Lazin' in the Sun

Mixed messages here........ 

.....but mostly we all are wearing big smiles :o}

Book-sharing is the hit this vacation.  We all brought a book or two, and are pushing our way through them while we lay around the pool.

Well, okay then.  Some of us our pushing our way through the books.  Others?  Dreaming their way through  ;-)

Right now I am thoroughly enjoying one of Bethany Lynn's books.  It is engaging, witty, bittersweet, and full of tantalizing foods being prepared at the cooking school.  The students are very human, each with their own story of their journey in life thus far.  I highly recommend this book for any of you that are lovers of the written word.

The "Swim-Up"

Today was the day three of us took the plunge and swam over to eat at the Char Hut. 

What a fun thing to do!  Never have I been to a restauant/bar in the middle of a swimming pool.  It felt decadent.  I actually took a minute to feel guilty about all the starving people in so many places, as I sat in the lap of luxury eating frivilous foods.

But my oh my........... doesn't it look relaxing?  And aren't they a cute couple enjoying themselves?!?!

I know.  I said that I wanted a big fat burger with my fries and coke.  But yesterday at the welcome BBQ I had one, and it was not something I wanted to repeat.  They do not know how to grill up a great American burger in Mexico.  Best to stick with the Mexican foods while here.  Though the French Fries were excellent.  A mighty fine lunch for me.  It is vacation.  After all.

Viva Cancun!

Early Saturday we boarded a plane headed to Cancun for our every 2 years family vacation...........

The 6 hour flight went quickly for Darrell and I as we rented one of those Digital movie/games/sports etc toys provided by the airlines.  We watched the movie Avatar for the first time.  It was good, but I can see where it would have been fantastic to have seen it in the movie theater with big screen and 3-D glasses!

We flew from the cold state of WA..........

..........to the hot, humid state of Quintana Roo in Mexico!

We have an every 2 year time share at the Royal Sands Resort.  This is the smaller half of it where our unit is located on the bottom floor, opening out to the pools on this side.  Perfect location!

This year we want to splurge and swim up to the Char Hut and order a big fat burger and fries, with an ice cold coca-cola....... mmmmmm!

The pool opens out onto the white sands of the beach.  It is a bit overcast thus far, but in the 80's and very humid.  We took a late swim in the biggest pool last night after a fantastic dinner at Hacienda Sisal.  

 What a life  :o}

Around the Yard

Tillie enjoys a moment of sun.  So content!

                                                               

The incubated ducks are no longer very small!

Bigger yet are the oldest ducklings, hatched by Mama Mallard about a month ago.  The black one in the front is the one I helped out of his hard shell after the rest fled the nest.

Yellow Tulips greeting the daylight.......

Hosta shooting forth from the cold ground.

Grape Hyacinth, one of the first to grace the gardens in the spring.

One of my favorites every year, this bright bold, red tulip with a beautiful center.

How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude!

 ~Emily Dickinson, letter to Mrs. J.S. Cooper, 1880

Mourning Doves Return

Early this morning I noticed two BIG birds sitting in the seed feeder and stuffing their beaks with all of the seed!  I haven't seen this handsome couple since last summer.

Mourning Doves raise two broods each year, so I am hoping they decide to nest in our yard for at least one of them.  They have a mournful coo, thus their name.

BTW, our mama mallard has been sitting on another nest of eggs for a week or so now!  My bird book tells me that mallards only have one brood per year........ wrong!

Mustard Weed

I first fell in love with mustard weed in the spring of 1977.  We had moved to Santa Rosa and rented an apartment on Stony Point Road that looked out upon stunning yellow fields of blooming mustard weed.  Ever since then, my eyes and heart are drawn toward them.

This incredible field is situated next to the bridge into Monroe on Hwy 203.

Some folks take photos of the wonderful Mt. Vernon daffodil and tulip fields.  But I get just as much pleasure from acres of mustard weed.  Like seas of bright yellow happiness :-)

 A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.

~Doug Larson

Homemade Yogurt

It is such a simple procedure to make your very own homemade yogurt!  Just heat your 4 cups of milk to 185 degrees, then let it cool to between 105 and 115 degrees.   

Add 1/4 cup yogurt starter.  I used store bought vanilla yogurt for my starter.  Just make sure it contains LIVE culture!  Stir it well.

Pour the mixture into clean (best if sterilized) jars and screw on the lids.

Place the jars in a yogurt maker or like I used, a simple dehydrator.

Incubate the yogurt at 110 degrees for 6 to 12 hours, depending on how formed you like your yogurt.  

Eat it plain, mixed with granola (as pictured) or mixed with a bit of your favorite jam or fruit.

If you have never tasted homemade yogurt before, you are in for a rich, tangy treat!