Glenda's Prize-winning Eco-friendly Creation

We discovered 'Glenda's African Gems' recently when we were told we could find beads in her place of business, which can be seen from our veranda. The only "beads" she had were one string each of red and green--the Christmas-tree-decoration kind. But this glittery little number caught our eye. Glenda designed and made it from all natural materials, i.e., wooden clothes pins, wood shavings, tooth picks and woven beach mats, held together with Elmer's Glue (no hot glue gun here) and embellished with lots of gold glitter. It won first prize! She also made a matching hat, . . . . fan, . . .

. . . . . . . . . . and ear-rings!

Man w/Machette Meets Mango

Remember Gladys Cravitts? We now know why she spent so much time at her window! Many interesting sights can be seen from there. Case in point . . . When an old mango tree needs attention, a brave soul can be found H.I.G.H. above the ground with his trusty machette--no shoes, no safety device of any kind, but more guts than Cudahy, hacking off the limb on which he is standing.

And thanks to that brave soul we now have a better ocean view.

Many blessings--Much for which to be THANKFUL!

Good food! Good friends!

No quality is better than Swiss quality!

Mimi the cat . . . . .

. . . and Lucky the dog . . .

. . . were polite pets that didn't end up in the oven like this old bird . . .

Thanksgiving " table is spread with blessings unmeasured" . . . . .

. . . our "cap" runneth o'er! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

Happenings in and around our house . . .

Jedidiah Morancie was still Wednesday afternoon only long enough to take this picture. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but 'Jedi' escaped with his life. . . just barely! Vanessa and Faith were happy to make Rice Crispy Treats with chocolate chips on top to take home and share with their families.

Lots of rain in Roseau lately, which could make life miserable if your roof leaks. We're quite certain the tenants in this house across the street got wet before someone finally came to repair the roof. Some men work hard under the scorching sun . . . . .

. . . . and some just supervise from the shade!

Splendor of the Sea

After the rain finally stopped Friday afternoon, we stepped outside on the veranda to take a picture of the sun beginning to set beyond Royal Caribbean's "Spendlor of the Sea". . . .. . . . and we knew the Mormon couple we met Friday morning inside an interesting and strange little shop that sells everything under the son was on that ship, leaving Dominica to return to their home in Highland, Utah.

Faith Morancie

Faith turned twelve in October. She lives with her family in Yam Piece. She loves to cook. She also loves chocolate chips and to eat what's left in the mixing bowl. We made chocolate-chip oatmeal bar cookies and tried a new recipe for lunch--Biscuit Cups. (Had the editor not deleted a picture, you could have seen the biscuit cups filled with taco-fixin's and the guest at the table.)

Eventually we got to the real business of the day--music beat patterns.

5-Masted Schooner

We now have an "ocean-view" apartment. (Recenty-passing hurricane must have been our friend when it stripped some branches from the big mango tree across the street.) If you look carefully between the poles and wires from our veranda you might be able to see a big 5-masted schooner . . . . . . . . . before it sails beyond the sea.

Two Stops on Dominica's National Day of Service

Thirteen-year-old Emmanuel and his promised belated birthday "black-black-black cake with raisins and NO ICING."Eight-year-old Roger Kelvin Labad's "hot tea" burn.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship with no passengers of importance!

Royal Caribbean's 'Jewel of the Sea' was full of all the wrong people! . . . Cary and Chelli weren't on it . . . . and "this little piggy" photographer "cried" all the way home!

El Morro - Ancient Fortress at San Juan, Puerto Rico

If "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," the same must be true of senior missionaries. Elder Dean & Sister Myrtle Hadlock, North Ogden, UT, and Sister Marilyn & Elder Leon Button, Mesa, AZ, appreciated an opportunity to visit beautiful Old El Morro, an ancient fortress that had its beginning in 1539.

Heavy cannons were once-upon-a-time rolled up this ramp where the Hadlocks stand in their semi-informal missionary attire.

The beautiful blue-green water of the Caribbean Sea can be seen from high atop the stone walls of "Fort San Filipe del Morro."

On the small island in the distance was once built another fortress from which cannons could be fired to catch the enemy in a crossfire.

A group of oldies but goodies . . . . with a young mission president and his wife.

One really must sense for themself to fully appreciate the sights, sounds and smells!

Old light-house built in 1843 was rebuilt in 1908 by the US Navy.After many hours of training, a visit to El Morro, and a delicious Puerto Rican dinner, Friday ended with a night street meeting. Then it was time to hurry off to prepare for another long day and jump into bed. Only thing more blurry than this picture are the missionaries' eyes!

Friday-Saturday Sessions at Mission Office

How hard was it for President Alvarado to get old people to "think outside the box"? . . .

How cold was it in the mission office training room? Cold enough for Elder Case . . .

. . . and Elder Hadlock to wear Sister Galan's shawls! Charming, don't ya think?

Jorge Alvarado was the only one wise enough to cover up and go to sleep!

Sunday Sessions at Mission Home

Senior missionaries attended church services in the only English-speaking ward in San Juan. Sunday afternoon and evening sessions were held at the mission home. Some were lucky enough to get soft seats!

During lunch we finally SAW in Sister Button's hand the source of the "squeaky gate" night sounds of the Caribbean--the tiny CO-KIE (KoKee) frog. [Do you know why this one sat so still while his picture was taken? YUP! You're right!! "He don't move no more."]

Area Authority 70 Elder Martinez (second from left) came from the Dominican Republic to give encouragement and counsel to senior missionaries serving in the PRSJ Mission.

Final testimony session began late afternoon on the patio of the mission home but ended waaaaaaaaaaay after dark! Too late for old people . . . .

Again, some were lucky enough to get soft seats.

Eighty-one year old Elder Ramirez, who resides in Bountiful, is serving his second mission with his wife, who also served a mission as a young woman. We don't know whether or not he served as a young man. According to President Zayas, he and Elder Ramirez are "guapo"!

Galans' Residence at Dorado Beach

Waldo and Cay Galan provided comfortable 'digs' for the Cases and Hadlocks during our Senior Conference in San Juan Puerto Rico. President Galan grilled pork chops and steaks for a late dinner Monday night. "Shotsi & Heidi" are the only two Galan 'children' still at home. Elder Vickery (hidden behind Sister Vickery) serves as Executive Secretary in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. Galans reside in a rented home at the Dorado Beach Country Club where can be seen . . . . . black swan . . .

. . . white crane . . .

. . . multi-million dollar homes . . .

. . . beautiful trees . . . . and grassy greens.