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Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Crew needed
I know there are people out there. Email me if interested.
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Harmony still at Treasure Cay
We are still here and will be for a couple of weeks. First me then Florrie have come down with colds. We blame Riley. Rum only does so much for the symptoms.
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Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Fishing at Treasure Cay
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Sunday, March 6, 2011
Yard Sale on Treasure Cay
Yesterday I had the most unusual morning. Selling my prints here can be complicated because the government has a number of business licenses that can totally hamstring artists and other crafts people from selling on their own. Selling to shops that already have business licenses ($5000/yr) is ok once you have paid duty on what you have brought into the country. However, yesterday there was a community "yard sale" held in the parking lot of the Coco Beach Bar. It was supposed to be from 8:30 AM to noon. The sign said "anyone could sell anything" so, armed with my customs/duty stamped notice that I had already paid the government 45% of the cost of the prints I brought with me, I borrowed a table from some other boaters and set up what I had left of my various prints. I had been warned to get there at 7:30 because people come early. I thought that was a little extreme but went along with it.
I got there at 7:30 (very early for me) and the lot was already packed! (It is about 1/2 the size of a football field, I think.) Local people were everywhere. That means a lot of Haitians who have come there for work and, because the economy is so bad, are struggling terribly. Also there were plenty of Bahamians looking for bargains because the economy is stressing everyone here. (To explain that could take all morning.) People were selling and buying everything from water drums to golf carts to kitchen supplies, tools, fishing gear, plants, clothes, furniture, you name it. At one point a pickup truck came in with a toppling load of furniture, put it out in the middle of the area, and went back for the rest of the ensemble! (Matching couch, coffee table, chairs, side tables, a rug etc, etc.) The truck was swarmed by people!
Needless to say these people weren't looking for art prints! But some of the winter (second home owner) locals were also milling around, getting bargains for their condos, etc. The boaters don't but much because the don't have any room! But it was fun to talk with people who recognized the places in my photos and understood the inspirations for some of the art on the cards.
Around 8:30 the tourists and guests arrived, when the event was supposed to start, and I began to sell my work. After that there was a pretty steady supply of interested people at my little table. Because my friend Patti volunteers at the Treasure Cay Primary School and I knew they needed more money for programs not paid for by the government, I made a sign that a percentage of my sale prices would go to the free lunch program. Some of the children don't get a hot meal all weekend. I had also checked with the woman who is in charge of the volunteers for this program. The yard sale is an annual event that mostly benefits the library and the community center but I didn't know that until I was already there. It was ok to help support other charities. It was terrific that the Humane Society (which pays for spaying & neutering strays) was selling edibles for lunch! They even had cookies for your dog.
What fun that a couple of the visitors to my table regognized my work! They had seen it in Native Creations on Green Turtle Cay. There are also a few things in the Marina Store here at Treasure Cay. So, at about 11:20 the vendors were beginning to pack up. I had very few things left and a nice contribution for the lunch program. I had had a wonderful time meeting lots of interesting people. The people at the next table loaded my table and rolling cart onto their golf cart and brought me back to the dock. What a totally unexpected and delightfully memorable experience! I'm sorry I didn't bring my camera. -- Florrie
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Mia Culpa
I have been amiss and must atone. It has been almost a month since my last blog.
We left Treasure and went to Marsh Harbour to pick up Jimmy, Sarah and my granddaughter Riley. Then we did the rounds. Great Guana (Grabbers and Nippers), around the Whale to Green Turtle, back around the Whale to Treasure stopping to swim off the back of the boat on the sandy banks, across to Hope Town, down to Tahiti Beach and back to Marsh Harbour. The weather was incredible and the "kids" and Riley seemed to enjoy it.
It was sad to see them go back to the land of snow (which wasn't there...snow that is).
Now we are back at Treasure for a month of R and R. Dock parties (happy hour or two) every night, water aerobics, swimming pool, one of the top ten beaches in the world according to National Geographic, etc.etc. We are at the dock which turns out to be a good thing as the weather has deteriorated. For the last three days winds have been blowing into the 30s and are expected to continue at least for the next week but the docks are quiet at night (unlike Marsh Harbour where the next door bar had live "entertainment" singing off key long past my bedtime) and the sleeping is good. No worrying about the anchor alarm going off and doing the 3 AM deck dance to reset the anchor in the rain.
Now we are back at Treasure for a month of R and R. Dock parties (happy hour or two) every night, water aerobics, swimming pool, one of the top ten beaches in the world according to National Geographic, etc.etc. We are at the dock which turns out to be a good thing as the weather has deteriorated. For the last three days winds have been blowing into the 30s and are expected to continue at least for the next week but the docks are quiet at night (unlike Marsh Harbour where the next door bar had live "entertainment" singing off key long past my bedtime) and the sleeping is good. No worrying about the anchor alarm going off and doing the 3 AM deck dance to reset the anchor in the rain.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Low Country Boil
Low country startes in South Carolina and goes to Florida and is just that. The boil starts with small round potatoes put into boiling water. 10 minutes later you add the sausage. 10 minutes later in goes the corn on the cob and the shrimp. Ten minutes later you drain the whole thing and dump it on a table and people eat it with their fingers putting the shrimp sause on the table for dipping. Now imagine this for 30 people. Then when everyone is totally stuffed, another pot is dumped. Since noone can move, the guitars, flute, gutbucket, mandoline and spoons are brought out and every one sings until it is time for dessert. Oh yeah, all this is after a coctail and munchies hour.
Being cruisers, it all starts about 4 and ends about 9 (cruisers midnight). I can't move.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
More treasure cay
This was the first time I had even heard of a strawberry grouper. A very pretty fish about 3 lbs. Huge mouth and covered with red spots...thus the name.
Got bach to the docks and cleaned the fish tossing the remains into the water when 4 large tarpon (one estimated to be 90 lbs) came along to be fed. Some of the guys tried to hook the tarpon just to see them run and jump. There was no hope of actually catching them.
By the way, grouper is delicious.
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Paradise revisited
It is good that Lew has been adding a little something to the blog now and then - with lovely pictures. The bougainvillea are lush this year... I guess it is all about the rain. I am here too... but frustrated at the mostly off-again internet so I haven't tried to write for the blog much. We're finally relaxing though. It was hard to get here this year because of all the cold fronts in Florida. Then Green Turtle was so quiet it was totally different from last years 10 weeks of parties and socializing. Treasue Cay is absolutely lovely but how much can we write about swaying palm trees? Check out other years' entries. LOL We're fine and hope you are too. All the best to all of you from Florrie.
Grabbers bar on great guana
Went to the fuel dock, filled up with diesel at $4.99 per gallon (5.13 for regular gas). Once again ripped off the port running light getting off the dock. Once again repaired it. Ahhhh.
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Sunday, February 6, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Great guana
Don't know if you can see the fish in 30 feet of water or not. We left Green Turtle this morning, went outside the Whale out to the dropoff and fished in 1000 feet of water then followed both the 400 foot line and the 200 foot line. Nada. Oh well. On to Great Guana and anchored. Google it.
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Morning coffee
I was having my morning coffee, minding my own business, when I was disturbed by a pod of dolfin feeding next to the boat. I got my camera out but every time I snapped a picture, the darn things went under. I tell you it ain't easy.
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Friday, January 28, 2011
GTC
It is 7:30 AM. I am having my coffee in the cockpit. It is cloudy with a mild NW wind. The roosters are crowing and all seems right with the world. Well maybe if Pippin would stop barking and scaring people. Pippin is a wolflike beast who was left here by some cruisers who are now elsewhere. Since Donny is away, Mr. Smith feeds him but he remains outdoors and barks at all hours.
Anyway, it is cool but not enough to warrent long pants. Debby and Russ flew in yesterday and the local ferry delivered them to their little (24 foot) boat. Florrie and I had been helping Ripple put up their masts and were having celebratory cocktails with Tom and Jan when they arrived. After a few rums it was getting quite chilly as the sun went down so we went back to Harmony and tried to stay awake until 9 (sailors midntght).
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Green Turtle Cay
Arrived 2 days ago after a 29 hours trip from Vero Beach. Tired but happy to be "home". A really good crossing with Windspirit (Sue and Charles). Florrie has sold somebof her work at a local gift shop.
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