Body Surfing

We went to Miami Beach last Saturday and these two guys show up - and start body surfing right in front of us.  I could tell that this was not their first time to do this.  I got out my camera and set the shutter speed for fast speed and did a multiaction click.  The pictures really turned out good.    Who needs a surf board? :)

Bittersweet

13 days until we leave Barbados.  This is my second give away.  It is called "Crown of Thorns."  This was my favorite of all my veranda plants.  I hope to get another one of these when we settle in Texas.  I had one last farewell last night at our place with Devron and Annette.  They are the proud new owners of this plant.  We played for the 1st time the card game called Canasta.  Had a blast.  You see a different side to a person when you start playing them in cards - Annette, you have a very competing side to you, girl!  Wish we had started doing that before last night.

Had a lady hug me today in my gym class.  This is so bitter - leaving my friends and home for the past 3 years.  It is also sweet that I am returning to friends and family in the states.  Bittersweet!

Let the packing begin......

 15 days until we leave.  This is a picture of a poinsettia that I bought at Christmas time.  Imagine this - it actually stayed alive and has been growing!  Doesn't happen for me in the Dallas area.  So, this is my first thing to say goodbye to.  I am giving it to Betty today when she leaves my condo for the last time.  Betty is getting married and wanted to take off the last two Wednesdays in the month - so, I will not see Betty probably ever again.

I am giving away all of my plants that I have loved so much for these 3 years.  I have a  fig tree that is in a planter that has the name of Tomas - we named him this after he rolled back and forth on our veranda 2 years ago during the Hurricane Tomas that came through.  And he survived!  No one has claimed him as of yet.

Joesette wants my beautiful variegated plant.  Annette wants my crown of thorns plant.  I have many more to give away.

I'm trying to use up all our food that is in the pantry, freezer and refrigerator - we are starting to eat some weird combinations of food.

I don't know if I have already put this in a blog or not - but, one of my friends told me that I have given her "ex pat fatigue."  It is a problem when you have made friends with someone - only to have them leave you.  Of course, with facebook - it isn't as bad anymore.  I can keep up with friends from all over the world - and I do!

Got to go.  I have lots of packing to do.

Hidden Jewel - The Savannah Hotel

Isn't this picture beautiful?  This is the inner courtyard of the Savannah Hotel located on the South Coast.  The picture was taken from the cafe that overlooks this oasis.  There is a pleasant breeze always blowing through the open walled cafe - and on Sundays, there is music going on in the background - ever so pleasant to the ears.  On our first visit to the Savannah, it was a steel drum player.  Yesterday, it was two ladies singing in perfect harmony.  I really must write the Savannah up in the Trip Advisor - it is a definite hidden jewel amoungst the many.

Yesterday was Mother's Day.  It is very much a celebration on this island.  Mothers are honored and held in a high place of love and admiration.  Gary took me to the Savannah for the Mother's Day brunch.  The restaurant staff are just good people.  They are genuine.  No put ons.  They are friendly.  They really wanted to make my mother's day special.  I even had one of the waitresses remember me from the previous visit and she came up and hugged me and wished me a Happy Mothers Day.  Gary's water glass was never empty!

The food is awesome as well.  I noticed many a Bajan with heaping plates of food coming from the buffet.  I honestly had to stop after the main meal - there was no more room for dessert.  Shame, really.  (I picked up that way of saying things from Ann in the UK.) I like saying that - really.  It just fits - smooth and easy.

This is the outside of the Savannah:

I love this tree - with it's white flowers.  I must find out what it is called.  I really hope to have one blooming in my backyard someday.  The fragrance that comes from these trees is intoxicating!

After the service at my church - I asked a lady that had a new baby - if I could hold it.  She didn't know me, but somehow she knew that the correct answer would be a yes.  So, I picked up that precious child.  That was my mother's day gift!  Words can not describe the feelings of contentment that washed over me by that simple act of holding a little baby.

I don't know

I don't know what type of tree this is - but, it is very old.  As you can see the base of the trunk is massive.  23 days until we leave our beloved island.  I went and visited with an elderly woman who lives in my set of condos this afternoon.  I will not state her name, but she is a Lady.  Meaning, her husband was knighted - and that automatically made her a Lady.   She is a very kind person.  She always gives, gives food to everyone in the condos.  I really like to sit and talk with her.  She is a wealth of information about the goings on of the island.

All that I am going to say is - that it is no different here than anywhere else in the world.  The rich people own all the land and businesses!  And, I think there could be a good book written called "Bajan Help".  (You know, like the book written called 'The Help')  There would be many amusing stories to tell and unfortunately some sad ones as well - I am sure of it.  I have been told that I should write a book - message me if you are willing to tell me your story!

Oh, and one more thing - I hear ALL the time how fat Americans are.  Actually, it is true.  Gary and I couldn't believe our eyes after we had lived in Europe for a while - and came back to the states to visit - it was shocking the difference in the average weight of people.  But, I will have to say - that it bothers me.  We Americans need to figure this thing out - and change it!

Friendships

23 days until we leave Barbados as our home.  What I am going to miss about this island the most - is of course, the people.  Why, do you ask?  After all, other countries have great people as well.  And that is true.  So, why is it?  Why do I tear up when I think of us leaving?  Is it because we live near an ocean - No.  Is it because the weather is always nice here - No.  Is it because we live in paradise - No.  It's the people.  Plain and simple.

All kinds of people - from my dearest of friends at my church's ladies bible study group to the ladies at my gym class each week, to my golfing gals, to our beach vendors, to the coconut man, the newspaper guy, my house cleaner, my neighbors, Gary's coworkers and their families, to my ya ya sisters - everyone on this island (almost).  I will miss them all!

I love helping people.  I love the feel of community and friendship.  I love the idea of a world being made up of all good people.  Of course, I know that will never be - but, here in Barbados - they do get close to this reality.  I get a real kick out of stopping my car in the traffic to let others cross the street.  This morning, it was a lady crossing in the pouring down rain - and the wave and smile she gave me after she had crossed.  I love letting the two little brothers hold each other's hands and cross the street on their way to school.  I love the street life that I see each morning and each evening when picking Gary up from work.  There is always a man standing on his front porch in the evenings - watching everyone drive,bike, and walk past.  I love watching the rasta guy make his rounds along the street.  I love watching the pretty young girls walk across the street and even more fun is watch all the guys heads turn as they walk by.  I love seeing someone with a car stop and invite one of their friends to jump in and they get that free lift.  I love seeing people laugh and talk and lime.  Man, I'm going to miss this place!

Knee Deep in Paradise...

So,  the Zak Brown Band has a song out called Knee Deep and it features Jimmy Buffett - and Gary and I love, love that song.  Part of it states that the only thing he had to worry about was where to put the chair in case of high tide.  It is amusing to us because a lot of times when we go to the beach, literally our main worry is where to put the chairs - high tides and coconut fallings.  So, this picture was taken Saturday afternoon - showing how the high tide had come in so far - that the first set of beach umbrellas were completely under water.

So, it is 24 days until we leave our home of Barbados.  As one person put it to me last week, it is the end of an era for us.  Yes, it is indeed.  We have changed a lot - have different views on a lot of things than we used to.

Oh, the children that are 11 years old here on the island, are really in a stressful situation at the moment.  It is called the 11+ testing - but these poor children are having to take a test and depending on their score, will determine pretty much the rest of their lives!  Depending on the score made, is where the child will be sent to school for next year.  And you know how that goes!  I did overhear one mother sitting back fat and happy stating that she didn't see why other mothers were paying for their children to have extra lessons etc. - that she was just going to let it be - what would be, would be.   I wanted so badly to say to her - that I felt she was wrong - that it absolutely makes a huge difference.  The better/harder the school - the better/more challenged her child would be - and also, the child will have a better self image of himself - which will dictate a whole lot of things for the future.  But, you would be proud of me ---- I kept my mouth shut!  :)

How can you not believe there is a God?

I'm still in shock that I actually got to see the full moon rise over the ocean.   You can ask Alisha and Gary and Ruth Hoad and Caesar and many more people - they will tell you that I have longed for this event ever since I moved to Barbados - 3 years ago!  Every time in those 3 years that there would be a full moon - it would be too cloudy on the horizon to catch that first glimpse of it.   One time, I even drove early on the following morning to hopefully catch it as it set over the ocean - cloudy then as well.  I can remember dragging Alisha out of bed to go to that one and she will tell you of the time that we raced across the island in hopes of seeing the sight.  Gary has been rushed across the island with me many, many a time.  I had really given up hope of seeing it.

Then, I saw where someone had posted on Facebook that the super moon was happening last night.  You can ask anyone that is currently living in Barbados - that this weekend would not be the time to go searching a cloudless horizon!  There has been a tropical depression settled over the island for the past 2 days.  Rain, rain, and more rain.  But, Gary and I decided we would give it a shot this one last time.  You see, we are leaving the island at the end of May.  Very sad, I'm not ready to talk about that as of yet.  But, still now you know why last night was my last shot at seeing it.

I had asked people on Facebook to pray or keep their fingers crossed that I see this.  The reason I worded it that way, is because I have many dear friends on Facebook that are not Christians.  If you have noticed, I do not post a lot of those pictures/sayings on Facebook that state things like post this if your a Christian, etc.  The reason being - is I know these dear friends of mine don't want this stuff shoved down their throats.  They know that I'm a Christian and if they want to know more about how to have faith in Jesus Christ - they will ask me or someone else.

But, this one time - dear friends - I have got to make an exception to the rule.  Literally, the clouds parted at just the right moment - and as you can see from the picture above - I got to see the moon rise over the ocean!  I do not believe that this was by accident!  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for allowing me to see this - no matter how stupid or insignificant it might seem to others.

So, back to the story:  Gary and I left in plenty of time to get to the east coast - but, we were slowed down on the highway and roads by traffic.  My iPhone has two apps on it for moon stuff - one is moon phase, which tells me what phase the moon is in and when it will rise and set according to my location.  The other app - which is awesome - actually will show me where the moon is at in the sky at any time of the day or night.  So, I knew that the moon was to rise at 5:56 yesterday.  I didn't wear a watch - we were going to go to the Crane and watch the horizon from their lookout point and remember we had plenty of time to get there.....  But, with several setbacks - when we got to the lookout point, something just told me to check the time on my phone - it was exactly 5:56!  So, I quickly got the app to show me where the moon was supposed to be - pointed it at that location - and the picture above is the first picture we took - you are seeing what I saw!  I exclaimed to Gary (because he was talking with a man from Russia) "Gary, look it's there!"  I was ecstatic with glee.  And thanking God that he had indeed answered mine and others prayers for me to see this.  :)

What I am disappointed about though - is as you can tell - the moon is not that glowing gold/red color that I have seen elsewhere.  I think this is probably because the sun had not actually set yet - and so, we were still getting sunlight as well.  Probably, maybe tonight if I went back - the sun is going to set a few minutes before the moon rises - it might have a more golden glow to it - but, then again, it will not be full.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  And thank you very much for praying for me or keeping your fingers crossed for me that this would happen.  Love you all so much!

Brighton's Farmers Market, Barbados

It has been over a month since I posted a blog.  A lot has gone on in that month - my son got married and we went on a sailing trip to the Grenadines.  Both of these events warrants major blog activity, but since my memory is fading, I want to blog this morning about going to something here in Barbados called "The Brighton's Farmers Market."

Oh, before I start on this mornings adventures - I just want to say - that I was told recently by a friend of James' that she had read my entire blog!  She loved it.  That made me feel so good - so, if you are out there - thank you!  Oh, and she also told Gary that he was "smoking hot!"  He now reminds me of this on a daily basis.  :)

OK, so this is going to be a rainy weekend and I will not go to the beach today as we normally do.  So, I got up early this morning and went to something that happens every Saturday here in Barbados - called Brighton's Farmers Market.  It is a nice way to buy flowers and fresh fruit and vegetables, but it is also a way to buy some yummy, yummy food!  Everyone knows everyone else on this island - so, a lot of folks get up and go there to socialize with their friends and have a cup of coffee.  I actually knew 5 people today!  I'm a Bajan!  :)

There is a fruit that grows here on the island called a soursop.  I find it very hard to come by.  I asked a local farmer yesterday when I could buy a soursop and he said probably next week, but that they are hard to come by because of the monkeys!  Now, when tourists come to Barbados - they love seeing the monkeys - but, if you live here - you come to despise them - they eat your bananas, mangos and soursop!  It was funny to hear this farmer talk, because he was an older gentlemen and I could tell he is a good man - respectable in his community - but, when it came time to talk about the monkeys and his soursop - he called them "the little bastards" and then he looked at me out of the corner of his eye - like, oops - I shouldn't have said that to her.  But, I thought it was funny and very true. Anyway, I was thrilled today to find that someone was selling the soursop drink!  So, I bought two - one for me and one for Gary.  There are studies out that state there is a property in soursop that actually kills cancer cells!

I should have been going to this market before now.  I was able to get some brule jol (salt fish recipe that is a Bajan favorite), fried fish in a bake (bake is a type of sweet bread - very good), chocolate chip monkey bread (I bought two - but, I think Gary is not going to get his share (shhh)), sugar free freshly baked oat bread, and a smoked salmon quiche!  Oh, so good!

So, if your ever in Barbados - be sure and get up early on Saturday morning and go check out the Brighton's Farmers Market.