week 17

week 16

week 10

st kitts part 2 - caribelle batik

since we had been to st kitts so many times before
we tried to find some new things to do
so we headed to the caribelle batik and historic romney manor

where they practice the ancient art of batik

whereby they hand-paint wax onto fabric

and then dye the fabric

over and over until they have the most beautiful result

of course we had to pick up some new "hawaiian shirts" for sean
and a dress and bag for me! :)

the batik shop also sits on a historic site
that apparently was once owned by an ancestor of thomas jefferson
and used to be a sugar plantation
other than the building for the batik shop
this station where the owner would watch the workers is the only thing that remains

it also houses the oldest tree on the island
over 350 years old!

and btw...the ride to get to the batik was just as exciting as the batik itself!

st kitts part 1 - nevis

sean and i went on vacation
to a place we've been several times
st kitts
but this trip we decided to try a redo on the vacation that wasn't
and made a stop in nevis for a few nights first

we stayed at the hermitage
where we were greeted with the best rum punch you'll ever have
and a quick reality into how unplugged we would be
the room was great but lack of todays amenities
like ac and wifi
so you sleep with all the doors and windows open

but it did have a hammock

and a view of the volcano
which was covered by a cloud the entire time

and cool windows

and new games for us to learn and play while drinking more run punches

we went for a little hike
to enjoy the surroundings

i also took advantage of spending some time with my new camera

which apparently looked suspicious
as i got questioned by this nice gentleman
oops!

we highly recommend the hermitage if you ever find yourself in nevis
the people were incredibly friendly
and it was a great way to unwind...quickly

__________________
some other random photos from nevis
can you find the creatures?

and just because we couldn't stop laughing
that this island is named booby island
for reals!

hang in there

the ranch

our friend bought a ranch!
and it even has a spot for guzzy to park
we got the opportunity to head out there and check it out over the weekend

her mom's horses are living there now
and it's so fun when they run free in the yard

the dogs even got into it and chased them

duke thought he was a big dog as well
but i was too busy trying to save him from getting kicked to get his pic
it also happened to be a full moon that weekend
so i played around some more with long exposure shots

summer of babies - part 4

here's an update on the baby ducks
they grew really fast
and you can't even tell which one is the mom anymore!

summer of babies - part 3

the baby loons have arrived!!!
and there are two!!!
i can't tell you how excited i am that there are two!
they are just little fluff balls at this point
and how sweet is it that as they are so little
they ride on the mommas back

summer of babies - part 2

we have some loon babies incubating!
well, we don't actually know how many there are just yet
but i can't wait!
here's one of the parents keeping the eggs warm

and we believe this to be the other parent
trying to cool off after his turn protecting the eggs

the summer of babies - part 1

mother nature has been busy this summer
reproducing

it's going to be so fun to watch these ducklings grow up this summer

there are 9 of those cute little fur balls!

and they have one amazing mother
watching after them
i now know where the phrase
keep your ducks in a row comes from

she brings them up to our yard for a snack
it's funny when you're working away at your desk
and you turn around to see little ducklings
inches away from the sliding glass door
plus they are so cute napping on our beach
just as long as they don't poop anywhere  ;)

mother nature at her finest

what i love most about our time in maine
is the safe haven my husband has created
for all the creatures
and that duke doesn't bother
from the chipmunks

to the birds

to the grey squirrels (not the red ones)

we've even had some visits from a woodchuck and some raccoons
but this one...
mother nature is not at her finest...