Busy Days in Culebra Life

Gearing up for things ahead may keep me busy, but it doesn't do much for the photo department. I mean, one of the things I'm most excited about right now is that I got a new to me refrigerator that will be dedicated to baking things and eventually eggs. I literally and figuratively did the WOO HOO dance. But neither that, nor the fridge is something to get real excited about in a photo. Trust me on this. Big thanks to Pan and Jim for helping me move a pretty big boxy thing down maybe 20 steps going many which ways, along with the rest of the way. Yippee for skinny strong guys!

I was going to crop this last January photo of Pan and Ricky to just Pan, 

but seeing it again, I just had to have then both around. 

I went outside to take a photo of a huge pink cloud that was sunrise color before the sunrise, bouncing off a cloud in the west, but before I got out there, it had gone grey. There was still no sun on my hilly eastward horizon so I took a bunch of shots of Cwim. That weren't any good. Now the sun is up in a sort of washed out sky. Some days are like that and this is one of them. 

So instead, just the facts, ma'am.

Sunday, October 16th, is Blog Action Day. What is Blog Action Day? Here is a brief description, according to the site:

Since 2007, Blog Action Day has focused bloggers around 

the world to blog about one important global topic on the same day.

 Past topics have included water, climate change and poverty.

This year, Blog Action Day will be held on October 16, which coincides 

with World Food Day, so naturally our 2011 theme is FOOD

So if you are a blogger, or have some favorite blogs you read, mark your calendar. It's sort of like A Moment in Time, with a lot more words.

Something I ran across that I think is pretty cool. I've read about this many times, in fact and fiction, but I've never seen it put together before. I found this Cabin Porn (a great site if you like photos of all aspects of cabins and the like, which I do), attributed to this website, but I'm still not sure exactly where it came from.

Hobo Code

“The pictographic Hobo Code is a fascinating system of symbols understood among the hobo community. Because hobos weren’t typically welcomed (and were often illiterate), messages left for others in the community had to be easy for hobos to read but look like little more than random markings to everyone else to maintain an element of secrecy. The code features certain elements that appear in more than one symbol, such as the circles and arrows that made up the directional symbols. Hash marks or crossed lines usually meant danger in some form.” source unknown

So much for the meanderings in my head while living the everyday life here on Culebra. Yes, there are pauses to look out on the beautiful blue waters of the bay, to listen to birds calling, to watch an iguana fall out of a tree where he's been madly scrambling. But sometimes it's about chopping away limbs from the telephone wire, painting a shelf, moving a refrigerator, going to the PO and the bank (staring out the bank window at shimmering water and islands, being glad to be standing in a bank while doing this), just life. So it goes.
 

Redux #2, just in case you really need a Culebra fix!

Have a wind up Wednesday! Do something willful.

Culebra Flip Side (or Why I live here despite certain realities)

Yesterday was full of sunshine, breezes, beauty and the typical torpid heat of our September. Oh, and the veggie guys! But first, I went out toward Zoni to air out a home and this is some of what I saw.

 The sargassum is pretty dramatic from this view!

Ah, this is what I was remembering on those cold, under the blankets mornings out West

When I was writing regularly for Caribbean Travel & Life, I got an excellent assignment to write about Biras Creek, a unique resort on Virgin Gorda. I centered my article around Alvin, the head gardener, who took me around the property he'd cultivated for 30 some years. One of the plants he introduced me to was the strawberry cactus - shown above is one from here. He plucked the fruit and had me taste it, and yes, it did taste like a pale strawberry, and was just as full of seeds. The horticultural info on this plant is interesting, with many names. It's spiky and strange and wonderful.

One web site that sells essences of different plants writes "For those of us who are expecting things to go wrong or be difficult, Strawberry Cactus encourages us to let go and allow our hearts to transmute difficult emotions. We know that there is perfection in each moment and each situation, and we begin to live in joy. " Truthfully? I don't have a clue what that means, except maybe the contrast of spiky and sweet, but I thought it was interesting. And maybe it works, who knows? What I do know is that every time I see this plant, I think of Biras Creek and a wonderful old man who taught me new things with love and passion. Among the many words of wisdom he shared with me, one in particular stood out, and still does. "Being good and kind, that will carry you through the world." Here's to you, Alvin, with thanks and love.

 Defying all mandates on Culebra, this charming bird watching area is actually completed and ready for your enjoyment. The sign shows some of the birds that can be seen. 

The best time to do this is at daybreak, just in case you're interested.

 If you've ever wondered, but don't know what 'tying up for a 

storm in the mangroves' means, this is what it means.

 At the veggie stand, Lawrence and I pondered these fruits. Lawrence said, '...it brings something to mind, but it's something underwater.' That made sense. Then along come Pam and Chuck, who knew all about this fruit, including the fact they they are growing the very tree in their yard!! They are called rambutan (pronounced as written). Here is some more information about them. As I read and saw more photos, they look like a red, hairy genipa. I haven't tasted one yet, but I will. Pretty damn fancy stuff we're getting here, Veggie Guy!

Along with rambutan (I just like saying 'rambutan' - try it!), 

there were some purple fingerling potatoes. Who could resist? Not me.

From there, it was down to the ferry dock and matters serious. All in a day on Culebra...welcome to Paradox!