There's Gotta Be a Holiday Today

It seems impossible that there is not a holiday today in Puerto Rico, but I can't find one. Instead, I have to fall back on other traditions, which, as of course you already know, means that today is National Fruitcake Day. Really.

 Poor fruitcake. No doubt we all have our own experiences with them. Some people claim to like them. Or swear if we'd just try Aunt Mabel's recipe, we'd change our mind. My own fruitcake life was thus: My Dad raised us kids  and we didn't have grandmother's or aunties that would even consider making a fruitcake, so the idea of one didn't hold much association, good or bad. Then, when I was a teenager, my Dad remarried. This was a family that liked its fruitcake at Christmas time. Our good upbringing would come to bear and we would all silently chew and chew, while sneaking rolled eyes at our Dad. Then we'd say our thank you's and move on to something good to eat. I'm sure you have your own stories and you're welcome to share them here!

During Christmas in the Virgin Islands, a traditional treat is sweet bread,something like a fruitcake, but actually delicious. I haven't tried this recipe for it but if it is anything close to the various ones I have eaten, all made by older local women on St. Croix and St. Thomas, it's a great replacement for fruitcake! The writer of the article, Carol Bareuther, is steeped in all things VI, so I'm trusting she got the real deal recipe!

What I spent the early morning doing, instead of making fruitcake, was to finish putting together a hot sauce order. They all looked so pretty that I dragged a little table on top of the hill and took a photo of them. Alan, they'll be in the PO today, promise!!

Tomorrow is another official holiday, as we wind down the year and look forward to New Year's Eve, or Old Year's Night, choose your name.

In the meantime...this is my favorite fruitcake cartoon and my official acknowledgement of National Fruitcake Day.

Have a tasteful Thursday. Do something traditional.

Down to Groovy Basics

Groovy g'morning to you, too, Mr. Horse!

Oh noooooooo, she wrote groovy! Well, yes; yes I did. I might go really wild and write bitchin' next. Who can stop me now (or even try)? Probably no bitchin' though. I really only used that word because it was sort of like allowed cursing, as in...'Dad! That is soooooooo bitchin' looking!' Oh, I was such a rebel!
But I like, and always did like, the word groovy. Sort of fluidly in the groove, rather than statically in a rut is how it has always felt in my head. Which has been known to be somewhat radioactive at times, so best to read at a discreet distance.

Yesterday brought some good finds and good fun to me. One biggie was a yet another great care package from my brother (it's ok to be jealous, I know it's in the best way). Tony the PO guy handed it to me and it rattled rather ominously. 'Sounds broken,' Tony said. 'Very broken,' I agreed. 'From my brother...we'll see.'

If it was broken, I didn't want to spill it out all over the counter, where I usually open mystery boxes - we need the entertainment and Tony and Howard are great participating watchers, knowing they might score something fun depending on the package. I think he was quietly relieved when I obviously was leaving without opening it.

Of course, I knew nothing was REALLY broken...just something rattly. A big gold foil seal-o-packed bag of yummy salmon doesn't rattle! Ah, yes, screws loose in a tin rattle. A lot and loudly.  There was more not rattle making: one side sticky insulating tape (which I actually need!), a very cool mini magnifier (watch out, little bugs!), some hand cleaner samples, a few toggle anchors, more screws, scissors, a VERY neat book by Deek Diedricksen called Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats Funky Forts. Think Earth catalog meets Robert Crumb (or as one reviewer says, Gary Larson meets Bob Vila) and you have a slight hint of Deek's book and mind.

Tin with rattles in it...until it rusts, I'm liking it!

I know, you've wanted that magnifier since you were a wee tot. Me too! I share salmon, but not the magnifier, sorry. If I'd had a stocking for Christmas? That would have been in it. Thanks, bro'!

This map came to my attention today via Shelter Publications. 

It was done by Oliver Swann of Natural Home. 

It shows natural homes and builders all over the world.

How cool is that??

Jonny also sent along the Lehman's Non-Electric catalog which isn't sent here. I couldn't take a photo as I let Greg borrow it since he helped me transpo wise in another big, exciting part of my day, when my hot sauce bottles came in. Woohooooooo! I've been wanting to make hot sauce for months but needed bottles. Now I've got one batch made, with more on the way. Very exciting. Thank you, Dian and Shay, for your help with the business part and Greg for the van help. I believe y'all have hot sauce in your immediate future!

We need wax dippin' MJ!

I worked in the yard while the hot sauce was cooking, slightly more than a little irritated that apparently the iguanas discovered, and ate, EVERYTHING I WAS GROWING. So now I have to start over. Anyone have some chicken wire they want to get rid of?

Part, maybe the larger part, of being in the yard has nothing to do with tangible harvesting and much to do with enjoyment. The hummingbirds are going nuts, new orchids are blooming and so is the mango tree. I raked up sea almond leaves until the rake handle broke, a sure sign it was time to stop that pleasure and find something else to do. I'm not a huge taskmaster on myself out there...

This photo has nothing to do with anything above and everything to do with groovy basics...(although I'm sure the guy who built her might beg to differ with me on that). This boat is in the harbour right now. She's a new boat, though you'd not guess that, built in Maine and on her first voyage. She's gracing our waterscape for now. Enjoy!

Have a wide Wednesday! Do something wholesome.

Hot Sauce and Hot Sky

Yesterday was an unplanned hot sauce making day. It must not have been as hot as usual (the day, not the sauce) because I never felt overwhelmed with heat while the big red pot burbled throughout the day. Sometimes where I live I get tucked in from the breezes, but a fine one blew all morning to keep my world comfortable. Thanks, Universe!



So this post was only going to be brief, and about hot sauce. As I was typing, a bit of sky color caught me from the corner of my eye and I walked down the yard to see if it was worth shooting. Instead, there was this brilliant pink/orange contrail from a jet off to the east. I got a couple of shots and thought that would be it, but instead, it went on and on...and on and on! It looked like it was going straight up, but actually it was turning and coming back, directly over me. The contrail still showed up like fire and reminded me of many rocket take offs I've seen on the coast of Florida, that bright shiny thing hurtling through space... The wind was quiet and the original contrail stayed in place, though its sharpness was diminished. To my complete surprise, the jet began a turn, back along its original path, by now somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes before. On it sped, finally crossing its own loop before it began once again heading back to the north and away. Either someone has an awesome camera and they were taking photos of all of Culebra - and I'd love to see them - or, they were having a sunrise blast chasing their own tail. Or...never mind, that's enough.

In hoping someone else was watching this Culebra Sky Show but figuring not many were (the usual suspects might have had a hill or two in the way), I just kept clicking...and here is what I saw. Loopy in the Sky with Sunrise...

Don't forget that the gathering for Judy Anderson will be today, 3:30 at Mamacita's.

Have a forthright Friday. Do it for Judy.