Last year was a busy year for me....lots of projects at home and a big project at my daughter's home kept me super busy. I spent most of my days from early in the morning until evening at her home and only took a break at lunchtime when I drove home to feed Mr. Brownbie. One day as I arrived home for a quick lunch I spotted a tiny white dog foraging on an open lot across the street.
The poor thing was not in good shape. She was very emaciated and the hopeless look of hunger in her eyes told a very sad story. I rushed into the kitchen and fixed some chicken sausages and rice along with a small bowl of water and headed back out to find her. By this time she was resting in my neighbour's yard....apparently they had been feeding her every time she showed up in their yard.
She was a bit fearful as I approached so I placed the saucer down nearby and walked away. Glancing back I saw that she was eating greedily. Oh dear dear, my heart strings were pulling in each and every direction. Later in the evening I posted her photo on Lost and Found Pets Barbados and the RSPCA Barbados website. I was advised to make sure I gave her a wormer tablet. She continued to traverse the neighbourhood many days afterward perusing garbage bins and hoping to find something to eat. I kept my eyes out for her and fed her whenever I saw her.
On the morning of August 26, 2019 when we were expecting Tropical Storm Dorian to come our way, I saw her nosing around my garbage. I went outside with a towel and lifted her oh so gently and said "I think you will be safer inside with me....I would hate for you to be swept away in the storm." Instead of running away this time she allowed me to lift her up. I was so scared as I brought her inside, she was so fragile and I felt as if she would break in my arms. She was as light as a feather.
I posted an update on the websites and lots of folks were happy that I had saved her. Brownie was anxious to meet his new lady friend and behaved exactly as any male would. He was all excited jumping up and down and trying his best to get close to her at all costs. I was so afraid he would break her in half.
Fed and watered...look at that pretty tongue
We all had lunch together and I continued my storm preparations.
Gorgeous sunset on the evening before Tropical Storm Dorian.
Luckily for us, Tropical Storm Dorian swerved away from our island and went northwards. It became a Category 5 hurricane in no time and wreaked havoc in several islands leaving millions of dollars in damage behind in the Bahamas.
The following day I bundled the little girl up and set off for a visit to my friends at the RSPCA. Not one single veterinary staff member was surprised that I had arrived with another dog.....not one. "Who is this little one?" the vet asked. I looked into those sad little eyes and said, "Girlie". She was given a full examination. She was about 2 to 3 years old and weighed 9lbs 6oz. Her heart was good and she was in pretty good shape except for not having anything much to eat for a while. Her teats were pronounced and I thought she may have been nursing but I was assured that that was not the case...they were more pronounced because she was so malnourished. She was given a wormer treatment, nails were clipped, eyes and ears checked and anal glands expressed. We were given some vitamins and a sample package of dog food and we headed back home.
She made herself at home and Brownie and I settled down to our new lifestyle of having an adolescent in the house.
Brownie and Girlie watching tv
She has made herself at home.
She loves lying on my slippers
She loves lying in the sunshine.
She loves lying with her new friend Brownie.
She loves to eat.... enjoying her watermelon breakfast
She loves exploring her new surroundings.
She loves her new name ...look at that face after she hears "GIRLIE!!!"
She loves to drape her neck over my feet.
She isn't too keen on her Mr.Dog stuffed toy.
She LOVES having her tummy rubbed and assumes the position readily.
She loves sleeping in her box ...she adopted this box and would not let me throw it out. It stays under my desk.
Sometimes she sleeps standing up....antenna ears listening and at the ready ...old habits die hard.
Friends and family.
The Two Compadres
And so it is....Girlie is here to stay. Brownie is an older guy now and his hearing is gone but he is happy for the company. They make a great team for the monkey patrol every morning.
Wow!! I can't believe that we are into a new year already. A new decade too. Last year was insane and I barely managed to live through it all with my mental faculties intact (yet shaken) and here we are ready to embark on another crazy ride (I'm sure) for 2020. Bring it on.
Wishing all of you the BEST of everything for this new year. Good Health Great Wealth Lots of Love Tons of Happiness Success in your pursuits Inner Peace
Be the one to make a difference. As always be kind to each other.
I hope to be around more often....no promises....but I will try hard.
In Barbados, we have a variety of well-loved island foods that Bajans enjoy eating. Whether you are a true "born and bred" Bajan or just a visitor to the island you will end up enjoying a bake or two for a morning breakfast or a daytime snack. Whether you're far away from home or just kicking back on a Sunday morning and not sure what to eat to start the day, bakes will do the trick. My friend Carl recently sent me a photo of his brunch plate.
Bakes - the Bajan way
Oh my gosh golly...Bakes...I had not eaten any of these delicious delicacies for so long. My mum would make us bakes on rainy days or when we had run out of bread or even when we were ill and we didn't feel like eating....we always ate the bakes. My taste buds started to water and I longed for them once more. I decided there and then that I would make myself some bakes for lunch. They're quite easy to make and every pantry should have the basic ingredients on hand. I have no exact measurements...sorry....just eye ball it.
Bajan Bakes The rough measurements for the ingredients are: 2 cups of all purpose flour (I mixed a little spelt flour into the batter) I tablespoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence 2 tablespoons (or less) of sugar A little spice - a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon (optional) Water to mix it all together into a pancake consistency. In a pan with hot oil carefully place the batter in spoonfuls and fry till golden brown on both sides.
Good old Bajan Bakes
Only eight bakes?
Of course not..... I made two layers of them...couldn't help it.
Bakes can be eaten with fishcakes, (another Bajan favourite), any kind of frizzled fish (bul jol), cheese, porridge or even a heavy drizzle of pancake syrup....whatever you fancy.
Opened up a can of Tuna in Thai Chili sauce (VERY HOTT) to go along with the bakes.
A nice fresh salad and a glass of cold mango juice and it was all good.
As luck would have it, a friend popped by and he was happy to have some too. (see photo above) A little later, daughter dear came by and she was overjoyed to find them and she loaded up a good portion to take home with her. They were really good and I hope I won't take too long to make another batch. It must be noted here that the other Caribbean islands also enjoy bakes too, but depending on which island you visit, the bakes will be different. Sometimes they are small and dense and muffin like, or they may be large and round or big and fluffy with an air pocket on the inside that can be filled. Any way they are served they are all good.
Being a mother is one of the purest joys in my life. My daughter is an inspiration to my soul, my being,.....she is my"raison d'etre". Despite her being an adult now I still cherish and protect her like a mother hen. She is and will always be my only "chickee".
I remember way back when I found out I was pregnant how excited I was. I prayed for a safe delivery and I was blessed. I prayed for a baby girl and I was blessed. I prayed to love her unconditionally and I was blessed. I prayed that our bond would be forever strong and I was blessed.
Today that little baby girl is now a woman and I am overjoyed whenever I see her. She is caring, sensitive, funny, thoughtful,selfless, protective and very loving. As I get older, somehow she realises that it is now her turn to look after me "the mother" who is now "the child". Our conversations are filled with her curiosity on my whereabouts and my daily chores and if she can help me in any way. I feel so blessed that she has grown up to be a good person, a good daughter, a good friend.
She seems to be following in my footsteps more and more...this makes me very happy. She is now a REAL plant lover. Her veggie garden puts mine to shame and her gorgeous flowers are like a small botanical garden. I never thought I would live to see the day when she would be interested in digging around in the dirt.
On Friday afternoon after finishing for the day at bible school summer camp, she popped by to say hello and shower me with hugs and kisses. In her hand she held a small bunch of freshly picked flowers.. "These are for you mum," she said happily. "To the best mummy in the world!" Immediately it brought back memories of me walking her to school in her blue overall uniform with a freshly pressed white blouse, her pigtails neatly tied with blue ribbons, .....and how she would stop along the way and pick flowers from various hedges which she would then hand over to me just before saying goodbye for the day as she entered the school gate. Memories do bring a smile and a tear to your eyes....yes they do. A mother's love....now a child's love.
The best floral bouquet from the best daughter in the world.
