Caterpillar time again!!

Well, they picked our tree this year.  Apparently this happens every summer, and it is a necessity in order to pollinate these beautiful plumeria trees.......but it is so sad to watch - they eat every last leaf of the tree - but then it all grows back!!

The tree is seriously COVERED in them!

Oooops - this one has mistaken the palm tree for
the plumeria tree!!

NOM NOM NOM!!!  LOL

They will eventually cocoon and turn into a giant sphinx moth!

Adventure of the Spider

OK - so here he is!  At the top of MY corner of the 12 foot
bedroom ceiling!  I looked up and freaked.  As most of you know, I
don't let bugs bother me too much - but this pretty much freaked me out!
I even considered calling housing to come get it!!

BUT - i decided I would not let this defeat me! I got the only bug
spray I knew of in the house (outdoor mosquito fogger) and the
8 foot ladder and went to work!!  Here he is SPRAYED!!!

Then, Gryffin helped me get a broom stick with an old
cloth on the end to try and reach it and get it down!!

SUCCESS!!!!  He definitely didn't die - in fact
when I put him on the back porch he RAN away!!
Ahhhhhh - heebie jeebies!!

Kayak Trip with Els, Theresa and Lauren

The beginning of the kayak adventure!!
Miss Lauren (7 yrs old)



Theresa found a conch - but didn't like holding it!!
You can tell from her face!
We were gonna keep it but decided not to.

The Admiral's house at the end of our street.
Picture taken from the little inlet from the Bay.

We are IN the inlet here - looking out towards the Bay.

The madness begins!!

Ellen, Theresa and Lauren holding up HUMONGO starfish.

SoOoOoO pretty - both of them!!

Putting them back......they float for a long while, then fill
up with water and sink eventually!!  I read somewhere that
they use water as their "blood" for the circulatory system.

The underside of a starfish.

Ooooops - we got carried away!! 19 in all!! :)

Everyone wanted to pose with the starfish!!

Biding their time - waiting to sink!

Uh oh - we started having troubles!!  Theresa and Lauren's double
kayak started filling with water....they tried to dump it and start over....

"Help" and "Im hungry", Lauren kept saying!!!

Sean to the rescue!! (I call Port Ops and reported a problem,
but MWR jumped in on the conversation and said they would
come save us!!)

Sean starts reeling them in!!

I kayaked back to the marina and beat the pontoon boat -
they didn't hurry - and they FOUND Ellen's sandal that she had
lost in the "quicksand muck"!!! HURRRRRAYYYY!!

Kayaks behind the pontoon boat!!

Lauren is a happy camper now!!  and McDonald's has
been promised to her - we were all starving and  HOT!

Back at the Marina where we got a group picture!!

Bryan's Final Cuba Trip Post brought to you once again by Batch.com!!

                     OK - last but not least POST about Bryan's trip to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba!!

Trip to Cuzco Beach!!  The C.O. of the Base gave us the key
so that we could get into this private beach - we had an amazing time!!
Lee and I shelled...Bryan and Ellen snorkeled alot.  I guess I snorkeled some, too
and then Lee and Bryan did!  Beautiful huge beach!  We are so thankful
to know the C.O. like we do and get a key...he also "evicted" us from
our house for parking the "scooter" on the sidewalk!!!  (INSIDE JOKE!)

Found this on the beach...wonder if it washed in from Japan or China?

a more artsy view of my findings!!

Bryan finishing up his first snorkel

Lee and Bryan getting ready to head out.  Bryan telling
him where they are going to go, I guess!!

My artsy view of the cactus - I LOVE BRYAN'S camera!!
Cactus, beach, ocean and mountains - all in one spot -
pretty cool!!

Bryan's name made out of coral!!  ;)
You knew you'd see this again, right Bryan?

Ellen's name made out of coral!!  ;)

This was like Christmas in July...Bryan, Ellen, TJ and Ryan
went on a night dive.  I was awakened (awoken?) at 1:00 a.m. by Ellen to
come out into the kitchen!  They proceeded to tell me all about their dive
and everything they saw....octopus, 2 tulips etc etc....then Bryan
uncovered this gorgeous KING HELMET shell!!  They are next
to impossible to find and this was half the reason Bryan wanted to learn
how to dive!!  He was so proud and happy!! We stayed up a long time talking
about everything!!

Closeup of the King Helmet

8 inches I believe Bryan said

Tulips found by TJ....

So proud!!

Time to dive Kittery Beach!!

I was the paparazzi, but i did snorkel too!!
Lee had just left for FL that a.m., so he wasnt' there.

Bryan, Ryan, Ellen, TJ

"show me your tanks"    LOL

There they go, can you see the little specks?

These hermit crabs were seriously fighting - and then they all
swapped shells - it was hilarious!!

Iggy in between the grasse and a good look at Kittery

This is the sign the CUBANS see if they are
seeking asylum!!  I think it says
STOP - don't go any farther!!

YAY - they are thru - here they come!!

Ellen and TJ the night that Ryan cooked us fried chicken,
potatoes and salad - YUMMMM!!! Fun night!!

Bryan swishing his helmet - trying to
get the animal out!!  He was successful the next
morning! and got it home clean as ever!!

BRYAN - thanks so much for coming to see us - we LOVED it
and will never forget it!!