Last week in July!

Big news from here -- rotisserie chicken will be appearing soon at the deli! Unfortunately, the deli (just a small area of counter space in the meat department) will have to close for a week (at least) to accommodate this change. Still, it is a bright spot in our long, hot summer here. (I know, Wendell -- we've been here too long!!!)


I'm still meeting once a week at the library to join whoever shows up for "Stitch & Chat" -- the last couple of months, it's just been two of us, so last week I was thrilled when two more of my friends were able to attend.

Vince is standing in front of the northeast gate -- the spot where Cubans used to move freely between the base and their homes in nearby villages to come to work.

Vince participated over the weekend in the "You Can't Handle the Fence Line" five mile walk. You could also, bike, run, or drive a jeep (if you had one). I was also slated to go but the day before when I was adding some time to my regular walk for "training purposes," I somehow pulled some muscles in my left leg and for a couple of days I could barely walk. I was disappointed that I couldn't go since the hike followed the north fence line which is an area where we normally can't go. Unfortunately, it's also an area where there are limited photo opportunities so Vince wasn't able to document too much of the walk.


Switching subjects....we've really enjoyed our bird-watching here, especially since our windows have a reflective coating which allows us some close viewing. Here are some white winged doves (didn't Stevie Nicks sing about them?) at our bird feeder. They have a beautiful blue ring around their eyes and are quite the pigs when it comes to the bird feeder. Sometimes we have six of them precariously balanced on it, shoving out the smaller birds.

Birthday Cheer and Butterfly Snowstorm

Vince sipping his birthday Mojito

Sunscreen and a hat is essential

We celebrated Vince's birthday this week -- he had to work a double shift on the actual day, but it ended up working to his advantage. He now has TWO days off in a row, which hasn't happened in months. Having a beach picnic is always a great way to have a party, so we loaded up some food and beverages and rode on the ferry across the bay to our favorite Chapman Beach. Vince grilled some turkey burgers which we enjoyed with our Mojitos. And, as usual, the beach was deserted.


And regarding butterflies....actually, we learned the little creatures are moths, but I prefer to call them butterflies. A couple of weeks ago we started noticing massive swarms of white winged insects. It is hard to describe the effect -- you see them everywhere you go -- and it is challenging to get them on film. But, with the breeze blowing, and if you squint real hard, you can pretend it looks like snow. My little camera doesn't produce great video -- but you can get the general idea. After doing a little research, I think we are seeing Great Southern White moths. (The video is taken behind our villa in a parking area.)

Ship sightings

I didn't even attempt to take any photos of our Fourth of July firework celebration here -- but it was definitely one of the best ones I've seen in years. Vince had to work that evening, so he grabbed one of our walkie talkies as he left for his shift. Then, about 9:00 p.m. when the firework show started, I took Fergus and stood in our front yard, with the other walkie talkie in hand. When the colors started to light up over the bay, Vince called out to me over the airwaves, "Ooooooh.....Over." And, then I would return with "Aaaaaaaaaaah......Over." It was fun for a few minutes, anyway, and we were amazed that the walkie talkies would work that well -- he was in the tower, over three miles away by air, and I was at the northern end of the bay.

Speaking of the bay, when you live on a body of water that is a major supply station in the Caribbean, you are bound to see some interesting vessels.

Crane or Cargo Ship -- these ships are named after state mottos, and wouldn't you know, this one is the "Cornhusker State."

A heavy lift ship, 873 feet long, the "Cape May" was designed and built by a steamship company, and later sold to the Navy. You can see an LCU boat (landing craft utility) in front and to the left of the Cape May.

Helicopter carrier

The ferry boat is on the left -- these are used to transport people and vehicles across the bay and is about 150 to 200 feet long. To the right is a missile frigate.

USNS Robert E. Peary -- dry cargo/ammunition ship -- is 689 feet long.