Our first week...

Well, we start the week of course with the traditional freak-out over the ants, my refusal to eat or drink anything I didn't bring in my suitcase until the refrigerator and counter tops were cleaned...but that's all to be expected.

Ava has been getting lots of attention from her dad, conning him into all kinds of play time, heaploads of books at night, and a trip to the beach every afternoon for a swim. Today, in fact, I have to keep her in for the first time. At the beach yesterday she apparently BREATHED in enough ocean water to make her breath smell like the sea all night long, and her chest is all congested. With salt water. I guess this happened while Bob was getting her to stand on his shoulders and jump into the water. Once she came up and gagged so loudly it echoed off the restaurant/bar...that must have been how the ocean got into her lungs. Hindsight. As usual she hasn't even noticed but let me tell you: the breath thing is WEIRD. What would Dr. House say.

We had our book club meeting the day after I arrived, so I sat down and read some of the book and skimmed the rest. Was able to fake it well enough. The woman who hosted the meeting this time (Linda B) lives part-time on Nevis and her home is just breathtaking. She and her husband built it and have been in it for 7 years. It's like being in a very small resort. I found out she has housekeeping AND landscaping people come 5 days a week, whether they are on the island or not. Imagine! Saturday I went on the annual "Home and Gardens Tour" which is a fund-raiser for the Historical Society. The tickets were about $20 US and I rode with two other women. Seven houses on display--a different bunch every year--and they were spectacular, but none more so than Linda's, and she's never even been asked to participate in the tour. Makes you wonder how many ultra-luxury homes are tucked around the island unnoticed.

The island hosted another triathlon Sunday which always bring Olympic-shaped ("HOT") athletes to the area. I was splashing around Oualie beach on Friday watching some of them do laps and jog up and down the beach. Nice scenery! http://www.nevisblog.com/?p=957

The school hosted a barbecue for the students Saturday and they rented a Dora the Explorer bouncy house thing. I don't know why, but Bob always goes to the student functions and we had a very good time hanging around the pool and letting Ava bounce to her heart's content with the few children that were there. There were even veggie burgers!

Well, those are the jumbled up highlights of our week. Ava and I have been talking about clouds and wind in "home school" and making shamrocks. I have also watched almost the entire Season 2 of House, MD, and am trying to make the remaining few episodes last. He's so dreamy.