Finally - five days later . . .

Last night we burnt our Guy Fawkes.  I know, I know, it was a little late, but every night we thought about it the wind just seemed to blow stronger.  Finally Mother Nature gave us a break and we were ready!

We collected wood all afternoon - I think I have poisonwood as a result (it was either the wood collecting or the chopping down trees in the bush the day before :), built the perfect tepee shaped fire and tossed in a match.  It really lit that easily!  For those of you who know us, you may remember that we have frequently had to resort to gasoline to get a decent blaze going - Boy Scouts we are not! 

Mr. Fawkes succumbed to the smoke almost immediately, but luckily Brock rushed in and propped him back up.

My sister and nephew were also here to join in the fun - more pyromaniacs maybe?

                                           

                                           

                                           

It was a great night.

Halloween

Perseus and Athena are in bed stuffed full of candy, and I - Medusa - am completely exhausted (and stuffed full of candy!)

Halloween was wonderful! We tricked and treated and walked through a haunted house. Actually Marco and I walked, Madison was in my arms from the front door! I can still carry my nine year old. She was very unhappy that despite my snake hair, I couldn't actually turn the monsters to stone :)

The vampire mermaids were one of the coolest costumes I have ever seen. And the cyclops even scared me!

Yet another memorable moment with the children. . .

Abaco Adventure

We just flew back to Nassau from Treasure Cay, Abaco.  We had a wonderful three day "field trip" to Manjack Cay.  We are covered with mosquito bites and scratches from hiking in the "woods" but very happy and excited.  Manjack is beautiful and very low key. It was refreshing to not see a single car until we anchored in Black Sound, Green Turtle Cay for the last night.  Green Turtle Cay is a very clean, friendly out island settlement.  Charming place to visit.

The highlights were: turtle watching in the anchorage, the stunning two mile Atlantic beach, rich soil and large Bahamian trees, huge mutton snapper (the one that got away) and the amazing and inspirational people we met there.

Manjack Cay is a special place and we will definitely be seeing it again.

Puppies, Poultry and Plants

Today was an incredibly full - and fulfilling - day.

The Bahamas Humane Society hosted a mini day camp for kids.  Madison and Marco loved the time they spent there and, as soon as I showed up, insisted on showing me around the entire facility.  Within no time I was up to my ankles in puppies!  The sweetest , most adorable bundles of puppies.  The Humane Society was very impressive - clean, organized and extremely well-run.  

I was also offered a rooster.  

"No thank you,  I already have a rooster." 

Apparently roosters are not the most popular of animals :) 

Probably nothing to do with that crowing thing at all!  Speaking of roosters . . . our chickens are doing very well.  They love their nest, their water dish and their daily bug supplement.  No eggs yet though.

While the kids were at day camp, I ordered some lumber for another outdoor project - a new garden bed. After math and spelling - we did have to do some real school today - I started teaching a woodworking course.  This went surprisingly well considering that I am a beginner myself.  We sawed, hammered, drilled and screwed.  We dug holes for the posts, raked the rocks and leveled the land.  It looks great!  And now we have a lot more space to put those tomato plants in once the seeds sprout.  

Our garden contains: basil, rosemary and arugula - in abundance, chives, sage, thyme, spanish thyme, green onions, broccoli, assorted greens, bok choy (no idea what I am going to do with it), collard greens (ditto), beets, brussels sprouts, squash, cauliflower and cabbage - both purple and green.  I just cannot resist those tiny little plants at the nursery!  In addition, the kids have planted seeds for tomatoes, watermelon and peas.  My favorite purchases for the garden today were four sweet potato plants.

Sawing, sweating and sifting through the soil; I really treasured this special time with the children today.