yes i am and I also am glad they missed you, they are popping up all over down here and headed your way vonn

hi, dudes and dudettes !!

busy, busy, busy here at the farm in the jungle !

that tropical storm 'Arthur' knocked down like, a TON of mangoes, and we've been making jam, chutney, pies, stewed mangoes, hot habanero mango preserves, lol...

we actually ran OUT of jars, so... Monday will be a long day, renewing our "Visitor's Visa" in the capitol, and going over to the Mennonite community for more canning supplies.

and we need more fencing, to protect our baby dragonfruit plants ("Pitaya") which we are going to try growing... and hope our ducks and chickens don't eat them.

Dragonfruit looks sort of like a cactus, and the fruit tastes like an AMAZING cross between a strawberry and a watermelon....... it's sheer HEAVEN.

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4...uitpinkpc2.jpg
pink-fleshed dragonfruit

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7...nfruitafj4.jpg
white-fleshed dragonfruit

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9...fruitb2vh5.jpg
a dragonfruit plant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya

and, we're going to meet in person some folks we only know from Belize message boards, so THAT is exciting, we're going to "do lunch"

lol, how fun is THAT ?!?!

also pleased to report I got my notification from my former county election officials in California, so I will be able to VOTE in the upcoming US presidential race !!

:D

Wow, that fruit looks absolutely scrumptious.

What lovely photos.

Thanks for sharing.

I juice every morning. I can only imagine what juicing that fruit would taste like.
My husband would go out of his mind.

This morning I juiced fresh pineapple, orange and blueberries.

He said it was divine.

CayoKay - I love hearing your stories from Belize. Your place is so beautiful.

Oh my goodness this afternoon was a nightmare with the storms. At one point the warnings started popping up here in Lasalle county and I had to get Jim up just in case. The funnel or whatever was seen just west of us and headed our way. The good news is they gave us 20 minutes to prepare. Then, just when I thought things were settling a tornado hit the ground running for my brothers house, my cousins house and Chris's fraternity brothers house. They are estimating the tornado traveled 25 miles. My brother lives in Peotone and my cousin in Frankfort, the fraternity brother in Wilmington. WOW! They are all ok thank goodness. No deaths or serious injuries to report but lots of houses ruined. Please keep the people of all these towns in your thoughts.

I did manage to get a call into Renee and she sounded good. The air isn't installed yet in her mom's new house so she was baking in the 85 degree Arkansas weather. She is planning to go to court on her own Monday so the kids wont have to witness anything. She is pretty much done with her husband after all he has done to her. I'll update after 4pm central time Monday on how things went.

we didnt have any sirens my moms house did not far away, glad all are ok with you sandy it was an interesting storm system, glad you all are ok

since mi esposo is from Chicago, we've been watching the weather up there...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/w...,7460983.story

San, that's just crazy!

DH lived there for 20 years, and he says he's *never* seen weather like this before!

oh, and when you talk to Renee please convey my love and hugs for her and the children.

juicing rocks !! and mixed juices is the best thing on earth.

we squeeze fresh OJ every morning (in season), from our 4 trees.

we're also growing plantains, limes, papaya, melons, and bananas.

alas, blueberries can't survive here 'cause it's too warm.

but pitaya... I never thought of juicing them... half the fun is just dipping in with a spoon.

your eyes practically ROLL back in your head with pleasure, LOL !!

:winky:

naw, I just *show* the pretty parts...

most of it's still pretty rough brush... and not planted yet... as we've only been at it two years.

plus, until we fenced off two acres for the goats, they were EATING the landscaping, lol!

but in about a decade, I'll have everything the way I want it, and my ferns, orchids, palms, jasmine, bougainvillea, and ti plants will all be mature and gorgeous.