harvesting rainwater w/o blogee

The land surrounding our humble abode is not very fertile and because of the sloping terrain, any imported soil washes downhill with the slightest rain. Yesterday, with all that rain it was no different. I plant ornamentals and my sibling nearby, plant fruit trees. The deal is that I can get her surplus harvest and she can have bouquets whenever she want to.  Hours and hours are spent outdoors trying to create an oasis of natural beauty. It's a work in progress. Let me tell you about a rain habit I have that perhaps you can relate to.
My grandmother would always catch the run-off rainwater in a barrel or bucket when I was growing up and so now whenever it rains I put a bucket to catch any drops coming from the roof. If the cistern overflows then every pot or pan I own will be used to harvest the water; then I water the already satiated ground around the plants. Is that weird? Yesterday when I was filling up buckets and pans as the cistern ran over, Blogee, after a few trips in the drizzle behind me, decided to sit in the car port out of the rain, and watch my every move(strange because he is always underfoot tripping me up), that is when I realized even the dog thought my actions were weird and wanted no part of getting wet. Notwithstanding, blogee's disapproval of my rainwater  harvesting tradition, it will prevail.

driftwood from captains bay

Blogee enjoyed the car drive to Captains bay to get

 

driftwood for the orchids

quiet entertainment

One would think that being located in a cul-de-sac nothing interesting ever happens but this picture, taken from my verandah, captures a regular occurrence where vehicles trying to launch or pull up boats can get stuck at Sandy Hill bay. This of course provides merriment, however fleeting and at times great material for blog content. Meanwhile, Blogee entertains himself by trying to catch the big ground lizards that populate the environs. There is never a dull moment here.

blogger and blogee

It’s time that blogger and blogee shared some titbits about themselves. Therefore, for the remainder of this week the daily posts will give you a wee glance into the personal but otherwise lackluster exploits of the two. Starting with where we live. Surrounded with lots of bushes and shrubs we reside in a humble abode (Chateau de Auhawi) of modest means, off the main road then left onto a secondary road more like an easement, turning onto a winding path (pictured below) that stops at a dead-end. There is only one way out by vehicular traffic. We are bound to the front(sea side) with an american Caucasian female and to the east and south by siblings the west is an undeveloped lot owned by a local businessman. The environment lends itself to quiet solitude broken only by the sounds of waves breaking on the surf. Sometimes when a vehicle has loud amplified noise you can't help but hear it; but otherwise its tranquil, Save for lizards and mosquitoes visitors are rare, no one just pops in. The peaceful atmosphere is conducive to creativity and great for blogee and blogger.

Aundon



Mervwyn Ralph, a certified public accountant by profession, is retired and lives in California. In the United States of America, the retirement age is 62. Last week he celebrated two years being retired. Pictured here he shares a tender moment with his only grandchild Aundon Cade.  Thousands of people retire everyday in the US but what is so special about this retiree to cause the spotlight on this Caribbean brother Mervwyn, is his unconventional after retirement occupation, Rather than seek employment, notwithstanding several offers to work, he selflessly decided to devote all his time to his grandson, Thus freeing up Aundon's parents to do whatever they do. He literally became an au pair. Grandpa takes him to school and picks him up daily. Goes to all the school events and league practice and games, the after school activities and teaches him life lessons. The parents are overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciates the dedication. The bonding between grandfather and grandson is invaluable.  For you to truly understand the magnitude of this sacrifice it must be viewed  holistically and relative to the existing fast-paced, costly  Los Angeles area. This is a non-traditional perk that retirement allows one that you may wish to embrace, like Merwyn and Aundon.

someone else' introspective

As I've aged, I've become kinder to, and less critical of, myself. I've become my own friend.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon;  before they understood the great freedom that comes with  aging.

 

Whose business is it if I choose to read, or play on the  computer until 4 AM?  I will dance with myself to  those wonderful tunes of the 60s & 70s, and if I, at the same  time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

 

 I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a  bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with abandon, if I choose to,  despite the pitying glances from the jet set.  They, too, will get  old.

 I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life  is just as well forgotten. And, eventually, we remember the important  things.

 Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your  heart not break, when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or  even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are  what give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never  broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know the joy of being  imperfect.

 I am so  blessed to have lived enough to have my hair  turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and too many have died before their hair could turn silver.

 As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less  about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore.  I've  even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being older. It has set me  free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but  while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have  been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single  day (if I feel like it). excerpt from a msg adapted and reprinted.

boca raton

Today Leeandah leaves for Boca Raton, Florida USA. I know this because yesterday when he came with my godson to deliver 3 boulders that I wanted to adorn my humble abode, he told me.  My knowledge of him was as a happy drunk that had retired years prior, who was kind and helpful. He looked his usual self, dishevelled, unshaven a little in the cups with bloodshot eyes. I was curious so I asked what he did in Boca Raton, so he gave me the whole story. His paramour resides there and he goes to bang her 5 times a day, but  now with all that activity he's down to 3 times a day. What a life, what a perfect retirement occupation. We all, though happy for him, can't help but be  a little envious of his setup. Being a BOTC, his visa waiver allows him to stay in the US 3 months at a time and so he would return to Anguilla after 3 months, stay a month and return to Boca Raton. It was 20+ years ago when an American tourist visiting Anguilla with her spouse met and fell in love with Leeandah, returned without her husband soon after and they commenced a romantic liaison, Since retirement it became more convenient to have him fly to Boca Raton. So today he travels sober, well-shaven, closed up shoes, looking dapper in his shirt-jack and a big grin on his face to board American Airlines at 2:30pm bound for Miami from SXM to be with his paramour.  Retirement does have its perks in all sort of creative forms, find one that suits your taste.

Leeandah see ya in 3 months