Whazuppp??

I can't believe it's the last day of February already.
So much has been happening that I haven't had the chance to post on my blog a whole lot....bad girl.
I'll try to bring us all up to date....somewhat.

First off, I'm currently fighting off a cold/flu that I picked up from my daughter. This along with all the dust that I was coming into contact recently made it quite easy to get sick.  Tried my darndest to nip it in the bud, but that didn't work at all.  I should have let it run its natural course but nooo....I wanted to corner it and wrestle it to the ground....I'm still light headed and chilly and snotty....so much for that.

I've been working on the upstairs bathroom project which is now finished for the time being (will post photos soon promise).
During that time I had to be out and about seeking materials for the project.
As you already know, I'm not the typical woman, since I love hardware stores and lumber yards, and really enjoy it all.
While I'm working hard, I find it extremely hard to eat a regular full-bodied meal, and thus I fill up on sandwiches and soups.
I made a Pumpkin Ginger soup.

 Frozen pumpkin pieces and grated ginger

My friend Joyce had given me a big slab of fresh pumpkin a while ago (I had shared a piece with my friend Dawn), but I cut mine up and froze it for later use.

 Threw it all into a pot with lots of fresh herbs and cooked until tender.

 

 After cooling enough to handle, I transferred it all to the blender and was rewarded with a delightful tasting soup which lasted me for a few days while I worked....yummy, yummy, yummy.

I also visited one of my Facebook friends and had the pleasure of meeting this fine fellow....I think his name is Herman.

Herman -Barbados Black Belly Sheep 

While there I saw her Plumeria pudica laden with caterpillar larvae.

Sphinx Moth Caterpillars

On my way back I came across this guy.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 

 White bird with a yellow pointed beak and thin scrawny legs.

or maybe it's a girl, I have no idea

Usually these cattle egrets hang around in the pastures where  livestock are grazing, but this one was hanging out in a grass patch at the side of the road.

Once they were seasonal visitors to our shores, but they have now taken up permanent residence, nesting and breeding all year round.

Renowned for rummaging through freshly tilled soil, they can be found hanging out behind tractors on farms and plantations as they drive along.  These birds also love riding on the backs of cattle where they capture pests that are attracted to cattle.

I have so much more to tell you but I'll leave that for another post.

I'm just glad February is over.

A special February

This month of February is a special one.
It is special for me because I'm working on another big project (to be revealed soon).
So busy was I that I did not even have the time to bake for Valentine's Day, but I will make something special after I'm finished my work.

An interesting tidbit of information.
Apparently this February 2015 is VERY SPECIAL.
Why???Because it has four full 7-day weeks.
4 Sundays, 4 Mondays, 4 Tuesdays, 4 Wednesdays, 4 Thursdays, 4 Fridays, and 4 Saturdays.
February is the only month that this occurs once every six years and twice every eleven years consecutively.


Did you know that it is also the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon? Yep.
It is the only month that has a leap year.  What's the big deal with a leap year anyway?
We need leap years to keep our calendar correct....it's as simple as that.
The actual length of a year is equal to the revolution of the Earth around the Sun (365.2422 days). If we didn't have leap years, the seasons would shift about a quarter of a day every year.
After 100 years the seasons would be off by 25 days, the leap year adjusts this drift.....catch my drift?
The next leap year is February 2016.
A person born in a leap year on February 29th is known as a "leapling", and I truly would not want to be a "leapling" and only have the opportunity to celebrate my birthday every four years....no way!

Well it seems as if February is pretty special after all, but I like my month of June wayyyy better.

Try a little kindness

  Bet you didn't know that I'm smack dab in the middle of another big project.....that's why I haven't had the time to post recently.
Projects involve time and materials, and today I found myself in the city taking care of a few errands and sourcing materials for my project.
I had already completed my business, and was headed back to where I had parked Beast.  The road is one that most pedestrians use to traverse the lower end of the city, and it always seems as if I run into someone I know along this road.  There are a few wayside vendors too ...calmly waiting to tempt passersby with donuts and freshly picked fruit like dunks, sea grapes, cashews etc.
As I walked along, I kept my eyes on the distance I had to walk before I reached the safety of my vehicle....yes it was hot.......the sun was scorching hottt.
The next thing I knew an elderly lady who was walking ahead of me suddenly slipped and fell to the ground.....oh dear she fell quite hard.
In a second I was by her side along with another gentleman, and between us we made sure she was feeling okay, and lifted her back on to her feet.  She did not appear dazed and was very coherent. 
She told us she believed the buckle on her shoe had tripped her up.  I offered to hold her bag while she bent to secure the loose buckle but she said she would make it okay...I didn't blame her, since thieves come in all shapes and fashion.
I told her I would walk behind her for a little way to make sure she was okay...she was okay with that.
We parted ways when I took another side street to where I had parked Beast....I waved goodbye....she seemed okay....I hope she made it home okay.

The entire incident brought Glen Campbell's song to my head, a song I grew up singing as a young girl...."Try a little Kindness."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk7oo_inqI8