Finally get to Kayak this year - Bath and Saturnina Islands

We have rented a kayak spot at Silva Bay Inn. Tessa has used a few times for kayak yoga. This was my first time getting in to kayak from dock. Not the easiest thing I have done and getting out wasn't much better. Worked best without my glasses so I couldn't see! Great trip though and at least it didn't rain till after we got home. Interesting light too. All pics taken with Lumix TS-1.

Its been a long time since the last posting.

We were in China for 16 days at the end of May and into June. More to come and pictures will be on smugmug. Got pneumonia on return and managed to rip an intercostal muscle as a result of the associated coughing. Back to normal now.

Unexpected consequences

The grass is always greener on the other-side or look what I can do with my newly sheared neck!
At least when he pulls it back it doesn't twang the entire fence.

Alpaca Shearing for Lightning, Corduroy and Freddy

We walked down North Rd with our three animals. Lightning really didn't like the cars and kept sitting down. Pulling 250 lbs of alpaca is not easy. The shearing team did 30 alpaca and 6 goats in about 3-4 hours. Then we pulled the alpaca's back up to Bertha. The great thing was that they recognized our gate and immediately stopped pulling and happily trotted into the property and home.

We have to wear what?

Oh goody, we get sheared next Saturday and get to walk down North Road to Paradise Island Farm.

These are before shearing, the after pictures will come in the next week or so. Perhaps some from the actual shearing - to be done professionally this time, the shearing that is. Ten minutes per animal is claimed - we shall see.

Tessa's 60th Birthday Party

Claire, Michael and Todd (Claire's boyfriend) along 25 other Gabriolan's celebrated Tessa's 60th in style.

The menu was

Chicken Satays, Spinach Goat Cheese Tarts,

Yam Chickpea Masala  with Rice Pilaf

Pesto Salmon Wellingtons, Grilled Vegetables

Moroccan Couscous Salad

Cranberry Apple Salad

Strawberry Rhubarb Trifle

Lemon Bars.

As Tessa exclaimed - yummy. More picture on spero.smugmug

Spring is finally here

Lots has happened in the last month. We have been really busy switching Michael's medication so he has been home for three weeks. His anxiety level is way down. Still a few glitches but hopefully he is on the way to being more stable. He will go back to Cedar on sunday.

The Odd Couple (female version) has come and gone. The simplest lighting script I have done so far.

I now have to use the glucometer before meals and top up with Humulin so I have become a multi needle diabetic. Really neat USB mini meter though and much sharper 33 gauge lancets.Started Yoga again so that I can be more relaxed.

The third reading of the bylaw enabling the clinic to build a new facility passed on Thursday. It now goes to the Islands Trust executive committee and the minister in  April. Work to clear the land (4.1 acre's donated) begins next week.

Stay tuned we are going back to China at the end of May
http://www.betchartexpeditions.com/asia_china_heritage.htm

 Click here for Spero Family Pictures from Drumbeg - xmas 2010

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Spent 9 days in Florida with Brian and Charlotte. Temps in the mid 20's and clear blue sky's. We returned to -6 nights and currently it is snowing. We had thought spring was on the way, after all all the crocuses etc. are out. I guess not yet. We visited Jessie and spent an hour with her, she might have recognized Tessa and seemed to connect with Michael. Also spent time with Rebecca and her two children Liev and Zara.
More comment and pictures from the beach, Palm Beach Zoo and Morakami to come.