Since I'm out of my depressive funk... A few weeks back, Sher and I went scouring the streets for food (as we normally do on a Friday evening). We passed by this little restaurant that was selling fried jacks. Now, jacks is a small fish of which you can fry and eat everything. Fishermen normally pull them up daily. However, my mom isn't much of a jacks fan, so if I want it, usually I end up buying it myself.
The mere idea of me resorting to buying jacks sent Sher into peels of laughter. Why? She's lives relatively close to the fishing capital of the island sooo she not only gets jacks free but frequently. *dramatic wistful sigh* Some folks have no idea how lucky they are...
Nice and quaint huh?
Where the delicious jacks are being housed...
Me, very content with my jacks. The owner gave me an extra one free. ^.^
Sher amused at me...
And in case you're curious as to where this place is... It's opposite the bus terminal in town. And here's my moment of honesty... You can see it looks a bit sketchy from the outside. However, if you're craving jacks, I recommend them. But if you're not fond of smoking or smokers, there is a good possibility of someone smoking inside as they don't seem opposed to it from my last visit.
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And then I went out with another friend, Samuel, that's apparently more tourist than I am (as locals that is) Friday gone. My latest love craze is the Jamaican Patty place opposite the terminal. So that was the first place I took him to. What I love most about them is the specials they have right now. For example, you can get 2 patties of your choice plus a bottled drink for $11.50. My friend got the popcorn shrimp special for a price thereabouts. So to me? The price is right. They also do soups, porridge, fries, etc. Ok, I shall move on to the next topic before I head to town just to get another one. I promised myself after last night, I wasn't going to eat another one........until next week. It's always so good, and hot, and tasty... and maybe my next week shall start Friday.
Then we passed to Bar Lodi Mix on St. John's St. You can find it easily on evenings as the hallway is lit by black lights so the insides glow. The bar has reopened. It's normally busy on a Friday night and there is a pool table if you're into pool. It has a nice chill feel from when I passed on Saturday, with nice couches and high chairs around the bar.
And I got to snap a photo of the mural I did there, which was also my first mural ever.
And then... the bartender told us about some locally done, au natural soaps that are especially good for people with sensitive skin. It's done locally by a lady in Grand Anse who also does facials, and other skin care techniques. The designs on some of the soaps are so intricate that it makes me not want to use it and just put it on my table as a pretty centerpiece. Anyhow, the soaps I saw were done with raw cocoa fat and goat milk. She also does cocoa fat bars for your skin.
The bartender has some for sale at Bar Lodi Mix... so you can pass by if you're interested.
And that's it 'til my next adventure.
Deuces,
xoxo
So... I've spent my morning feeling rather inspired. I sauntered over to Sher's blog (yumekari.blogspot.com) and she's been doing lots of creative things recently.
She started an ICAD project, whereby she does a drawing daily on an index card. Also, she did a project whereby she used colouring, tissue and pipe cleaner. Sounds intriguing? It is! So go peek!
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What's been picking my fancy? So I've been running around taking lots of photo references. My folly? I've been taking artistic photo shots... however, it's hard to translate these shots into a painting. At least in my mind...
The other thing that's been intriguing to me? Well we all know I've had a fascination with black paper, hence my night series. But now, after visiting Aunty Dollie's house and attaining a collection of peacock feathers... I'm curious about feathers. Also, after scouring youtube, I found this interesting melted crayon technique.
Progress mark on the project so far...
I had some loose canvas sheets around. I had done a previous sketch that I changed my mind on, so I decided to freestyle an abstract piece and split the sheet. I have yet to mount the pieces... and you know how it goes. I'm still deliberating on if it's really done now.
I particularly love the down feather on the right as it feels soft and furry to the touch.
And then... my crayon experiment. I went to a yard sale early May and I have this bad habit of not being able to see art supplies and not want it. In recent years, I have reconciled my relationship with pencil crayons and discovered its actually a very good medium. So I figured, why not reconcile my relationship with crayons. I haven't dabbled with them experimentally since I was a kid.
This was a frustrating experiment. Firstly, I have nothing hot enough other than an iron to melt crayon without setting the paper afire. In the end, I shaved the crayon and melted the shaved bits. I did the drawing first. Everything was done mostly in paints - the outlines, heliconia, hummingbird, lady in yoga position and the yellow back ground. The rest of the background was done in crayons. I bled paint and glitter polish on the top edges and then added the peacock feather as a final touch. It still feels kinda rough to me... I might come back to this piece in the future...
This weekend was a rather rainy weekend. I guess that tropical wave that wasn't supposed to affect us... did. However, while the rain may have dampened the party events, it didn't stop me from going out.
By now, y'all should know I like to go exploring and while I haven't done a blog post on my explorations in a long time, I have been posting pics on my twitter and bbm. The results? Inquiring minds want to know how did I get to where I did.
Therefore, this shall be a blog post about what I did yesterday with a friend and how you can find the same spots.
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Fishing expeditions
As per usual, on these short of trips, I'm more the girl that's taking the photos and looking pretty in a corner... than the girl that's reeling the fishing line, cutting fresh bait and pulling hooks out of mouths. (Although I'm not opposed to it.)
So the first spot we went to was the cliffs behind SGU in True Blue. The cliffs are directly behind Caribbean House, past the lawn, yonder into the bushes.
What lies below...
Unfortunately, going down was way easier than going back up. I have scratches all over my thighs and shoulders from dragging myself back up to the top ledge. Never mind that he just hoisted himself up with the ease of a gymnist in seconds to my 5-10 minute struggle. *eye roll*
bottom ledge
The gorgeous view
A hooked snapper.
Yellow snapper
The view towards the side facing the airport.
Then we attempted to go to the cliffs by True Blue beach... which is now fenced off.
Then... lastly, the beach behind the airport runway.
Continue on the road to La Source... and then pass La source and continue along the rough path/road until you reach the dead end... and park.
Find the path alongside the fence... it's a bit bushy now from all the rain but it's still navigable.
Where paths part ways... bottom path? This one takes you to the first beach. Top path? Takes you to the one later on in the photos.
the beach... should you decide to go through the bushes.
View from the top path.
And then he was like... go look over the edge *big grin* Least to say, I was not amused.
The rocks... and the beach. On the other side of the fence? The Maurice Bishop International Airport runway.
This bottom ledge was wayyyy easier to get to than the one at SGU. Hmph!
And of course, my vanity shot... my only shot as my camera died and memory cards failed. *sigh*
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'Twas great fun. In the end, "we" caught 3 small snapper - two yellow, one red. I say we because we all know how important moral support is.
As per usual, it's been a hectic lifestyle. Life's ironies? I didn't do much beyond school and home semester gone. And now? I'm barely doing more than work and home --- and it's Carnival season.
Know what that means? I think some change, will do me good.
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So since it seems this weekend, as weekends prior, as pre-destined to be bouts of self-imposed yet unintentional house rest... take a shot for me?
And cross your fingers, hopefully I shall make it to the beach to go kayaking.
I keep promising myself to update, and then I fail to do so. I conclude this, perhaps, has been my worst year post-wise but it's definitely not for lack of wanting. To those that keep passing by to see what's new, I appreciate it and I shall try to post more frequently henceforth.
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While school has concluded its spring semester, I am yet engaged in another project. This summer I am working with ECBREC (Eastern Caribbean Bee Research & Extension Center) on a research project involving the status of honey bees locally.
Why, you ask? Because honey bees are a very important part of the food chain on the lower scale of things. For one, they are good pollinators. In fact, they are better pollinators than wasps and other smaller bees. Pollen grains cling to their legs much more and with ease than their smaller counterparts. So the more honey bees present on your farm, more potential pollination to occur. Aside from pollination, bees apparently document environmental changes in their DNA after a few generations. Thus, if you want to be more aware of what toxins are present and how prevalent they are --- bees good be a nice avenue to find out that info.
The study is a two part study. The first part involves the distribution of a written questionnaire/interview/survey with local farmers and bee keepers. Essentially, to find out what they've noticed or think is happening on their farms and in their hives. The second part involves taking samples from the farmers and bee keepers, bringing those samples back to the labs and then carrying out a thorough test for what is and isn't there, and see whether it matches with the perception of the farmers/bee keepers.
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Cutting bees to collect their abdomens to crush them to make slides to check for nosema.
Believe it or not... this smells like passion fruit
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Looking at bee larvae
The bees get darker in colour as they spin and mature in the combs, also their eyes get pinker.
Dwayne, the head/director of the research project, observing the larvae through a dissecting microscope.
That little brown thing? That my lovelies, is a mite.
Upper regions? The combs where the larvae mature. The white dots are larvae which we removed the tops of the tops. Bottom left? That's the honey! You can always tell which is honey because honey has a hard cover... unlike the nectar (which I thought it was honey because its exposed and has that honey appearance) which is found uncapped on the right.
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Making wax from the honey combs
Ariel, sorting the petri dishes. Matthew using a syringe to extract the melted wax. Benji preparing the frames to get sealed by the wax.
Me... leveling the melted wax in the petri dish to dry properly.
More wax extraction.
Matthew removing all the debris floating around...
Myself and Trent
Hayley, our web/graphics designer.
Ariel putting the wax into the petri dishes.
Chrystelle & Ariel
What it looks like upon completion... and it smells sooo yummy!
And... then we put more combs in and start all over again...!
Welcome to my little piece of the blogosphere. I'm a Caribbean artist/ wildlife conservationist/ adventure enthusiast. Hope my blog brings a bit of sunshine into your life.
