Monday, March 10, 2014

Aguacate Lagoon

Aguacate Lagoon
 

Just about 20 minutes beyond the community that we live in lies this remote park and lagoon. It had been a year and a half since our last visit.. and all those white caliche roads look the same to us Gringos! Finally, we spotted the little oasis off in the distance and knew we were on the right track!


The girls enjoyed this swingset

 


The little ladies, Mandy and I had (too much!) fun swinging! "-)

The boys enjoyed fishing off of the lovely wooden dock

 

Ash and Daddy visit in the cabana


First Belizean catch! Grant threw this one back//

We came upon this grisly scene.. a dead lizard, being consumed by yellow-bottomed ants.. there must be a dozen types of ants in this country!

The ladies take a walk toward the shore

Observing nature plays a vital role in our educational philosophy. We are so blessed to live in a country that has the most varied flora and fauna per area in the entire world.

We observed these towers of sand, built by some tiny ants..

 
Gracie, time to say goodbye! We will visit this quiet and peaceful park again soon, Lord willing!

Goings-On Around the House

We had some friends stop by while Mandy was experimenting with her new gluten free doughnut recipe. She enjoyed teaching them about grinding and cooking with her rice flour blend.



Mmmm!
 
We FINALLY got that snake that has been living upstairs. The kids had moved out of the upstairs and into the trailer until it could be located and taken care of..

Blessings
 
 
My Happy Birthday gift certificate for Sisters Diner! I would highly recommend that place!
 

Grant and Ryan catch another cane toad..

Nice side profile boys..:-)

Grace has been praying for another brother or sister for 2 years..her kitty will have to do for now! :-)
 
 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Sunday Drives

After services on Sunday we enjoy taking family drives. We try not to drive too many miles since gas is running about $5.40 per gallon (yes, in USD! :-O) Normally we try and limit our longer drives to the weekend although permit and immigration takes us to Belmopan frequently also. Gas is just an expense here.. definitely at least twice the cost of housing.

On this drive we enjoyed seeing the colorful homes in this village

A crop of beans.. this field stretched for hundreds of acres..

Such a beautiful area!

Can you see the Wish Willy lizard in this photo?
 
The famous Hawksworth bridge is a one lane suspension bridge in San Ignacio, Belize. Built in 1949 and imported from Middlesbrough, England,  it crosses the Macal River linking San Ignacio to its sister-town Santa Elena. It is currently the only drivable suspension bridge in Belize
 

The river is still pretty muddy after an unusual 6 months of constant rain. We arrived just in time. It has been warm and is raining less and less.. and drying out! In a month or so this water will most likely be crystal clear.
San Ignatio low lying bridge.. across the bridge and up the hill on the left is where the Saturday market is held. The bridge links Santa Elena and San Ignatio, just down from the suspension bridge. They are both only one way bridges.

Many little home based stores sell cold cokes.. mmmm.. tastes so yummy on a hot day!

San Ignatio

Santa Elena

We never get tired of just looking out the window while daddy drives us places..

 c

Saturday Market Days

Have we really been gone from Belize for a year and a half? In some ways it seems as though we have never left. The Saturday market has quickly become a reinstated routine. We like to head to 'Cayo' (San Ignatio/Santa Elena areas) early Saturday to avoid the heat and crowds. We purchase most of our weekly produce at the market, beef from Running W, our corn tortillas from a local Spanish lady and other weekly provisions from a Chinese supermarket. Occasionally we will also take a drive out to Succotz Village to visit friends or out to the DePlooys Jungle lodge area where there is a lovely botanical garden.
 
On this day we took the ferry which connects the west side of Spanish Lookout to the Western Highway. There was quite a line up heading into Spanish Lookout this day..

The ferry has received a facelift since we last saw it! New paint, railings and plates. Looks nice. Grant had brought his line and stick to try and catch a few sardines but didn't catch anything. :-)

San Ignatio Market



These lovely glass mosaics are all composed from butterfly wings..
 
Following a Horse N Buggy home. :-)
 

When it rains, it pours!

It is so fun to be back to the warm showers of Belize. We just love it, especially after an especially toasty day to see the black clouds roll in! for the most part, we are heading into the dry/hot season here in Belize.. but there are still some showers here and there.. and it doesn't just rain here, it RAINS here! :-)

Showers are coming!

Rye takes shelter under a banana leaf

Just a short wait and then it will most likely end.. normally the showers come and go quickly
 
This beautiful butterfly takes shelter in our house..

Isn't it beautiful?

The girls take cover under the umbrellas..


So much fun! Anyone have a bar of soap? :-)