Free Range Friday ~ Culebra

Yes, here we are. Admit it, the world ending crossed your mind just a wee bit, didn't it?

It's almost impossible to believe that only a week has passed since the loss of 26 people, torn apart by gunfire in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. This time last Friday, most of us hadn't even heard of this little town. We were going about our own Friday morning business, when, it felt like, the world exploded. 

 All the confusing reports are now understood. The burials of children and adults have begun and will continue.  The national conversation paused, centered around the what's and why's behind and in front of what only took seconds,  barely minutes in time, to rock any decent human being to his or her core.

Will we stay rocked? Will this terrilbly long week's impact on our national approach to gun freedoms gone crazily over the edge of technology (with the financial gain for the makers of same, thrilled with the interpretation the NRA puts on the second amendment), will that all fade away, as we move on? As we must move on?   I hope not. I hope that 20 children and the 6 adults who died with protecting them, trying to give them the freedom to live (isn't there also a line about life and the pursuit of happiness, forever denied these 26, that affects a hell of a lot more people than outraged sorts who want assault weapons in their homes and on the streets?) wasn't for nothing.

For the food portion of this free range Friday, I think we can chew on this awhile. 

Speaking of chewing...

I almost tripped over one of these...they are making a fast exodus from this tree, littering the ground, lifting up their little orange heads to get their bearings to where ever they are headed next. 

There are still a few stubborn ones on the very few remaining leaves. Just like old Uncle Herbie, who can't quit going back to the buffet table for one more refill. No, I don't have or know an Uncle Herbie, but if you do, that's not who I meant. Unless it is exactly who I meant.

So, remember what I was wondering, whether the chickens would like to eat the caterpillers? Seems like they just might get the chance. I walk around some while I write these posts, this time because when I went to feed the chicks earlier, one was on the nest and I didn't want to bug (forgive the maybe pun) her by the feeding. So I went back a couple of minutes ago (yes, she was done, two lovely eggs, thank you) and the front of the coop is being invaded...this should be fun!

  
The world didn't end, though there were plenty of people terrified it would, which seems crazy to me but obviously humanity sort of thrives on some crazy-ass behaviour or we wouldn't have half the television shows available (I was going to list a few but there are way too many and I've never heard of most of them, which can be a dangerous combo to throw out there). 

If you want to know WHY the world didn't end, I like this guy's take on it.  If you don't care why the would didn't end, please, carry on. We won't talk about it anymore. For awhile. Until the next thing.

What a world we live in. What a world.

Have a face freedom fairly Friday. Do something forward.

I See the Light!!!

Good things about having the power go off for almost 24 hours (yes, yes, I know some of you got power back a lot sooner than we did, but in MY neighborhood, it took until just a little while ago):

1. It is so beautifully quiet (sort of *)

2. I can lay on my 'star gazing cot' stitchless and no one is going to see me (I guess I should add that I'm also thankful that, nearing the end of December, this is possible here without the risk of freezing).

3. The freezer in my little fridge is now defrosted and I didn't have to do a thing.

4. I finished a good book and started another good book by the light of my awesome (battery run) lantern.

5. I have a propane stove, so I could make popcorn. And I did. I could have cooked a five course meal but that would have been ridiculous.

6. I went to the library this morning to charge up my phone and got to see a lot of people I haven't spent time with for awhile.

Bad things about having the power go off for almost 24 hours:

1. The power is off for 24 hours, meaning everything electronic with a battery goes useless.

2. (*see above) The guy across the street runs his incredibly loud generator all night long (which is a partial reason for number 2 up there, to get away from the noise).

3. I have to deal with being jealous of the guy across the street's generator, which I don't even totally understand. I definitely blew some good karma there. Again.

4. My giant wine embossed clock runs on batteries so I knew what time it was a l l n i g h t l o n g.

So on the whole, except for not really having any communication or viewing entertainment (why do all my 'why/what/where questions I run to the internet for come in droves when I can't look them up and then I forget them?), it's not so bad, not having electricity for awhile. But it is a kick in the butt for me to get some sort of solar charger around here.

This is not the sun. Or the moon. But it felt like it when I got home from town and every light I own, all three of them, were blazing away. Well, the funky shaped 'lectric savers don't blaze, but this one does.

Out under the real sun, I noticed that all of those little caterpillars are now gigantic caterpillars. So I, brainiac that I am, surmised I've never seen them in their tiny stage. Unless it's one of those end of the world preview things. Which I also give credit to the electric going out for so long. Of course, a preview usually means you'll be around to see the real thing and if the world ends, I guess that would be more called a teaser. Right?

They are so beautiful!! I wonder if the chickens would like to eat them? I'm sorry, that's just how my mind works.

Caterpillar art.

Ok, I am going to plug in every electric thing I own and use them now. Because I can.

Have a technologically teleported Thursday. Do something tokenishly thankfully.

T'is the Season in My Neighborhood

The home I can always depend on for unique Christmas/seasonal decorations has, I think, finished up for now. I contributed some of it this year, from the palm frond, complete with island bling on my chicken coop, with its bling living ever, and I do mean forever, on.

My little bag of gifties was received happily and I knew I'd see them in their unnaturally natural place soon enough. If the slightly confusing wording doesn't make much sense, you need to understand a little more about island life and how you talk about it. Maybe this will help.

First, the trees get a new coat of Christmas color. Then the bling is added. That empty lot sitting area can get pretty interesting at times. No one needs the wheelchair, but it makes for great extra seating.

Just in case you wondered where it was, here is the heart of Christmas

Imagination station. That blue thing on another neighbor's roof is a water catchment cistern, a very common and very commonsensical sight. Every house everywhere should have one.

One reason I brought the bling over was so I wouldn't feel too creepy later on when I knew I would be taking photos of it. There is always someone home and I want to keep on being a good down the road neighbor and not have to do stealth photography like last year. Whether I'd brought anything or not, it would still have been re-dressed up, and so it was.

I saw this yesterday and thought it was really lovely. I've never heard of these singers before but apparently they are quite well known. I'm glad I had no clue who they were, because all I had in my head was what was being done. Yes, I cried.

Have a world wide Wednesday. Do something (not in your photo in the PO way) wanted.