Friday, October 22, 2010

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.




Wednesday, October 20, 2010

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.




Saturday, October 16, 2010

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.




Tuesday, October 12, 2010

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.