the Komodo dragons of my garden ...hic ...hic

Lizards are plentiful in my garden, they are kept busy by eating bugs, their favourites are ants and termites. They also like to challenge each other. They are quite colourful and are masters of camouflage. They also compete with the hummers at the feeder. Many people are afraid of them and will kill them in a flash. I usually explain to them that they are very useful in the house and garden. They get rid of the spiders and bugs that hang around the lights at night. Lizards have also been serenaded in song...a popular calypso hit was done in the 60's sung by the Mighty Sparrow the greatest Calypsonian in the world, from Trinidad and Tobago. It was a song (tongue in cheek) about this lizard that ran up this teacher's leg while she was teaching a class. Her name was Mildred. These are the some words I remember singing as a child out of the earshot of my parents (we were forbidden to sing this song).

Playing in the class with a lizard in a glass,

The lizard get away from Ruth, and run by the teacher's foot,
Oh Lord the children frighten, wondering what go happen?
The teacher laughing out tee heee heee and looking at everybody.

The lizard ran up she foot and it disappear,
Everybody still searching every where
Where the lizard?
Teacher Mildred?
Under she dress, taking a rest
The way she jolly and happy,
I know the lizard must be tickling she......

traditional homes around old Speightstown

 

 

 a traditional chattel house

Barbados was discovered in 1605 by the Portugese,  the north of Barbados was later settled by the Dutch Jews and English in 1625. They  grew tobacco and indigo. They later switched to sugar cane which proved to be more profitable . They needed a large labour force to plant and harvest the sugar cane so they looked to the African Continent. African Slaves were brought in to work the fields. Barbados' ethnic breakdown of population is approximately 94%  of African descent and the remaining 6% is made up of European  and Indian descent.  Many of the traditional houses that were built by the Barbadians of African descent were made of wood, pitch pine that was imported. Many rented the land from the plantation and erected wooden structures that were called Chattel houses. These were built on a temporary foundation of rough stone. Whenever the household had to move,  the house was broken down and transported to the new location. In fact I believe we were the fore runners of   the pre-fabricated homes and didn't know it at the time.  Many house owners started out by buying a Chattel house from someone who has moved up in life and has built a concrete home. Many are being torn down to make way for more modern housing. Today, the Chattel house has been reinvented by many of the local architects and builders. Many of the luxury homes owned by wealthy expats will have a few Chattel houses or cottages on property which they rent out  to guests. Many people who cannot afford a concrete home will build a beautiful  chattel house out of hardwoods. I do plan one day to have a cottage or two on my property.

Banana nut muffins and tropical sunsets

these banana nut muffins were very easy to make

 hubby took me to dinner one evening  at a popular beach side restaurant on the west coast.

 the only good thing was the sunset and the beach

 the food was awful

 and expensive for what we had

 he said that he won't be going there in a hurry

 yes?....what are you staring at ! Don't you know that I'm in charge ? Get it? So let us play!

Recipe for Banana nut muffins

2 large over ripe bananas 

2-3 eggs depending on size

1/2 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of melted butter

zest of a green lime

pinch or two of grated nutmeg

dash or two of Angostura bitters 

2 cups of self raising flour

2 - 3 teaspoons of molasses 

1/2 cup of rasins

1/2 cup of chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans)

Method

place peeled bananas in a large bowl and mash with a fork, please do not beat with hand mixer yet or you will end up with the banana all over the place other than the bowl, (am speaking from experience). Add sugar and beat with hand mixer until dissolved. Add the eggs beating them in. Add zest of lime, nutmeg and Angostura bitters. Add  flour, a cup of  at a time beating in well. Add rasins and nuts reserving a few nut pieces  for the tops  and lastly add the molasses. Spoon into pre lined muffin pan and bake at 350 F degrees for 30-35 mins.  Remove from oven  and remove  muffins to cool.   Bon Apetit!!! makes about 1 dozen

 

a visit to Joyce's garden

gorgeous red ixora

gerbera daisy

ground orchid

Joyce

crotons

dahlias Joyce grew from seed

fragrant portlandia grandiflora /bell flower

anthurium

torch ginger

I recently read that this ginger is edible and how it is used   here

lemons

rose of sharon

pink mussaenda

gladilolus callianthus

I can't remember the name of this perhaps someone can help me

crossandra

red desert rose

Today I went to visit Joyce, she is an avid gardener who has that magic touch. Now Joyce is a very special person, she gets things to grow that aren't supposed to be growing in our climate. If you cannot get a plant to grow just take it to Joyce. Her garden is a riotous frenzy of colour. She is a lovely person and a bit shy as you can see in the photo. Whilst there I was ooohing and aaaahing and gasping like a fish out of water. I came away with some huge lemons, some lemon rosemary plants, some of that red ixora I have been trying to get my hands on for some time, and a plant I can't remember the name of. Thank you Joyce and see you soon in my garden.

Bridgetown's judiciary buildings

The above photo is the beautiful public library building a gift to the people of Barbados by  Andrew Carnegie in 1905. Located in the same compound of the old courts of justice, it has fallen into a state of disrepair and had to be closed. Funding is being sought to restore and repair it. I had spent many Saturdays as a child and as a teenager borrowing books from here. From  the adventures of the famous five by Enid Blyton , the Bobbsey Twins  by Laura Lee Hope, William by Richmal Crompton, Billy Bunter by Frank Richards, Chalet School series by Elinor M Brent-Dyer, Nancy Drew by Carolyne Keene. These books gave me a feeling of adventure and a thirst for travel. Classics like Jane Eyre, Heidi, Wuthering heights, Oliver Twist, and  Little women will live forever. And ooops I forgot Grimm's fairytales, Treasure Island, Gulliver's Travels, and Around the world in eighty days.

 The old supreme court building on Coleridge Street.

the registry and old law courts building

 The new courts of justice building is now being landscaped. This site was the former home of  the Barbados Foundry which was demolished to make way for this building.

 an impressive entrance of the new judiciary building

 Another view of  the registry and the courts. The Montefiore fountain at the left was gift to the city by a Jewish Businessman in 1865 in his father's memory and to commemorate   the arrival of piped water to the city of Bridgetown

The old buildings that houses the judiciary in Bridgetown has been a bone of contention for many. It has outgrown itself and lack of upkeep made it almost an inhabitable place to do business. It had served the island well during  the colonial and post colonial era. It also houses the main or central police department. I was there approximately twenty years ago for my divorce and thought at that time what a dreary place to work and to be. Barbados follows the British judicial system.  By the way divorces take place in a private  judge's chambers with both parties and their lawyers. We address the judge by the title of Milord even though the American title of your Honour is accepted. Couples can file for divorce after one year of separation on the grounds of,  if the marriage has irretrievably broken down beyond reconciliation (mine did), spousal abuse and  adultery.  A new building has been completed and will soon be occupied. It is slated to open next month for the October assizes.  It is beautiful and I do hope that it does not fall into the same state of neglect like most government owned buildings.