Culebra Randomess

The weather has been all over the weather map lately. Cool, warm, windy, still, cloudy, sunny. And that's kind of fun.

One of those weird atmospheric days that St. Croix could be seen
and Vieques looked swimmingly close

Looking right piratey!

A little wind came up and all the islands moved back
to their original positions

Another big sunrise

Life is a beach

No matter where you live, I hope you have a happy place to spirit yourself off to, one that allows you put whatever crazy wackiness is in your world aside for awhile. And if you have family and good friends to do that with, consider yourself among the wealthy in the Universe.

Have a mobile Monday. Do something moving.

What's With This Weather?

I am marking the Winter of 2015 as the strangest ever here on Culebra. Well, weather wise at least; the competition for strangest ever anything else would be a whole different contest and one I'd not want to judge.

Winds and rain have interspersedly replaced the usual endless days of beautiful sunshine. But 30 mph wind gusts with 20 fairly steady? In March? 

“Oh what a blustery day! It must be Windsday again!”

The view to the bay rotates between lovely blues and greens with sun dancing to dark and gusty with close the door batten down the hatches bursts of fat cold raindrops that truly don't last too long. It is like wishing for a fireside armchair and then a cooling swim within a 30 minute span. Over and over.

Truly a 'if you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes' forecast

Breakers outside the reef at Dakity

It is a good day to be cozy. Of course, since I've written this, the wind will drop, the sun will reappear in constancy and normal will return. You're welcome.

Have a warmish Windsday. Do something windless.

Wither Yon Wonder?

Always something new (or: waiting for dinner)

It doesn't take covering a lot of miles to cover a lot of Culebra. I was talking with a friend yesterday, looking at our world from her view about how people say this island is so small, but really how big it is. How big is your neighborhood? Do you know every nook and cranny? Do you get surprised to see something you think you've looked at 1000 times, only to see that something is there that you didn't ever notice? Culebra is as big as you want it to be, that's how big Culebra is.

Yesterday's weather was a mixed bag of sun and clouds. Bright, bright sun. Deep black clouds. With only a spattering of rain around this part, though out at sea, a different story.

In the yard, with the almost leafless trees, it was incredibly bright, on and off, all day long. Until it wasn't.

This little dragon was in 'beware' mode

'Don't come any closer!'

'Well, hmmm. Maybe you don't mean to harm me.'

 I went up the hill to see a friend and the clouds were rolling in, along with the out at sea rain. It was dramatic, to put it mildly. We didn't get a drop.

At one point, I'd put the camera down, but then this bird flew through, the sun, from somewhere, hitting its wings so that it was like a white flash of light in the grey, wheeling across the darkened panorama of the view (it's hard to tell, I barely caught it at all and not nearly as brilliantly as it was, sorry!).

When I got back home, the birds were going crazy. There were a couple of guys out casting for bait, one on a dock, one in a little dinghy. I love to watch the nets thrown, their perfect circles landing from a seemingly casual toss, key word seemingly. Those photos, unfortunately, didn't turn out well. Sometimes (ok, a lot of times) that happens.

It was time to go in, with a long night of baking, a great day of watching bread and hot sauce go to happy homes, a good hike and some strong weather drama. Zzzzzzzzzzz.

Have a wonder what's out there Wednesday! Do something wishful.

Spirals of the Caribbean, Culebra and Santa Fe

Either the internet is on slo-mo this morning or the little dudes who pedal really fast to keep things going in the universe are taking a well deserved break, so this will be brief. I know you can understand. Good.

This is what our world looks like about now. The radar shows a mess from Invest 94, which might or might not get checked out by the Hurricane Hunters (a trip I dearly want to go on sometime).

This is what MY world looks like right about now (give or take a few hours, it still looks like this). And I think it will continue to look like this for awhile. But no complaints! The temps are down, the humidity is not sitting on us like an invisible cloak weighing 1000 lbs and it's easy to pull weeds. I'm sure there is other good stuff but that's all I can think of right now.

This has nothing to do with Culebra, except that I want this. Even though I don't have two stories on my little shack/casita. It would be worth building a second story if I could have this staircase. Ok, not THIS staircase, the shipping alone would be crazy, beside the jail time.

Just looking at it makes me dizzy. Er. Yes. Hush. This is the Loretto staircase in Santa Fe, NM. It has a wonderful legend, and a brilliant construction story. Plus mysteries. Like, no one knows what exact sort of wood it is made from. Or surety about who built it. You can read more about it here (a neat site too, you can 'ask the builder' questions and it's free!)

That's about it. Except for a Culebra head's up. If you've been waiting (a week or so) for a package that hasn't arrived, check the PO. Apparently some notices were...mislaid...and have now been found. So go check it out. This is why I've not had hot sauce to sell for a week (no wax, which has been sitting in the PO, which I found out after I semi-politely blasted the company I buy it from, who have been nothing but wonderful for years and I'm a jerk).

Have a moderate Monday. Do something mellow.

What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday, it looked like we would get a lot of rain...which never materialized. So it goes. The day before was literally picture perfect.

Ah well, we'll always have...bougainvilleas!

In case you haven't see the petition concerning trying to revoke the endorsement for the project Mi Terruno (by the very entities that should be protecting us, land and sea), which would devastate a huge portion of Culebra. Yes, there is bias on my part; not against development, but against development that ecologically would be a disaster for the land and water, our infrastructure and the nature of Culebra that is the reason both locals and visitors love being here. Go here, to see (and sign, if you wish!) what the story is and what you can do about it. The visuals say as much as the words.

Have a majestic Monday! Do something meaning full.

Misc. Tuesday

Cwim spent the rainy parts in her favorite outdoor spot

While it looked like rain most of the day yesterday, we only got a few dribs and drabs of the wet stuff. I was told one person measured 4 inches of rain from the Rain Event in the previous two days...it seemed like a LOT more. A friend in St. Maarten measured 4 inches as well...it sounds like we are all rowing the same boat. Well, except for a few of us who had the weather INSIDE their homes...and you know who you are! Hope you dry out soonest. Funky westerly...

But today dawned with a bit of sun and blue sky, even though [insert wind shift again] there seems to be some bits to our southeast that might make it here...and might not. Carry on with your outdoor plans!

To the east

To the West

The aji cabellero peppers are loving the weather!

 Have a terrific Tuesday! Do something twice.

The flip side of being home

Thank you, orchids, for the welcome home

While I came by home a couple of times every day while house sitting to feed the cat and do a few clean ups (like carving a path through the jungle of yard, sweeping away unwanted inside litter - note to small creatures, this is not your bathroom - pulling out packed away things, getting the garden put in order..sort of), I easily made excuses like lack of time and energy to do a whole lot more.

No excuses now! You know how when you are a bit overwhelmed with lots to do that you feel immobilized and full of reasons why you can't get to project D because you still don't have a way to get there? Color me that! But when I stop a moment - or six - I remember that even if I've never gotten everything on my to-do list done, most of what really needs to happen, happens, one way or another. It's the law. Like gravity, but different.

Chicken of the Sea

Living close to the edge is a wonderful motivator that way. So today I will continue from the wee start of getting my photos in order and up on their website...so y'all can buy them and bring me wealth and fame! Ok, I'll settle for sharing some heart images and making a few bucks. Which brings me to: Hey, guy who wanted to buy the wave photo and has so patiently waited until I got home? I can NOT find your email!!! Please re-send! Thanks!

Organizing photos is a dichotomous task...on one hand, tedious and time consuming; on the other, joyful, as moments and faces take me back down mental roads I like to travel, even the ones that make me a bit sad even while I'm smiling. So, let the games begin!

Cock-a-doodle-do back atcha. Now get out of here!

We have a small craft advisory going on, with the wind supposed to be kicking up and waves 5 - 7 feet, and maybe a few brief rain showers. By the weekend, the forecast looks calm and beautiful, so come on over! We've got Abbie's Halloween house and Coralations Spooky Snorkel, plus the (un)naturally occurring all-about-town Halloween stroll...I still don't know who some of those masks were hiding from last year, but the costumes just get better and better! Mamacita's Restaurant and Bar re-opens Friday, so there is one more place to show off your costume or just do a little gawking. If you think you need instructions to the round of eating and watering holes...remember, this is Culebra, you can't get lost.

Have a whole Wednesday! Do something welcoming.

Dia part 3

I pulled myself out of holiday mode because today is full, of the fun variety and the mundane...watering/chicks/cat done! Gathering laundry, check! Veggie stand, mission accomplished!

There is still something to do though, because for some reason, Chick Chick has gone broody on me, which makes no sense because Mr. Rooster has never, to my knowledge, been inside the coop to fertilize any of her eggs. I hope. So later I'll put on some leather gloves to avoid her displeasure and try moving her off the nest...


Now it is on to the rest of the day. But first, some loose end tidying up. Remember that boom and shake on Monday? Seems they are working on the East end of Vieques, detonating bombs and due to some weird acoustics, we heard and felt it over here, even though on Vieques, no one I could find heard or felt a thing. So, that question is answered.

And remember that really nice rain we had the other day? Everything in my yard has responded with growth spurts, which of course just makes me long for more rain.



I was listening to this woman on the radio out of St. Thomas this morning - she was wondering what is this haze?? She heard it was a 'wet mass' stuck over the islands...others are saying it's Sahara dust coming over early. Here's what the National Weather Service out of San Juan says...

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
416 AM AST FRI APR 30 2010

PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WATERS

AMZ700-302130-
416 AM AST FRI APR 30 2010

.SYNOPSIS FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WATERS...
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE NORTH OF PUERTO RICO WILL BUILD UNTIL
MONDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL SAG SOUTH INTO THE ATLANTIC WATERS AND
THE LOCAL PASSAGES SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SKIES WILL REMAIN HAZY
AT LEAST THROUGH TONIGHT.

I think we're all ready for some blue skies and a lifting of this humid heat. C'mon, cold front!


Speaking of cold fronts...today's Free Range Friday is going to
range very far...in a nod to some wonderful photographs Laurie
has posted on the fiddleheads of Spring in Maine. We don't get
fiddleheads here but I've had them before and they are a
wonderful seasonal treat.
So this recipe, taken from Closet Cooking, is for you, Laurie! And
the rest of you fiddleheads (which is sort of like being a chilihead,
but with a lot shorter playing time). If you can't get fiddleheads,
use your imagination! It's still a great recipe.

photo credit: Laurie Knowlton




Fiddlehead Shrimp Scampi from Closet Cooking (check out the whole post, it's good!)

(makes 2 servings)

Ingredients:
1/2 pound fiddleheads (trimmed and well cleaned)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon butter
1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
2 wild leeks/ramps (chopped, or garlic)
1/4 preserved lemon peel (chopped)
1/2 pound shrimp (shelled and deveined)
1/4 cup white wine (optional)
1 lemon (juice and zest)
1/2 pound linguine (cooked)
1 tablespoon parsley (chopped, optional)
parmigiano reggiano to taste (grated, optional)

Directions:
1. Cook the fiddleheads in boiling water for 3 minutes, drain and set aside.
2. Heat the oil and melt the butter in a pan.
3. Add the chili flakes, wild leeks and preserved lemons and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Add the fiddleheads and shrimp and saute until the fiddle heads are bright green and the shrimp is cooked, about 1-3 minutes per side and set aside.
5. Add the wine and lemon juice and deglaze the pan.
6. Simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 3-5 minutes.
7. Add the fiddleheads, shrimp, pasta and parsley and toss to coat.

Enjoy!

Last but not least, here is a photo I didn't post yesterday for a faithful reader, someone
who encourages me with the blog all the time. Thanks!!

 Surprise!!

Have the fairest of Fridays! Do something far-reaching!

Day Off

Well, the actual day isn't off, but I am. I guess that's not a true surprise...

I'm going to spend the day with the garden and chickens, both of whom need a bit of attention. This might be the day Mama and chicks get separated...there sure is a lot of curiousity going on with the chickens who have been hanging out here for almost a year. These are the ones who played in the coop when they were babies. Well, except for the rooster, who looks like a player to me.

No...not interested, just strolling by

Yes, I'm pretty sure he's looking at her butt

 

Ok, I'm interested....what's going ON in there??

 

 I figure I should take care of these things before they blow away. Laurie *weather eyes* sent me this early, from the San Juan weather report:

SYNOPSIS...AT UPPER LEVELS...RIDGING OUT OF NORTHERN SOUTH
AMERICA WILL DOMINATE THE EASTERN AND CENTRAL CARIBBEAN THROUGH
NEXT WEEK. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED MONDAY AND
TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

(stock photo)

 Now make sure you note it says NEXT WEEK. I'll believe it when the walls shake. 

 And last but far from least, here is a little guessing game for you to ponder. 

 This photo was taken in 1976. Can you guess who it is?

 Have a tromping Tuesday. Do something triumphant!