Happy Early Spring!

Ava practices cuneiform

 Ava and I doing well here in Nevis, but missing our family and friends.  The temperature has started creeping up here, and I have been thinking of the beautiful spring-like weather being enjoyed in Raleigh...spring without the pollen!  Mangoes have come in season here, and we have been giving the Magic Bullet As Seen On TV quite a workout...with smoothies, hummus and my attempts at chutney.  I love the MB because it is powerful AND easy to wash by hand, which, as you know, is the way we roll here. 

The beach at MUA campus

Full moon bonfire

Percy (kitten) and Morie (doing yoga)

Officially Our Cat: Sidecar, Sweetest Kitty on Nevis

  Our water heater burst a week ago, and we are still waiting on the replacement.  As I write, I am adding kettles of boiling water to Ava's bathtub so her bath will be ready when she's back from her snorkel trip.  Bob took her out with a group on the dive boat after lunch today, dividends of his job at the dive shop.  He's been letting her experiment with an underwater camera.  So far lots of sand and thumbs, but I expect she'll get better.

 
The gym on campus opened--after how many years?--and it is nice!  I've been trying to work off those Indian lunch deliveries.  The calorie-counting function of the workout machines needs to be calibrated, I am sure.  A person shouldn't be able to eat more in two minutes than they can work off in half an hour, am I right?  The heart monitor is a little TMI also, if you ask me.  Watching it makes it go up--I have tested this--so it needs to be calibrated as well. 

Ava has been riding horses, swimming, snorkeling, "playing soccer" and finding little play dates with the odd assortment of kids we bump into along the way.  She chased down a sheep in the yard the other day and held it in her lap for a while.  Since we won't get her her own pet lamb or goat, she's having to make due with the two stray cats (Morie and Percy) that she's been feeding.  So far the little kitten won't let us touch her, but Morie is very friendly.  We fit in a little school here and there...and she's been reading up a STORM.  She's trying to savor Book 5 in the Percy Jackson series because she doesn't want it to end.  I can't wait to get to Ancient Greece in her world history curriculum, she is so ready for it!  She reads at least a couple books every week and will quickly go through the considerable book order I sent over via Amazon.  Then I am going to have to share my Kindle :-(

Bob's cousin and wife are coming to visit for a couple weeks at the beginning of March--and Bob won't be in Nevis one of those weeks!  I have never met this particular cousin before, so we are all in for an experience. Let's hope the water heater is in by then, or I will be going to the French Quarter in Bob's suitcase.  Or maybe in Bob's place!

If anyone remembers Shirley, the most excellent cook, housekeeper and enabler of my past roti-addiction, you'll be glad to hear she's starting back next week.  She is usually booked up during high season, so I am SO excited.  I will just have to squeeze in a few more visits to the gym.  WORTH IT!!  Happy Pseudo-spring to you all--and thank you for the Valentines!

xoxoRachel