Goals for 2009

Yes, it is a little late to be setting New Year's Resolutions but better late than never.  Here's the first six goals for 2009:

* Complete 10 receiving blankets each month to donate to the LDS Humanitarian effort.

*Start a small garden in my back yard and actually eat what grows in it. 

*Shop the weekly ads for good deals on canned food in an effort to obtain food storage items that I would actually eat. 

*Finish scrapbooking my 2006 trip to Italy and France.

*Learn how to publish my blog and get it done.

* Work on my genealogy.   Complete the application process for DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).

Plantation, Monkeys, and Sprat Net

After completing our final morning of diving, we ventured out to see a bit more of St. Kitts.  We arrived at Caribelle Batik, formerly Romney’s Plantation, just as it was closing.  BUMMER!  We drove up through the exit to get a quick glance at the beautiful gardens and their infamous 350 year old tree.  

The plantation’s grounds were gorgeous and we even saw a few monkeys as we left. 

 

Aren’t they cute??  We actually spotted quite a few of them on the road to the Fortress just before 5:00.   Don’t you wish I could bring one home to you??

On the drive back to the hotel, we stopped to have dinner at Sprat Net.  It was an outdoor restaurant with a fun atmosphere.  We watched the sunset over the Caribbean and enjoyed some of the local flavors.  The views were absolutely incredible.  

A few attempts to capture fish

Day Four: Cold Water Diving’s NOT FOR ME

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY….Come again in five days

 

Another day of rain and cold in St. Kitts.   I am wondering if those enduring the snow at home sent the cold front our way.   The  water temperature is around 76 degrees and the air temperature has been around 72 and then you have to add the wind chill to that.   As soon as we surfaced after the first dive, we were ready to get back into the water to get warm.  I took the towel and wrapped it around my head to try and stay warm.  When we got to the car we actually turned on the heat.   And no one can say its a girl thing because all the men felt the same way. 

Kelly and my mom hadn’t left the room due to the sudden downpours and cold winds.  Tonight we are looking forward to dinner at Rock Lobster.  We’ve heard that they have good king crab and lobster which should keep everyone happy.  We will be thinking of you Nicole! 

TEETH CHATTERING DIVES

 

 

A chilly day underwater

We started the day a bit earlier with a two tank dive trip with Pro Divers.   Unfortunately, the visibility was poor and the water seemed freezing to me even with my full wet suit.  The dives weren’t the best but we still had a good time. 

FYI- Bushling’s and Tucker’s: my friend Jermaine was in a car accident about ten days ago and broke his arm.  He won’t be working with Austin for a few months but dropped by to say hello. 

Here’s a few pictures that highlight the dives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took a serious nap this afternoon consisting of three hours.  It was lovely.  I also finished reading the Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck.    Its pretty depressing for the first 3/4 of the book but ends with an uplifting message.  Tonight I am going to start another book that has been sitting on my nightstand for months…..because I am more addicted to sudoku than anything else.    

Island Tour of St. Kitts

It is Sunday here and we are serious slackers.  We had planned to attend church this morning to pay the missionaries back but slept through until 11:00.  What’s crazy is we went to bed at 8:00 last night.  We got lots of sleep but we must have needed it.  We started the day with a  wild ride around the island.  My dad gets better each time he drives on the left side of the road but it still scares the rest of us.  Our first stop was the Brimstone Hill Fortress.  It is a fort built by the British in the 17^th century.  It wasn’t wheelchair accessible but Mom and Dad made the hike to see it.  Kelly and I watched a little movie about it and walked around the portion that was accessible.  Kelly said it reminded her of the architecture of the castles we saw in Great Britain.  We bought some guava juice to try but Kelly turned her noise up at it after one sip. The second stop was down by port where the cruise ship dock.  We did a bit of shopping.  My dad flirted and teased all the Indian women working the stores.  Pirana Joe’s provided for a fun photo shoot.

Then we drove out to Turtle Beach to see the big pig and monkey.  The monkey was cuddled up in his cage by a goat asleep so no such luck holding it.  On the drive back we stopped at a lookout point.  From here you can see  views of  both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Ocean.  We unloaded Kelly for a photo opportunity and there was a man with a monkey.  Kelly got to hold the monkey and was convinced she smelled like a wet dog afterwards.

Dinner was had at an Italian restaurant called PJ’s.  We all ordered something different and tried each others.  Now we are back at the hotel and Kelly’s getting the wet dog smell rinsed off her body in the shower.