Vacation Refresher

So you probably saw my last post on the light version of pina coladas we have here in STX on hot summer days. We have been working really hard during the cool hours of the day, but when the hot sun takes over after lunch there is little left your body can do but just rest. 

Here our internet is slow, the tv rarely turns on and the rest of the world slips away. Walks in the valley have to happen at the dawn hours before the sun heats up the land, and without the breeze of the ocean we wouldn't last the night. We set the reset button, leave the world of social media, texting, and stress behind. Don't get me wrong, there's still laundry and dishes and yard work to do here, but the distractions are left in the continental US. 

The land is crispy dry in comparison to the winter. Above you see views from our walk, up to the hill we call "lipitor hill" which really is catherine's hope, the goat farms are bare and the little baby goats sit under the shade. The hills are brown and dry and the succulents turn red without water. Comparing this to the view of the beach below taken during the wet season, the east end of the island fries up in the hot sun and the sahara winds come across bringing red dust to ever surface within the house. 

Flora and fauna still survive through these hot months, as they do every year, even when water is scarse. This is why showers consist of 1) water on and rinse 2) turn off and soap up and shave 3) turn water on and rinse. The conservation of water on the island doesn't seem important during the wet months, but having a full cistern is a key aspect of living here during the dry months. 

Each of these lovely flora and fauna on the island deserves some recognition and explanation, so that is coming next. We have some fruity island drinks in the works, as well as some adventures with local harvest of fruits and veg (hopefully! - it all depends on what we can find tomorrow).