Thankful Thanksgiving is Over?

Well, Thanksgiving is over. Turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberries, pumpkin bread (as seen above), dressing, pie -- we had all those things that make it a wonderful holiday!

I made it to LaCeiba and found almost everything I wanted. A friend had brought a turkey over to the island for me at my request so I did not have to look for that item, but I managed to buy a ham in LaCeiba for Christmas so that was a plus. There were a few things on my list that I didn't find but, hopefully, when we make our trip to San Pedro in the next week or so, I can buy all those things that were not in LaCeiba.

The day I left it was overcast and rain threatened. My tilt motor on the boat was not functioning properly and kept wanting to come up out of the water as I drove along. When I got to the airport I fiddled with the switch and got it to come up and turn off -- or so I thought.

The plane left on time (surprise) and we arrived in LaCeiba where rain clouds were threatening but no rain had fallen that morning. I went into town to go to an agriculture store to get some ear mite medicine for a friend but of the three stores I went to, no one had what I needed. So I gave up and went to the Mall where I felt I could find most of the items on my list.

Three stores in the Mall dealt with computer products or copying, yet not one of them sold copy paper for my printer! I found my Zinfandel wine but they only had two bottles and I wanted at least 12! I did find my gin and a bottle for a friend. No white beans or black-eyed peas, but they had canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce. Lots of cheese (but no Parmesan), along with cream cheese and a variety of vegetables. I had hoped to find Uncle Ben's Wild Rice mix but really didn't hold out any hope for it and I was not disappointed.

It was pouring down rain by this time so I grabbed a quick lunch, bought a Pizza to take home (a must when returning to the island) and got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Bought some vodka in the airport liquor shop and the plane (second surprise of the day) left on time!

Arrived home and the rain had stopped. Went to start the boat and, yes, you guessed it....the tilt motor decided to turn on for no good reason and wore the battery down. Thankfully we have two boats and I called my husband who came and rescued me!

So, all's well that ends well I guess. Thanksgiving day was overcast and mild but, thankfully, no rain. Our guests arrived without incident, we had a nice visit on the porch and a lovely Thanksgiving dinner. Now we have plenty of leftovers to keep ourselves happy for a few days.

I am sure that Thanksgiving day was enjoyed by people all over. So, in spite of good or bad weather, a lack of "standard fare" for dinner, too much or too little food, it seems everyone rallies around and this is one holiday that always brings a warm sense of accomplishment and a wonderful feeling of Thanksgiving - which it was meant to do!

THANKSGIVING WITH THE TRIMMINGS?

Well, Thanksgiving is just around the corner - next week to be exact - and I still don't have my turkey, green beans, stuffing mix, canned pumpkin, etc. Every year I make my speciality, Pumpkin Bread and, of course, I have to have the whole turkey dinner to accompany it!

This year all I could find in town was canned Cranberry Sauce (at $2.50 a can). No one has turkeys or any of the other accompaniments so I now have to fly to LaCeiba and see if I can find a bird!

Of course, going to the coast this time of year is difficult. We have already cancelled a scheduled flight to see the doctors in San Pedro Sula because of weather and with all the rain we have been having last month and this month it will be a challenge to get there and back in one day.

I have feelers out and friends in LaCeiba and on-line are looking for possible turkey sightings! I have my list all ready, my airline ticket in hand, and a determined attitude.

Of course, while spending $150.00 round trip to go to the coast (need to count additional airport tax in this), I'll need to pay taxi drivers to haul me and my booty around! I also need to look for other "stuff" to make this trip pay for itself. So I'm on the lookout for cheese, vegetables (the kind we can't get on the island), wine, Spanish books for my worker's grandchildren, material to sew, and new reading glasses. Just hope I can get it all done within the 3 hours I'll have.

Yes, 3 hours! We no longer have an early morning (7:30 a.m.) flight and now the plane doesn't leave until 11:00 getting me to the airport and into town about 30 minutes or more later. I must rush around and get the non-grocery items first as the stores all close at noon and then on to the grocery store and hopefully some lunch and buy a pizza to bring back for dinner.

So, if I'm extremely lucky (and fast), I'll get everything I need and come back the same day to fix a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner for Thursday.

Wish me luck!

That Time of Year

Well, it is that time of year again. Somewhere between summer activities, visitors and the just before the fall doldrums.

Life on the island starts to slow down somewhat with people returning to their homes abroad, the weather changing and the slow approach to the upcoming holidays looming in the distance.

Right now, during this period, my life has slowed down and I seem to be in a lazy mode. This is not like me at all as I am a very active person. But, every now and then I suddendly feel like doing absolutely nothing! Now, for a person like me, this is not acceptable. I feel I should be busy doing something. I mean, if not household projects (like cleaning, laundry, cooking and gardening) the I should be creating something for someone or preparing items for the holidays, or writing in my blog (which very people actually read) or taking photos.....SOMETHING.

People say that this is OK. But my mind just can't seem to adjust to this laid back attitude. I mean, it is ok to live on an island where manana is the way of life and accept that. It is ok to put off for tommorrow what I could do today. And, it is even ok, now and then, to take a siesta. But to actually lay around all day - especially on a perfectly sunny, clear, breezy day, and do nothing - unheard of, at least in my case.

Maybe it is the fact that I have so many projects lined up to do and know that I can't possibly meet my preset deadlines that I've decided to just ignore them! Maybe I feel that when I do actually finish a project, I know there will be another and another and another to follow and the fact that it never seems to cease may be getting me down.

However, I love to create. I love to see something being made out of the most ordinary items and I love the feel it gives me upon completion to know I have created this item. It seems that everything I do make, I give away. In actuality, I have very few of my own creations. I also know that when I see something I have made being displayed by the person it was given to, I am always astounded that I was the one that made it. While working on an item I tend to become really critical and in the end all I see are the small flaws that no one else (except for my husband) can detect. And believe me, he points all the flaws out immediately!

Of course it could simply be that having finished painting and varnishing my bedroom floor, getting new furniture installed and transferring items from the old to the new; making ice cream, breadsticks and pies; having 8 people over for lunch; managing the selling of island-made pine needle baskets to tourists by one of our islanders on a no-profit basis for me; handling the tiresome project of getting my computer to return to the states for service; mailing out 5 packages to friends and family of small gifts I think they will like......maybe I'm just worn out this week!


I guess I just need to relax for a while, read a good book, listen to some music and stop trying to try. But then, I wouldn't be me!