Aruba Vacation

We're leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know if I'll be back again....!

We are so lucky to have the means to enjoy a wonderful holiday for seventeen days in Aruba beginning in two days time and then off to a ten day cruise from Fort Lauderdale on Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas.

I am looking forward to every moment. Aruba is a very tiny island in the southern Caribbean, a colony of the Netherlands. It's white sandy beaches, beautiful resorts, wonderful attractions and many shops will make it a great place to relax and forget about everything.

I'll check out the art scene and maybe even do a lesson or two if there are any available.

Cats in January

Well, as usual, it's been awhile. It's a cool, snowy January day and I'm a little bored... therefore I'll write about my cats.
These days I'm down to two cats... Sofie and Oats. They are such a delight to have. I love watching them interact in there defensive or aggressive ways. Sofie is the boss, even though Oats is the scarier one when it comes to what she'll do to make her point known with humans.

Oats is part abyssinian. Sofie could either be part birman, or part siberian?

Sofie is such a pleasing cat to the eye that there are so many more photos of her, but I've begun to note, as I had in previous years, that Oats is a very unusual cat. She's quite independent, loves to lie in your lap for short periods of time. Will sit for 10 to 15 minutes at a time staring at the wall and will spend other times scratching inside a bookcase, a cupboard or on a wall??

Oats is also the hunter. Sofie thinks she is but would not catch an animal even if it fell in her mouth. From mid June to the end of September is Oat's hunting season. She brings up birds, shrews, mice, small rats, an occasional squirrel and rabbit. We have a cat door and we have to check the house on our return to make sure we don't have any unwelcome visitors dropped of by Oats. She loves to feed us!.. and even though she has the smallest little meow... it can be quite loud when she's coming with a mouth full of shrew!!

She is twelve this year, but her age is still not showing. She may sleep a little more, but that's it! Sofie is about six and still acts like a kitten in many ways.. can be frisky, playful, or downright lazy!!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Holyrood Beach & Harbour

Holyrood Beach & Harbour
Originally uploaded by by the bay gal

I took this beautiful shot last night with my new camera (given to me for Christmas). I'm hoping to take more shots around Holyrood and will have them posted to my blog within a day or two of taking the shot. I live in an amazingly beautiful town. I am so lucky!

I pass this scene almost every day. So last night I thought it would be a great idea to have a night view captured with my great camera. I think I may have captured some of the essence of it's beauty.

Our town!

I stated on my last blog that I would show some of the scenes I see on my walk about the town.. well.. I haven't taken new pictures, but I've dug up some older shots I've taken over the past year or so.

Holyrood is an beautiful little town at the head of Conception Bay. It's Website has much useful information for the visitor and resident alike... http://www.townofholyrood.com/default.php?display=modNews&do=viewNews&nid=23

I'll begin by showing a view of the most often seen part of the town, the Main Beach area...

This photo shows a view of the old fish plant which is now in the process of being replaced by a new school for Marine Offshore services. I'll add a new photo when the buildings are completed. The new buildings are quite esthetically pleasing and fit into the look of the town quite well.









The next photo is a view of the Main Beach area from the hill overlooking the harbour on the Conception Bay Highway.










This is a view of the Walkway and mural along the walkway that depicts a train travelling through the town (the walkway was originally the train track bed).










..to be continued...

Catching Up

I've been away from my blog for too long....

We are now getting ready to head out on another cruise in the Western Caribbean. Our two boys and their families will come along with us and we are looking forward to every moment.

I think about past cruises and holidays and know that this one will be a another great adventure. We will be at many of the places we've seen before, but because of that we'll be relaxed and get to know a little more about each of these places, which include Grand Cayman, Belize, Cozemel-Mexico and Roatan-Honduras.





Altun-Ha, Belize







In a town called Hell, Grand Cayman









Chillin' in Cozumel-Mexico






Snorkling in Roatan-Honduras


The memories are so idealic... then we come back to our everyday life, refreshed and ready to continue with our realities.

My life today is simple, relaxed and full of interesting hobbies... as a result of retiring on June 30, 2009.

I try to exercise daily and have joined a gym.. on good weeks I get there at least 3 mornings. I also spend time hiking around the town and appreciating the many beautiful sites I see and the interesting chats I have with newcomers and old friends as I walk along.

Today is Good Friday. We will meet Carol, Peter and family and take part in a "Poor Man's Supper" at the Star of the Sea in Holyrood. This supper consists of Fish Cakes, Beans, Macaroni, homemade bread and cookies.. YUM!!!...

In my next blog I will try to concentrate on the many sites I see on my walks around our town.

September's Coming

I've had an amazing summer after my retirement on June 30th. Filled with family, fun and photographs.

It began with finishing a basement that had been left in the slings for 34 years...


Then my husband relatives arrived for a two week visit from Manitoba. Most of them had never seen Newfoundland. During this time we did a Whale Boat Tour, a visit to Northern Bay, a visit to Brigus, many great times in the garden, and time eating, eating, eating!!!