Our second spring in Belize

Summer is almost here…spring was fairly quiet. We did sell our corolla, bought a used 22’ pontoon boat, survived a drought with multiple sugar-cane harvest fires and pet sat for the neighbors 3 German shepherds and parrot while they were gone to the U.S. for 6+ weeks. We also decided to purchase Mexican auto insurance, which we used for a couple of trips to Chetumal…the first as a search and explore mission (to eat at McDonalds and to shop at Wal-Mart) and the second so Rick could have his overdue colonoscopy…all fine!

The flora and fauna around here detested the dry season, but we are starting to get a little bit of rain now and things are looking up. Linda has now witnessed 2 snake visits (ewwww!!!) and while the neighbors were in the states a basiliscus basiliscus (iguana) took up residency on their patio. After a few days he/she was starting to die of thirst, so we captured it and tried to set it free, but the dogs had another idea for it. Linda tried to save the iguana from the dogs, and vice versa, but no good deed goes unpunished…it bit her right index finger and wouldn’t let go! Ouch! Rick had to grab it behind its jaws to get it to unlatch! He was able to carry it to safety and Linda’s finger healed nicely. Rick has had his share of bites, too. The ants and doctor flies love him (they cause extreme swelling unless treated immediately with Preparation H) and now the mosquitoes are starting up. Between the bites and the CheChen, his skin has seen better days. He had to get another steroid shot last week to try to get things under control…so far, so good, for now!

The garden and orchard are growing pretty well with Rick’s attention and frequent watering during the dry season. This update can report fresh tomato, chilis (jalepeno, Serrano and habenero), zucchini (makes exceptional chocolate zucchini bread … http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/chocolate-zucchini-bread-ii/detail.aspx), cantaloupe, carrots, chives, onions, cilantro, cauliflower and bananas. We’ll soon be trying to grow bok choi, which seems to do extremely well here. We’re also making our own bread, pizza, Italian dressing, onion soup mix and desserts. Add to that the 4-6 eggs we’re getting from the chickens everyday and the kanep, strawberries, star fruit, passion fruit, mango and avocados from the neighbors and fruit stands, we’re eating as fresh as can be!

In family news, Janessa found a new job and a new apartment, into which she moved about 10 days ago. Linda’s sister, Shea, had to have surgery for a fractured femur head and just recently returned to work. Rick’s brother, James, is on an expedition to climb Mt. McKinley in Alaska (www.2011denali.com). We’re planning a trip back to the U.S. in less than 5 weeks, at which time we will get to see everyone! We’ll start out in Washington for a Ludka wedding (congrats Tiffany and Mark), from there we head to San Diego to have a reunion with Linda’s side of the family, then to Phoenix to visit with friends, then off to Laughlin for our overdue NV casino run and then we conclude in Las Vegas for our flight back to Cancun. It will be a fun-filled 2+ weeks with family and friends.

Until we leave for our trip, we will continue our virtually stress-free life with weekly Saturday afternoon dart games at Scotty’s bar and grill in Corozal, cards and dominoes with our recently returned neighbors, boating, swimming and sunning in the lagoon, reading, gardening, puzzles, latch hook and our daily afternoon happy hour backgammon games on the beach to keep us out of trouble. Hope this update finds you all happy and healthy…keep in touch!