Downshifting is tricky.

Checking out BARRK!‘s awesome spay and neuter clinic:

Anyone know where to find a good book around here?

She digs her Dad.

Keeping cool (and hydrated) in the pool:

Sea Fan!

We headed over to North Point this afternoon for a little Mother’s Day snailing. It’s pretty much a snailer’s paradise. No worries, this was a catch-and-release operation!

We finished up with a little bird watching…

Happy Mother’s Day!

If you ask me, there are two seasons in the Bahamas: warm and hot. And as of the past week or so, hot has arrived. This means a couple of things.

First, the garden is pretty much done for the year. There are a few last cucumbers trickling in, and the green onions will last a while longer, but everything else is shot now that the sun is really baking.

Poor Mae … my best tomato-picker can’t bring herself to accept it.

I can’t decide, is it just the camera angle or has she most definitely inherited her father’s extra-long arms?

The arrival of “hot” also means we’re staking out all the cool, shady spots that will allow us to spend some less-miserable time outdoors in the coming months. Mae is particularly fond of the space between Tom’s banana grove and the adjacent building.

But my favorite new find is what I like to call “The Casaurina Forest”. (Note: Casaurina trees are in invasive species, but in this case, I forgive them.)

It’s so peaceful, there’s a ton of shade, the ground is carpeted in soft, springy needles, and the trees let through a really nice breeze (as long as the wind is blowing). Basically, it’s lovely and has a really different feel from the rest of the island.

It’s a perfect spot for exploring, relaxing with books, or having a picnic.

Now, I feel a little foolish, because up until about three weeks ago, I had no idea what a gem this little forest was. It borders the field station and I’ve walk alongside it at least two or three times a day for the past six years. But not once did I venture in among the trees. Definitely my loss, but I think we’ll have some fun making up for it!

Last month I celebrated a fairly significant anniversary. It marked TEN years since my first trip to San Salvador as an undergraduate. There was also a cute grad student named Tom along on the course. Little did I know where we’d be a decade later.

Forgive the trip down memory lane…

(I believe photographers are Matt Kosnik, Guil Gualda, and myself.)

Well, the grandies left on Thursday. Despite some nasty colds, we managed to squeeze in more good times.

There was the particularly lovely morning at Sanddollar Beach:

Plenty of iguana-watching:

There was also kite flying!

Complete with jaunty technique…

… and the cutest little kite runner you ever did see.

There was even time for science. We found a hermit crab in dire need of a bigger shell and decided to help him out. We offered alternatives…

… he perused the new real estate …

… and chose a new home! Very quickly, I might add.

We miss Mae’s doting grandparents very much already!!

Once again, I’m trying to climb back on the blogwagon. And what better place to start than midway though my parents’ yearly visit? My lovely aunt requested pictures, so here they are!

The first few days were windy and a bit gloomy, but perfect for hiking North Point:

Mae had her first experience with bubbles:

Then we got gussied up for Easter:

We made cookies, which was VERY serious business:

And since the sun returned, we’ve worked in plenty of water play and beach time:

The grandparents are here for another week, so hopefully there will be more adventures to share. I’ll close with this cheese-ball face that Mae makes especially for her “Buppa”: