Well, shame on me!  My last post was at Christmas!  Guess I'd better get busy and get in a few more reports before it is time to go home.

One problem was that my computer was on the fritz.  All of a sudden a portion of the keyboard was frozen and it is very difficult to find words that do not contain e,r,t,d,f,g,h,c,v,b,and n.  And then, since the space bar also did not work, what few words you might be able to make would all be run together. Example- sixisquizjoy.  Not only is that hard to read but it doesn't make any sense and certainly does not pertain to nor describe our adventures here in Belize.  But that is still no excuse.

Anyway, the quick trip back to Northern California to take care of business enabled me to take the computer in for repairs and for only $71.00 I again have the use of all of those letters plus the space bar.  The time in Live Oak was busy but well spent.  Went through mail, paid bills ahead again for next three months, closed out Mr.S. books, did taxes, went to Dr.appt and Eye appt and renewed drivers license (missed one on written test), and was able to spend precious moments in between chores with friends and family. Main focus- Grandchildren!!

But I was ready to return to Belize and had a wonderful homecoming when I arrived.  Lester at the airport with golf cart taxi waiting!  Brought my friend, Lee, and her son back with me.  They are renting #3 house in front of us for the month.  Lee and I have already made a trip out to south end by my property to take a yoga class, eaten dinner at the Wish Willy, and are making plans for Habaneros and the ultimate in fine dining, their Brazilian Pork Chops! They have taken the Lamini (Mayan Ruins) trip today and probably in a couple of days we will don our bullet proof vests and venture into Belize City to visit the museum, the culture center and the farmers market. Oh yes, and we did go out snorkeling which consisted of Lee and I bobbing about in somewhat choppy water and finally climbing back in the boat to have a nice visit while the other two passengers went off with the guide.  (I really could not see the guide managing two flailing women while trying to take the other two on a tour.)  But the sun was warm, the water was beautiful and it was worth the trip just to be out next to the reef!

I'm in a cooking mood so today will be making a curried shrimp and vegetable dish for dinner and chili for tomorrow.  A local lady makes the best flour tortillas so will pick those up to have with the chili.  At the same time I am going to experiment with making an earthquake cake (recipe from neighbor Mary in Panama) in that little round express cooker that I use to bake corn bread, etc. It will only make about a third of a cake. We'll see how that works out.

And finally, one of the best things about Belize and especially Caye Caulker is the local children.  Besides being so very beautiful and sweet, they play outside at all the old games I played as a child.  hide and seek, marbles , rolling tires down the road, building things in the sand and dirt.  Very simple entertainments.  Brings back good memories to watch them.  Of course, soccer is very popular and living by the soccer field, as we do, gives us the chance to see what talented, agile and determined ball players they are.  And they start young.  You hear very little crying or whining here and on the rare occasion that you do, you'll probably look around and find it is coming from a tourist kid.  Children wear white shirts and blue shorts or skirts to school and most ride bicycles, often older siblings with the younger ones on the handlebars.  They are extremely well groomed.  The families seem to take great pride in their young ones being well dressed and  tidy.  A local once told me some years ago that the children here belong to everyone and everyone watches out for them.  This has proved to be so very true.

More later.....