Making it Paradise...bits of Bajan life

Better known to most of you as organic or free range eggs, here in Barbados we refer to these delicacies as yard fowl eggs. If you have never had an egg from a chicken that roams freely and feeds on all natural foods, then you are missing out my friends. Since my parents' yard is home to numerous fruit trees, over the years many yard fowls have made our land their home. Life is sweet for them as they stroll the yard daily feasting on mangoes, bananas, pomegranates, plums and soursops, not to mention the constant supply of kitchen scraps from the various family members living on the property. I don't know if many of you are familiar with chicken habits but I have such fond memories of being on vacation from school and hearing the clucking of hens around midday which signaled they had laid eggs. These days, my retired cousin Merlene and I are the only ones who still listen out for this alarm and we have been rewarded handsomely each and every day. I almost like the adventure of...

Two weeks ago, my son developed a major sinus drip. The poor child has apparently inherited the health issues of my lactose intolerant, respiratorily-challenged (is that even a word?) family and had started that annoying snorting noise that all sinus suffers make and which I absolutely detest. I hate to administer medicines (they call me Bush woman for a reason) but had to resort to over the counter meds to stave off any dripage into his lungs. Well, old Bajans have a saying," God don't bring, but he sends " which kinda loosely translates as whatever your needs, they will be met from even unexpected sources, and such was the case with this situation. I stepped out (Bajan parlance meaning I went out for a brief while on an errand!) and on my return I found my partner sitting in the verandah - a custom which many have relegated- but we still like to sit out and people watch, speak to the neighbours and exchange pleasantries with passers-by. Well, my partner was sitting ou...

Remember those trips I have been making to Oistins recently, well fish is not the only marine life I have been checking out! A few years ago, I accompanied some schoolchildren to the Belinda Cox Fish Market on a tour for Social Studies (yeah! field trips are vitally important) and discovered the turtles that have made the jetty their home. Smart turtles I say, what better place to settle than a fish market. They are always certain of a meal since fish vendors and fishermen alike make time daily to feed their fish scraps to these adopted turtles. You can read more about the habits of turtles and the relationships with fishermen here:  http://www.barbados.org/barbados-turtle.htm#.U59ZeJRdVIE  Luckily, the fishermen and vendors have no problem with allowing visitors to help out and are very happy to give you a bag of scraps and send you off along the jetty to feed the turtles. The walk along the jetty as insignificant as it may seem is a pretty impressive one. I just must say...

One of the highlights of living on an island for me is the fact that vegetation is always abundant. So abundant in fact that persons are always willing to share excess or sell at ridiculous prices just to be rid of produce. Such has been the case this week (and it's only Tuesday!). I received a call from my sister Evelyn this weekend  and I kid you not these were her words," Merlene has a bag of bush for you, someone gave them to her and she figures you will appreciate it." Why thank you very much cousin Merlene, I surely do. And so this morning, my sister brought over this bag of Bajan bush packed with a lovely variety of cooking and medicinal herbs. I wish you could smell my hands and kitchen right now....heavenly! Wormwood ..so very green and such a intoxicating aroma Mexican tarragon, not a favorite of mine due to its heavy licorice odour so some lucky person will receive this as a gift (maybe Ken) Who does not love bayleaf? A Caribbe...

There is much debate about what beverage is best for cooling down on super hot tropical days like the ones we have been having recently here in Barbados. Despite being a religious water advocate, water just cannot cut it on these days, or at least if it does by afternoon you have a most bloated uncomfortable feeling (at least I do) due to the volume you are forced to consume. Anyone who knows me, knows my go-to drink on a hot day (well, maybe any day) is an ICE COLD BANKS beer. However, Stag beer has recently been giving Banks a run for its money, due to smart pricing at 4 for $10. They are much the beer of choice at any event and as a result, I have imbibed  my fair share. Let me admit though that this is the only reason I drink Stag. It's claim of being "A man's beer" might have something to do with this, because I find it a very harsh tasting lager. With an Alcohol By Volume of 5.5%.  in comparison to Bank's 4.7% no wonder I find it strong for my beer pa...

 I always seem to find the gardeners in any neighbourhood I move into. Maybe I can smell the dirt under their skins as well! My neighbour Ken (I mean he lives in my neighbourhood, not next door...lol) is one such person. Ken has the garden of my dreams!   Ken has a huge 600 ft garden and what's especially impressive about that is the fact that it's smack dab in the middle of urban Barbados AND Kens works a full time job. Ken practices crop rotation and unless he is resting his soil, his garden is always such a beauty to look forward to in passing. He sells his produce in and around the neighbourhood old school style walking door to door with a tray on Sunday mornings. It always takes me back to my childhood days in the country where a constant feature of our Sunday mornings was someone passing by selling home grown lettuce fresh for the day's lunch salad. He also retails juices made from the herbs and fruits in the garden and I must tell you, his passion fruit juice is a...