Floral City, Duvall Island and Friends

I have so many unposted photos from Culebra, but with fast Wifi, it's time to Be Here Now! So I will.

Yesterday we went to Floral City to see Sue. As many years as I've heard about this place, I'd never been and it was a really beautiful surprise. Trees and lakes and rivers, wide expanses of green fields, a cute restaurant with really good burgers and being with friends. Combined, it made for quickly passing hours of happiness.

Outside the Shamrock

The Shamrock is the place to go in Floral City if you want a great burger and fries, a totally different experience from El Batey or the Tiki Grill but food wise? Close indeed. I should have taken a photo but sometimes you just don't and I didn't. They have three warnings on their menu and one of them was this: BE AWARE OF RAW OR UNDER-COOKED FOOD

I wasn't real sure what that would mean, or the other one that said they weren't responsible for over-cooked food, so I ordered my burger and said rare, fully prepared to accept whatever happened, even though the server said "I'll just tell the cook Moo". Since my Dad always called our choice in beef prep 'Flip flop moo' I took that as a good sign. And it was! A good rare burger smothered in mushrooms and real Swiss cheese. Francie and Sue got their medium rare's done perfectly too, so yay Shamrock!

I didn't know requests for undercooked chicken wings was a thing
but if you can order 100 at a time, who knows what people ask for?

There is a place nearby called Duval Island. It's not an island as we think of an island, but due to the many lakes, rivers and tributaries, it is surrounded by water, which is all that is required for the designation. One huge property owner is Ferris Farms, who grow citrus but are now known for their berries. You can go blueberry picking here! We didn't but you can. I can't quite remember if they are actually ON Duval Island, but there is a property there that looks like it would be theirs. Because they have a zebra!! Two donkeys and one big BIG bull were out when we were there, with horses across the street. It was definitely get out of the car time.

Even the mane is striped! How can you stop looking at a zebra by a river?
It's hard.

These critters are obviously used to visitors and calmly kept eating
and meandering as we clicked away

I think this one got a good chuckle out of our adoration
You can see the gigantico bull in the distance.

Look at that face!!!

I'm not sure what blue eyes mean but they were very pretty
(hopefully, it doesn't mean blindness, like ONE person suggested)

Fat and happy on a grey, cool day
(translate - perfect weather for sightseeing in Florida in June)

This horse was very dog-like in its desire for some petting.
We obliged.

Some serious bull here.
It's hard to tell from the photo,
but the size of His Magnificence is pretty close to a VW beetle.
For real.

This is just one of the barns. These critters are doing fine. 

We drove down to the end of the island, to a collection of cottages called Sunshine Lodge (apparently the same owner has the Moonrise Resort also but we didn't go there). If you ever want to take a holiday to the 'other' Florida, this would be one place to do it. Little cottages, a huge lake for kayaking, fishing etc. or just lazy gazing, it pretty well defines bucolic. No photos, again paying to much attention to the experience to recreate the experience. That's not a bad thing for me. Sometimes. 

Bamboo grows really, really well around there.
This is just one stand out of many.
I didn't capture the wowness of them but so it goes.
 

I'd been saying I wanted to get a photo of a sandhill crane - one of my favorite birds - for quite awhile, but every time we'd see some, it was not a good stopping place. As we were leaving Duval Island, this one was in a yard on a quiet street, so we stopped. Then I felt terrible; maybe it was hit by a car, or who knows, but its leg was definitely injured as it moved away from me and my camera. I jumped back in the car and let it be in peace. Waaah. 

If you like birds and don't know much about sandhill cranes,
  this link from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will help.

Out of the order of how things went, but another bird of note. Probably the biggest cardinal I've ever seen, he was sitting pretty on a barb wire fence draped with Spanish moss, posing this way and that. He waited until I'd gotten all of his best sides before flying off. 

Back at Sue's, we rounded up the good day with plans to meet again before I head out. That works.

Have a satisfyingly saturated Sunday. Do something sublime.

Simple Sunday ~ Culebra

Signs and symbols here

I never stop to see them

My taste buds can't read.

Happy Hallowe'en 2013!

First of all, because I know this is a burning question for all lovers of Hallowe'en, why is there an apostrophe in the word? Luckily for you, zombies gentle readers, I have the answer. Ok, I don't have the answer, but Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, does. Thank you, Grammar Girl!

"One early spelling of "Halloween" was "all hallows' even," in which "even" meant "evening." The "all" and "s" got dropped, "hallows' " and "even" became a closed compound, and the apostrophe took the place of the "v," giving us "Hallowe'en"-just one of many transitional spellings along the way to "Halloween, which the English Oxford Dictionary shows as first appearing in 1786. Other spellings before 'Halloween' included 'Hallaw-e'en,' 'Alhollon Eue,' and 'Halhalon Evyn.'" 

Still one of my favorite pumpkin carvings ever! From the pumpkin carving contest 2011

Tonight you can make the rounds of a few places for parading your costumes; there are parties going on for just that at Dinghy Dock, El Batey, SandBar, or just hitting the main drag. No doubt the sidewalks in front of Blue at The Spot and Heather's Pizza will be crowded with creatures. Take a walk on the wild side!

Hallowe'en, however you spell it, is taken seriously here. I've heard some wild stories about some pretty crazy costumes before I got here, and while I've not seen any women in cellophane costumes since, there have been a lot of impressive get-ups, always a lot of laughter and a good time had by all.

Here are some photos of Hallowe'en's Past. Consider the costume gauntlet thrown.

We'll just have to wait and see what happens tonight! In the meantime, watch out for pirate zombie's, they really want to get into your head.

Have a taste your brains free Thursday. Do something terribly terrific!

which the Oxford English Dictionary shows as first appearing in 1786. Other spellings before "Halloween" included "Hallow-e'en," "Alhollon Eue," and "Halhalon evyn." - See more at: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/why-there-apostrophe-%E2%80%9Challowe%E2%80%99en%E2%80%9D#sthash.e0tHs6PY.dpuf

One early spelling of "Halloween" was "all hallows' even," in which even meant "evening." The "all" and "s" got dropped, "hallows' " and "even" became a closed compound, and the apostrophe took the place of the "v," giving us "Hallowe'en"—just one of many transitional spellings along the way to "Halloween," which the Oxford English Dictionary shows as first appearing in 1786. Other spellings before "Halloween" included "Hallow-e'en," "Alhollon Eue," and "Halhalon evyn." - See more at: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/why-there-apostrophe-%E2%80%9Challowe%E2%80%99en%E2%80%9D#sthash.e0tHs6PY.dpuf

One early spelling of "Halloween" was "all hallows' even," in which even meant "evening." The "all" and "s" got dropped, "hallows' " and "even" became a closed compound, and the apostrophe took the place of the "v," giving us "Hallowe'en"—just one of many transitional spellings along the way to "Halloween," which the Oxford English Dictionary shows as first appearing in 1786. Other spellings before "Halloween" included "Hallow-e'en," "Alhollon Eue," and "Halhalon evyn." - See more at: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/why-there-apostrophe-%E2%80%9Challowe%E2%80%99en%E2%80%9D#sthash.e0tHs6PY.dpuf

Mignon Fogarty,

Grammar Girl

October 23, 2012

M

Mignon Fogarty,

Grammar Girl

October 23, 2012

Summertime and the Living is Easy Peasy

 I think the crazy part of July is over, when island life gets quieter, vacations for locals are fast approaching, and your regular bar stool is free. That's a good thing! Less trash, less calling on the infrastructure, less zoom zoom. We're really not a zoom zoom sort of place, but some visitors (and guagua drivers) forget that. Try not to, please.

Morning breaks wide open

Even the water is feeling tranquillo

An underwater garden - or - the prettiest tire I've ever seen

If you want another good waterside view, across the street from El Batey is pretty fine.

On into the quieter zone I go. Another beautiful day in Paradox.

Have a willing to wander Wednesday. Do something wonderful.

I'm on Culebra time

This is considered the start of the week in many places, even here. But for me, the days sort of have a roller coastery rhythm that lets Monday be Thursday or Friday (hardly ever Sunday). Most of the time time itself isn't much of a factor in my world, unless I've told (or been told by) someone that I will be somewhere at some time. Luckily, I'm rarely the only one going where ever that is, so by mid-morning, any forgetfulness on my part is usually taken care of by street talk. I'm not going anywhere with this, by the way. I've got the time. And I've got the muffins...today is ginger-carrot with, unusually for me, cream cheese frosting. If it's not raining today...I'll be at the cart for you muffin requesters!

Here are a few catch up photos (and the idea of catching up, which is what spawned the above mini diatribe).

Lobsters at Susie's - I have a little video where you can hear them

click clicking and waving their tentacles about, but right in the middle, a car alarm goes off - making it a bit too Felliniesque for my taste

Chiquitine up a tree, way up a tree, sawing off limbs

This little girl visits me most days. Her grin makes my heart defy gravity,  and she accompanies it with just as strong a stubborn streak. She rides in her little battery operated car down the sidewalk with her abuella beside her. After undoing her seat belt she solemnly climbs up on the cart ledge and looks (stares unblinkingly) at me until I give her a muffin. Or a bracelet. Or merely a grin, it just depends. Then she will or will not smile this fabulous smile, climb back down, get back in her car and go home. I wish I could let her be the ambassador to the world. To resist her smile would prove the viewer not human and replaceable.  Maybe one day she will let me photograph her smiling. You can tell she was NOT letting that happen here. She got a muffin anyway.

The owners of this dog (and another that was too normal to photograph) were heading toward Milka's. I called out to someone to look and asked if he knew what happened to the rest of this dog. On the way back the owners nicely accused me of making fun of their dog, which I happily confessed to. Yes, it really IS part Dalmatian and part Basset Hound. They had a combo name for it but I forget what it is. I'm still laughing...

it was like seeing a photoshopped picture in real life.

Last night I was out of Susie's a bit early and heading home heard the sounds of live music coming from El Batey. I'd forgotten that the Sons of Culebra were going to be playing there so it was a great time to stop and listen. Dominoes clicked on the patio and the Sons clicked inside. Sax, guitar, steel drums, güiro, steel pans, what I'm pretty sure

was a cuatro and more...they had it going on

With a cold front moving through, it isn't the prettiest of early morning moments and with the radar down, I can't tell much about what is coming or not coming our way. The sky is grey and bright and it has already rained a bit, is that all? What I do know is that my tea is more than ready and the baking is done, so it might be time to climb back under the covers and finish another chapter or two...CWIM is too temptingly already there like a poster cat for cozy.

A good day for PETA types to skip my blog

Today is the Winter Solstice, which got me up and awake with the excitement of an unwrappable morning under the trees, just waiting for me. Did it seem lighter a smidgen earlier? Where's my wassail?

The morning dawned gentle and still, the air cool enough for no fans, and tea welcome. Cwim jumped on the bed for her regular wake up taps and scratching, her little paws cold from the yard.

Can we say Halcyon?

From last year's lechon post, I will issue the same warning now. Don't say I didn't try!

WARNING!!! Graphic picture of a naked pig! Go no further if you are offended by photographs of naked pigs, or how your meat really looks before it gets to the table! OTHER WARNING!!!! If you are a member of PETA, run away now, and please keep your thoughts to yourself, as I'm a blatant carnivore and not ashamed.

Yesterday I got word that Rob from Dinghy Dock was cooking lachon, under the direction of Norman. I asked if I could take a peek. Watching the pig turn slowly on the spit set up all sorts of wonderful salivatory happenings in my mouth. For the sake of cleanliness, I didn't drool right then and there. I promise!


Unlike the gigantico porkers they cook at El Batey in their big pit, this was a little guy, meaning that it was a get there while it's hot because it will go fast during this season where pig is king.


So if lechon is your idea of a perfect part of the holiday season, there are at least two places to get some! I'm not sure how often they will be making it at Dinghy Dock; Rob said it could be a weekend event through the holidays, so ask if you're interested. The more interest, the more lechon. Easy peasy.

Early early this morning I could hear, far up the road, music and laughter and singing...I kept waiting for it to get closer, but the regular sounds of morning have taken over, cars and trucks and the engines of boats, roosters and banana quits and hummingbirds, interspersed with moments of absolute silence. Another day in Paradox.

Have a momentous Monday. Don't do anything mundane. (And Karen, have a fabulous time in your merrie olde England - do some really Brit Christmasy thing for all of us and we'll be doing exactly as you expect here!)

Christmas Pudding with custard sauce

The traditional British Christmas pudding is a bit like a cannonball made of dried fruit,nuts, flour, eggs, suet or butter, spices and loads and loads of alcohol. It comes to the table sprigged with holly or winter cherries and flaming with brandy.

Flaming with brandy...oh my!

So I thought

it would be fun to do a slide show of the wedding and reception for all of you who wished you were here...and it ended up taking FAR longer than the damn event!

And I also thought I'd be posting photos of Daphne's first birthday at the beach, but it rained and I didn't make it there for the oh most beautiful today of the oh most beautiful girls (Olivia, Moya).

Instead I spent the later part of the day with Vieques old friends and new. And I think...the less said about that, the better, though Dinghy Dock and El Batey might disagree.


The wedding is on its very, very slow way...uploading while I'm going to bed. I've decided that film editing is probably not going to be my second career...