Dec 11, 2021
Has it really been a week?
We arrived a week ago. Tired from the never ending drive and constant RV issues it took a while to get into the spirit of being back in paradise. It helped that many came over to say hola or welcome home.
I was sad to see the extent of the devastation of my garden. All those dark brown pieces are dead parts of my Desert Rose, but it is working hard to make a come back. It was the first plant that I cleaned up. I have had this plant since we first arrived here 13 years ago in 2009.
This mix of bougainvillaea and a favourite ten year old hibiscus has been torn out.
Only two of my many potted hibiscus made it.
My plumeria ( Hawaiian sweet smelling flower ) the first plant I ever purchased here on the Isla is still blooming and smells heavenly.
This coleus has doubled in height since we were last here. So very colourful and a wonderful surprise.
Someone had stayed in our site last winter ( they had left their RV here and flew in ) and decided to tear up our patio and make a flower bed. Sadly they wrecked the small patio that was there, it held many memories for us for a number of reasons. Worse they took apart most of the brick perimeter that Colin had dug and levelled in order to use our bricks to build their planter. These people had no idea the significance of the patio or even why it was there. So we had to pay Ismael to remove it all. Colin still has to rebuild our perimeter once he gets some free time.
Taken November 9th 2011. We were two sites over in 2010/2011 and this was our first year in this wonderful site but it was barren. Our first season was in RV 2 in 2009/2010. Colin was so proud of his first mini patio which is now no longer as of last winter. Not our fault that we could not leave during COVID. Several years back the owner of the park decided to build a higher wall to deflect the ocean waves during extreme tides. It was sad to lose our stairs to the beach. We were not happy when the wall only went 4.5 sites to the south. The rest of the park still have their private steeps to the beach.
Palm tree roots are very destructive. After a few days the sun dried them out and they were easily removed. The girls love being helpers.
We were 13th on the list for a permanent front row site but no one wanted this site as it was next to a dusty road. We purchased a dust screen and this is the start of our paradise in November 2010. The plants you see here were brought to this site from our previous site. There was nothing here at all except a great view.
Our palapa begins to take shape.
The beginning of our garden jungle way back in 2011 with plants purchased in 2009. Everything on this site means so very much to us.
In real time we unexpectedly had to pick up our things from storage for a number of reasons on Sunday afternoon ( Dec 5th ) – I had made a pact with Colin that that would be our ever so special day to just sit and relax – did not happen and still has not. The good part is that Colin and Ismael were able to get the dust screen from storage and set it up Sunday afternoon. But having the dog fence up and the dust screen are basics that needed to be done. Hopefully we will get the rest of the bins sorted out in the next week.
The band becomes stuck – some things never change.
The girls spent their first 3 -4 days digging holes everywhere and Carlie especially loved covering this newly laid carpet. They dug and ate everything, especially palm tree roots, they dug up crab holes and so on. Not having much space since we left on November 11th they chased each other and of course wrestled. It was fun seeing them spread their wings so to speak. They loved being here and had not even been to the beach yet. They did not miss it as they were so very happy in their new yard.
Monday I had an emergency massage appointment. I could not move my left arm without crying out loud in pain. Isaurio really helped me. I keep doing exercises and self massage a few times per day. For some unknown reason my right hip has gone wonky, hard to get in and out of the RV. I do have a massage booked for Friday, the first day he has free to see me. I am a mess but still happy to be here. Now I just need time to sit. It is really important to walk the beach with the girls but I am taking the next two days off.
I love Christmas, especially last winter, our first Christmas in Canada in over 20 years, but for some reason I am lacking in Christmas spirit at the moment. I am surprised at how I am missing the snow and the colder weather. So I put on my French Christmas music as I work on this post. It is helping but we shall see how the next few days go. We have put up some outside white fairy lights as I call them ( which are up year round here as they are back in Kelowna ) but at least 50% less. Because of Covid we will not be doing any large entertaining this season, perhaps a chosen few here and there for small happy hours.
I am working on it.
Oh they know the difference, they just have that innocent look all the time.
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Contessa, sorry for the mess the previous renters left in your place; those poor plants look so run down, you could help them using 2 tablespoons of Magnesium Sulfate diluted in one gallon of water to water them with, try it & u’ll see a great improvement on the plants…they will revive !!! Can find Magnesium Sulfate super cheap at #Walmart ( Equate brand ). Wish your garden goes back to the old ways when it looked beautiful, colorful &. healthy.
Lucy.
We have thrown out the dead plants and near dead ones. I have fertilizer with me which I used today. New plants are inexpensive here so I purchased over a dozen new hibiscus.
We love the snow and cold during the Christmas season. We have spent a couple of Christmas’ down south and for us, it is just not the same as a white Christmas up north.
Hi, it surely is not the same to have a white Christmas, than to go to the beach, come back home all sunburned & celebrate it next to a blowing fan…LOL that is what takes place in South America ( Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina etc ). December 25 is SUMMER in the southern hemisphere.
My regards: Lucy.
The first time 22 years ago that we headed south to miss the cold it was a shock for me. I missed all my xmas stuff but we made so have have loved being away, until this year. Maybe because I am older and we had such a great Christmas las year. Colin says that the twins would be bored back home with no place to run.
Hello Happy for you back at Isla.. Say hello to Isaurio I sure miss his massages, Sara always jumped from couch to his massage table after I was finished and rolled over for him to give her a massage.. I also took a photo of them and gave it one Xmas, happy, happy memories. He loved our Canadian candy that I brought down .. Enjoy! Cheers!
It must be a thing with doxies. Both Carmeh and Caeli would do the same thing here. They just know who is a special person. I would love to see taht photo if you still have it somewhere.Good tip on the candy, I will put a package together for him. We miss you so much.
I’m sorry too, to hear about the patio. I know you’ll work your magic on the plants. I totally “get” the attachment to plants that you started with. I have a few house plants that are already 19 yrs. old.
I hope all goes well with the massages on your arm and hip.
I’m not feeling the Christmas spirit at the moment either; I’ll get there eventually. I’m looking forward to cooking the turkey and stuffing and all the rest of the yummy food. 😉 What’s on your dinner menu?
I spent a Christmas in Australia one year and it was “weird” for me as someone who lives in Edmonton.
I’m not complaining, the hot summer weather was awesome!
Cheers!
Pauline you are too funny, I don’t even know what I am eating tomorrow. Sadly me next massage isn’t until Friday, he was too busy to fit me in any earlier.
Thanks for the update…to bad about what last years renters did but you will make it better? Hope you plants all rebound too! And you both get some down time! ??
Yes we are making the yard and plants better. After we put up Christmas we might get a chance to relax. We are not hosting nor attending any events because of Covid.