As we approach the end of our time here at Casa Alegria it occurs to me that I should post a final report.

We have enjoyed house sitting here.  It was especially fun to have Carol and Frank visit with us.  And having a car available made all the difference as to sampling so many great lunches at various restaurants.  The pool has been delightful and when we are alone and I am quite sure no one is coming over I have been known to go skinny dipping.  74 years old and this is my first skinny dipping experience.  Kind of wish I'd done it sooner when my body was in better shape and I didn't have to creep, fully covered, to the swimming pool's edge and look furtively around once more to make sure there was no one in sight before going into the water.  I have learned one interesting fact though.  Fat floats.  And even at 74 some fat filled parts can take on an unaccustomed perkiness while unencumbered in the pool. And that's all I'll say about that!

The animals have been fun.  And especially so since our travel schedule does not allow us to have pets. The orange cat, Ruby, remains aloof although she occasionally, and grudgingly, allows a small amount of stroking on her back.  The fluffy and mischievous Tiki delights in pouncing on me at unexpected moments (usually while I am asleep) at which time she declares her affection by sharpening her claws on thinly covered or unprotected parts of my anatomy.  Because it is such an affectionate gesture I grit my teeth and bear it, for a while.  She like to nap in various baskets some of them far to small to be comfortable and requiring much maneuvering to finally settle in.  And she can not be trusted with open cupboard doors.

Blackie is a sweetheart.  One would hardly expect it at first meeting (and maybe even 2nd and 3rd)  She is fiercely protective but once you come under her  protection and one of her accepted people she becomes your best friend.  She guards the house (and the furniture - just let one of the cats start to sharpen claws and she is immediately there with a reprimand.) She loves to dig for crabs on the beach and one night I woke to find her tossing a rather large one in the air in the bedroom.  I was concerned that she might manage to toss it in the bedwith me  but Les got it outside before that could happen.  She likes to catch other critters as well and for several days we kept smelling something dead in the bedroom.  I checked and Lester and I were still alive so it wasn't us.  Finally we found a dead lizard in her bed next to the wall where she was obviously enjoying the tantalizing aroma!

Yes, it has been another grand adventure in our already much blessed life.  A big thank you to Jon and Cathy for allowing us to stay here.  I wonder, what next?