Look closely

We've seen signs that Cecca and Jarrod are bringing some of Manjack land and sea back with them. They fly back tomorrow morning but have an island waiting for their return.

North shore

We were walking on the beach along the north shore of Manjack when this ray sailed into the shallows to greet us. It is wonderful when the wildlife is friendly, curious, and socially engaged.

Alter egos

We want to remember our island selves before returning to the responsible, mature, and dutiful people who you know and .......

Proof

Some may believe that Cecca and Jarrod never left the states and spent their vacation in a tanning shop. These doubters should quickly check the beach at Rocky Bay for evidence of their visit here. (Shadow profiles have a specificity and reliability for identification similar to fingerprints and can validate claims of a beach visit.)

Islanders

Their beet red feet and lumpy bug bites have changed to tans and smooth skin. In addition to these outward signs, over the past 2 weeks we've Cecca and Jarrod in a new perspective.

Family

Jarrod also discovered and documented genetic Jasinski traits for further investigation.

Storm Day

More pictures from Cecca and Jarrod.

World on edge

Cecca and Jarrod showed us familiar places with new eyes.

Being there

Sunburned feet and clear blue water are the proof that this is not Michigan in April. Thanks to Cecca and Jarrod for this and the next pictures from their camera.

Bird and Bill

The boats, the flowers, the vegetables are all wonderful. What is more important are the good friends who visit daily and always seem to understand.

Manjack Flowers

Can you identify these flowers?

Bees and sky

Going up once more, with the motor silent, Leslie had only the bees between her and the sky.

Enter the queen of bees

After the bee team prepared the way, Leslie put on her bee hat, grabbed her bee brush, and climbed on top of the backhoe bucket. While the bees flew in clouds around her and the team shook the tree violently, she calmly caught the falling bees and swept others from the branch into her garbage can. They were held captive under its lid until she and Bill poured them into a new hive. Swarming bees can not sting, but these bees held a powerful grudge against the bee broom and attacked it with powerless malice.

How many does it take?

We returned to Manjack and our settled life, but the quiet routine was interrupted when a swarm of bees mounded up on the branch of a tall Poisonwood tree near the garden. The bee rescue team quickly went to work. Vinnie stood on the top of the back hoe bucket with a chain saw to top the tree which blocked access to the bees. Bill sat in the back hoe cab and ran the bucket, but stuck on the other side of the trees and underbrush with the loud howl of the motor, he worked blind and deaf. David, stood between Vinnie and Bill to signal complicated bucket maneuvers. It all worked and an official photographer documented the event.

So much wood, so little time

Then, around the edge of the beach, a figure emerges. He is grinning widely, holding driftwood in his hands and hauling a pound of sea beans in his pockets.. It has been a very good trip to the beach. The weary explorers pull the dingy into the water and take their loot back to the boat.

Waiting

The walk is ended, the sun is high, and lunch is an hour or two late. So, why are we sitting on the dingy?

Under foot

There was a shark in the north bay, several rays along the shore, and conch in the shallows. Early in their visit, Cecca and Jarrod had eaten conch for lunch in Green Turtle Cay. Now they have a strange creature leaning out of its shell to look at them, making its slimy self even less appetizing. The Sea Stars were huge and also safe from our dinner menu.

Powell Cay

We took Saturday and Sunday to sail 10 miles to an uninhabited island and explore. We found interesting things in the woods and on the beaches. Many of them came back with us.

They do exist

The sign on the beach says : "Pet Chickens Roaming Please Leash Dog". The chickens like to pose in front of this demonstration of their importance. They wanted Leslie to add another line at the bottom, "And humbly admire".

No time to waste

It is surprising how busy a vacation in paradise can be, but there are always new things to try. This little boat is fun in a good wind. Cecca and Jarrod found that you can sail it easy, or on edge.

The days pass

Time seems to speed up and we walk in the morning, learn new skills in the afternoon, and celebrate in the evenings. We share birthdays and anniversaries, arrivals and goodbyes. There is always something that calls us down to a fire on the beach as the night comes.

Good news for dinner guests

We were happy to discover that the head like object dangling from Jarrod's hand was a coconut ready to be shucked for the evening meal. Francesca already had a plan for its use.

Head hunters

During a break from the long dock, Cecca and Jarrod decided to practice their food gathering skills. At first Jarrod appeared to be a delighted cannibal with fresh meat.