Foodie Me?

Don and Tamar told me that i was a Foodie.

"A foodie is a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food and who eats food not out of hunger but due to their interest or hobby . The terms "gastronome", "gourmand" and "epicure" define the same thing, i.e. a person who enjoys food for pleasure."

They looked at my Blog and figured it out.  I guess they are right?  I never thought about it.  I prefer Gastronome.  (not to be confused with a Garden Gnome)

I do like to eat.  I'm a Food-Gnome?

Yesterday i had a very 'refined' dinner.  While out riding my bike, I bought some Cornbread at the bakery.  So, i made Pinto Beans to go with it.  I love me some Pintos and Cornbread.  I added onion, bacon, ham, and diced jalapeno pepper to give it 'my foodie touch.'  #Yum

Look up at that slice of cornbread.  It was pretty huge.  I thought the spots were brown sugar that didnt melt.  I cut the bread in half, melted some butter and grilled it to caramelize it a little.  When i started eating i realized the spots were raisins.  Raisins!  The Cornbread turned out to be a Corn Cake with raisins and lots of flour and sugar.  It was Cornbread about like I'm a fashion model.  But, it was delicious.  As a Foodie i appreciated it.  But it was not cornbread!

When life gives you Corn Cake - EAT IT.     

xoxox Sassy Foodie Skip

How to tie a Truckers Hitch

How to tie  KNOTS.*    < click the link*

Ken Reed sent me the above link about how to tie a Truckers Hitch.  As a sailor we use several knots and try to avoid getting our lines messed up and tangled.  We dont want our dinghy to get free, our fenders to fall off, our boat to run rampant....  

Today it's raining now, earlier and going to rain all day.  The storm Alberto in the gulf is causing havoc everywhere.  So I'll stay aboard ALL DAY and read a book, type on my computer and cook dinner.  I'm thinking Pressure Cooker Pork Ribs.  #Yum.

I hope you are not hungry.          

 -skip

ps.  Happy Memorial Day everyone, especially our military.  I watched the local TV here in Marsh Harbor, which is Pirated from Miami.  It was showing lots of tributes and reminders of our military.  Thank you for your service.  I salute you.  

Finally this afternoon after the rain cleared off some I went to shore.  I expected stores to be closed.  Except it's NOT Memorial Day here.  In the Bahamas it's just Monday.  I was reminded yet again that my perspective is skewed. 

Rangers Abaco District

Today is Saturday 5.26.18.  Yesterday i rode my bike to the Post Office at the Government Complex building.  I mailed my Aunt Nona a card.  (it's been too long Nona)  While i was at the Government complex, a maintenance worker invited me back today.  She said, "be here at 11am and bring your camera."  So, i did.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) is the navy of The Bahamas. Since The Bahamas does not have an army or an air force, its navy composes the entirety of its armed forces. Under The Defence Act, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has been mandated to defend The Bahamas, protect its territorial integrity, patrol its waters, provide assistance in times of disaster, maintain order in conjunction with the law enforcement agencies of The Bahamas, and carry out any such duties as determined by the National Security Council.

These are new recruits of Rangers.  The RBDF training team.  School children enter the program and progress up through the ranks.  Today was new recruit graduation day.

 Inspection

 Parade

 Prayer

National Anthem sung

Special Academic Awards

Great job kids.  A special congrats to the 6 who won academic awards for their hard work at school.  Thanks to the Minister of National Security and the RBDF Commodore Tellis Bethel.

I wish i could be a Ranger!    -dock rat Skip

Don & Tamar Clark. M/S Pearl

I met Don and Tamar the other day.  They are anchored behind Prodigal.  I was up in the cockpit having coffee when they motored over in their dinghy.  They saw that Prodigal is from Searcy, Arkanas and came to see if I was also from Arkansas.  Turns out Don has family in Paragould, Ark.

They have an interesting story.  Back in the mid 70's Don was working for Carrier Air-conditioning out of Puerto Rico.  He sailed his boat down there and used it as his center of operations.  Turns out in 1979 Don got a job in Martinique and hired his nephew to assist.  When the job ended, the nephew flew home and Don was looking for a FEMALE deck hand to help him sail back.  Don posted a 'want ad' on the bulletin board in the local marina.  Tamar found the ad and wrote her reply sticking it up over his with a push pin.  They have been together ever since.

Don said, "you get to know someone when you are trapped in a small confined space."  They are cute, finishing each others sentences, and make a great team.  Tamar puts up with Don and has since 3/79.

Terri and Bud came to visit for a week from Pensacola.

I hope YOU and I both find our Ads* answered. 

________________________________________________________________

Dons 'Bulletin Board story' reminded me of MY STORY from 2010.  

Click THIS LINK to read it.

- Peg Leg Pirate Skip

It's AFTER the season now. Cruisers are starting home.

I'm just hanging out and waiting till time to head West back to Florida for Hurricane Season.  Most days consist of early awake to catch a sunrise photo.  (when it's not raining, or cloudy and about to rain.  everyone says it's 'unusual weather' this year with all this rain.) Drink coffee in the cockpit and have a little breakfast.  Next go to shore and do an exercise walk, then a bike ride.  Finally return to the boat for lunch and a nap.  Maybe do a boat chore and then make dinner.  Watch an hour or so of TV if there's anything on.  (There are 6 channels on the TV here.  IF you are in Marsh Harbor your antenna can receive 6 channels.  Nothing at the other islands.  2 are local Bahama channels and 4 are Pirated major networks from Miami.)  If there's nothing good on - most nights - i might watch a Pirated Movie, or read a book.  That's about it.  While i sit and wait, the harbor is clearing out.  When i arrived back in February the area was so thick with boats it was difficult to find a spot large enough to anchor in.  Now i look out and see entire clear views to shore with NO boats at all.  You can anchor anywhere cause its wide open.  I guess I better get started and do something....

Now, what to do for dinner tonight?  I have some pork short ribs that i want to pressure cook.  Also i have a fish fillet.  Most recently i pressured some Turkey wings.  They turned out great.  Perhaps a quick stir fry with my veggies?  But first to shore for an exercise walk and bike ride.

On a bike ride Monday, I met 2 college students from Colorado.  They were taking a course in Eco Marine Biology.  For ten days they had been in the Bahamas.  Flew into Marsh Harbor and boarded a Catamaran with 13 students, 1 teacher and a crew of 2 locals.  For a week they lived aboard, sailed, studied the environment of sealife and reefs and loved it.  They toured: treasure, guana, elbow, man o war, little harbor and one other Cay that I cant recall.  Days were spent ashore studying nature and nights were sharing cooking duties aboard the Cat.  Vicky and Maddie said their favorite spot was Marsh Harbor.  After the teacher and other students flew home, Maddie and Vicky stayed over in Dundes Town at a small Bed and Breakfast for a couple of days to 'see how the locals lived.'  (Dundas is a little hamlet about 2 miles west of Marsh Harbor)

Later on the ride I met up with my Library friend.  Last week while out riding my bike I met a lady walking home from Maxwells grocery.  I was stopped to investigate the new library.  Marsh Harbor has built a brand new library.  It still has the construction sign up, but it looks finished and no work has been done since I arrived here in February.  The old library sits just beside the new one.  It's locks have been broken off the doors and old shelves litter the floor.  Inside the new library are brand new shelves all lined up in rows and filled with brand new books.  But the library is never open.  One day I met a lady inside the new library and asked her about 'when will it open?'  She didnt know.  Said they were looking for volunteers to staff it first.  *cut to two days ago and my Library Friend.  she told me that she had seen an Add in the paper for staff and that 'someday' it would open.  *cut to today.  I met my Library friend out in front of her house having a 'yard sale'.  I got her to pose with 3 of her 5 children.  

3pm UPDATE:  this just in....   today while on my bike ride, I stopped in at Maxwell's grocery to get some crackers.  So, I'm walking down the cracker aisle and this gentleman pictured above, Worthington Pratt, stopped me.  He asked, "are you the guy who took a picture of my wife and kids the other day?"  YES, that was me.  His wife is named Glenda.  We had a nice introduction and big laugh in the cracker aisle.  I gave him a boat card.  *Let me know if i misspelled any of that Mr. Pratt.  Glenda reminded me of the biblical description of a good wife and a virtuous woman.

•• A virtuous woman inspires absolute confidence in her husband. He can “safely trust in her” (KJV). She is not impetuous, scatterbrained, or unpredictable. Rather, she can be trusted. Her husband can be confident in her. She will never deliberately let him down.

Today before I came to the laundry to sweat and clean I intruded on a cute little family.  Brian, Dianna, & Vela Pokosh.  I had been watching them anchored off my bow the last couple of days.  Mom would leave the cockpit to follow tiny daughter Vela as she climbed up and down and around the deck.  Never more than a 'lunge' away from her.  Giving her all the freedom to walk around but never out of reach.  Yesterday about 5pm I was on deck and yelled across, "what time do ya'll get up?  I'm going to come over and have coffee with you."  Mom said, 'we are not early risers.'  Which I understood to not be a NO.  So this morning, like any good Pirate, I boarded their vessel.  Turns out they were up having breakfast when I arrived.  Just what every family wants, ME showing up while they are at the table trying to feed their 18 month old.  They were very good sports and accepted me with open arms.  This is their second trip to the Bahamas.  Last year Vela was 6 months old and could not yet crawl, so the challenges are growing fast.  Mom mentioned the need for more child safety locks.  It was all just too cute.  They are retired and will home school.  Brian was a computer software guy and Dianna  worked in a medical environment.  His dad and uncle fly in today and they are heading off to Rhode Island this afternoon.  "Might go all the way to Maine.  Then next year we will probably come back to the Bahamas.  Dont want to get too far off till Vela is older."  Aint Life Grand!

Well enough walking down memory lane.  It's time to get out and exercise down the side roads of Marsh Harbor.

- Skinny Travelling Chef Skip

I've got Crabs

I asked her....Are those Stone Crabs?
"These are not Stone crabs.  
These are LAND CRABS from south Andros."

Oh.  How much are they?
"3 for $12, or 4 for $20."

What?  that doesn't make sense?  "The smaller crabs are 3 for $12 and the Larger crabs are 4 for $20."  Do people eat the whole thing or just claws?  "Oh yes, they are good and people eat the entire crab."  Why do you have the black ones segregated?  "The Black ones are sweeter."

The Crab Lady was at the start of my bike ride.  

After i met her i rode West to Dundes Town and a little Lunch counter, a 'Take Away.'  There are little Take Away's all over.  They only have a window to order through and you have no seats.  

So you get your food and take it away.

When i rode up she was cooking Curry Mutton*.  It smelled heavenly.

After i left there i saw two guys cleaning fresh fish.  One of the guys was flying home to Chicago and taking a cooler of fresh speared fish.  It didn't smell as good as the Lamb.

* "A sheep in its first year is called a lamb, and its meat is also called lamb. The meat of a juvenile sheep older than one year is hogget; outside the USA this is also a term for the living animal. The meat of an adult sheep is mutton, a term only used for the meat, not the living animals."

Every day when i'm out walking or riding my bike 

i meet lots of interesting people.  

Here are a couple.

*That's me in the Sunglasses.

I'm up early this morning to watch "The Wedding."  Gotta run and get more coffee.  

It's not easy to be a Royal Watcher.  

 - Commoner Pirate Skip