Yah!!!  Indoor internet!!!  will post the pix from the outdoor HOI (house of internet) ... now it is indoors and I am overlooking the lagoon as I am typing, with screens keeping the 'skitos at bay.  Zane and Jay moved the bamboo antenna pole over to the back of the house and we dropped the cable line into the house and right over the rafters to the desk.

Zane is up and about, although no solid food intake as yet.  He and Jason also hooked up the washer outside the new house that is Jay and Myrtles, so, no more beating the clothes.  I did 3 loads today in short time and with the great breezes, they are all dry except the quilt.  That will be dry soon.  It is a lovely 85 degrees with a 66% humidity rate today.  Nice lagoon breezes and sunny.

Next!....oh well, sharing a bed, even if you don't kiss, etc, has some hazards ... unfortunately, now Zane is down for the count from both ends! ... poor guy ... so, we are postponing our new years pork roast and sauerkraut till he is better. 

Had a New Years adventure ... Jason and I had to go into Stann Creek with the motorcycles to get Coke for Zane .. none in the entire village to be had, but one that Sticky brought him when we were leaving ... 22 miles of rough road out to the main (and then back) was hard on the old and sore body/stomach, but needed ... I KNOW how I would have been without the coke Zane got for me when that was all I could tolerate ...

anyway ... Happy New Year everyone!  ... still loving the warmth, not achyness due to cold,...I LOVE it ... 'skitoes are a bit viscous today in the 'HOI (House of Internet) ... can't wait till we get the antenna moved and I can work in the screened in house.

Gonna quit for now and go in the house and read

Well, working on day 4 of this crud...Gabral and Miss Estaline also have this as well, so it is not just me ... am hungry today, but still don't want to eat, cause nothing sounds appetizing.  tried Myrtle's fried rice last night and couldn't eat much of that ... have a metallic taste in my mouth ... just had some fresh OJ, cause that sounded good, but now my stomach is clenching!  dumb Goldie dumb! 

all I feel like doing is sleeping, reading and a bit of moving around, losing weight, (not a bad thing, but not good this way!) and feeling generally lethargic.  Don't mean to alarm any of you (my kids especially) Dad is keeping a good eye on me, just trying to keep y'all updated.

Zane and Jay are currently working on the shutters and doors for Jay's house but have taken a break to make me a stool that I can use to sit up at the bar in the house to sew.  I need to get more active ... just can't get too far for the toilet.  Gotta get healthy enough to have my saurkraut good luck for the New Year ... btw ... Happy New Year all!  ... hope this will be a special one for us all

So, hey to y'all ... sorry haven't been on for the last few days ... dealing with the galloping crud, even into today, but that first day laid me flat the whole day and yesterday had only enough energy to do a bit of laundry and then back on the bed.

Things are moving along okay here ... yesterday was one of our greatgrand daughter's birthday ... Zane and Jay took her and Gabe on the motorcycles to the local pastor's house who sells ice cream, for a treat (including the motorcycle ride) ... I stayed back and away from all who I might give this crud to.

nice weather, though showers overnight again ...
the pictures below are some of the house arriving, being unloaded and then when it was completed being varnished.  Lastly a pic of our Belize Christmas/Yule tree.  Hope these come through and are visable ... enjoy and I will write more later

will attempt to add some pictures here ... Note the yellow bike ... My Yule gift from my wonderful hubby! ... I love it. will have more interior pic in the next day or two

'Tis the day after Boxing Day here in Gales Point and most things are going back to 'more' normal.  The Village is quiet this morning at 7:32 AM due most likely, to the long night of 'Bharoming' in the village.  This consisted of a long night of drumming and call and response dancing/singing in a tradition African type of manner ...  the villagers went from house to house on Christmas night and last night doing this throughout the whole long village...covering all the territory over the two nights.  Lots of drinking accompanied this ... reminded me of Dragonfest drum circles without the fire and such in one place.

It is overcast today with a slight breeze ... Zane and Jay are preparing to work on the shutters for his house so that they can get that enclosed and them over here sooner.  Zane said it rained last night, but I didn't hear it.

Need to go into Stann Creek in the next day or so to get more coaxial (sp?) cable for the antenna to get this internet connection into the house ... then, the threat of rain won't stop my blogging and emailing and surfing.  Also, we need to pick up the $35 (BZ) 8 lb pork roast that Zane ordered for our traditional new years meal ... I brought along canned (mine) saurkraut for our first  food of the new year (a Felix family tradition) for good luck

I may have more later to write about, but for now, signing off!

Well, Merry Christmas, happy late Yule to y'all! ... finally online ... currently setting on top of the septic tank (lol) b/c the connection to the anntenna is not into the house as yet ... It is Christmas day and hopefully we will try to Skype friends and family later today, if not then, at least a phone call to them. 
There was a Christmas fund raiser for the women's group in the village last night ... Myrtle and many other new friends were in it ... started late as per usual here in the village ... kinda pagan/island time here to the shagrin of Mel, the missionary woman in charge of the program. It seems she to is intolerant of the lack of committment on the villager's part.  It was a funny program, however I only "got" half of it b/c of noise level, cheering, laughter and Creole language barriers.  Took many pictures for Mel and Myrtle.  A good effort on the part of the ladies ... definately Christmas Carribean style! ... recently I saw a Christmas gift bag labeled  "Marry Chriastmas" ... definately different culture wise.  Right now I am being bombarded with someone very loud radio of music (not Christmasy in the least).  Somewhat invasive to be sure, although the music is okay, just not what we usually listen to as a choice.

Went to the hospital yesterday ... got anti-biotics for an infected spot on my elbow ... it was staph as I suspected which is why I chose to go.  Not sure how I got it, but it is already clearing, just painful.

Gave Zane his usual Playboy calendar this morning ... our Christmas gifts to each other were the motorcycles and his to me was my bike.

Definately nice to sit here on a warm tropical day and know that it is Christmas Belize style.  I can definately say I love being warm all the time.  It has been cool the last few days ... in the high 60's and low 70's through the nights and in the morning ... I am wearing a long sleeved shirt as I sit here and am very comfortable. 

Having mixed emotions as we have moved into this house we are now in ... the grandchildren are distanting themselves from us and that is sad, plus now feel like strangers in their house rather than family.  Our food is sent here rather than us eating with them ... feels like we are definately being set asside. 

Well, want to write individual emails here, so will sign off with a Merry Christmas to one and all and will definately post daily from now on!  Will include photos either later today, or in the next couple of days ... BTW ... Zane is growing back his hair in anticipation of going back to a colder climate.

cutting and pasting more blogging here today ... still no daily internet fix, so have to depend on the kindness of the local missionary ... hopefully we will have the internet very soon. love to all friends and family ... Janie and Zane

November 27, 2012

 

So, today Zane and Jason took a transport to Belize (City) and Myrtle and Sherylan went to Stann Creek on the bus ... I stayed home ... the kids were all in school ... I washed Zane's and my clothes Gales Point style and then weeded out the rotting grapefruits from the bag and put them on the compost ... Monnie stopped by with a new bag of oranges which Zane will pay for when they get back...another young man bought by a sour sap fruit which we will pay for later.  The sour sap fruit is what, when mixed with sweetened condensed milk make a sour sap "Ideal" ... this is Zane's and my favorite dessert here in Gales Point ... it is like a cross between ice cream and frozen yoghurt ... but, amazingly enough Zane likes it! ...

Now, everyone is back, the bugs are biting so I have stopped sewing on the veranda and came inside to write this ... all day, after the chores above, I worked on the BOM's (blocks of the Month) for the two quilts I am making.  I also worked on quite a few of the blocks for Jacobs quilt.  I am making him one that I (Mostly) pre-cut before I came  ... so it's going together quite fast. 

One if the new little girls Brieanna came by and wanted to know when she can sew again ... I told her I needed her and 4 other girls to form a new group of sewers.  She was excited about that.  I took her picture for the calendar for next year and got her birthday date and put it on the new calendar that is for this year.  As soon as I get internet, that is something I will start to put together ... a Gales Point Calendar for 2014.

Zane and Jay came back with tales ... Fixodent, which cost around 5$ in Wal-Mart is $11 US!!!  Brayer’s ice cream is $40 for a 1/2 gallon!  Needless to say, I will have to have Winna send us a care package for the Fixodent soon, 'cause we each only brought 3 tubes!   A ham was astronomical too...$140 Belize, making that $70 US!!!

November 29, 2012

So, a cool and breezy morning after a night of, as the Navajo would call it, female rain...it is 74° in the house and 60 something degrees outside on the veranda ... unfortunately I can't use the veranda this morning for sewing, 'cause Jay and Zane confiscated it for their woodworking of the shutters b/c of the dampness of everything in the side yard.

Yesterday we 'poled' in a boat over to Sticky's property when we hope to build our house.  We still haven’t decided if it will be a permanent move or a 'snowbird' one, but at any rate it is unlikely to happen this visit that it even gets started ... things here are definitely running on island/pagan time ... very slow and laid back ... which is a bit frustrating, as Zane and I would both like to see things move a bit faster. 

The area where Sticky has his land is more secluded from the village and is lovely … a great view of the whole lagoon, overlooking some nice houses on the other side, and he has planted many flowers already and has the proposed driveway laid out.  His house will set on the piers that he has already put there and ours will be forward and a bit over from there.  It is easy to envision the future plans for small cabanas and palapas for guests on this land without crowding those of us who are there.

I finished a grass basket made of the fever grass and other local grasses … it turned out well and I am happy with the results … J I have, however, run out, almost, of raffia and tried to order more, however they do not ship to Belize, so I guess I will try to order, have it sent to Heather and then she can repackage it and send it on to me stuffed into as small and light a package as possible, probably along with some Fixodent type stuff!

December 1, 2012

Another week and my baby girl has her big birthday! … hopefully we will be able to talk to her on her birthday … we went to Spanish Lookout (the Mennonite community in Cayo district) yesterday … we got the wood Zane and Jay needed to finish the doors and shutters to his home, a cell phone that will hopefully reach out of the village and a bike for Andrea.  When we were here last, we bought bikes for Kasey and Gabral but not for Andrea … now she has one too and her small one will be handed down to Myrtz Myrtz. 

Today is very sad … an 11 month old baby girl died from the village … they thought it was chicken pox that she had, but then her hands were swollen like an allergic reaction to something and she wouldn’t nurse, only cry and cry … they took her to another hospital in Belize and she passed this morning … the only child of young parents, mother only 18 …

It’s been a bit emotional here because of all of us in this small space … Myrtle and I are having difficulty … different ways of functioning … I think I am helping and she thinks she is offending me … we all sat down and talked things thru this morning and hopefully things will be better … there is a possibility of another place for temporary space … remains to be seen

Raining again today after a sunny morning … rained most of yesterday … ‘tis the rainy season here … yah, just was able to get a call thru on the new phone to Heather to tell her to use the debit card to get $ out for her birthday gift! … good reception and even on 1 bar she heard us well … still not sure how many minutes we got on the triple up day for the phone, guess we will see soon.

December 2, 2012

Sunday … Jay and Myrtz went to church … Zane took a motorcycle ride … I burned some of the burn pile (unfortunately they burn plastic and Styrofoam here as well as paper stuff because there is no place to take it … I will look into this more closely, b/c the fumes alone from the burning were very toxic

Then my sewing girls (several of them) came and we tried to go to the community center … it was chaos b/c of the disrespectful and disruptive boys who gathered and were in and out of Jay’s truck and the building … will need to find a better spot to hold the classes b/c the boys won’t stay away (teen boys and teen girls, what can I say) ….

Zane was quite pleased, he got in touch with his sister, Nancy and her cancer count is down more, which is very good! … I guess   he surprised her with his call, which is what he wanted to do.  He was also able to contact Mark to give Heather some info for us … so, the phone is definitely working well.  Zane was upset with me for telling y’all about his fine, but I told his that is what a blog is about … all things!

Yah! Got a hold of Winna tonight!  Beltane (my cat) is still giving her cat, Dante, a hard time … but at least she is out and about and not in hiding … Winn still hasn’t found a job, so, everyone, put good vibes out there for her to find something soon!  It was so good to talk to a friend!  I miss many of your that I interact with more frequently … Myrtle has her social group, but they talk their Creole so fast that I can’t understand half of what they say … the Americans in the village are all involved with bring the Christian word to the villagers so, we don’t really have much in common.  I don’t proselytize, so when they try to talk of Christianity to me or anti Obama, I kinda just excuse myself and leave … they use bribes to get the women to bible study and that seems very wrong to me … like, they draw numbers and the one that comes up gets a gift of their choice for being there … so, I will just be me by example I guess.

December 3, 2012

Another rainy day, but it doesn’t feel as confining as it does back east or even in NM … here there are veranda’s to be on to sew or carpenter or whatever and plus there is always a nice breeze … today I even had to put on a light shirt b/c the breeze was almost chilly. 

Naomi, the young woman who did my braids last time, Sticky’s daughter, came by to see me today … she would like to learn how to sew so she can make curtains for her home … she just got back in the village, b/c she was in Belize taking care of her mom … we had heard Sticky’s wife had lost her foot before we got down here, so that is where she was helping her mom.

Zane and Jay are kinda going stir crazy b/c of not being able to work outside, but this morning, early, they did go out and cut a whole load of bamboo from the bamboo forest to do the partitions in Myrtle and Jay’s house.   Loggie, a guy from the village came by and showed them how to cut the bamboo to flatten it for making the walls … pretty cool!

December 4, 2012

Another rainy day off and on … I did wash for Zane and myself today Gales Point style … will be happy when we get to a place where there is enough power to run the washer … I don’t mind hanging clothes, I do it in NM, but just feel that things aren’t getting as clean … also … need to find an old fashioned wringer … my and Myrtles hands just don’t do a good wringing! … plus, after hanging the rains came and soaked things even further … one thing I definitely appreciate more and more about NM … the dry air that dries clothes really fast! 

Zane and Jay were working with the bamboo again today and a guy, Alyice, came by and with his machete did fast work with the bamboo and with all three working got the whole pile done that they had here.  He just stepped in and banged it out!  Such is the nature of some of the adults here … others, just stroll by, look or stand and watch but don’t step in to help.

Was working with the kids with their homework tonight … will be taking that on from here on out … really will need to pick brains with my daughter when I get back … it seems they (the government) are threatening to close down the local school and ship the kids into Dangriga next year … if they do that, Myrtz and Jay want to home school, but by US standards, not Belize standards … Gabral has already been kept back b/c he is behind his grade level and Andrea and Kasey are not in great shape learning wise … the teachers have many students, have to clean the toilets and class rooms in the morning before school as well as prepare for teaching .. Recently they did away with corporal punishment by teachers to students and apparently kids who were used to being spanked and can’t be now, are acting out b/c they know that the teachers can’t do anything … most of the parents don’t back up the teachers so the kids are disruptive and difficult.  I also found out the high school, if of any quality, is not free.  Sherilan’s son, MJ (Myrtle’s sister and nephew) has to come up with 600 Belize$ per year for MJ to attend a parochial high school and he is a good student and motivated.  However Sherilan is having difficulty coming up with the money ... so, the kids can still attend, but the parents don’t get to see the report cards or talk to the teachers or have any way of knowing how their child is doing unless the pay … there is a public high school and trade schools, but their quality of education is sub par … several young men in the village were given full ride scholarships in the past, but quit b/c of the teacher … it is a sad commentary on the country of Belize that they aren’t concerned about their future generations!

Today was the funeral for the little baby here in the village… very sorrowful day … Myrtz and Jay went to the funeral … apparently Nigel lost a son before, which I wasn’t aware of, and of course, as some of you know, M&J almost lost Gabe while living in CO due to encephalitis and meningitis…so it was especially poignant for them to be there and to in an odd way, count their own blessings … kinda like there but for the grace of the Goddess/God go they.

Jay and Zane walked up to Gentles Breezy Spot tonight for their rehydration … the other day when we were all talking through the rough patch we were experiencing, myrtle mentioned that Pops (Zane) was not only Pops to Jay but also his best friend and that none of us wants that to be harmed … since then, Myrtz and I are more aware of our feelings and working on keeping them in hand

November 27, 2012

 

So, today Zane and Jason took a transport to Belize (City) and Myrtle and Sherylan went to Stann Creek on the bus ... I stayed home ... the kids were all in school ... I washed Zane's and my clothes Gales Point style and then weeded out the rotting grapefruits from the bag and put them on the compost ... Monnie stopped by with a new bag of oranges which Zane will pay for when they get back...another young man bought by a sour sap fruit which we will pay for later.  The sour sap fruit is what, when mixed with sweetened condensed milk make a sour sap "Ideal" ... this is Zane's and my favorite dessert here in Gales Point ... it is like a cross between ice cream and frozen yoghurt ... but, amazingly enough Zane likes it! ...

Now, everyone is back, the bugs are biting so I have stopped sewing on the veranda and came inside to write this ... all day, after the chores above, I worked on the BOM's (blocks of the Month) for the two quilts I am making.  I also worked on quite a few of the blocks for Jacobs quilt.  I am making him one that I (Mostly) pre-cut before I came  ... so it's going together quite fast. 

One if the new little girls Brieanna came by and wanted to know when she can sew again ... I told her I needed her and 4 other girls to form a new group of sewers.  She was excited about that.  I took her picture for the calendar for next year and got her birthday date and put it on the new calendar that is for this year.  As soon as I get internet, that is something I will start to put together ... a Gales Point Calendar for 2014.

Zane and Jay came back with tales ... Fixodent, which cost around 5$ in Wal-Mart is $11 US!!!  Brayer’s ice cream is $40 for a 1/2 gallon!  Needless to say, I will have to have Winna send us a care package for the Fixodent soon, 'cause we each only brought 3 tubes!   A ham was astronomical too...$140 Belize, making that $70 US!!!

November 29, 2012

So, a cool and breezy morning after a night of, as the Navajo would call it, female rain...it is 74° in the house and 60 something degrees outside on the veranda ... unfortunately I can't use the veranda this morning for sewing, 'cause Jay and Zane confiscated it for their woodworking of the shutters b/c of the dampness of everything in the side yard.

Yesterday we 'poled' in a boat over to Sticky's property when we hope to build our house.  We still haven’t decided if it will be a permanent move or a 'snowbird' one, but at any rate it is unlikely to happen this visit that it even gets started ... things here are definitely running on island/pagan time ... very slow and laid back ... which is a bit frustrating, as Zane and I would both like to see things move a bit faster. 

The area where Sticky has his land is more secluded from the village and is lovely … a great view of the whole lagoon, overlooking some nice houses on the other side, and he has planted many flowers already and has the proposed driveway laid out.  His house will set on the piers that he has already put there and ours will be forward and a bit over from there.  It is easy to envision the future plans for small cabanas and palapas for guests on this land without crowding those of us who are there.

I finished a grass basket made of the fever grass and other local grasses … it turned out well and I am happy with the results … J I have, however, run out, almost, of raffia and tried to order more, however they do not ship to Belize, so I guess I will try to order, have it sent to Heather and then she can repackage it and send it on to me stuffed into as small and light a package as possible, probably along with some Fixodent type stuff!

December 1, 2012

Another week and my baby girl has her big birthday! … hopefully we will be able to talk to her on her birthday … we went to Spanish Lookout (the Mennonite community in Cayo district) yesterday … we got the wood Zane and Jay needed to finish the doors and shutters to his home, a cell phone that will hopefully reach out of the village and a bike for Andrea.  When we were here last, we bought bikes for Kasey and Gabral but not for Andrea … now she has one too and her small one will be handed down to Myrtz Myrtz. 

Today is very sad … an 11 month old baby girl died from the village … they thought it was chicken pox that she had, but then her hands were swollen like an allergic reaction to something and she wouldn’t nurse, only cry and cry … they took her to another hospital in Belize and she passed this morning … the only child of young parents, mother only 18 …

It’s been a bit emotional here because of all of us in this small space … Myrtle and I are having difficulty … different ways of functioning … I think I am helping and she thinks she is offending me … we all sat down and talked things thru this morning and hopefully things will be better … there is a possibility of another place for temporary space … remains to be seen

Raining again today after a sunny morning … rained most of yesterday … ‘tis the rainy season here … yah, just was able to get a call thru on the new phone to Heather to tell her to use the debit card to get $ out for her birthday gift! … good reception and even on 1 bar she heard us well … still not sure how many minutes we got on the triple up day for the phone, guess we will see soon.

December 2, 2012

Sunday … Jay and Myrtz went to church … Zane took a motorcycle ride … I burned some of the burn pile (unfortunately they burn plastic and Styrofoam here as well as paper stuff because there is no place to take it … I will look into this more closely, b/c the fumes alone from the burning were very toxic

Then my sewing girls (several of them) came and we tried to go to the community center … it was chaos b/c of the disrespectful and disruptive boys who gathered and were in and out of Jay’s truck and the building … will need to find a better spot to hold the classes b/c the boys won’t stay away (teen boys and teen girls, what can I say) ….

Zane was quite pleased, he got in touch with his sister, Nancy and her cancer count is down more, which is very good! … I guess   he surprised her with his call, which is what he wanted to do.  He was also able to contact Mark to give Heather some info for us … so, the phone is definitely working well.  Zane was upset with me for telling y’all about his fine, but I told his that is what a blog is about … all things!

Yah! Got a hold of Winna tonight!  Beltane (my cat) is still giving her cat, Dante, a hard time … but at least she is out and about and not in hiding … Winn still hasn’t found a job, so, everyone, put good vibes out there for her to find something soon!  It was so good to talk to a friend!  I miss many of your that I interact with more frequently … Myrtle has her social group, but they talk their Creole so fast that I can’t understand half of what they say … the Americans in the village are all involved with bring the Christian word to the villagers so, we don’t really have much in common.  I don’t proselytize, so when they try to talk of Christianity to me or anti Obama, I kinda just excuse myself and leave … they use bribes to get the women to bible study and that seems very wrong to me … like, they draw numbers and the one that comes up gets a gift of their choice for being there … so, I will just be me by example I guess.

December 3, 2012

Another rainy day, but it doesn’t feel as confining as it does back east or even in NM … here there are veranda’s to be on to sew or carpenter or whatever and plus there is always a nice breeze … today I even had to put on a light shirt b/c the breeze was almost chilly. 

Naomi, the young woman who did my braids last time, Sticky’s daughter, came by to see me today … she would like to learn how to sew so she can make curtains for her home … she just got back in the village, b/c she was in Belize taking care of her mom … we had heard Sticky’s wife had lost her foot before we got down here, so that is where she was helping her mom.

Zane and Jay are kinda going stir crazy b/c of not being able to work outside, but this morning, early, they did go out and cut a whole load of bamboo from the bamboo forest to do the partitions in Myrtle and Jay’s house.   Loggie, a guy from the village came by and showed them how to cut the bamboo to flatten it for making the walls … pretty cool!

December 4, 2012

Another rainy day off and on … I did wash for Zane and myself today Gales Point style … will be happy when we get to a place where there is enough power to run the washer … I don’t mind hanging clothes, I do it in NM, but just feel that things aren’t getting as clean … also … need to find an old fashioned wringer … my and Myrtles hands just don’t do a good wringing! … plus, after hanging the rains came and soaked things even further … one thing I definitely appreciate more and more about NM … the dry air that dries clothes really fast! 

Zane and Jay were working with the bamboo again today and a guy, Alyice, came by and with his machete did fast work with the bamboo and with all three working got the whole pile done that they had here.  He just stepped in and banged it out!  Such is the nature of some of the adults here … others, just stroll by, look or stand and watch but don’t step in to help.

Was working with the kids with their homework tonight … will be taking that on from here on out … really will need to pick brains with my daughter when I get back … it seems they (the government) are threatening to close down the local school and ship the kids into Dangriga next year … if they do that, Myrtz and Jay want to home school, but by US standards, not Belize standards … Gabral has already been kept back b/c he is behind his grade level and Andrea and Kasey are not in great shape learning wise … the teachers have many students, have to clean the toilets and class rooms in the morning before school as well as prepare for teaching .. Recently they did away with corporal punishment by teachers to students and apparently kids who were used to being spanked and can’t be now, are acting out b/c they know that the teachers can’t do anything … most of the parents don’t back up the teachers so the kids are disruptive and difficult.  I also found out the high school, if of any quality, is not free.  Sherilan’s son, MJ (Myrtle’s sister and nephew) has to come up with 600 Belize$ per year for MJ to attend a parochial high school and he is a good student and motivated.  However Sherilan is having difficulty coming up with the money ... so, the kids can still attend, but the parents don’t get to see the report cards or talk to the teachers or have any way of knowing how their child is doing unless the pay … there is a public high school and trade schools, but their quality of education is sub par … several young men in the village were given full ride scholarships in the past, but quit b/c of the teacher … it is a sad commentary on the country of Belize that they aren’t concerned about their future generations!

Today was the funeral for the little baby here in the village… very sorrowful day … Myrtz and Jay went to the funeral … apparently Nigel lost a son before, which I wasn’t aware of, and of course, as some of you know, M&J almost lost Gabe while living in CO due to encephalitis and meningitis…so it was especially poignant for them to be there and to in an odd way, count their own blessings … kinda like there but for the grace of the Goddess/God go they.

Jay and Zane walked up to Gentles Breezy Spot tonight for their rehydration … the other day when we were all talking through the rough patch we were experiencing, myrtle mentioned that Pops (Zane) was not only Pops to Jay but also his best friend and that none of us wants that to be harmed … since then, Myrtz and I are more aware of our feelings and working on keeping them in hand

November 27, 2012

 

So, today Zane and Jason took a transport to Belize (City) and Myrtle and Sherylan went to Stann Creek on the bus ... I stayed home ... the kids were all in school ... I washed Zane's and my clothes Gales Point style and then weeded out the rotting grapefruits from the bag and put them on the compost ... Monnie stopped by with a new bag of oranges which Zane will pay for when they get back...another young man bought by a sour sap fruit which we will pay for later.  The sour sap fruit is what, when mixed with sweetened condensed milk make a sour sap "Ideal" ... this is Zane's and my favorite dessert here in Gales Point ... it is like a cross between ice cream and frozen yoghurt ... but, amazingly enough Zane likes it! ...

Now, everyone is back, the bugs are biting so I have stopped sewing on the veranda and came inside to write this ... all day, after the chores above, I worked on the BOM's (blocks of the Month) for the two quilts I am making.  I also worked on quite a few of the blocks for Jacobs quilt.  I am making him one that I (Mostly) pre-cut before I came  ... so it's going together quite fast. 

One if the new little girls Brieanna came by and wanted to know when she can sew again ... I told her I needed her and 4 other girls to form a new group of sewers.  She was excited about that.  I took her picture for the calendar for next year and got her birthday date and put it on the new calendar that is for this year.  As soon as I get internet, that is something I will start to put together ... a Gales Point Calendar for 2014.

Zane and Jay came back with tales ... Fixodent, which cost around 5$ in Wal-Mart is $11 US!!!  Brayer’s ice cream is $40 for a 1/2 gallon!  Needless to say, I will have to have Winna send us a care package for the Fixodent soon, 'cause we each only brought 3 tubes!   A ham was astronomical too...$140 Belize, making that $70 US!!!

November 29, 2012

So, a cool and breezy morning after a night of, as the Navajo would call it, female rain...it is 74° in the house and 60 something degrees outside on the veranda ... unfortunately I can't use the veranda this morning for sewing, 'cause Jay and Zane confiscated it for their woodworking of the shutters b/c of the dampness of everything in the side yard.

Yesterday we 'poled' in a boat over to Sticky's property when we hope to build our house.  We still haven’t decided if it will be a permanent move or a 'snowbird' one, but at any rate it is unlikely to happen this visit that it even gets started ... things here are definitely running on island/pagan time ... very slow and laid back ... which is a bit frustrating, as Zane and I would both like to see things move a bit faster. 

The area where Sticky has his land is more secluded from the village and is lovely … a great view of the whole lagoon, overlooking some nice houses on the other side, and he has planted many flowers already and has the proposed driveway laid out.  His house will set on the piers that he has already put there and ours will be forward and a bit over from there.  It is easy to envision the future plans for small cabanas and palapas for guests on this land without crowding those of us who are there.

I finished a grass basket made of the fever grass and other local grasses … it turned out well and I am happy with the results … J I have, however, run out, almost, of raffia and tried to order more, however they do not ship to Belize, so I guess I will try to order, have it sent to Heather and then she can repackage it and send it on to me stuffed into as small and light a package as possible, probably along with some Fixodent type stuff!

December 1, 2012

Another week and my baby girl has her big birthday! … hopefully we will be able to talk to her on her birthday … we went to Spanish Lookout (the Mennonite community in Cayo district) yesterday … we got the wood Zane and Jay needed to finish the doors and shutters to his home, a cell phone that will hopefully reach out of the village and a bike for Andrea.  When we were here last, we bought bikes for Kasey and Gabral but not for Andrea … now she has one too and her small one will be handed down to Myrtz Myrtz. 

Today is very sad … an 11 month old baby girl died from the village … they thought it was chicken pox that she had, but then her hands were swollen like an allergic reaction to something and she wouldn’t nurse, only cry and cry … they took her to another hospital in Belize and she passed this morning … the only child of young parents, mother only 18 …

It’s been a bit emotional here because of all of us in this small space … Myrtle and I are having difficulty … different ways of functioning … I think I am helping and she thinks she is offending me … we all sat down and talked things thru this morning and hopefully things will be better … there is a possibility of another place for temporary space … remains to be seen

Raining again today after a sunny morning … rained most of yesterday … ‘tis the rainy season here … yah, just was able to get a call thru on the new phone to Heather to tell her to use the debit card to get $ out for her birthday gift! … good reception and even on 1 bar she heard us well … still not sure how many minutes we got on the triple up day for the phone, guess we will see soon.

December 2, 2012

Sunday … Jay and Myrtz went to church … Zane took a motorcycle ride … I burned some of the burn pile (unfortunately they burn plastic and Styrofoam here as well as paper stuff because there is no place to take it … I will look into this more closely, b/c the fumes alone from the burning were very toxic

Then my sewing girls (several of them) came and we tried to go to the community center … it was chaos b/c of the disrespectful and disruptive boys who gathered and were in and out of Jay’s truck and the building … will need to find a better spot to hold the classes b/c the boys won’t stay away (teen boys and teen girls, what can I say) ….

Zane was quite pleased, he got in touch with his sister, Nancy and her cancer count is down more, which is very good! … I guess   he surprised her with his call, which is what he wanted to do.  He was also able to contact Mark to give Heather some info for us … so, the phone is definitely working well.  Zane was upset with me for telling y’all about his fine, but I told his that is what a blog is about … all things!

Yah! Got a hold of Winna tonight!  Beltane (my cat) is still giving her cat, Dante, a hard time … but at least she is out and about and not in hiding … Winn still hasn’t found a job, so, everyone, put good vibes out there for her to find something soon!  It was so good to talk to a friend!  I miss many of your that I interact with more frequently … Myrtle has her social group, but they talk their Creole so fast that I can’t understand half of what they say … the Americans in the village are all involved with bring the Christian word to the villagers so, we don’t really have much in common.  I don’t proselytize, so when they try to talk of Christianity to me or anti Obama, I kinda just excuse myself and leave … they use bribes to get the women to bible study and that seems very wrong to me … like, they draw numbers and the one that comes up gets a gift of their choice for being there … so, I will just be me by example I guess.

December 3, 2012

Another rainy day, but it doesn’t feel as confining as it does back east or even in NM … here there are veranda’s to be on to sew or carpenter or whatever and plus there is always a nice breeze … today I even had to put on a light shirt b/c the breeze was almost chilly. 

Naomi, the young woman who did my braids last time, Sticky’s daughter, came by to see me today … she would like to learn how to sew so she can make curtains for her home … she just got back in the village, b/c she was in Belize taking care of her mom … we had heard Sticky’s wife had lost her foot before we got down here, so that is where she was helping her mom.

Zane and Jay are kinda going stir crazy b/c of not being able to work outside, but this morning, early, they did go out and cut a whole load of bamboo from the bamboo forest to do the partitions in Myrtle and Jay’s house.   Loggie, a guy from the village came by and showed them how to cut the bamboo to flatten it for making the walls … pretty cool!

December 4, 2012

Another rainy day off and on … I did wash for Zane and myself today Gales Point style … will be happy when we get to a place where there is enough power to run the washer … I don’t mind hanging clothes, I do it in NM, but just feel that things aren’t getting as clean … also … need to find an old fashioned wringer … my and Myrtles hands just don’t do a good wringing! … plus, after hanging the rains came and soaked things even further … one thing I definitely appreciate more and more about NM … the dry air that dries clothes really fast! 

Zane and Jay were working with the bamboo again today and a guy, Alyice, came by and with his machete did fast work with the bamboo and with all three working got the whole pile done that they had here.  He just stepped in and banged it out!  Such is the nature of some of the adults here … others, just stroll by, look or stand and watch but don’t step in to help.

Was working with the kids with their homework tonight … will be taking that on from here on out … really will need to pick brains with my daughter when I get back … it seems they (the government) are threatening to close down the local school and ship the kids into Dangriga next year … if they do that, Myrtz and Jay want to home school, but by US standards, not Belize standards … Gabral has already been kept back b/c he is behind his grade level and Andrea and Kasey are not in great shape learning wise … the teachers have many students, have to clean the toilets and class rooms in the morning before school as well as prepare for teaching .. Recently they did away with corporal punishment by teachers to students and apparently kids who were used to being spanked and can’t be now, are acting out b/c they know that the teachers can’t do anything … most of the parents don’t back up the teachers so the kids are disruptive and difficult.  I also found out the high school, if of any quality, is not free.  Sherilan’s son, MJ (Myrtle’s sister and nephew) has to come up with 600 Belize$ per year for MJ to attend a parochial high school and he is a good student and motivated.  However Sherilan is having difficulty coming up with the money ... so, the kids can still attend, but the parents don’t get to see the report cards or talk to the teachers or have any way of knowing how their child is doing unless the pay … there is a public high school and trade schools, but their quality of education is sub par … several young men in the village were given full ride scholarships in the past, but quit b/c of the teacher … it is a sad commentary on the country of Belize that they aren’t concerned about their future generations!

Today was the funeral for the little baby here in the village… very sorrowful day … Myrtz and Jay went to the funeral … apparently Nigel lost a son before, which I wasn’t aware of, and of course, as some of you know, M&J almost lost Gabe while living in CO due to encephalitis and meningitis…so it was especially poignant for them to be there and to in an odd way, count their own blessings … kinda like there but for the grace of the Goddess/God go they.

Jay and Zane walked up to Gentles Breezy Spot tonight for their rehydration … the other day when we were all talking through the rough patch we were experiencing, myrtle mentioned that Pops (Zane) was not only Pops to Jay but also his best friend and that none of us wants that to be harmed … since then, Myrtz and I are more aware of our feelings and working on keeping them in hand