It's Her Party!

Luscious flan

I went to a birthday party yesterday and yes, you're coming with me. I'm not sure what is in the water on this island, but our little kids are really great. Polite, funny, gorgeous, repeat. Then they get older. Just kidding. Ha ha.
So when I get invited to their birthday parties, unless something else is going on like working or I'm somewhere else but here, I try to go, even if only for a short time. This one turned out to be a stay awhile.

Thanks, Daphne, for being 5!

Early birds get the bubble wands

No, these are not bubble wands, they are swords! Silly me.

Water balloons are awesome!

Champagne is more awesome!

A lovely fan-bearing woman agrees

Around here it's pin the tail on the fish.

Delilah gets her posse on

Feel the love, baby!

Back when I was a kid, we had to fill our own water balloons. In secret stealth mode.

Daphne is loaded up.

I love this nino, he's a neighbor and just barely past babyness.

Recognize this guy?

I've got it, but...

A jumpy house. I didn't take Louis' offer up to let my inner child free. She was too busy eating ribs, chatting about goats and drinking champagne.

 This is the Distraction Series.

She doesn't look too worried

She's not running away

Wait...another balloon?

I want it more than I want to drench Olivia!

Another cutie patootie

Hello, very tall person, perhaps you could help me in my quest. Any ideas on what this is?

I've got two of them, now what?

Delilah angel girl

Oh yeah!

Pinata time!

So shy, so gentle. WHACK!

Yep, her wish will come true.

Family

A great time thanks to some serious planning and speedwork on the house by Dad, Mom and friends. Justin wins my grilling seal of approval. Now I know why it's good to hang around in June, all that cavorting around the country when I could be doing this?

Just a bit of trivia to finish off here, being as I had ribs yesterday along with a lot of talking about things domestic, both on and off the screen.

From the page Cartographic Curiousities: something I thought is pretty curious and interesting, considering when it was written in light of the far from sane or sanitary conditions pigs are raised in today.

W.E. Baker was a pure-food proponent who lived in Massachusetts. He believed that unsanitary conditions in food production led to disease-- therefore, he opened his very own Sanitary Piggery to show the rest of the world how swine ought to be raised. In July of 1875, he threw a grand party both to celebrate and raise awareness for his new Sanitary Piggery and to commemorate a battle that had been fought nearby.
You can't have a fancy party without fancy party favors (at least, not if you're doing it right), so Baker distributed these maps as ‘good cheer souvenirs’ to his guests, who numbered in the thousands.

You can see a closer view here. It's worth it, there's meal plans!

 Have a make Monday marvelous Monday. Do something more than mellow.

Not So Simple Sunday ~ Culebra

Because I didn't quite remember yesterday was June 1st as in the first day of hurricane season, I'm re-posting my regular start of H season post. If we've paid even a small bit of attention, we've seen Nature take some very nasty swipes this year, even this past month, across the mainland and the rest of the world, making it more obvious than ever that we must hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Already active, this is predicted to be, again, a year with a high potential for storms.

BE READY, it's your job.

I take Hurricane Season really seriously (because my life and worldly goods depend upon it). To a point. I'm prepared food, water, propane etc. wise. I keep an eye on the weather. And then, I relax and enjoy my life. There is only so much one can do, and if it's done, worrying about what might happen really doesn't do any good. Really.

I know some people think that's not true (I mean, I keep a foil package of Spam in my fridge. It's my anti-hurricane insurance policy, as the Universe would not be so cruel as to make me eat it from need - that's how logical it is to worry about something you can do nothing about. No, I'm not superstitious. But you won't hear the H word from me after today, unless one happens that is...). Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

This year's forecast by Dr. Gray

Some of my favorite tropical weather sites -

Stormcarib - a year round page of island weather reports from various Caribbean islands, as well as a pro met synopsis, connections to the National Weather Service, plus tons of weather information concerning the Caribbean. This is probably my favorite go to page.

Wunderground Tropical - a great page for visuals, models, NWS updates etc.

Suzanne from Finca del Seto - Suzanne will email you a daily weather update (plus some occasional neat bits she finds) if you email her at this address and ask to be added to her list. She also sells awesome coffee from the finca!

Storm 2K Talkin' Tropics - this is a forum style page, and sometimes you have to wade in a bit to get relevant information, but usually not. When the weather goes active, they have an active weather page that is full of good info supplied from professional meteorologists as well as some pretty bright amateurs. If you are a weather freak geek nerd  If you have a strong interest in the weather, you should check out S2K.

NWS San Juan discussion page - daily (more if necessary) reports from the NWS for the local area (you can get these emailed daily, starting June 1 through November 30)

What's expected this year, storm wise? Check out the the long version of the above (see graphic) yearly predicted forecast here. Or here, for variety on a theme.

What you can do in pro-active preparations (and what you should do, the better prepared you are the better you can help yourself and your neighbors should the need arise) to be as best prepared as possible for a storm. It doesn't have to be a Hugo to leave us powerless and waterless.

Paths of hurricanes through our area over the years

Here is the short version of the above prep list. You can copy, paste and print this if you want to have your own check list. But it comes from the above link.

Disaster Supply Kit (ed. note - I'd bump the 3 -7 days estimate up to a couple of weeks if at all possible. You shouldn't have to buy all at once - you should buy a little all year and then come today, be ready. 
Also - it's mentioned below but - don't forget to add board games, cards, crayons & paper, books etc to your readiness kit. Fun is good and if the power goes out for a long stretch, fun is necessary!)

Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel
— paper plates / plastic utensils
Blankets / Pillows, etc.
Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
Special Items - for babies and the elderly
Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
Flashlight / Batteries
Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set
Cash (have small bills, no one is going to have change for 100's and 50's for long) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
Keys
Toys, Books and Games
Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag
— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.
Tools - keep a set with you during the storm
Vehicle fuel tanks filled
Pet care items
— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water
— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash

 

Have a safe season start Sunday. Do something smart.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Blogging

That crazy little thing called Life got in the way. Go figure! Very happily, I might add. Two friends, Tina, a friend of almost 20 years, whom I met when I first came to St. Croix, and Mark, last met on this blog a couple of years back and now Tina's partner in all things love and boat life, sailed over from St. Croix for a visit.

I haven't seen Tina since, well, years and years and years that have slipped by slowlysofast. A couple of trips out to the boat turned into dinners and where's that extra berth sheet, a bonefishing expedition, good food, much laughter and much story talktalk. We've kept up, but it is so much better if you can hug in the middle of a story, laugh into each other's eyes, sometimes not say a word while memories well up and new ones are made. Talk of the past, talk of the future. Being in the present. Friends.

On my way down to the ferry dock where they'd be pulling in, I happened to pass Benjamin working on a power post. I've seen them tiled, I've seen them bare. But this is the best one I've ever seen painted. If you happen to be going by, take a look, it's wonderful!

Arrival time was to be around 1-ish. I sat with some friends and suddenly felt they were near - and they were, just in sight and soon to be anchoring. Ok, mooring.

Tina catches the ball first try. Good girl!

Securing boat to the mooring while I stand impatiently on the shore. I thought about swimming out and then...didn't.

Coming in. Mark came in close to the rocks by the gas station, I clambered down and we were off to Dinghy Dock. Of course.

Life is good.

Back out on the boat, happy happy happy hour

Tina is doing Boat Girl really well (she's always been a water / boat girl, so it's not too difficult)

Captain o Captain

Jamsie, one of three cats aboard, wondering why there is no fish on that hook

Checking out sail rigs

Day moving into dusk

A couple of beaky hunters

Mark is big on bonefishing, Tina, a skilled fisherwoman but a learner of this new elusive critter

We came across a scattered number of small and beautiful conchs. Sadly, later in the day after I left, they watched as two different boats drifted the flats and took many many MANY undersized (read illegal) conch. I can't understand this behavior, the lack of realizing why there are less and less each year. Idiots.

A tern on

Tina did show and tell as we walked quietly in the shallow water. We left everything behind, even the not being used shells, though I was pretty tempted, once, to bring it home. Then I realized, it was home already.

The bonefish were out there, wily and fast. Faster than Mark this day.

Egg casings. Beautiful thing for something made with sand and spit

I think she's happy.

Underwater garden

It's right THERE!

This is the one I wanted to relocate.

The bird's feathers are ruffled because it was blowing like mad

On a clear day, I was in Forever

Perfect for earrings!

No bonefish made the mistake of coming too near this day. We sat in the cockpit talking, when over the music and talk came the thwupthwup of helicoptor rotors.

Then, over the wind came the large engine sounds of the LCT's for whatever maneuvers are going on this weekend.

One

Two

There was a third but somehow I didn't take the photo. It was time to head home and see what the cat and chickens were doing, how the plants were growing. Apparently it rained a fair amount, my rain bucket full, the plants pushing their stems up and out, a few blossoms on the tomatoes. I filled Tina's hands with basils and rosemary, lemongrass and wild oregano and pushed them off the little dock for a what looked to be a very wet ride back to their boat.

And then I realized I'd left my phone on their boat...thanks, Francie, for the return!

This post is dedicated to Tammy. All who knew her, myself as a long-time acquaintance  and the many who deeply loved her long and well will have to live on extra strong, enjoying every ounce of the gift of life we've been given. It won't make up for her tragic loss, but it's the most and least we can do.

Have a searching for sanity Saturday. Do something situationally serene.