Tammy~ My prayers are with you. I am so sorry for your double loss. Smile at JJ when you can.

~Roger

Thanks again everyone.

Today is a good day. I have been outside since this morning planting away. For some reason digging in the dirt always makes me feel better. I had a great treat a few minutes ago while planting a tree. A huge iguana came up right beside me. He was the most beautiful shades of green. I ran into the house and got JJ and hubby. The iguana wasn't afraid of us at all and posed beautifully for pictures with JJ. We even got one with JJ, the iguana and one of the chickens all together. Awesome. I know you guys on STT see big iguanas all the time but it is rare here. We have so much bush that I guess they don't come out too often.

I love it here.

It's funny how they get duller as they age but they're sure pretty colors when they're younger.

~Trade~

Tammy, sorry for your losses. I can't imagine how hard it must be having just lost my brother and watching my nephew and nieces' response to it as well. It was the first time they experienced death other than when they were too young to understand. It's a powerful thing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

RL

I`m sorry Tam, I still haven`t gotten over my dad(6 years ago).
I still miss my Tippy Wippy(my cat that passed years ago).

I`m looking forward to re-pot some palms myself.

The Iguanas here like red & green colors, I don`t know how may iguanas I`ve saved from my cats!

Hang in there, people love you.

The iguanas at Fungi's eat pickles.

~Trade~

You guys are great. It is so comforting to receive words of sympathy. Yesterday was my first outing among people who knew that I had lost my dad and godfather. They mostly avoiding speaking. I understand that they just didn't know what to say or they were afraid of saying the wrong thing. I am guilty of the same thing myself. I know now that a simple, I'm sorry for your loss or a hug" means so much.

One good thing about going to the states is that I was able to make a quick trip to Virginia and got to see pregnant daughter. She looks wonderful and is doing better than I have ever seen her. She wanted me to pass along a big hello to all of you that know her on the message board. I was amazed at how many of you that she knew. Maybe we can get her back here after the baby is born.

There is a beautiful double rainbow on the east end of stx this morning.

It does get hard with the public. Up to yesterdays someone asked me how he was doing. He had been ill for 9 months but I thought that everyone knew he passed. It makes it awkward to be the one to tell and it brings back those feeling right away!

No rainbows over here in STT, a little cloudy though..

RL

It was the same this morning when I took JJ to school. Teachers and the other moms avoided speaking or looking at me. I will have to think of something funny to do or say to break the ice. I almost feel sorry for them. They are more uncomfortable than I am. You are right Ronnie it is hard to talk about but the more I do the easier it gets. I can cry when I am alone.

The sun is out here but it looks like some clouds are coming and I am hoping for some sprinkles and clouds so I can get back to planting.

Hey Tami, sorry for your losses. The rain was great. Just got back from Oahu last night, with delays it took @ 20 hours, ey yi yi.
It was so good to see me son and his wife and my new Grand child Jacob. He's only 7 months old but a genius, lol. Oahu is breath takingly beautiful ( I forgot how) and was loaded with tourists. It's good to be back on STX. Our Sea is much warmer and more colorful and the people are much more real here. The North Shore of Oahu was a scene and the waves were good for a few days and it was good seeing the family and the old friends but it's good to be back. Now I just have to get my bio clock back in sync.
The island is so green.

Wow! Nice heavy, soaking rain. Good nap weather.

~Trade~

You think nap....I think cisterns! Either way, I love it.

Juanita

My Virgin Islands Today experience? I got up this morning to a beautiful view of Charlotte Amalie. I live up Mafolie on Skyline above town. Had my coffee, showered before work...and while rinsing the water shut off. Ran to grab a gallon of drinking water to finish my shower! Then called my landlord. When the power goes out and someone uses the water, the water pump shuts off. When on the phone with him I come to find out that he did not receive my rent check, which I sent through FirstBank online. I then had to cancel the check online and send in PAPER copies of the cancellation forms. Now I have to cut him a check when he comes tomorrow to fix the water pump. So, other than the view and the coffee, not a great morning.

But then I get to work as a guest services manager at a resort, and that's OK because it's a very easy job. However today was my first payday and it was not even $900 for a salaried manager. "I have a college degree!" I exclaimed in my head. But the other people working here are making much less, so I can't complain.

Later tonight I'll go home, and tomorrow probably go to Hull Bay. I love it here when I'm driving and can take in the island. Being here is teaching me to better deal with life's little foibles patiently. So far, really loving the challenge.

The pump probably just needs to be primed. It takes a while for people to learn to shut water off immediately when the power goes off. Sounds like you're adjusting well!

~Trade~

Lol and I thought he shut the water off for non payment of rent!!

RL

He said"When the power goes out and someone uses the water, the water pump shuts off."
My guess, when WAPA goes out, the only water is the water pressurized in the pluming.
The water pump has already shutoff due to no electric.
And, will probably need to be primed if the lowest fixture is left open.

Lowest or not, you don't run the water as it empties the tank! Then, it may lose it's prime.

RL

Went to St. John's Wednesday for their service. Took some shots afterwards. Beautiful old church.

[www.flickr.com]

I'm swooning over home-made passionfruit marshmallows that were being sold today at the little farm/crafters market at Yacht Haven Grande today. These are one of the best candies I've ever eaten. Got some chocolate chip cookies from Cheryl, the hot sauce gal, too. And the pumpkin bread sold there is to die for. The same lady was selling some teeny little beans she said you grind just like coffee & brew the same way. Supposed to be good for you but I don't like coffee so I passed on that. They were smaller than BB's & she said she grows them. It may not be as big as the Bordeaux farmer's market but I always find something interesting & brunch at Wikked isn't bad either. I think it's held the first & 3rd Sundays of every month & people bring their dogs if they want to.

~Trade~

Hey Trade -- It sounds like they may be worth the effort to you, and if you like them that much perhaps they would also make a great holiday gift: [bossacafez.blogspot.com]

Thanks, Dnt! I told the seller I admired her for attempting them in this climate. She had them in a cooler, I guess so they wouldn't melt but homemade marshmallows are tons bettter than the store-bought kind & the passionfruit didn't make them so icky sweet. The ones on the blog were yellower than hers.

~Trade~

Interesting. I don't like marshmallows because of their cotton candy sweetness, but I've never had homemade ones.

They're a whole different animal. Not hard & spongy. They're sweet but much better.

~Trade~

A wonderful cool night tonight and the stars are incredible.