08/09/2016 I’m recovered from company and have been in chill mode for many weeks, nothing I have to do except enjoy my life on the island. We spent a few days waiting for Hurricane Earl, who, at the last minute changed paths and headed straight for Belize. They got hit, we just got rain and wind. Very thankful we were spared and sad for the people in BZE.
This is what we could have been hit with.
A few weeks ago Nidia was contacted by Carnival cruise lines that their employees had taken it upon themselves to organize a food drive for the elderly on Roatan. We met Nidia and Mac at Mahogany Bay at noon to pick up the cruise ship employees and take them and their 60 bags of food to the East End of the island. Due to some snafu, it took longer to pick them up than planned but we got them and were on our way to Pandytown. The people were waiting when we got there.
Alexi helping load the stuff on to Mac’s truck
We had the 2 on the right and the girl 3rd from the left riding with us. Two of them were from South Africa and the other from the states.
I of course, found dogs. I was pulling ticks off this little girl when the owner approached me and said I could have her. I said, Thank you but no. He said her name was Lola. One Lola is all I can handle. She was adorable.
Next stop was Punta Caliente but when we got there a few crew members had to be back on the ship so we left and took them back to Mahogany Bay.
These are the folks from Punta Caliente coming to meet us. The employees would like to do this monthly, which is pretty awesome!
On July 30th Because We Care did a breakfast for the people in Hottest Sparrow, a community many times forgotten. I got there around 6:45AM and didn’t really do much until the ladies cooking the food were finished, then I helped serve, made chocolate milk for the kids, passed out drinks, some soccer balls donated by Trish and Dave Symons and then helped pass out toys and gifts and clean up. It was a fun morning.
The kitchen. My friend Carly from Blue Island Divers graciously helped with the cooking.
Plates of food, eggs, bacon, sausage, tortillas, cheese, beans and juice and milk.
Lots of hungry kids
I love the older sibling holding their younger brother/sister.
Sweet brothers
There is not much in the way of fruits or vegetables in their diets.
Of course, I was feeding the dogs all the left overs.
These kids got some donated soccer balls, some from Trish and Dave and someone else donated a few larger ones as well.
The school director with the ones I gave him, I also gave him a ball pump from Trish and Dave.
Little girls with their Barbie (sic) dolls.
Your guess is as good as mine.
They passed out balls and were a few short so we gave this guy a soccer ball, he was thrilled.
What’s a party without a Piñata?
Nidia was throwing the candy
Nidia and her box of mystery gifts
Tom’s shoes
He was so funny with the ball in his shirt
We were fortunate enough to meet some new friends from California via Alex. Kevin and Pam bought some land near us and plan on building on it. They had never been to the East End of the island so we took them to La Sirena, our favorite place.
The end of the world.
We stopped along the way and gave these boys a soccer ball (again, thank you Trish and Dave)
On the way home we stopped at the pirate ship and our friend the guard was there. He gave us another tour and some more wooden stuff, like a Seahorse statue that I am in love with.
I finally got a decent photo of the chandelier. It’s stunning, as far as chandeliers go.
And Pam got to hold onto an M 16!
The mast and rigging on the closed down nightclub
Oh yes, I got a reserved sign too.
Rooftop view
Really. 5 dogs!
Such a pretty sky
Barrio and Max swimming
Maxiedoodle
We have had so many people over for dinner lately and that is always fun, especially when it’s a nice day and we can be in the pool.
Dave, Trish and Jeanie
The stunning Duchess of Camp Bay. There is only one.
Roger and some dogs..
They love each other.
I picked up my twinnie Ann and we went snorkeling at West Bay again and then had some drinks (of course) at Grand Roatan.
Neon Goby on coral
Ann in the swim
Parrot fish. I love their lips.
Lots of small Chromis.
Love the coral
I see you!
More cool coral
Sucks that we live somewhere so ugly.
My favorite beach
This past week I did something I’ve wanted to do for a long long long time. I got my dive refresher and went diving. Thanks to Eric White of Blue Island Divers, he made my dreams come true once again. It’s been over 12 years since I dove and I really wanted and needed a refresher. Diving is dangerous, it’s good to go over these things. Eric was excellent and made me feel very comfortable. I’m looking forward to diving again with him as soon as I return. Thank you Eric! (his wife and I are friends and she cooked at the community breakfast, great people)
We did a 62′ deep dive, the water was 80 degrees. I was able to dive in my swimsuit. I had my Ariel moment and will be doing it as often as possible now. There is nothing like being down there and looking at the vast world under the sea. Fish are so lucky.
Speaking of Mermaids, Robby and Julie brought me this mug. It keeps water cold and ice stays ice for 12 hours. It’s an Ozark Mtn. mug.
Love this mug.
All was fabulous with the mug until yesterday when I took my mermaid cup to our friends Dave and Trish’s for a party.
Trish in the “pink hat.” That’s another story for another time.
Dave (Trish’s husband) and David on the raft
The guys
The sky, part way down their road.
The ice stayed ice, just had to refill the water several times while there. (in between glasses of wine) Even after the cup sat along the pool in the sun, the outside was warm, inside ice cold. I filled it again before I left our friends. We got home, put things away, fed the dogs and I laid down to watch some Netflix. I filled my cup w/ more water when we got home and had the cup sitting on the floor while I was on the couch. Around 9 I got up to go to bed and wanted to put more ice in the cup, I took the lid off and there was a small 1′ long Gecko floating belly up in my cup. I FREAKED OUT! Needless to say, I was over the top out of my mind thinking I might have sucked it up in the straw. OMG. I am going to devise something to keep the hole small enough that nothing can crawl in it ever again. Never ever ever again.
Today we delivered the clothes that Robby and Julie brought for Alexi’s brother, nephew and sisters. It was a success because everything fit. They were very appreciative and said thank you very much. I also gave Efraim and Osman a soccer ball donated by Dave and Trish. Earlier I took Alexi to Mega Paca and bought him 2 long sleeve white shirts for school, 3 pair of long pants, 2 black, 1 navy, some underwear, a few pairs of athletic pants and a couple t-shirts. Then we went to LST and bought him a brand new pair of black shoes for school. This is just the beginning of helping him. Thanks to Liza and Mike, Karl, Christy, Brenda and Sean. Thanks also to Tarra for the Old Navy flip-flops. They fit Alexi and he was thrilled to have a few pairs of new shoes. We’re going to take care of a few months of school for him also ($15.00/mo). I’ll keep you posted. Thank you all so much. The little boys and the girls were so excited with all of their new things and Alexi is looking forward to starting school with new clothes!
Alexi and his Mega Paca haul.
New kicks
Alexi’s younger sister Jessica, she is a beautiful young girl. She said that her step dad won’t allow her to talk to any boys and he hits her if she does. He’s a sick man.
Alexi’s 19 year old sister Julianna. She has a 4 year old son, Osman.
Osman
Bill with Alexi’s 7 year old brother. He is the same size as his 4 year old nephew.
Bill and Osman
This kid is adorable
Mother and son
Max and Efraim, Alexi’s little brother
Alexi and Juliana hauling their load of clothes home. They were so excited.
That’s it, I’m off to bed. I just wanted to get this stuff out of my mind because I’ll be gone 2 weeks and won’t have time to do any blogging then. Mom and Dad have finally said they would move closer to my sister Missy in Olney, MD. They will be 5 minutes away instead of 90+. So much easier. I plan to help them go through stuff, donate and pack, should be an interesting visit.
I’ll post this mañana, I’m off to fill up my water mug (and check for geckos) and then going to bed.
Follow your blog and love what you are doing for the kids & people on Roatan. Can you pm me on how you started the shoe drive for the school kids. I live in San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye, Belize. We have several schools. woof4teats@yahoo.com. Thanks.
❤ You Deb! You are a truly loving person to those islands. I am so thankful to call you my friend. Keep it up. Keep posting.
Thanks Beth. I love my island and the people who live here.
Wonderful as always! Watch out for the geckos!
Forgive me if I’m mistaken. Are the Kevin and Pam in your blog the two who were recently on the tv program Caribbean Life? If so, lovely couple. Hoping we can keep updated on their property build. Very nice piece of property and I loved their vision for it. Kind of a similar dream of my own. Would there be a place we could see progress on the home?