Hola!
Scott and Donna have arrived...and have left. We had a fantastic visit with them and kept incredibly busy.
We spent our time walking Sosua Beach, drinking cold beverages on Cabarete Beach, sitting on the beach (with cold beverages) at Playa Grande, feeding the monkeys at the Monkey Jungle, dinners out, time at the Jolly Roger, and a day trip to Santiago.
So, Santiago was an awesome trip. We had a great Dominican driver (Wilson)who took us to some great shopping spots. I would NEVER drive in Santiago...those people are friggin nuts on the road! What should be a two lane road is usually a minimum of four lanes...and sometimes that is going in both directions.
Thank you to the young man who stripped in front of the tire store to change his pants after work. Not sure why he couldn't do it inside but found it necessary to show the world what his mamma gave him. We certainly didn't enjoy your show.
THEY HAVE MCDONALDS IN SANTIAGO!!!!! Although I didn't get a chance to have a Big Mac (but I can if I want to!!!!!!), I now know that I will be okay in the Dominican Republic. Life is good!
As usual, it has been hot and dry. We are almost ready to do the native rain dance. We have noticed that the grass everywhere is turning brown. We've seen the Sosua Fire Department putting out grass fires so I guess that means I can't light any fires until we get some rain. I don't want them blaming me for anything...hehe
So, we are nearing the end of our fourth month...as they say, time flies when you are having fun. The days are rushing by so quickly. Do we regret leaving Canada...NO...we do miss our family and friends but unless circumstances would dictate otherwise, I can't see us returning to Canada. We have been fortunate to have three of our six children visit and look forward to the day when the other three can come and see us.
Adios until my next blog.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Poker Run (Exercise in Beer Drinking and Walking at the Same Time)
Hot and dry...that's about all I can say about the weather. Trees are getting stressed...grass is turning very brown...and NO, I have not started any fires lately although I have looked once or twice at the fire pit I have built. However, until we get some significant rain, I won't play with matches.
We have been painting, painting, and painting some more. Just two bedrooms and two bathrooms to go and the entire inside of the house is finished! I am quite pleased with the results but my shoulders and knees are protesting somewhat violently. We have some lovely colours...mango, light olive green, dark olive green and a burned orange (no, not as a result of fire).
I stopped by the tree nursery last week and picked up a couple of new items...some DR type of fruit tree...don't know what it is but it is quite an interesting plant...and another shrub type thing. We're working on a privacy fence of plants. I'm having an urge to wander through some vacant areas and see what I can forage for free.
Anyone want some bananas? I have frozen bananas, banana bread, banana muffins and more bananas hanging in the carport until I can either give them away, feed them to the dogs, or make something else with them. The really sad part is I have another stalk of bananas almost ready to cut down. After those ones are done, it will be a good six months before we start all over again. Like an idiot, I planted two more banana trees..now those have a very long way to go before I have to worry about fruit!
On Saturday, we attended a charity event in town. What a riot! It was a poker run. Well, actually it was a polker walk to eight different bars in town. Good thing it was hot out...helped burn off some of the alcohol we consumed.
At each bar, we had an activity to complete before we received our card. There was pole dancing (well actually you had to climb a pole and ring a bell but it sounds funnier when you say pole dancing). Most people enjoyed that activity to its fullest.
At the Burrito Hut, you had a choice of activities..you could do a mexican hat dance or strap on a rather large carrot and dip it into a water bottle. Needless to say, all the women dipped the carrot while for some reason, the men danced.
There was a hard boiled egg race, a card game, golf putting (which facinated most of the locals on the beach), and beer pong. The best one to watch was an activity that I can't come up with a good name. You had to squeeze a 25 peso coin in the cheeks of your butt and shuffle about five feet, turn around and drop the coin into a small silver bucket. The funniest one I watched was one of our team members stuff toilet paper first and then the coin.
Ross also participated in the kareoke. He was actually pretty good at it.
No, we didn't take any pictures as what happens during an event like this remains burned in our memories...
We didn't win any of the major prizes but did win one...a show pass at dolphin world. So, some night when we are bored, we will head to Puerto Plata and take in that show.
So, Saleen (previously the un-named cat) went to be spayed on Friday. There were some volunteer vets in town and for a donation, they were spaying and neutering cats and dogs. I watched the entire proceedure which was quite interesting. Poor kitty didn't have such a good evening. She was pretty doped up. Do you know how funny it is to watch a cat try and walk leaning to one side? And, they shouldn't try and jump...they just face plant into the floor. The method that was used allowed for a very quick recovery and she is back to normal.
Saleen brought a live snake into the house. Ross killed it with a machete. I can handle the frogs and lizards but I friggin HATE snakes. Enough said.
Scott and Donna arrive next week for a much anticipated visit. We will have to make sure all the spiders and other creepy things are out of the house before their arrival. I hear tell that Scott doesn't like spiders...neither do I!!
We have been painting, painting, and painting some more. Just two bedrooms and two bathrooms to go and the entire inside of the house is finished! I am quite pleased with the results but my shoulders and knees are protesting somewhat violently. We have some lovely colours...mango, light olive green, dark olive green and a burned orange (no, not as a result of fire).
I stopped by the tree nursery last week and picked up a couple of new items...some DR type of fruit tree...don't know what it is but it is quite an interesting plant...and another shrub type thing. We're working on a privacy fence of plants. I'm having an urge to wander through some vacant areas and see what I can forage for free.
Anyone want some bananas? I have frozen bananas, banana bread, banana muffins and more bananas hanging in the carport until I can either give them away, feed them to the dogs, or make something else with them. The really sad part is I have another stalk of bananas almost ready to cut down. After those ones are done, it will be a good six months before we start all over again. Like an idiot, I planted two more banana trees..now those have a very long way to go before I have to worry about fruit!
On Saturday, we attended a charity event in town. What a riot! It was a poker run. Well, actually it was a polker walk to eight different bars in town. Good thing it was hot out...helped burn off some of the alcohol we consumed.
At each bar, we had an activity to complete before we received our card. There was pole dancing (well actually you had to climb a pole and ring a bell but it sounds funnier when you say pole dancing). Most people enjoyed that activity to its fullest.
At the Burrito Hut, you had a choice of activities..you could do a mexican hat dance or strap on a rather large carrot and dip it into a water bottle. Needless to say, all the women dipped the carrot while for some reason, the men danced.
There was a hard boiled egg race, a card game, golf putting (which facinated most of the locals on the beach), and beer pong. The best one to watch was an activity that I can't come up with a good name. You had to squeeze a 25 peso coin in the cheeks of your butt and shuffle about five feet, turn around and drop the coin into a small silver bucket. The funniest one I watched was one of our team members stuff toilet paper first and then the coin.
Ross also participated in the kareoke. He was actually pretty good at it.
No, we didn't take any pictures as what happens during an event like this remains burned in our memories...
We didn't win any of the major prizes but did win one...a show pass at dolphin world. So, some night when we are bored, we will head to Puerto Plata and take in that show.
So, Saleen (previously the un-named cat) went to be spayed on Friday. There were some volunteer vets in town and for a donation, they were spaying and neutering cats and dogs. I watched the entire proceedure which was quite interesting. Poor kitty didn't have such a good evening. She was pretty doped up. Do you know how funny it is to watch a cat try and walk leaning to one side? And, they shouldn't try and jump...they just face plant into the floor. The method that was used allowed for a very quick recovery and she is back to normal.
Saleen brought a live snake into the house. Ross killed it with a machete. I can handle the frogs and lizards but I friggin HATE snakes. Enough said.
Scott and Donna arrive next week for a much anticipated visit. We will have to make sure all the spiders and other creepy things are out of the house before their arrival. I hear tell that Scott doesn't like spiders...neither do I!!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Painting
Wow - we had a fantastic visit with Hailey. Unfortunately, the week went SO quick and she's gone home already.
We did some touring of the North Coast with Hailey and drove east along the coast. Stopped in Rio San Juan and went as far as Cabrera. Found some fantastic beaches. Ross also found a giant pot hole which just about ripped off the front tire of the car. We were a little nervous to see if it would still hold air...LOL We also stopped in Gaspar Hernandez where Ross found a cute little jean shop and Hailey picked up some nice jeans for about $18 US a pair...thought it was a steal! Ross is becoming a shopping guru!
So, we have been very, very busy painting. We decided the sterile white of our house was a little more than we could stand. Way too institutional looking. Mango has been our colour of choice thus far. Has a very warm, tropical look to it. We painted Hailey's room mango and blue. Hung the curtains that A'Mayra made and they look great. Hailey also found a fantastic painting to match her room. Now all she needs is furniture!
We decided to keep the mango theme going and painted the kitchen mango as well. Wow - what a dramatic difference in the feeling of the kitchen. It works well with the woodwork as well as the stainless steel.
Then, we decided mango would be a good start to the diningroom/family room. Ross decided that highlights of rust would give it a warm feeling. I was a little unsure at the beginning but now that the room is finished, I absolutely love it. Pictures have been posted on Facebook for anyone who cares to take a peek.
Our next major painting will be in the "formal" livingroom. We haven't decided on the final colours but are tossing around orange/sand.
Jack and Shelby have both had recent haircuts. Jack looks a little odd as I had the wrong blade on the razer when I started. He may need a little sunscreen on his neck or at least a small sombrero for a few weeks.
Had some sad news this week. An uncle passed away after having a heart attack. Sure would have been nice to visit with some of my dad's family that I haven't seen in many years.
Looking forward to Donna and Scott arriving in late March for a one week visit. Can't wait to show them around!
So, to all our "northern" friends...hi and we miss you...suck it up and shovel. Spring should arrive in May.
We did some touring of the North Coast with Hailey and drove east along the coast. Stopped in Rio San Juan and went as far as Cabrera. Found some fantastic beaches. Ross also found a giant pot hole which just about ripped off the front tire of the car. We were a little nervous to see if it would still hold air...LOL We also stopped in Gaspar Hernandez where Ross found a cute little jean shop and Hailey picked up some nice jeans for about $18 US a pair...thought it was a steal! Ross is becoming a shopping guru!
So, we have been very, very busy painting. We decided the sterile white of our house was a little more than we could stand. Way too institutional looking. Mango has been our colour of choice thus far. Has a very warm, tropical look to it. We painted Hailey's room mango and blue. Hung the curtains that A'Mayra made and they look great. Hailey also found a fantastic painting to match her room. Now all she needs is furniture!
We decided to keep the mango theme going and painted the kitchen mango as well. Wow - what a dramatic difference in the feeling of the kitchen. It works well with the woodwork as well as the stainless steel.
Then, we decided mango would be a good start to the diningroom/family room. Ross decided that highlights of rust would give it a warm feeling. I was a little unsure at the beginning but now that the room is finished, I absolutely love it. Pictures have been posted on Facebook for anyone who cares to take a peek.
Our next major painting will be in the "formal" livingroom. We haven't decided on the final colours but are tossing around orange/sand.
Jack and Shelby have both had recent haircuts. Jack looks a little odd as I had the wrong blade on the razer when I started. He may need a little sunscreen on his neck or at least a small sombrero for a few weeks.
Had some sad news this week. An uncle passed away after having a heart attack. Sure would have been nice to visit with some of my dad's family that I haven't seen in many years.
Looking forward to Donna and Scott arriving in late March for a one week visit. Can't wait to show them around!
So, to all our "northern" friends...hi and we miss you...suck it up and shovel. Spring should arrive in May.
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