raining outside. While Ivan was having his meet and greet your potential next Mayor time at Club Seabourne, the sky was full of the moon, the air was cool and the Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-92086264573834227602012-02-07T05:55:00.001-04:002012-02-07T05:57:52.930-04:00Moon over CulebraTonight the full moon will blaze from heaven to earth all over the world. I'll be getting the show from Culebra, a tropical place where, of the many names the February full moon is known by, only a couple seem to work well here (luckily, the Micmac's of Canada name, Snow Blinding Moon, is one that doesn't work here).
credit: unknown
The Chinese, call it the Budding Moon and flora certainly Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-30790022654842423112012-02-06T07:31:00.002-04:002012-02-06T07:43:42.765-04:00It Was Supah!
This has nothing to do with Super Bowl. I just like it.
I'm happy to say that for the first time ever I chose a team to back in the Super Bowl, for two pretty non-sporty reasons; the Giants had a Virgin Islander (a Crucian, even better!) on the team - first time ever for a VI player to be in the Super Bowl - as well as a Puerto Rican. How could I not chose them? And then they won, in a Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-20029559503163081172012-02-05T08:45:00.002-04:002012-02-05T10:04:29.374-04:00Windmills on Culebra? Education is Key.It is another beautiful day in Paradox! It's also Super Bowl Sunday. "If we took all the money from Super Bowl ads and spent it on educating our kids, we wouldn't be America." Andy Borowitz
But let's move on. Usually on Sunday, I try to keep it mellow. I think I do that anyway. But through an interesting series of events, this is how this Sunday will be. And who wants mellow on the day that menIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-40745996671961248212012-02-04T08:09:00.000-04:002012-02-04T08:09:04.599-04:00The Fourth of Feb
Discussion...drier weather is expected today as compared to past few
days but a surface trough located east of the Leeward Islands will move
quickly westward this afternoon with moisture convergence increasing
first across St. Croix and then westward across eastern PR and the Atlantic
and Caribbean coastal this evening. Surface trough then moves into the
Mona Passage by Sun afternoon but Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-61539991947957227472012-02-03T14:34:00.000-04:002012-02-03T14:34:06.229-04:00Ok, I'm Mad and I Have a Question...or Two (skip if you don't want to read a rant)Who is ACDEC? What makes up ACDEC? And why are they allowing Victor Gonzalez to have four windmills in an environmentally sensitive area ALREADY declared unfit stability wise for anything of the sort? When he has already broken many laws, both local and federal, stealing the beach at the far end of Flamenco for his own use, including having his own security guards illegally telling locals and Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-28734243353274257402012-02-03T07:24:00.000-04:002012-02-03T07:24:00.907-04:00Culebra Cat and SticksWhen I'm baking bread, I get pretty focused, narrow minded, task driven, thought rutted (are you getting the idea?). What's worse, I think I put some Hearty Grain grains on some rye bread. Where is the ginkgo biloba now? I forget. But the upshot is, I'm not tracking on the blog at the moment, so what you see is what you get (and you rye bread people? Be kind).
The cat, about an hour after my Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-50524921065797383122012-02-02T13:24:00.000-04:002012-02-02T13:24:32.360-04:00San Juan Protest Video ~ January 30th and 31st, 2012Of course, this is just a fraction of what happened. And the skill of the videographer leaves much to be desired. I'm considering firing her. But, you'll get the idea! I hope.
One love!
Have a trouble-free Thursday! Do something tactical.Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-91365569093348739002012-02-02T07:51:00.000-04:002012-02-02T07:51:26.688-04:00Quick Note!There will be a vet here on Friday (tomorrow), 11 - 4, at the library. No sterilizations, but vaccinations, exams, etc. will be available!
(more later, just wanted to get this out - and if anyone knows how to copy a pdf to a blog page, I'd love to know how!)Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-58426831814865925812012-02-01T10:06:00.001-04:002012-02-01T10:08:50.462-04:00San Juan Ferry Protest - Oh What a Day and Night! (photo heavy, fair warning)(Imp. first note - let me make it perfectly clear. I can be a total idiot. I forgot to bring extra cards for my camera, meaning I filled it too early - mainly with video - so the last half of the protest was up to the rest of the many photographers to record. I didn't get to do that, my fault!)
Major impressions? Incredibly organized. Clean. Powerful. Pride in being a member of the Culebra Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-24507935810938145572012-01-30T06:39:00.001-04:002012-01-30T06:41:05.497-04:00Thanks, David and Don't Forget Your Raingear!Last night was David's yearly swan song with the lads at Mamacita's. No doubt Doug, Grady and Ted (Violin Guy) will be entertaining us in the future, but we'll be looking forward to David's return next year!
Since David's father was one of the original Liar's from the Liar's Table (sign above), it seems pretty appropriate to play at Mamacita's for his last gig night.
A number of people were Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-89020678623443015772012-01-29T10:58:00.003-04:002012-01-29T11:01:28.225-04:00Info for the Ferry ProtestJust to have all the information in one place at one time, I've taken this English version from Karen's newsletter. Thank you, Karen.
Here is the schedule for the protest in San Juan starting tomorrow.
Activities to be held January 30 & 31, 2012 about the maritime service transportation in the island municipalities
Vigil: “Two islands one voice”
Date: January 30
Location: Peace Pavilion, parkIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-52580227072211154692012-01-29T07:06:00.003-04:002012-01-29T11:41:37.058-04:00Go Team!I've been meaning to write about this for awhile, but in the whirl of social activity it got put to the side.
When my throat was in sore need of relief while I was sick, I happened to buy some Hall's drops (hey, they didn't have Smith Brothers, which would make me feel better just from the nostalgia endorphins released looking at the package). Usually I buy the eucalyptus ones but I was sort ofIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-76536485800694192142012-01-28T08:48:00.003-04:002012-01-28T09:35:36.144-04:00A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' OnLast night was just way big fun around town. Dinghy Dock was rocking with David, Grady, Doug and Violin Guy making some fine, fine music. Susie's restaurant was celebrating her 4th anniversary. Hannah had her cart. La Boa Brava, lit up and looking incredibly good, the night view with lights is really sweet, check it out (she also has a facebook page, if you are so inclined to look and like).
I Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-87525558769810298692012-01-27T12:28:00.003-04:002012-01-28T08:44:27.017-04:00It's Just a Kiss AwayAs you know, if you read this blog much at all, Thursday night into Friday morning is now baking bread day. Until you run out of propane, with 8 unbaked loaves on the counter. Unless you live on Culebra, where, after you freak out, you remember a friend who is usually awake at 5:30 in the morning and just might have an extra tank of propane around and just might be willing to bring it to you as Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-89881997809486195542012-01-24T12:15:00.000-04:002012-01-24T12:15:50.604-04:00A Fine ArtGood morning, gentle readers! Today, we will be observing the fine art of self-grooming. In case you are still in your jammies and haven't brushed your teeth yet, do not be alarmed, I'm not talking directly to you.
But first, from a wonderful web site with tons of information about all sorts of things wild birdies in general, is a question I'm sure many of you have wondered about. With the Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-62897018562199428792012-01-23T06:02:00.006-04:002012-01-23T14:46:30.535-04:00Sunday Funday and a few Other Culebra MomentsYesterday I was asked, more or less, so to speak, in a repurposed phrasey sort of way, What do you do now that you aren't at the cart anymore? This was in reference to the blog and photos I used to take of street events that would pass by me. I hadn't thought about it much but it was a good question. I don't have an answer, I'm just 'watching the wheels go round and round' in a different way now.Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-7059512222041445022012-01-22T09:00:00.002-04:002012-01-22T09:06:52.536-04:00Sunday at the MoviesThis is what you do when you don't do much of anything else. I was on my way to take (yet more) bird photos and there was this fellow. We had a Culebra stand off for awhile as he wanted the dock. The whole dock. If you'll notice, he'd certainly marked it right away. He won.
Don't miss the tongue.
Just in case you missed the tongue
When Walt called me yesterday afternoon, I felt like a Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-10619664839854341722012-01-20T16:03:00.000-04:002012-01-20T16:03:50.512-04:00Hmmmm...So, there I was, enjoying the pleasures of new electronics, watching a movie (rare pleasure, on my old computer, it was more torture than pleasure because of the slowness) while in my sick-bed, me sick, not the bed, when dink! The movie quit moving. I finally realized that all the lights on the modem had gone out and so, insto presto, that was that. The guy at Claro finally admitted the modem wasIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-62818671695139200672012-01-19T08:10:00.002-04:002012-01-19T08:22:37.586-04:00Good morning!More later, but in the meantime, this was an interesting little article concerning the black out from yesterday. Beside the fact that the key sponsors of SOPA both pulled their names from the proposed bill until it can be re-created in a way that will meet the goal (stopping online piracy of copyrighted material) and not cripple the internet. Other lawmakers ddi the same. Here is some more about Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-34149178126235227882012-01-17T23:58:00.000-04:002012-01-17T23:58:58.934-04:00Closed for Today or Closed Forever? You Help Decide.
Find out more (and what you can do)
To find out more, click here Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-56297504652331839062012-01-17T09:41:00.000-04:002012-01-17T09:41:28.226-04:00Tuesday Morning, Because it Is
How we know it is winter here
I think this will be my last day of being on the down side of the upside. Cabin fever has set in hard. Well, it set a few days ago, but has now reached a point that even I don't want to be around me. Weirdly, the cat seems to gravitate to this sluggish, vibrating energy. I don't know why. I do know I now know more about her daily habits and I'm astonished she Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-2529673092830596012012-01-16T07:24:00.003-04:002012-01-16T07:31:38.318-04:00Three day weekend? Holiday? Oh yeah, Martin Luther King Day
The 'officiall' Martin Luther King Day is always the third Monday of January. Even though his birthday was yesterday, we are thoughtfully given a three day weekend, ensuring time for our creation and/or participation in events to honor him, his works and his dream. I'm sure most of you have been planning your Martin Luther King memorial actions, gathering with friends and/or families to go work Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-10806535691459634842012-01-15T08:05:00.003-04:002012-01-15T11:59:28.772-04:00Thoughts With Too Much Down Time (fair warning!)I'm thinking a lot about my father these last few days, probably because I've been sick and that is a rarity. When we were children, he only kept a few things (oh, if I have said this before, and I'm sure I have, be patient or just come back another day) in the medicine cabinet: Listerine, Vicks VaporRub and maybe Bayer aspirin. I don't remember my brother or sisters being sick but of course I Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-49948607033192793032012-01-14T07:20:00.000-04:002012-01-14T07:20:24.842-04:00BeautifulBaking all night, I watched the Moon and Mars cross the night sky from the East to the West, even into the earliest dawning. I only got one photo though (what was I thinking? I wasn't). By morning, Mars was on the 'other' side of the Moon...
Of course, I didn't bring out the tripod and there is some shaky stuff going on here, but if you didn't get out to see it...
I'm still baking and gettingIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-43521370772372654012012-01-13T10:05:00.000-04:002012-01-13T10:05:16.798-04:00Important Notice! Petition concerning the ferriesPlease read and sign this petition. At the least things will not change, at the most, our voices will be noted.
https://www.change.org/petitions/basta-ya-el-abuso-de-atm-y-gobierno-de-pr-con-la-transportacion
The loose English translation:
About this Petition Letter
Petition is to the Gobierno de Puerto Rico y la ATM
This demand is very important for the welfare of the municipalities of Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-24545757100672912042012-01-13T08:34:00.003-04:002012-01-13T19:51:34.734-04:00Hush, Peli's, I'm Trying To Sleep HereIf it isn't the cat wanting early breakfast ('is she ever getting out of bed?' pat pat 'maybe a little bit of claw will help' pat/claw 'oh good, she's moving, wait! she's just turning over and pulling the blanket up! I can take care of that' rip claw blanket 'ok, she's up) it's the pelicans dive bombing for their own breakfast. Luckily, I have nothing they want.
What got me past the door thisIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-47173415124332587652012-01-12T06:30:00.001-04:002012-01-12T06:31:48.131-04:00Ugga MuggaFor the first time in years, I have a cold and sore throat. Of course, that was a great excuse to spend the day playing with *drum roll please* the new computer! Oh yeah, I'm having some fun here. Speed? Almost breakneck. Clarity? Crystal, luminous, shining, inside or outside. Cute tricks? It's got 'em. Can it cure a cold? No.
On a walk to purchase things semi-medicinal I took along my camera, Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-27734520738659187922012-01-11T08:09:00.000-04:002012-01-11T08:09:48.044-04:00Culebra, Land, Sea, SkyOver the time I was offline, we had a fabulous treat in the full moon, both before it actually occured, during and after the event. The planets have been blazing, and the stars tumbling light.
While here on terra firma, life has quieted down since the rousing holiday season has come to a close. Shhhh, we're briefly resting. Ok, I'm briefly resting.
This was the late afternoon one night Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-66275998769708232182012-01-10T08:58:00.001-04:002012-01-10T10:05:46.094-04:00Sail on, WatsA lot has happened over the last few days. But one is bigger than any of them, right now. The rest will come later.
Yesterday, our friend Peter Watson ended his long battle with cancer. If you knew Peter, you know he had amazing skills. In sailing, boat building, wood working, yes. In being just an incredibly decent, funny human being. he was shining. We'll miss his sunlight, his moonlight, his Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-18852504606982834842012-01-07T06:47:00.001-04:002012-01-07T06:51:05.929-04:00Don't Blink!Three and a half days of a downed server a missing blogger makes. Service was restored yesterday afternoon but I was almost out the door. However, I am crediting the Three Kings, whose day it was, with that restoration. Things just don't get fixed on holidays around here. Or right before them. Or right after them. It's sort of a law of nature that we accept with better grace over time. Or not, Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-91243952159168861172012-01-03T07:42:00.000-04:002012-01-03T07:42:43.112-04:00The Party is Over, the New Year is RealToday is the day of the Iowa caucus. While many in the GOP party remain undecided (personally I think it might be more like "Isn't there anyone else? ANYone else?), the candidates themselves seem to be backing up in full hotfoot mode. Check out the article.
While here on Culebra, we're just coming back to life after a long stretch of parties and celebrations and getting back to whatever it is weIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-64069791726043562302012-01-02T11:32:00.001-04:002012-01-02T13:25:21.650-04:00Fitting Into Monday
No, I wasn't on any of these rafted up boats
Yesterday, the first day of the New Year, was spent out on the water, enjoying friends company and meeting some companionable and interesting new folk, who swam and boated over with goodies and music (I'd never heard of Eileen Quinn until I read about her in a comment to Fatty Goodlander on facebook a couple of days before, and serendipity! Allen notIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-34604501763453110562012-01-01T19:17:00.004-04:002012-01-01T19:21:37.644-04:00The Video - New Year's Eve Culebra 2012`After a beautiful day on the water, the computer is still alive and so is this video! I watched this line dance build from 1 to 3 to 20 to at least 100 people, it was incredible and beautiful, I'm just sorry you can't see it better. If you were there, you get that, if you were not, I wish you had been. I'm going to bed now...
Publish PostIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-65468545218511540902012-01-01T12:20:00.000-04:002012-01-01T12:20:38.944-04:00Culebra Brings in 2012!Oh what a night! Another great New Year's Eve party! The family was dressed and out and ready to party! I went home early. Because 2 a.m. is early, right?
When I got home, I thought I'd check emails and as I was doing that, my daughter in Portland called to wish me a Happy New Year, even though she was still in 2011. The computer started and gave me the blinking ? mark, which for a mac person Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-60098354026851776822011-12-31T00:35:00.001-04:002011-12-31T00:43:20.189-04:00Out With the Old, In with the New2011 has been a year of re-invention for many of us. Dealing with world, country, state and local issues has brought more than a few people to come up with imaginative ways to do more than survive, merely holding on by bloody fingernails, but to have a life that is full of the good things that we should cherish, because even if you believe in reincarnation, this time around is the only one you'veIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-39104864629387669392011-12-30T03:52:00.001-04:002011-12-30T03:53:26.953-04:00Culebra Free Range Friday - Holiday Version
Thanks, Dad, that this wasn't our tradition
Holiday foods. They bring us memories, traditions, comfort. We can change them at our own risk, add to them for our own and others enjoyment or discard them all together, but there it is, no matter what your culture or what you're celebrating, there is some food that just says "It's holiday time!"
One of my favorite 'new to me' holiday foods Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-75892349242546302282011-12-29T08:33:00.002-04:002011-12-29T08:36:25.072-04:00WalkaboutIt wasn't only me. I talked to a woman sitting under a tree who agreed; yesterday was hot. The coolness of winter seemed sucked away, leaving me sweating wondering if our respite from heat was over. Of course, it isn't. This morning is cool, with a slight breeze and a spit of rain a while ago. It just upped my thankfulness for winter months. Walk on.
New Year's Eve here is so special, a family Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-25220083380407839702011-12-28T06:52:00.001-04:002011-12-28T06:52:51.077-04:00What Was That?Light around here has some interesting ways of distorting what is right in front of your face. So that saying, I'll believe it when I see it? Don't.
I don't use photoshop. I'm not against it; I have seen many photos that stunned me in the good way, when someone with skill wields its powers. It's just not for me. I use a small photo program that lets me straighten out a horizon (sometimes I Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-36679666195429994062011-12-27T04:53:00.000-04:002011-12-27T04:53:22.388-04:00Boxing Day FutzingYesterday was a day for futzing, which is pretty much all I did. No photos, no parties, no projects completed; in fact, it seemed there was a mini-conspiracy going on to keep me from completing any projects. No - well, here is the definition, in case you don't know what futzing is (and who knew there was an offical definition, but there is):
futz/fəts/
Verb:
Waste time; idle or busy oneself Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-45995875036933814752011-12-26T13:40:00.000-04:002011-12-26T13:40:04.689-04:00Culebra Chrismas Parade, Not Quite All ThereThe video uploaded but to my horror, the memory card must have been filled up before the greatest float from Randaluz Ferreteria. And I even saw them when I was coming home, stopped outside my house for some reason, but no way to photograph them. I'll look for some photos online and see if I can share them, because it was a GREAT float! Rats !@#$%^!
Ah well, you'll get the idea, it was a Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-61122535706006929832011-12-26T10:08:00.003-04:002011-12-26T13:17:39.076-04:00So This is Christmas
How Boxing Day should be spent
Christmas 2011 will go down as one of the stand out Christmas's on Culebra for me. With the exception of not getting to hear my son's voice, even though I heard his heart in his message.. It was a day filled with music and horses and friends. Even waiting the hour plus for the parade was just turned into a good time. There were new friends and old friends who Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-35125567699909754052011-12-25T15:43:00.001-04:002011-12-25T15:46:29.710-04:00Catching Up on Christmas (Eve Day Eve)I have a feeling if I don't do this right now, before I head out for the parade, I'll never get it done. So for those of you not here for Christmas, this is part of what Christmas Eve (day and night) was like. For me anyway!
Grace graced
Waiting for Santa
I love this moment!
And here he is! (elf) hats off to Hector and Sandra, who do this for the children every year!
Priceless
Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-87384992507290148452011-12-25T08:26:00.000-04:002011-12-25T08:26:39.514-04:00Merry Christmas!!Merry Christmas! For those of you who celebrate the birth of a little Jewish baby today, may your day be full. For those of you who only know the day as a year long awaited Santa does or doesn't fulfill your wish list (I, for one, do not see a Viking 8 burner stove anywhere on the property, perhaps a reflection that I was not always nice), I can only say, take a deep breath and make your own Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-15951602270003279792011-12-24T07:01:00.003-04:002011-12-24T07:48:09.314-04:00A Caroling We Go, Culebra Style
Cwim & I preparing for the evening ahead
(disclaimer: I didn't go caroling. I try to confine my singing in public to joyful inebriated moments that I sincerely hope no one will remember the next morning and that I'd seriously consider a lobotomy to forget)
Tis the season! Last night the Culebra carolers were in fine form around the town; we caught them, or they caught us? at Susie's, where I Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-65640189952755363222011-12-23T06:05:00.000-04:002011-12-23T06:05:36.921-04:00Culebra Free Range FridayAs the music truck goes by in the wee hours, traditional Christmas music in steel pan form wafts in my windows, softly at first, then loudly and finally fading away, When I lived on St. Croix, I used to be able to hear a steel pan band a couple of times a week from my apartment on the hill, whether it was playing in town or over on Protestant Cay. A lot of memories come with sounds, and all of Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-79181093927304489162011-12-22T09:45:00.001-04:002011-12-22T09:47:16.108-04:00Culebra Purple and GoldLife is slowing down here for me and the weather is beautiful. I might have a computer figured out. Except for wanting to have a winning lottery ticket so I could fly in all my children and bro for a week, I can't ask for more. Ok, I can, but I won't. Right now.
Oh what a beautiful morning!
No, the above isn't quite purple and gold but it has purple and gold in it. My new hamaca from Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-66320540207389446112011-12-21T08:37:00.001-04:002011-12-21T08:41:17.964-04:00Winter Solstice 2011We don't have (usually) grey days, like yesterday! where we eat dinner in the dark, huddled against the cold. But we do have late sunrises and early sunsets, mingled with Christmas winds. At 1:30 tomorrow morning, the trend reverses as the winter solstice occurs. We don't have a Stonehenge, and I think pagans are few on the ground, but if you are awake, make note, seasonal celebrators.
Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-38211261115850299052011-12-20T12:34:00.001-04:002011-12-20T12:59:36.506-04:00What's the worst that can happen For the moment, because miracles happen (after a few hundred bad attempts), my computer is working. It could quit in the middle of this and I almost didn't try but then thought (after telling a friend I wouldn't try), what the heck? Worst that can happen is it dies again and you'll never know!
Maybe it is my first day of Hanukkah present! Like that miraculous jar of oil that was only supposed Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-71290569164248677362011-12-19T12:08:00.001-04:002011-12-19T12:10:41.170-04:00Here to tell youFirst, thanks to the Amazing Sarah for getting that posted from Portland! for me. For those of you who don't know, the library does have a connection and computers to use in needed times, so I'm in the a/c, typing away. 5 dollar donation requested and well worth every bit of it!
Also, thanks to Pam and my bro for getting the word out about my online not happening-ness!
On the way here, I came Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-76688506022331849492011-12-19T00:40:00.000-04:002011-12-19T00:40:06.350-04:00Message in a (cyber) bottle coauthored (hijacked) by the amazing SarahThis is MJ's daughter, Sarah...my mom wants you to know that unless you have a Mac laptop benefit you will have no idea what's going on around you on the island of Nod..just kidding...she doesn't find me funny..so...her computer is very very dead...just wanted you to know it might be a few days but she is still taking pictures and collecting stories...thanks for your patience..she'll be back as Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-72194047494397618702011-12-16T04:57:00.001-04:002011-12-16T13:16:22.767-04:00Free Range Friday PlusWhat a week it has been here! Busy is not usually a hugely operative term in my life. I might do a lot of things but somehow, I never think of myself as overly busy (at least in comparison to other times in my life when breathing seemed like something I needed to schedule). Sliding back into my normal Culebra mode is on my very near horizon though, and the contrast is a fine one. As in, hey, I Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-50929708304795609392011-12-15T04:11:00.004-04:002011-12-15T06:18:37.431-04:00Ok, Where Was I?
This horse has nothing to do with Blue at the Spot
Before I was happily infused with Sloane's birthday, I had some catch ups for here that I'd forgotten to post earlier. One is that Blue at the Spot is having its grand (re, sort of) opening tonight. Doesn't that sound New Yorkish? Of course it will end up being Blue, which still sounds great because who doesn't like some sort of blue? If you Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-87201125883348290892011-12-14T07:12:00.000-04:002011-12-14T07:12:26.560-04:00Happy Birthday, dear Sloane!!Today is my granddaughter Sloane's birthday, so I am in that awed wonder state of "What the HELL? Aren't I that age?" that all devoted in love grandmas experience as their grandchildren enter their mid-teens. Having such a long lot of miles between us makes her growth, emotionally these days more than physical (yes, she is taller than me and keeps getting more beautiful) in leaps to me, and Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-50248613907830211682011-12-13T06:08:00.000-04:002011-12-13T06:08:14.861-04:00Happy Birthday, Francie!Yesterday was work and play. Hmmm. Seems this is not something real unusual around here. But the theme was Francie's birthday and, as also seems to happen around here, lack of planning doesn't prevent events working out just fine. Or finer.
Not that we're against plans, mind you. Some come in handy, yes they do!
For instance, knowing we were celebrating a birthday, we actually planned a bit Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-43254261010371695272011-12-12T07:10:00.002-04:002011-12-12T07:17:53.388-04:00First Chilly Morning
Finally! A bloom the iguanas haven't found on this plant.
At 72 degrees F, it is a stay under the blanket until the cat bites my hair to make me get up and feed her morning. A 'where is the tea making fairy?' morning. An 'I'd go take a photo but I don't want to get out of bed yet' morning. No fan going, no mozzies, and no cat feeding, tea making fairies. Ah yes, here in the islands, we take theIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-26304813025041444162011-12-11T05:53:00.001-04:002011-12-11T05:54:11.308-04:00Wild to MildThis morning is as calm as yesterday's was crazy with wind and rain. I hear nothing but a few roosters who are on Culebra time, meaning they start crowing at 3 in the morning, just because.
The cat who lives with me, watching it rain
Yesterday the winds were howling for most of the day. A friend clocked 25 knots, and I have no doubt there were many stronger gusts. During the night that Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-62404350136342553642011-12-10T06:14:00.000-04:002011-12-10T06:14:40.625-04:00Of Course It's About the Moon. The Culebra MoonWe won't be seeing the eclipse here this morning and it's a good thing, because it has been raining all night and is raining still. But in-between the clouds yesterday at dusk and into a bit of the dark, the moon showed up. What else could I do?
So I did.
And then, a very dark cloud swept across la bella luna and she was gone for the night, like a star swept off a stage, preparing for the Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-65214772246941005542011-12-09T05:12:00.002-04:002011-12-09T05:17:40.825-04:00Free Range Friday...sort of
One of the beautiful flowering weeds in my yard
The other day I mentioned I'd been given two chickens. Hopes and dreams rested on their beautiful feathery backs. When would the day come that I'd find a big, brown, gorgeous egg, the beginning of many? When could I post, in all its glory, that same egg, first in the shell and then on the plate? Shockingly, it was the next day. There it was. Oops.Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-44618183964924183942011-12-07T05:12:00.001-04:002011-12-07T05:14:07.954-04:00New Arrivals in Lounge 2
Yesterday I got some new land mates. A call, a whirlwind of activity and here they are, the first two chickens of the new regime, deemed Culebra Rhode Island Reds - we'll see. Miss Prissy and Dark Tail (no, I didn't name them and no, they don't seem to know why I call them that) have come to live in the coop. Because I wasn't quite ready for them, they are in the side 'holding/baby pen'. Now, Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-77363701117525576142011-12-06T07:36:00.000-04:002011-12-06T07:36:12.481-04:00TranquilloYesterday afternoon the stillness was very loud. No cars, no horses, no breeze, no noise. It was drinkable.
Day and Night
Night and Day
Have a torqued Tuesday! Do something twirly.Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-76114923600332074522011-12-05T07:43:00.002-04:002011-12-05T08:01:22.666-04:00Culebra Sunday on MondayIn the grey overcast of yesterday, anything bright took on an almost surrealistic glow; flower, food, ships, it didn't matter. A sense of rain held off until it didn't anymore late in the afternoon. After a completely lazy morning reading (part of) a week old copy of the Sunday New York Times friends brought down for me (thanks, Lorriane! thanks, Jim!) I had headed into town to Dinghy Dock - for Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-31197373020656308872011-12-04T08:41:00.000-04:002011-12-04T08:41:24.949-04:00Sunday Round Up
I bet it was quiet out here last night
Around 1:30 this morning, the boxing match was over. There was cheering, horns honking and general hoopla. All I knew as I came wide wake (was there a problem? was there a party? was the loud church having a really late service?) - there was a whole lotta noise going on.
The second wake up was simultaneously the cat and the horses, all wanting something.Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-5824443966439785762011-12-03T07:10:00.001-04:002011-12-03T07:12:17.431-04:00Light Up the Culebra Night!
The Christmas season is now offically here, with last night being 'turn on the Christmas lights!' night. It's one of those nights that are uniquely Culebra, never the same but always the same, friends and families turn out, the street is blocked off, the stage set up, looking like its own wrapped gift.
Every year, the steep, sloping lawn in front of the Alcadia is filled with decorations of Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-55619791238287353632011-12-02T03:44:00.004-04:002011-12-02T05:39:35.979-04:00Culebra Free Range Friday (via North Carolina)
A happy Mountain brother man
Today's post is about turkey. I know, Thanksgiving is over but there is another popular turkey day coming up and that's my excuse for giving this over to my brother and his buddies Trash Can Turkey. This was only part of the meal they made, up in them thar mountains: there was duck and chicken and lots of side dishes. There was also lots of beer. But unlike the Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-1391296578961126952011-12-01T04:04:00.001-04:002011-12-01T04:07:03.729-04:00Culebra Flower Pow!We are in the midst of the end of Fall, which is really more like Spring here, heading into...more Spring, better Spring. Ok, basically, seasonal time here is a little out of whack, and thus fits in with a whole lot of other things around here.
The air is getting cooler. The sky is getting blue-er. The air is getting clearer. And the flowers are going crazy. I didn't intend to take mainly Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-54498952846451165762011-11-30T07:14:00.001-04:002011-11-30T07:16:13.266-04:00No Water IncludedToday's post is about stuff. Stuff you can buy. I don't often mention products, except products in relationship to cooking. Because cooking is a big interest for me, those mentions usually means a cooking item, like a condiment I really like and that works for me, that I want to share.
used with permission
Now I've found something else I really, really like that is about something else that Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-31343261405886986782011-11-29T07:49:00.000-04:002011-11-29T07:49:33.805-04:00Culebra Beauty - cont.Still too many, but after a big crash here yesterday, I'm going to go with the giving while it's good.
This was Sunday, the last day of holiday weekend, and the biggest raft up I've seen in years
One of these days I will sail on this boat; it's beautiful, it's fast (it was doing loop-de-loops around us when the dinghy engine died) and the captain/builder is one of the best
Not a bad way Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-68798437542513841092011-11-28T15:03:00.002-04:002011-11-28T15:07:03.726-04:00Too Much (shooting) of Good ThingsI realized, not quite halfway through culling photos out of the 200 + that I took yesterday and this morning that it was going to take a bit longer than I thought. So here is a sampler.
I thank, in a weird way, the faulty dinghy engine that led to me staying on the houseboat at the reef last night. There was swimming. And talking. And laughing. And I'm pretty sure I made some nachos. There was Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-78549950851218474282011-11-27T05:31:00.003-04:002011-11-27T05:52:59.970-04:00All Peli's All the Time. Almost.
If you are tired of pelican photos, feel free to leave the classroom and please close the door quietly behind you. See you next time!
Maybe it was the big weather system (that still has not dumped on us - us meaning Culebra, the big island is a different story - but it still has more chances), but fish and birds were having a fine old time all day yesterday, leaping swooping diving Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-80522443105635709512011-11-26T07:58:00.002-04:002011-11-26T08:06:10.214-04:00Bright SaturdayI was going to put up the big deal about Small Business Saturday, as opposed to the manipulation (and danger: pepper spraying to get at Xbox's?? what?) of Black Friday, until I realized that the 'official' Small Business Saturday is sponsored by American Express. It's like the 'health drinks' put out by Coca-Cola, or the green lawns advertised by Monsanto. Sometimes, I have great despair of the Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-90166196059267377672011-11-25T04:30:00.005-04:002011-11-25T04:56:01.299-04:00Thanksgiving with a Family of Friends
I hope your Thanksgiving was full of people and things to be thankful for! I'm baking bread, so I'll let the pictures tell the story.
This is the turkey and stuffing I cooked so we'd have 'leftovers', because you have to have leftovers.
A Dinghy Dock and Melones Beach Thanksgiving
Chef Neil behind the bounteous buffet
Friends, good food, wine...I am thankful!
Dee discusses desserts
Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-12296069439103327432011-11-24T05:18:00.002-04:002011-11-24T06:35:09.526-04:00Officially ThankfulToday is the official American holiday of thanks, based on a strange fun house mirror image of history. But I sweep all that aside (not because it doesn't matter, regular readers know my rants on injustice to oh so many), but because Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's not too terribly commercialized; in fact, it's run over by the tank of the next holiday. It is, traditionally for me, aboutIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-7840248092134809962011-11-23T05:49:00.001-04:002011-11-23T05:53:06.845-04:00What Happened? (or How a Gained Day Was Needed)I should have known, right away, when I thought on and off all day yesterday that it was Wednesday, that I'd actually gained a day when usually I lose one, that there was a reason for it. There was. I needed two Wednesdays and now I've got them!
There was a lot to do and lots got done, but another thing I should have known is that planning on Culebra defies all logic...in fact it is a complete Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-68293117981667995172011-11-22T07:52:00.001-04:002011-11-22T08:31:37.360-04:00Culebra Wednesday ~ We're Golden! (oops, it's Tuesday)
Turkey Race 2010
Just in case you don't know, or forgot, today is the Turkey Race day! Children, men and women will be racing for fun and turkeys and *gasp* cash prizes too. I think so, anyway, re the cash. According to Lawrence, there aren't enough men racing (or women over 50, and no, I'm not entering - I want to live until Thanksgiving Day at least, por favor), so it's not too late to enter!Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-16913007209914848062011-11-21T08:22:00.001-04:002011-11-21T08:27:10.815-04:00Wow Culebra SundayYesterday was a strange day, in the 'sit back in your chair with your forefinger under your chin saying Huh' kind of way. The news in my world was dominated by the events that have taken, and are taking place on the UC Davis campus. You know the one. Not having television and watching youtube clips, it might have more impact on me, seeing it as a single event and not an endless news loop, Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-91282525468976023122011-11-20T07:36:00.001-04:002011-11-20T07:46:24.812-04:00More This and That Culerba Randomness
The 'Little House' in Boothbay Harbor, Maine
As most of you who read this blog know, I'm a big fan of tiny homes (good thing, since I live in one), and take photos of them where ever I go. I've watched the 'tiny home movement' get bigger and bigger as the years (and the economy) pass by, seeing some who are drawn because of need financially become aware of the many levels of freedom that come Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-47688448575635748462011-11-19T04:42:00.002-04:002011-11-19T10:12:15.958-04:00Culebra Catch Up Catch All? Of course not!The other day on the way to one of my work incarnations, we saw a schooner coming into the bay. It didn't look like the Harvey Gamage on its annual trek, but it was. In fact, it was my own personal Harvey Gamage Day. Coming in, at anchor, heading out...it wouldn't be a little odd if I'd just been home all day, but each time I saw the ship, I was a) on the road toward Zoni b) at Dinghy Dock and c)Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-64477577685785642952011-11-18T06:36:00.002-04:002011-11-18T06:38:37.376-04:00Rest in Peace, Mayor AbrahamLast night Culebra's Mayor, Abraham Peña Nieves, ended his long fight with cancer, surrounded by his wife and children. His funeral will be held tomorrow. There are stories of his life online, but my Spanish is too poor to do them justice; lo siento. With condolences to his family and friends, may he rest in peace.
Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-75674799076506897812011-11-17T10:21:00.000-04:002011-11-17T10:21:13.960-04:00Oh , is my face RED!I got a call from my brother last night...well, I got a message, I was asleep and didn't hear the phone. But waking up and getting this message made me want to go back to sleep really fast, for a really long time. I'd digress but it's too embarrassing to avoid going on, right here, right now.
So, I'm listening, puzzled and then mortified, as my brother ever so gently said, "You were going ON Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-12145812088257279502011-11-16T05:59:00.003-04:002011-11-16T06:12:26.865-04:00Periwinkle - More than a ColorIf I've never mentioned it before, periwinkle is my favorite color. Not quite purple, not quite blue. Periwinkle. It's a color. It's a flower; in fact, it is the first flower I could name, growing wildly on the east coast of Florida. We considered them beautiful weeds and I was amazed when I saw them, many years later, in garden nurseries. For sale! Periwinkles! Amazing.
But the first Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-64101132654363972632011-11-14T07:00:00.001-04:002011-11-14T07:27:09.318-04:00Culebra MondayDogs yipping across the bay, roosters crowing, the sound of a vehicle or two. Sky a'dawnin', morning is born.
I weave my way back through the long grasses, knowing the tea has steeped strong, the cat has been fed, real daylight is now bright enough to kick start my brain out of merely meandering. Culebra close enough, anyway. Let Monday begin!
Have a mole-hill only Monday. Do something Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-15663735503221420402011-11-13T07:28:00.001-04:002011-11-13T07:30:30.800-04:00Sights Sounds Smiles
I am so lucky
The moon out my window shines
With just half a cloud
Something really nice happened today. I can't get into details, because I don't really understand all of the details yet (when I do, I'll share them). I can say that someone who only visits here but who, with her family, loves Culebra hugely, worked from the states and hand in hand with a local organization, to get a Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-21729165834872493652011-11-12T06:52:00.000-04:002011-11-12T06:52:58.209-04:00A horse is a horse, of course of courseA rainbow umbrella, a table and chair. Some bread and some hot sauce. Myself. What about this attracts roaming horses? The bread. I'm quite convinced now that horses like rye bread. Well, who doesn't?
Oops, you see me!
I might as well just go for it, I know you don't think I'd really grab a loaf of bread.
Oh. That bread wasn't for me, is that what your saying? Uh, sorry.
"Pssst! Don't Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-76083762380332948572011-11-11T04:58:00.000-04:002011-11-11T04:58:20.445-04:00Eleven Eleven Eleven - Veteran's Day - Free Range FridayIt seems like the full moon should be tonight, with such a unique date as we have today, along with it being Veteran's Day. Or maybe in your part of the world it is Remembrance Day or Armistice Day or Poppy Day, recalling and honoring the end of WWI and the signing of the Armistice. Back in a day when before it was called WWI...because what could possibly bring the world to such insanity again?
Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-43349409278929189382011-11-10T09:02:00.000-04:002011-11-10T09:02:58.072-04:00They're Baaaaaccccckkkkk! Last year, the pelicans seemed to be avoiding my bay and this year they are avoiding it still. But at the bottom of my yard, where it is more open, a few of the yutes are having a fine time, entertaining me in the bargain. Their swirling, whirling, diving, splashing fishing style, always the same, always different, is mesmerizing. Funny old bird, the pelican...
Another beautiful day inIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-67966555388645441012011-11-09T09:09:00.000-04:002011-11-09T09:09:35.039-04:00The Most Beautiful Late Afternoon Ever
Maybe it started with this mushroom? Nah.
Sometimes there are days here that are so beautiful it's almost painful to not be able to get outside all the joy/wow/ohhhhhhh on the inside. If a friend is around, a friend who gets it (and I'm incredibly fortunate to have the people I consider friends all get it), it helps because they are experiencing the inexpressible with you and let word fumble doIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-66601403967588680652011-11-08T07:40:00.002-04:002011-11-08T07:47:59.864-04:00Ophidiophobia? Stop Reading Now!Yesterday was another of those stunningly knock your eyes out down to your soul beautiful days. It was also really hot. I drink a lot of water these days, as does everyone I know...we sort of float through the heat, encountering each other with air kisses because of our sweaty cheeks, muttering mucho calor! The beauty carries us through. We know coolness is coming, along with what might be an La Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-22694802442167223842011-11-07T05:01:00.001-04:002011-11-07T05:12:21.171-04:00That Time of YearI know it's early in the game, but the big boys and girls of marketing have started, so I thought, why not now? Just the thought of the Christmas season is laden with many facets, one of the biggest (thank you, Ad Men) being gift giving - Hanukkah too, but Christmas is the one that gets the ginormous commercial push. So when I got this in an email yesterday, I really liked it a lot. From the Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-67494402643154350192011-11-06T07:39:00.000-04:002011-11-06T07:39:48.449-04:00Horse in a LandSeascapeFor Sunday. Because it's Sunday...and the horse was there.
Have a seductive Sunday. Do something selective.Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-29863592096730673402011-11-05T14:14:00.001-04:002011-11-05T14:21:54.029-04:00Heavy into Light
Shelter Cove light house
“I cannot cause light; the most I can do is try to put myself in the path of its beam. It is possible, in deep space, to sail on solar wind. Light, be it particle or wave, has force: you can rig a giant sail and go. The secret of seeing is to sail on solar wind. Hone and spread your spirit till you yourself are a sail, whetted, translucent, broadside to the merestIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-41014950197415352232011-11-04T04:05:00.000-04:002011-11-04T04:05:28.468-04:00It's Still Raining, Y'allThere is usually a bad side to every good side, she wrote profoundly. The rain we are having, as usual, proves the point. While its gentle patter fills cisterns, makes the flowers bloom and cools the air, it also keeps people from the beaches and affects outdoor style businesses.
I say this all of the time because it is such a huge factor on Culebra. Life simply doesn't go on the same way when Island Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804909355358317668.post-312503535446502862011-11-03T12:33:00.003-04:002011-11-03T12:39:40.696-04:00Free Range Friday on ThursdayIt is Thursday, I'm pretty sure. Tomorrow I'll be up in the wee hours to bake bread, so I figured, since I actually cooked something sort of interesting yesterday evening AND remembered to take a photo of it, I'd make today Free Range. And maybe from now on, though Free Range Thursday lacks a little in the roll-off-the-tongue factor...
We've been getting some beautiful showers here, well unlessIsland Woman MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09572525021985970075noreply@blogger.com2