Anne & Joel

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Valentine's Day, a few days late

9:59 AM | Posted by Anne | | Edit Post

Here is a quick little overview of what Joel and I did for Valentine's day.

We celebrated it yesterday because he had exams.

But don't worry I woke up on Monday morning to a Valentine and some candy waiting for me on the table. Just like my dad always did for me.

After school I met Joel and we did a hike I have been wanting to do for a while.

The Ladder

A set of stairs that take you from The Bottom all the way to the ocean.

This is where ships used to anchor and then Sabans carried the cargo up these stairs.

This is the beginning.

Can you see how far the water is?

At least it is a beautiful walk

Daddy long legs taking the lead

The water looked beautiful

Just a little bit more...

Our rocky coastline.

Enjoying our time together

We got down the the rocky coastline and the water looked so inviting so we had to go in. And much to our surprise a few feet in there was a sandy bottom to stand on. The water was gorgeous and it was soooo nice to go swimming. Even though I did have a little accident on the rocks getting in and ended up with a bruised and cut up hand. It was totally worth it!

We headed home after swimming to have some dinner.

I don't allow Joel to buy roses on Valentine's day.

And why should he here when I found these beautiful flowers in our back yard!

For dessert we had some Valentine's day themed cheesecake.

And when I say we I mean Joel because cheesecake is gross.

We finished the night off with friends at open mike night at Swinging Doors.

So much fun!

Perfect day together.

Love you sweetie and I am sooooo very proud of all you have accomplished so far!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's day!

1 comments

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Better Then Nothing

3:51 PM | Posted by Anne | | Edit Post

I have had some complaints lately that there has not been a new post in a long time. I didn't realize it had been so long. My bad. In all honesty not much has been going on around here. Just the usual, SOS activities, working, cooking, and only a tiny bit of sewing. I did get the fabric for Emma's quilt but I have only finished about 5 or 6 blocks out of the like 42 I have to do. Wish me luck! And people have been asking for more info on Ellen's baby. His official name is Alexander Thomas. I don't know how much he weighed, I know I am a bad auntie. But I am the only one he has so he is stuck with me.

Since I don't have any new or interesting pictures and I have no new news I thought I would share with you some of the things I miss and don't miss from back home.

I miss fresh meat. Oh Deluca's I would love to come and browse that wonderful counter with homemade chicken sausage and fresh lamb...
I don't miss the weather. Though I sweat a lot more then I would like to here, I don't have to shovel snow or wear multiple layers.
I miss getting my hair cut. Oh do I need a hair cut. This hair has not seen scissors since the beginning of July. I have not found a place here that anyone recommends so we will have to see if I can find a place on our vacation in April.
I don't miss the hustle and bustle of "civilization". Everything here moves a little slower and takes a little longer to get done but I don't mind. Maybe because I have all the time in the world right now. *Ellen it kind if reminds me of Italy but people are nicer :)
I miss doing my own laundry. I didn't think I did till I was able to do it for myself a little while ago. I guess I am like my Nana in that way. Who doesn't like folding clothes fresh out of the dryer. Well I am sure lots of people don't but I kinda like it.
I don't miss commuting to work. The longest it takes to get anywhere on the island is 15 minutes. It takes about 5 to get into "town" and that is where my work is. When I worked in Winnipeg it would take 40-45 minutes. I have soooo much extra time.
I miss rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. I made a roasted chicken yesterday and though it was delicious I miss the convenience and ease of just stopping off and getting one already made.
I don't miss working. Is that a bad thing to say? I love my job here interacting with people and working a couple shifts a week. I don't miss the 40 hour work weeks sitting in front of a computer. I do like working at home doing what I want to do on my time. I am still looking for that job everyone strives for, you know the one where you actually look forward to going to work. Do any of you have that kind if job?
I miss shopping in huge malls and supermarkets where you can find just about anything you want. Someone here told me that our grocery store is the size of the junk food section at their store at home. Just to put it into perspective for the people that live in North Kildonan. It is about the same size (if not smaller) of Family Foods and even has a section for alcohol and housewares.
Okay I ran out of things I don't miss. I am sure there are some but I can't seem to think of any. So let me add to the things I do miss...
I miss family and friends. Those people that know me so well I don't even have to say anything.
I miss my bed. My super comfortable queen (not full sized like we have here) size bed with our fluffy down comforter that actually covers us both when we sleep.
I miss fast internet. Enough said.
I miss being able to walk on flat ground. There's not much of that around here.
I miss a large oven. One that fits more then one 9 x 13 pan and actually has a broiler.
I miss long hot showers. I get warm showers but they are short, just not the same.

Okay I am stopping there. Of course I miss home and all the things I can't get here but I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I love it here. It is beautiful, relaxing (for me not Joel) and an amazing experience. I just started thinking of all these things because I booked my plane tickets home. I will be home in 4 and a half months! Joel and I looked through his calendar and that is best for him to have uninterrupted study time with only 15 minute Skype breaks. He will be preparing for his final exam and will have to review everything he has learned here. So Sophie and I are heading home and looking for a job. Me not Sophie. So if anyone comes across anything where they will be hiring in July keep me in mind!

Well this is a very long winded post for someone who had nothing to say. Let me know what you miss when you are away from home. I would love to hear!

1 comments

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Cook, Bake, Sew, Repeat

2:37 PM | Posted by Anne | | Edit Post

All I have been doing for the last couple weeks is just that. Cooking, baking, sewing and I guess working. I really like my job so I don't really consider it work. Now that I have a full sized freezer I have been filling it with all sorts of things for a raining day. Or a day I don't feel like cooking. In the last two weeks I have made perogies, pesto, meatballs, muffins, and cookies for my freezer. Lasagnas are next this week and maybe calzones if I feel like it.

I replanted some of my garden and felt like 3 basil plants was a bit much so I took one out and made pesto. I have always wanted to do it this way. I made it and put it in ice cube trays so I could just take a little out at a time. First of all they are super cute and secondly I have already used it twice. I used it for pizza sauce and for little appetizers I made. Here's a picture.

Sometimes my baking includes other people. Amanda and Lauren sometimes get together to bake on Sunday afternoon when the husbands study so I invited myself over on a block weekend. Here we are relaxing while the cookies bake.

I brought a friend as well. Can you see how Lauren lives in the clouds?!

Also I am nooo good at keeping secrets or surprises so I had to show Ellen and Luca the quilt for new baby Alex (well I think that is his name, these two always take forever to name their kids). So since I showed them the quilt I can now show you! I think it is super cool especially because it has guitars on the back.

And then since I was on a roll I decided to make Emma a dress. I think it is adorable, I'm super proud of it. I used a pattern Joel's mom bought me. But I got a little confused with the instructions so it ended up being a hybrid of the pattern and a tutorial I found online. It was WAY easier then I thought it would be.

Which leads me to today. I forgot that I still had a Christmas present from my sister that was untouched. And I wanted to make it REAL bad! So I whipped this little number up this afternoon. Mind you it was super easy because everything was already cut and it came with very clear instructions. Thanks Ellen!! What do you think?

Just so you don't think I am super artistic or anything I copied the photo idea from the instruction manual, Saban style (the rock walls are very typical Saban if you are wondering how I made it Saban style). Here's the original to compare.

I also managed to get some diving in and we started planning Joel's April break vacation. We are doing some travelling with 2 other couples and I am getting really excited! We are heading to Anguilla and St. Barts. Anguilla has over 33 beaches, compared to Saba that is 33 times as many! and St. Barts.... well I am scared they might not let me on because I didn't bring any nice clothes with me and it is super posh. I'm going to try and make a dress by then. Wish me luck!

And finally if any of you have not heard Ellen and Luca had their baby boy on Friday January 28th, only one week past due! Both mommy and baby are doing great and he is rocking a full head of hair Italian style.

Off to do some more cooking.......

2 comments

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Would You Like This Man As Your Doctor?

9:57 AM | Posted by Anne | | Edit Post

I would love to have this man as my doctor. Oh wait he kinda is! Today he has his first kind of practical exam. We have been studying, yes I have been helping. He has to perform some basic examinations so this week I have had my head, ears, nose, throat, hair, nails and skin looked at. And you will all be happy to know I am perfectly healthy with no problems. Oh except I was told I had boogers in my nose, but I don't think that is a technical term, or a problem.

I have been keeping very busy with work, SOS and sewing so I have neglected this blog just a little bit. I went through my pictures and found a bunch I have not posted since New Years so I will run through a few of them for you.

This is for you Ellen.

Can anyone figure out what is one Joel's shirt?

He figured it out right away.

Here are some of the pictures I took at New Years.

These are for Allison who has been waiting for them.

This is the pretty table they set up for us at Eden.

Keith had a little too much fun with the glow sticks.

Allison, Me and Leslie = Pretty ladies

One of the like 18 shawls Allison ended up with by the end of the night.

Joel and I did a hike a few weeks ago. It is probably one of the prettiest ones on the island.

Sandy Cruz.

It covers a large chunk of the island and took us about 2.5 hours (leisurely).

If these bananas were a little lower I would have a picked a few.

Darn.

Some of the path required a little flexibility but it was sooo much fun!

Randoms.

Where I found our little monster when I looked over one morning.

She even stayed like this so I could take a picture.

I think she is trying to copy the goats.

Where I find these two most nights and all day Saturday.

My stash.

Yeah this is just some of my fabric.

I finished the quilt for the soon to be born nephew this week.

It is fantastic but I cannot post anything because Ellen wants it to be a surprise.

Not only have I neglected this blog but I have also neglected the house since I went into a sewing frenzy last week. So I have been baking, cleaning and cooking the last two days to make up for it so that is what has been keeping me busy. Oh and my SOS ladies. I love those girls. If I didn't have them life would not be nearly as fun! Anyone up for another dance party tomorrow?

5 comments

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Work and Play

1:28 PM | Posted by Anne | | Edit Post

So I have updated you all on Aruba but have failed to tell you what else we have been up to.

We ended up back on Saba on December 24th. We had already celebrated Christmas with Joel's family in Aruba and we didn't actually buy each other gifts so Christmas was just another day for us.

I had trouble getting out of vacation mode so nothing really happened for a couple days. Then work called and I have been busy since. I have already worked 6 days since the 28th. Which is a lot for me since I really haven't worked since well June. But I don't know if I would consider hanging out with my sister and niece all day really "work". So anyways I have been busy with that and then we had some new spouses and students come in so Joel and I met then either at the airport or the harbour with welcome baskets. There are some nice stories from that but you would only appreciate them if you lived here so I won't bore you.

Joel started school yesterday and it was a nice and easy day so he was actually done studying by the time I got home from work. Then we headed out with the group to Swinging Doors for some BBQ ribs and some fun. It is nice to have everyone back, it feels less lonely at the Gate House now.

Joel and I were able to get two dives in this weekend too so I have posted some pictures below. But first I have to show you all my new organizational tool put to good use. An over the door hook. I kind of have an obsession with hooks. I would put them everywhere if I could. So when Joel's parents gave us one for Christmas I was thrilled. They also brought us other ones but I didn't take pictures of those. But we do have 10 hooks in our bathroom now. But seriously when you live in a place as small as ours where else do you put your stuff? Anyways back to this hook. Take a look...

Before