Moon-set at Sunrise & Rainbow

Just cuz . . .

Hadlock's Culture Frocks & Goodbye to Kristy, Taylor and Tyler Cook

Tyler and Taylor Cook came to Roseau with their mother to have their teeth cleaned and one last visit to the Old Market for a souvenir and a Ritual's chiller. Having left home at 6:00 a.m. without breakfast in order to catch a transport, they were grateful for a bite to eat.

The strange-looking dead tree roots still clinging to a stone wall . .

. . . and an old mill wheel make interesting backdrops for pictures taken on the Ross University campus in Portsmouth, Dominica.

Kristy, Taylor and Tyler will reluctantly leave President Cook to his studies and return to Idaho to live with President Cook's parents Tuesday 26 October 2010.

Pre-Independence Day Scout Parade

Hope you'll enjoy the pre-Independence Day Scout Parade from beginning . . . .

. . . . . to end!!!

Pre-Independence Day Activities

Dominica Independence Day is actually October 29th but Dominicans love to celebrate! Friday, Oct. 22, students gathered in the "stadium" in Roseau to sit in the hot sun and listen to long, boring speeches by government and education officials who loudly and proudly patted themselves on the back for the great job they're doing to educate the "future of Dominica!" Can you see the "winding roads of Dominica" being formed by this "precision marching group"???? Neither could we! Nor could we see the "mountain peaks" or the letters "D and A"!

This group of Portsmouth students performed a cultural dance . . .

. . . and these gymnast-students proudly displayed a large Dominican flag.

Emerald Pool

There is COOL water in this beautiful Emerald Pool in the rain forest near Dominica's Layou Valley. Although this picture is out of sequence, the other pictures of our P-day excursion are self-explanatory.

Bwa Bante; Nora's House; Tony's House

Bwa Bante -- "Nature's Viagra."Nora Walthers had this little house built when she first moved from Switzerland to Dominica. She sold it without ever having slept even one night there.

Eight years ago Anthony "Tony" George drew the plans and built this house in Sylvania for his family.

Sights from a Saturday-morning Stroll

Pink Crocs are always in fashion. . . . . YELLOW hand-painted trucks and T-shirts as well! . . . . Mabel, Mabel, are you able? You never know what these pallet-parts might be used for or who might be able to use them! Waste not! Want not!!

Sleeping like a rock . . .

Some people sleep later than others. Some people sleep like a rock. And, some people complain even though they have a mattress to sleep on!

Our Vegetable and Flower Garden

Yes, Eric, we have parsley growing in our garden! We also have a struggling bell pepper and two tomato plants, which we hope, hope, hope will produce! The man you see at the other end of the backyard garden isn't the gardener--he's the maintenance man.

Mabel, Mabel By the Sea

Mabel lives with her cat in this fisherman's warehouse by the sea. She has nothing of worldly value but is always happy! "HAPPY MORNING! HAPPY MORNING TO YOU!" is her cheerful greeting each time we can get her attention. Mabel is almost deaf but seems able to read lips. Saturday she went to the market and bought "spice" for Sister Hadlock, from which she insisted Sister Hadlock make tea . . . both morning and night for her "husband!" She did! Saturday night we both enjoyed cinnamon tea with a splash of fresh lime juice and "brown sugar--NO WHITE SUGAR, you hear me!" Mabel can be found each morning carrying water from the public pipe or playing Solitaire Dominoes inside the warehouse where it's stifling hot but shady any afternoon. Mabel has a cat she wanted to give the Hadlocks but she seemed to understand when Sister Hadlock told her 'the husband' is allergic.

Sister Cooper's Accra

Sister Cooper is a great cook. She has introduced us to many new and exciting Caribbean foods. Tuesday she brought us a bowlful of these pancake-like 'things' called Accra (or Acra, "like the temple in Ghana" she said) which are made from flour, seasonings and teeny-tiny fish called Ti-ti-ri, and fried in oil. They taste OK but the thought of eating those little fish--eyes, bones and all--led us to SHARE one and "save the others for later." (Click the picture and you'll see the eyes!)

Marcus

October 6th is Marcus's birthday. HAPPY 32nd BIRTHDAY, MARCUS! He was DELIGHTED with small gifts--lime-slush, bottle of Sprite, banana nut cake and a print of this picture, probably the first he's ever had. With a sincere "TONKS" he took it home to put it in a frame. Marcus is hard-working, as evidenced by the cement on his hands. He has washed and cleaned the Santa Fe in the past and brought us beautiful tropical plants in various and sundry pots, for very reasonable fees, to beautify the upstair's stairway. We love and respect Marcus and hope one day he'll heed our counsel to give up cigarettes.

Terry Walsh & Uncle Reginald

Thirteen-year-old Terry Walsh wants to be baptized "so he can be like his uncle." He came to the house Wednesday for his first lesson, where the senior sister missionaries discovered he already knows how to pray, and to watch General Conference Saturday. His second lesson is scheduled for Tuesday.

Fresh Fish

Friday afternoon this "fishmonger" announced by the familiar conch bugle as he passed by that he had fresh fish for sale, which he would happily deliver almost to your door. Then he continued . . . . . . . . up the street and out of sight.