AM I IN TROUBLE?

I'm having the hardest time getting started. Picking up where I left off. Running full steam ahead to show you everything about this totally awesome place!

I finally decided that the only way to jump back in is to simply start. So here I am. It is nearly 2:30 CST on Saturday afternoon. I have never written a blog at that time of day. I hope no one got mad and left the room while my brain and body were trying to catch up to each other here.

This morning's sunrise:

This is Day 3 that we awoke to that, right outside our door. Seriously, open the door and take about 100 steps to the sand. This loft was a really good choice for the first six months. 

Gradually new habits and routines will develop. Not having to be anywhere at any time is odd. But early morning is pretty easy. Right now sunrise is at about 5:30. I'm out the door, barefoot and with camera in hand. I found a place down the beach to do some stretches using a large piece of driftwood. Well, it is a petrified tree, I think. Whatever, it works and I feel connected and liberated all at the same time.

For those who don't know (and I'm not writing about this for pity, so please don't), my mom moved on to her new Residence the same day I did. I'm told she died peacefully at home. Her husband was with her. They were married 42 years so I can only imagine all the empty spaces he also has to find a way to cope with.

Our travel and arrival on Roatan were nearly perfect. All of the things I worried about did not come to pass (isn't that always the way?). The aircraft crew was accommodating and attentive to Rocco, Leo, and Gizmo. Leo especially had a blast helping pilot the plane.

Our loft is small but kind of cute. I'll get some shots of it for you another time but the good news is that we all fit. 

We have sifted through the first shipment of belongings and determined the must-haves as well as the what-the-heck-did-we-think-we-needed-THAT-fors. I'm glad we've watched so many episodes of Tiny House. Creating storage is imperative when 3 pets and 2 humans live in 400 square feet.

Yesterday we loaded the dogs into the truck (which, by the way, was 100% the right choice. The truck purchase, I mean.) and drove into "town." Easily a 60-minute drive on roads I can't describe. But there were so many experiences along the way it felt a bit like watching a movie. We won't go to town often but I'll bet every trip is filled with fun and weird things. So it takes us an entire day to go to the mobile phone store (Claro), the furniture store (Lady Lee), the Storage Locker place (Lucky #49 is ours), ACE Hardware (YES!), and one more quick trip to Eldon's (grocery store). Since we had the dogs with us, one of us stayed in the car while the other braved language and currency differences. It was a great trip. Mike is still recovering. His siesta today has been long. Well-deserved.

Aside from today, we've eaten every meal at Camp Bay Lodge's restaurant. Ms. Rachel's cooking cannot be competed with. We've loved every single thing she cooked. I can't cook like that!

This morning one of my friends asked me when I thought it would stop feeling like a vacation. My immediate response was, "when I have to start cooking again." Don't get me wrong, I love to cook, but not on vacation.

So I made breakfast this morning. I love cooking on a gas stove again. We had bacon, eggs, and toast. Um, yeah.

The vegetable guy comes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Today's haul included a few Roma tomatoes, broccoli, a mango, a pineapple, ginger, two limes, bananas, and dry red beans. We found the English words for each of the items and converted lempiras to dollars. We paid $8.36 for all of this fresh, locally grown produce! We are using the bill as a Spanish lesson for the week. Here, take a look:

Tomatoes, broccoli, onions, garlic, a little EVO, and burrata cheese over some bowtie pasta made our dinner tonight.

We walked the dogs after dinner. That is an adjustment for them and for us. Until we have a place of our own they will have to be on leashes. There is no more doggie door leading to a fenced-in backyard.

Back into swimsuits and into the Sea for a quick cool-down. I had a slice of homemade key lime pie with a cup of black coffee at the cantina, and Mike had coconut pie.

We met a young guy from North Carolina while we were out on the pier. We must have stood out there talking for more than a half-hour. Afterward, I asked Mike why I have to talk so much. It's like I get wound up and refuse to wind down.

And here we are. It is now 8:03 PM and I am ready for bed. I'm hoping to sleep in the morning until at least 4:00. That will mean I've made the conversion to Central Time.

I've lots more to tell you but it will wait. Manana.