life in pictures

1. Lu got baptized.  Father John allowed us to have it during teacher's mass (every week all the Mount Carmel teachers go to Mass on Thursdays after school) and it was just perfect.  Such a wonderful community celebration.  And after, we had Dona Betty make her famous pizzas, and everyone feasted on pizza and homemade fresh ice cream and cupcakes.  Welcome little Lu!

2. RASPBERRIES.  They are not something you find in Belize anywhere.  Last year we were surprised to find a Mennonite nursery selling a tropical variety, and got a couple of bushes.  This seems to be the time of year for berries.  I'm only getting a handful at a time, but I'm freezing them so maybe in a year or two I'll have enough to make some jam :)

3.  Miss M has a problem with that other baby getting a bottle when she does not.  She is also fascinated by Lu's eyelashes, which has resulted in several unfortunate eye-poking encounters.  

4. Don't worry, Lu's fine. Those eyelashes are pretty tempting though.

5.  Morning view, with guinea hen

6. This is some kind of toucannette (Daniel told me but I am horrible with bird names). This pair apparently loves papaya, and spent several mornings devouring the fruit which was conveniently located just a few feet from my window.  They are just glorious to watch.  

7. Bonus toucan shot.  Isn't he a gorgeous fellow?

linking up with Jen for 7 quick takes today.

snapshots

Daniel likes birds.  Unfortunately, they don't seem to like us.  We've gone through about a dozen chickens, bantams, and guinea hens over the last 2 years.  Inevitably, they show up mysteriously dead.  Right now we are down to four guinea hens, and I am content to stay at that number.  Daniel would love to add to the flock.... he said this little one fit perfectly on his finger.  A requirement for a chicken, apparently.  

snowbirds

Every wonder where all the birds are going to escape the crazy weather you all are having up there in the states?

.... my back yard!  We had a pair of Baltimore Orioles in our madre cacao tree the other day.  Beautiful, isn't he?

that time of year

This morning I glanced out my kitchen window, and was reminded it has been almost a year since I started this blog.

once again the Madra Cacao tree behind the house is in bloom, and once again we have some early morning visitors.  Can you spot them?

These little guys love to eat the nectar in the flowers, and were chattering happily amongst themselves all morning.

golden-fronted woodpecker

Daniel got a bird book for his birthday (the absolutely wonderful "Birds of Belize")  and we enjoy identifying some of the many kinds of birds we see here.  This type of woodpecker is fairly common here.  This is a female, and she is tending her nest.  I really wanted to climb up and see the babies, but this nest happens to be in the front lawn of Mount Carmel Church.  I didn't really think all of Benque needed to hear about that gringa climbing the palm tree.....

bye little birds

This was taken the day before these little guys flew away.

baby birds....

The hummingbirds have hatched.....