So I told you last week that we returned from a very wonderful, very warm vacation. I wasn’t lying. Six friends joined us aboard a boat and we cruised through the Virgin Islands. Just like last year. Maybe a few different islands and a few different sights to see, but the outcome was all the same – we had so much fun!
When we explored, I took a camera. But honestly, none of the pictures are very good. I was ready to relax and being creative was not on my list of things to do. I wanted adventure. And adventure is what I got alright.
You may wonder where I’m going with this.
I’ll be upfront and remind you of how accident prone I am.
That’s where I’m going.
We all wanted to go to the Baths, so we ferried to Virgin Gorda and ohmygoodness is that place beautiful! The beach was unlike any I’ve seen. Very rocky, very coarse sand, chickens galore. (Yes, chickens. Stupid birds. I hated them.) And the water was gorgeous. I don’t have any pictures that do the place justice because as soon as we threw our towels down, I was in the water. The hubs had swam out to a big rock and climbed up on it. Being that I was seeking adventure, I followed. I happened to not pay attention how close I was getting or how big the rock was underwater or something of value, because mid-kick my foot hit the rock. And I might add that I’m a ferocious kicker when I’m in the water. The rock didn’t disappoint – I had a cut on my big toe joint and it hurt but I pushed through.
When ended up leaving the Baths to walk through a cave of rocks – we had to climb, wade through water, duck down low and I was sure I’d hurt myself again. I came out unscathed. Tired, but unscathed. We ended up at Devil’s Bay (that’s actually where the damn chickens were) and it was even better beaching. It was such a good day, an excursion that we did all on our own and it was great. Until we got back on the boat and my foot began to bruise. Big, bad blue and purple on my foot. I couldn’t wear shoes without it hurting. I pressed on through dinner though because this girl doesn’t pass up a three-course meal with a decadent desert.
In St. Thomas we explored Blackbeard’s Castle and it was actually a fun time. I think the best thing I heard that day was a guy say, “They’ll take to you the 99 steps which is actually 103 steps.” But we drank rum, climbed to the top of the watch tower, walked through several buildings – I actually got my best pictures there. In Antigua we decided to walk St. John with friends and check out the cathedral. Most disappointing cathedral ever. Only because it was under construction. After seeing what the sidewalks looked like, I can’t imagine how bad a 167 year old building looked. We unfortunately got rained out in Barbados. I blame Rhianna.
But we did have another adventure, in Dominica. Very mountainous, much more so than the other islands we’ve visited. The hubs recommended we go river tubing. Sounded like fun – but I’d like to state for the record that this is the second excursion Mike has recommended that has driven us through the jungle and required a helmet. Just sayin’. The drive to and from the river was ridiculous. Road construction… unlike any road construction I’ve ever seen… I’ve never been scared from road construction until our driver decided to drive backwards for an insane amount of distance to let a large work truck through. Travel aside, the river tubing was fun.
We lost each other floating along but made acquaintance with other folks floating in tubes. We all got stuck. We all tried to paddle our way out of situations. We all hit river rock with our bums. (The guides would call out “BUMS UP!” when a lot of rocks were coming up.) I hit several rocks with my bum and it didn’t faze me. Until I was going through a rapid and slammed into one. It hurt. The outcome was a dark bruise the size of a lemon on my tookis. I still have it and it’s been over a week later. I don’t get it.
So while I had a gimp foot and a large contusion on my hiney, it was still a wonderful getaway. I was so happy that friends could join us and I hope they had a great time as well. We will be cruising again. Probably go on even more adventures that require helmets. I’m just not sure where that might be yet.
Way back, way way back on Christmas Eve, I took some time away from my family to spend time with another one. My dear friend Nazzie had family in and out visiting all December. I got to meet her Irish Uncle Mike [whose I accent I still had trouble working through even though he's been stateside for years]. And a few days later, I got to meet her older sister, Soraya. I had met the youngest sister, Nikue, while we were still in college (and she was still in high school), so I was kind of excited to meet the third [and final] sister. And I wasn’t disappointed. We shared an Irish coffee and she shared some lovely stories of them growing up together.
Soraya and her family visit during the holidays but this was the first time I had the pleasure to meet her, her husband Hamid, her daughter Naseem and her son Eemon. Throw in Nazzie and I can honestly say I had never felt more confused by light conversation in my life. A little bit of English here, a little bit of Farsi there – I seriously couldn’t tell what was what. But it didn’t matter. Seeing them all together was a treat – a sweet treat covered in hilariousness. But knowing that not long after Christmas Eve everything would go back to the way it was – Soraya and Company back in California and Nazzie chasing after little girls – I felt special to be there with them.
These are the Ghasemiyehs.
Brother and sister. I couldn’t help but laugh at their reactions when I tried to convince them to act like they liked one another.
Soraya and Hasim. She’s beautiful. He’s quite dapper. And very fond of his wife.
Nazzie got her love on with big sis.
Their mother is Irish and their father is Persian. We took a vote and decided Soraya “looks” the “most” Irish of the sisters.
And of course Aunt Nazzie had to love on her niece and nephew.
Naseem has gorgeous hair. I don’t know why these ladies love to pull it back so much. Naseem’s mane is such a warm chocolate color with thick curls. It’s luscious.
I might be jealous. Maybe.
Soraya. Seriously. I love you. And your gentle smile.
Thank you to the Ghasemiyeh and Casebier families for hosting me on Christmas Eve. I had so much fun with you all. And I hope everyone made it safe and sound back to California. I cannot wait for your return!
Just have your people call my people. Or just tell Nazzie.
{ Shutterboo Photography }
I was gone last week. On a cruise ship.
Not the cruise ship that capsized. Thank goodness. But a big floating vessel nonetheless.
I was somewhere warm, sunny, humid enough to turn my dry hands into soft lady-like hands again.
But now I’m back. And it’s raining. And dark. And not so warm.
I missed you.
But not this weather.
I haven’t clicked my needles lately. But I have good reason. Really good reason. Or… reasons.
I got this wise idea last year to knit matching infinity scarves for my three lady friends. I found the GAP-tastic pattern and immediately fell in love with it. Simple. Trendy. Useful. So I casted on with light brown yarn and got started. I finished in about 2 months. And then I casted on with pink yarn. I finished it in about 3months. Finally, I casted on with purple yarn. Six months later, on Thanksgiving Day, I wove in the ends. And it will be a very, very, very long time before I even blink at another pattern that has a seed stitch. But the screaming fingers and 11-month time line was well worth it. Because they were perfect.
For Natalie, a natural color.
For Abby, a bright and lively color.
For Kelly, my Little Skipper, purple. When I look at her, I see purple.
Squishy. Warm. Perfect for a cold winter day. I really want one for myself… but I will be waiting a long while before I even decide what color I want. Just the thought of knitting the seed stitch over and over and over again… yeah, it will be a long, long while.
*Pattern: GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley, free download on Ravelry.com.
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