Bella Gets "All Cayed Up"

Yesterday I was talking about sad goodbyes to new friends, and I absolutely forgot to mention Corrin and Eric from snowy Minnesota. They're a great couple, lots of fun, and faithful followers. Yikes! Please forgive me. 

Mark Anthony with Fake Teeth

Also, yesterday, we learned from 5-year-old Mark Anthony that the national flower of Belize is the black orchid. It's actually deep purple, not black, and one of the few orchids that bloom all year long. But be careful. Even if you're the bride, don't pick it. It's illegal. 

Tull Rea

Last night "All Cayed Up" was playing at AJ's. (Don't forget that "caye" is pronounced "key." Otherwise, the play on words doesn't work!) The owners of Average Joe's, Dave and Danyelle, were as gracious as ever as they were running around serving the crowd. Earlier in the year, there was a fundraiser to send the band's 16-year-old bass player phenomenon Derrick Baños to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but the music last night was fabulous regardless! Ted Scott on keyboard, "Hurricane Keith," on harmonica, Tull Rea, on guitar, and Barefoot Skinny on drums were terrific. (I never did catch the bass player's name. Sorry, buddy. He was great, too.) Awesome blues! Awesome.

Tom and Shelley are still getting ready for the kids and grand kids, our first stay-with-us-in-the-condo guests. We had golf cart access yesterday, so Shelley and I were able to go to ten dog-friendly stores to pick up the five items we needed. The house is looking great and there are lots of fun things planned including a day trip to Caye Caulker and snorkeling with sharks. "They" say, "They're harmless because they're just nurse sharks!" We'll see!  

Chicken Alert! Chicken Alert! I just heard Shelley scream from the kitchen as I was typing this. She was preparing the chicken from Lino's Meat Market for the pot luck dinner tonight and found the feet wrapped up inside! 

Y'all come visit. We'll listen to blues, snorkel the reef, and look up recipes for chicken feet. You're gonna love Belize!

Our Barrier Reef--186 Miles Long