The Good...the Bad and Ugly!

(While I was in town shopping today,

I think the Croadile Hunter was here using my camera...

All I know is the pictures are all that's left, thank goodness!)

It is called the Black Ctenosaur, or more commonly the Black Iguana.

Interesting fact:

They are not eaten by many animals besides humans. Some people in Central America consider the ctenosaur tasty and a natural remedy for impotence; this is why the ctenosaur is commonly referred to in Spanish as the ‘gallina de palo,’ or ‘tree chicken.’

"She loves me more!"

"No, She loves me more!"

Ingenuity....

This man has the right idea..

With a piece of foam (garbage) and a homemade oar,

he manages to get from shore to his moored boat without getting wet!

As usual, Panamanians and their ingenuity never cease to amaze me!

Annual Beach Clean Up: 2010

Another fun and successful island beach clean up!

For the 4th year in a row, 

the wonderful Carlos Spraga of Boca Chica

managed to put together this productive project for the local community childeren.

Together with the help of local boat owners, we fill up our vessels with kids and head out to the islands!

GREAT JOB EVERYONE!

Boat Fun!

Day 1 with the Slagle Family: Isla Gamez

Day 2: Isla Secas

We had a great visit with the Slagle family!

The weather could have been a bit better,

poor Elizabeth experienced a slight bit of sea sickness the first day...

the swell was a little rough, but I hooked her up with some meds for the second day.

Dylan had fun teaching William, a fast learner, some of his fishing skills.

While trolling, William reeled in a Sierra Mackerel!

And by the way:

NO BANANAS ON THE BAN BLANCO PLEASE!

Well, here's a sneak preview of the work Billy's completed on the porch...

This one is for you Gramms...

The left and right side of the "bridge" that we put in to access the property.

Here is the snake having his first meal...a bat!

I love my dogs!

The Sapphire-throated Hummingbird

(and no, I did not photoshop it, it's really just that beautiful!)

The Iguana and her replacement...

Dylan and I just couldn't resist her!

I told him if he wanted her he had to let the Iguana go,

so it's gone!

A bunny is so much nicer to cuddle!

The "Wolly Opossum"

(We keep finding such neat creatures on the island!)

BTY...

The bird has a name now,

Lucy.

I LOVE LUCY!

She is the most sweet, fun and silly little thing!

She just rolls over on her back so you can pet her!

This picture is from our last trip home in May.

I wanted to post it for all of you that haven't seen Billy in what seems like forever!

We sure miss him!

These are older pictures, but I thought I'd share anyway.

It's our property from our boat.

If you look closely, you can see both the house and the ranchito.

Anyway, that's what's been going on.

Update:

My barstools and Dylan's bookshelf are completed!

I'll post pics of them soon.

Again....

Aw....my boys!

Floral Arrangement

Some cut flowers from the yard...

Even Pepe La Pew had to stop and smell the flowers!

ANOTHER project!

Daddy helping Dylan make a cage for the Iguana.

Birth Announcement!

Meet the new addition to the Hodges family....

I've yet to name her/him and I'm open to ideas!

I don't know what kind of bird she is...

she was bought from a cruel Panamanian who bleached

and then died her crown feathers yellow.

I'm guessing her to be about 10-12 weeks old and until she's mature,

maybe 1-2 years old, I wont know her true identity.

She's eating on her own and is the sweetest thing EVER!

I LOVE HER!

Creature of the day....

(It's nolonger "Creature of the Week")

Is that thing disgusting or what!?

Billy found it trapped in a 5 gallon bucket,

I killed it.

Letter from the editor:

Well, I've just posted about 10 entries,
hope everyone enjoys!
I shouldn't have many more boring pictures of the inside of the house,
the list of things left to do in there are pretty boring, and luckily not very time consuming.



The exterior is a whole other story which instead of words, I'll excite you all with progress pictures as they happen.
Besides, if I start making a list now it will seem like it's never ending, and I'd just as soon go with the excited feeling I have thinking we're nearly done!



The boys are about due for a fishing trip, and I'm basically uninvited: Offshore Fishing.
Maybe then I'll be able to post some pics that make it look like we're having fun down here!



Next month our friends from Boquete, Elizabeth, Larry and their son William are coming for a visit! We're going to do the boat/beach/island thing and I can't wait! It should be a good time for all of us....weather permiting.


Also next month Dylan will have 5th grade behind him...I am looking forward to it more than words can say!!


Well, as the list of things to do gets smaller I hope to find myself doing stuff that I really enjoy, ie: reading, SEWING,
getting more familiar with my SLR camera, maybe even picking on the guitar.  I was thinking I could do all these things while hanging out in the hammock, I can't think of anything I could do in a hammock that wouldn't be great!


Other things I'm looking forward to, real internet!
I'm not holding my breath or anything but it's looking like it may happen soon. 
The barstools and bookshelves I'm having made were promised to me by the end of this month,
that's 2 days away, and I'm not holding my breath on that either!
Oh, and CABLE! I NEED CABLE!
Of course a pool before dry season starts would fantastic, but to convince Billy of that,
I may need to start holding my breath!!


That's it folks.


To all my loved ones far away...
I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU VERY MUCH!

Creatures of the week!!

The snake, a Boa Constrictor was found on the property and is now Dylan's pet.

(I've actually heard Billy say many times that there are no snakes on this island...this makes about the 5th one we've seen, must be that land bridge!)

Personally I don't mind snakes, (this guy is the first one that has ever bit me)

however I do not care at all for that spider!

 It's called a "Whip Tail Spider" and I've seen more than I want to. 

The one pictured is quite small however, and it's dead, my favorite kind!

Our employee found the Iguana and is also Dylan's pet, she's enjoying a belly rub in the one picture.

Dylan named her "Liz," and she's super cute and has NOT bit me!!

The inventor of more work....

Before and after pics of the porch.

Evidently Billy thought there was something missing in the before picture, him with a trowel in his hand??!!

That's right, he couldn't stand to be almost done with the stucco!

Here are my boys hard at work...that's Dylan on the backhoe bringing mud to daddy!

(And I thought Panamanian labor was cheap, Dylan only made 5 buck that day!)

Heliconia...

This plant grows wild all over the property and is in bloom now.

I'm not telling....

Can you guess??

Lounging....

Aww...my boys!

Billy's green thumb...

Upper left: Yuca (aprox 30)

Lower left: Sugar Cane (aprox 15)

Lower left: Plantain (aprox 50)

Billy is loving this gardening...

I'm wondering if there's something he's not telling me,

like perhaps he wants to be self sustaining on this island??

Earlier this week he just planted 100 bananas!

(Maybe I should post our GPS location in case the land bridge mysteriously washes out!)

I know what your thinking....

REALLY?

A friend of mine told me to put some new things on my blog,

he's probably sorry now!

(Just so you know Jim, this doesn't get you out of stopping by!)

Ok, picture 1 (upper left corner) is a seed that the

indigenous people of Panama use as a hair brush.

Picture 2 (in the middle) is another seed that I just thought looked cool, the bowl it's in is more interesting however.  Dylan made it from a gourd he found here on the property!

Picture 3 (bottom right) is a cute seed, and that's all I know about it! It opened up like that right on the tree!

Orchid in bloom

The Japanese Lady's Slipper

Before and after kitchen cabinets.

I have completed the last BIG project for the interior of the house!

All I can say is thankfully the house is small!

Though it's taken nearly 5 months to come this far,

I can clean it in no time at all baby!

AMEN