Free Range Friday ~ Culebra

This is from LAST Friday, which is how long it has taken to get someplace to actually post a post! Today, unlike then, is sunny and blue and breezy and beautiful. But we'll use my magic mirror and go back in time, before we get to, eventually, today.

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Unlike yesterday, when we saw rain but lots of sun, today started cloudy, cool and with showers. Here it is mid-day and it is much the same. A day for soup! 

Soup on the simmering boil

I was inspired by the weather but also by my new baby Crock Pot, but didn't want to use it until I got the okay from Jesse that my solar set up would handle it. But then, I couldn't wait, it was just too much of a cooking day to resist (as it turns out - I found out after I'd already cooked the soup - the solar set up will work just fine)

(Update! I used the baby Crock Pot to cook soup later in the week, it works just like I was told it would; great!! Using the sun to cook a different way, saving propane, very exciting)

Into the pot went boneless, skinless (not fatless, unless you trim them a lot, which I didn't; the fat can always be skimmed off later) chicken thighs, onions, garlic, ginger, yellow squash and some fresh herbs from my little kitchen garden, thyme and lemon grass to be exact. Along with a half a bottle of TyLing Natural Thai Green Chili sauce. The sauce has only a bit of spiciness and a lot of flavor, it works for me, even though I'd already put in half the ingredients of ginger, lemon grass and garlic. Subtle but definitely there. 

And it was delicious.

Before that, though, I had a haircutting day with Debbie and David. David said, 'Bring your camera!'. I said of course, because they have this awesome deck on the place they rent and there are always some good photo ops. But that isn't what he meant. Not at all. Oh dear. Debbie said she'd been waiting to do this a long, long time. She and a few other people...

Before. Don't be afraid, they said. I wasn't. Not much anyway.

Debbie is a pro at this. I am a pro at that.

Speaks for itself

Haircut done! A jump in the shower to get off the itchy bits

"Did I get it all?"

After. Thanks, Debbie (and David, and Hound Dog too!)

A thank you lunch at Dinghy Dock. 

The following are random moments around the island. Time goes by and everything is still beautiful. That stability keeps my sanity alive and that's a good thing.

We were all impressed. Talk about a trust factor of 12+!
They had this down.

Often my first view of the day.
This was one of the first mornings the sun decided to shine
after days of rain. It was pretty glorious.

Just another dawn in Paradox

There is this light that defies being captured in the early morning.
But this is pretty close. 

This was one of those days about 10 people tell you they could see St. Croix

Pulling down the curtain

Gazing from the rock

Ending the day and the last sunset of Ann's time here -
until the next time!

PSA! Things happened in-between. Being sick as a dog was one of them, along with a whole lot of other people around here, luckily not as long as some, unluckily long enough. I'll just take this moment to say one thing: if you are sick, PLEASE don't hug anyone. Or kiss them. Or breathe on them. Really. Each year the bugs get nastier and last longer and it's the one of the few things that is not nice to share. I have friends who are still sick. They miss work, they run up doctor bills. I know not all of it can be avoided but we're a hugging crew around here, so just think before you hug! Por favor! Gracias!

I don't know what I'll cook today, but hopefully it will be something really good and when I'm hooked up again, I'll share it. In the meantime...so long for now, Ann, and a whole bunch of other people who are flying out today, and welcome home, Peri!!!!

Have a full of Freedom Friday! Do something frivolous.