Wednesday

Yesterday was a home day, I cooked, it took me half the day, it was hot, we were lazy.

The kids were spinning their usual circles, asking to watch tv, being bored (yup, even here)

M and I went on a little walk, we didnt have to go far to find this beautiful tree, looks fairly ordinary right? can you guess what it is?

A nutmeg tree! M finds a pod, there is a perfectly ready to pick nutmeg inside, the red lacing is mace, its beautiful, and so fragrant. Here they  grate a little of the seed into cakes, meats and oatmeal, delicious.

Did you know in order for a nutmeg tree to bear fruit, there have to be 2 growing side by side>>? a male and a female tree ♥

our living room window, just  thought it looked sweet from down below

cinnamon tree, another non exceptional looking tree, but scrunch the leafs and my goodness! here they shave the bark with a machete, and boil it for tea, women in labor often drink it to speed things along.

when Imani was about 2 and Zion 4, hubby and I decided to build them a little play house in the yard with some leftover lumber, we made a mini version of our own, the locals thought we were insane, but all the neighborhood kids loved to come play, I  brought down play food and little aprons over the years, and yesterday cleaned it out and set them up to play

M clutched this blue pot and said he was making "cheese soup" for about 3 hours

chefs at work, I had to wait until they called me to eat

I got pie!

and egg

inside

cooking is hard work

ta da! flower cake is served

and yellow leaf stir fry

that proved to be hours and hours of fun, Zion was on the wharf fishing for red snapper with his dad, wish i could have been there to photograph that too, but I cant do it all!

After this we got ready and went to bocas for dinner

missy looking cute

just had to sneak this little gem in here, THIS child, how absolutely beautiful, 

you're welcome.

Not photographed here, driving to Bocas in our boat with the setting sun, eating an incredible meal at our favorite italian place,run by a lovely old couple from Sardegna, i mean like AMaZING pasta and pizza, filled the very cockles of my soul, hanging out with our old friend Rando a bit, and reminiscing  nostalgically about the 2 years we lived in Bocas town,

buying veggies, and the kids fighting to hold a tiny kitty at the veggie place, collectively realizing how badly we miss our cats.

My very favorite, driving our boat back home under a star filled sky,  over smooth ink black water, Imani lying on her back looking up at he stars while gliding over the sea, stopping to stir up sea lights and marvel at them under water  (remember life of pie? its real)

Not so favorite part, putting 3 kids up way past their usual bedtime to sleep, whining over who gets the fan to spot on them more (its a problem, with a fan on a stand and a bunkbed, think about it)

All in all, a great day, grateful.