Black and White Wednesday

Here we are in Compass Cay sitting out "The Weather Event of the Season".  Lashing rains and winds gusting to 35 knots are our excuse for keeping a low profile for a few days.  I am deep into the realm of dragons, shape shifters and royal wars, a la George R. Martins "A Song of Ice and Fire".  Book Three of the four book series is a real page turner.  The Captain has decided that Pina Coladas every night before dinner are now banned from our routine.  HIS girth has expanded noticeably this trip.  We are not even going to discuss mine. 

 And so, we come to Black and White Wednesday once again.  Mrs. Claus at Like Christmas Everyday is playing host to a weekly photo contest.  Come along and join the fun.  Funny how a picture can sometimes stand alone when we remove the colour and sometimes, a picture is nothing when you take the colour away.  B&W shows a good picture for what it is without distractions.

Last week, my propeller got an honourable mention.  Let's see what the judges think of this week's offering: "Ghost".

This first shot is my entry.  I like the billowing clouds in the background, highlighting the main subject of the relic boat.  

Here are some other angles and more details.

This one has neat contrast between the rusting hull and the lumpy rope netting.

Check the three port holes midships and the booms at odd angles.

It looks like the set of a Rod Sterling Twilight Zone episode for sure.

Highborne Cay

Here we are in Highborne Cay once more, with new visitors.  We love showing off "our islands" to friends who come to share this idyllic piece of heaven with us.  It's all too good not to share!

Due to some heavy weather (rain and reduced visibility) we were three hours south of Nassau when we pulled into the marina.  This is where the Exumas begin for us.  We had entertained the notion of dropping the anchor in Allen's Cay for a lunch with the wild iguanas, but the weather put us off.

Since our trip last year, we have found many changes on Highborne.   The new plantings around the marina from last season have taken root and filled in very nicely.  The new pagodas and picnic tables are a nice addition, as are the new pathways to the small beach at the west end, nearest the marina.

These photos are now "enlargable" for your viewing pleasure.

On the three-mile beach on the Sound, there are five new beach umbrellas with thatched roofs--great!  Nelson is the same colour as the beach sand, making him hard to see.  He likes to hide in plain sight.

Now the marina owners have added a row of bikes for rent.  I like the orange one with the coaster brakes the best.  It has wide handle bars and a squishy seat.  I feel like I'm 10 years old on my first bike when I'm on that thing!

Brand, spanking new, the Restaurant, opened just mid-January.  Beautifully constructed and appointed, it commands a stellar view of the anchorage and the Bank beyond.  It sits on the hill behind the office, accessed by a pretty walkway and a stairway with multiple landings twisting up and up and up again.

I can't show you who was sitting at the table next to us, because we promised not to.  Let me just say, The Captain had his picture taken with one of the models from the bikini photo shoot for Southern Boating Magazine.  We promised not to blog or Facebook our photos until the magazine publishes theirs.  Boy was The Captain excited.  He has printed off a copy of him and THE DISH and has it mounted beside his computer.  Every once in a while, I catch him drooling over it.  Here is a pic of the two of us instead.
You will have to imagine the younger version,
in a VERY SMALL bikini,
on the beach,
under the palm trees.
Oh My!!!!

Isn't this pretty?  This is the view from the bottom of the steps to the Restaurant.

The marina is a nice one, clean, quiet and just the right size to feel friendly and cosy.

Things look really cool with the underwater lights after dark.

If you enlarge this photo, you will see the tiny crescent moon just over the tuna tower of the boat.

The dark blue hull of Steadfast is nicely accented by the blue lights from the boat to our stern.

After 14 years as Marina Manager, the ever-smiling Barbara is retiring this week!  How sad to see her go.  Still, the staff and crew she leaves behind have been well-groomed to fill her shoes.  JJ is one of the helpful and courteous dock hands that make us look good, pulling us close in opposing winds, cleating us fast and welcoming us "Home Again" each time we visit.

The little touches of whimsy here and there around the island help to make magic happen on a regular basis.  No wonder this is one of our favourite islands in the Exuma Chain.  Here's your open invitation to visit us and get in on the magic.  It's Better in the Bahamas!

Black and White Wednesday

Highbourne Cay has the neatest odds and ends in surprising places to catch the eye.  Here is an old propeller left by a bar-b-que pit near the marina.  It has taken on the rough pitting of salt erosion from years of sitting by the sea.  Once a useful tool, it has been relegated to a new post as decor.

Mrs. Claus has fun happening at Like Christmas Everyday. It's Black and White Wednesday.  Come join the fun.

Lent, Hair Cuts and Beggars.

Greetings, Fellow Bloggers!  

No matter where we are, what we are doing, or how we are feeling about things, life goes on relentlessly.  

  During this season of Lent, preparing for Easter and contemplating what God has done for me in His grace and mercy, I have been following a new web page, Relentless Act:s of Sacrifice, which stimulates thought, conversation and hopefully action, to make our world a better place thru individual sacrifice. 

 I am consciously making the effort to greet people I meet on the street, look them in the eye and acknowledge them as real people, with real lives, real problems, real joys.  Three days ago, I celebrated with a lady rejoicing at the birth of a new baby.  Yesterday, I commiserated with a man who is suffering the effects of a broken neck.  Today, I am listening to stories of depression and sorrow, without being judgmental.  

It seems to me people everywhere want to be seen, heard and acknowledged--affirmed.  I know that is what I want and look for.  When I tell my husband about a concern or problem, I am not necessarily asking him to make things better--I just want to be heard and to feel that he cares about my misery.

What does Lent mean to you?

Are you doing anything special to mark this season?

Here are some updates on recent activities aboard Steadfast.

Kristen is  "on Island" at Compass Cay from Germany.  She is a professional hair stylist and I really needed her services.  What a different kind of hair salon, right?

 I really missed the big mirrors.  Kristen kept cutting until there was hardly any hair left because I didn't see what was going on.  I would have told her to stop way before she did.  At least I won't need another hair cut 'til I get back home to Canada in a couple of months!!!!

Julissa, Kristen's daughter, made friends with Nelson while he waited for me to get beautified.

Nelson has discovered that portholes give him a new view of the galley.  Captain is a sucker for beggars  and regularly passes treats thru the window.

Bev, from Retired Sailor, marks sunset at Compass Cay, by blowing his conch horn.  A few years ago, I was adept at playing the first few bars of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" on a horn like this.  As with most things, if one doesn't keep in practice....   Just another life skill down the drain.  :)

Until next time, play safe and do your part to make the world a better place.

All That Glitters

Here we are, anchored in Big Majors Spot close to Staniel Cay.  This is my favourite part of the Bahamian experience:  gently rocking at anchor, enjoying the sea breezes, jumping off the back deck into the warm waters to swim.

Hey!  Look what's hanging out underneath my boat!!!!!!!

That's one BIG barracuda--almost 5 feet long.  He has HUGE eyes to catch sight of shiny objects which he thinks might be good to eat.  He has ENORMOUS teeth to shred his prey.  I definitely want to avoid being prey.

Look what I make sure to take off before I go swimming!!!

Hopefully, the small silver rings in my earlobes are too small and covered by my mask for him to see.

Good night all.  Sleep tight in your cradles/rocking berths.

Boating With Babes

Talk about "child-proofing" a house!  Here we are making the boat a safe place for a two year old.  With four pairs of eyes on him at all times (not counting Nelson's, who is watching for WAY different reasons) the kiddo isn't in much danger of anything short of being spoiled-to-death.  The kiddo is a happy child with winning ways.  He has wormed his way into our hearts BIG TIME.

Grandma Roe has big feet.

In the Ocean with Papa.

Being at the beach means playing ball with Nelson.  There is no getting away from it.  We have been trained.

In the dinghy

Helping Papa Buz drive the boat.

Wild Iguanas on Allen's Cay

After the beach, it's bath time on the back deck.

The five gallon "lookie bucket" is just the right size for our little visitor.  He has dubbed "bucket bath" his favourite part of his whole adventure.

Papa Buz got inventive before the little one arrived.  Look at this booster chair he made out of a plastic bucket.  (Buckets seem to be coming in handy this trip.)

Steadfast can now boast a third state room.  Papa Buz removed the forward shower door and built a bed for the Little One.  He has his own room!  Next year, when New Baby will be with us, Papa Buz has plans to put in a higher bunk that will be even longer (over the shower cupboard space) so two kiddos can share the space.  I wonder what Sabre Yachts would think of this new design????

Three more days to go before the Little One takes his parents home.  There will undoubtedly be more pictures to take and memories to store up.  What wonderful times it is when families can be together, growing in love and respect.