tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58812915345674014422012-02-16T04:48:45.008-04:00Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.comBlogger111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-74785126795588090122008-05-03T08:52:00.005-03:002008-05-03T09:26:09.413-03:00

WOW! More than a month since the last posting. I know, totally unacceptable ... but there's so much to do that sitting in front of the computer does not always rank in the #1 spot. Spring weather has generally been so nice that outside is the place to be after work and on weekends. Today is an exception. It seems there is some "frontal system" that blew across the islands last night so there is a

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-82811696465115896152008-03-29T08:15:00.003-03:002008-03-29T08:31:04.238-03:00

While there is a distinct local vocabulary -- that I'm only beginning to know -- I had wondered about word use here before I arrived. Because Bermuda is a U.K. Overseas Territory, has strong ties to Canada, and is in close proximity to the USA there is rather a melange of terminology. I expected words like "lorrie" to be spoken when I would use "truck" but that doesn't happen. Just to keep

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-39159113433766451572008-03-27T20:48:00.002-03:002008-03-27T21:00:13.293-03:00

Apparently banana trees are known to be top-heavy. They have great long broad leaves, and of course some have long pods drooping toward the ground with bunches of bananas.As you might suspect, after about a week of very high winds and rain, several banana trees blew down. Although the groves are very close to my garden, and two tall Jamaican trees feel, they didn't squish my budding tomatoes or

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-66315519110546845102008-03-17T19:02:00.004-03:002008-03-17T19:07:59.640-03:00

Okay, so I'm not exactly sure about this ... GALE WARNING ... so what exactly does that mean? Yeah, I get it if you're on a little boat in the harbour it's time to tie up to the dock or drop anchor or something. I've seen people closing shutters. (Most houses here have full length window shutters that aren't 'ornamental' but quite functional.) I understood these were used if going off-island for

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-62914143738634228712008-03-17T18:36:00.003-03:002008-03-17T19:12:51.436-03:00

Mid-March is here and I'm feeling what the locals have been describing to me as WINTER. I know for you Boston and Colorado friends dropping suddenly in the past 24 hours to low 50s doesn't seem cold, but IT IS. The wind is blowing, the rain sheets down in horizontal torrents - and a chill seeps through the air like in a good mystery novel. Highs today were in the low 60s, so you know we're

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-18934887904177393822008-02-27T06:16:00.004-04:002008-02-27T06:25:54.599-04:00

Banana trees produce a large dark red bud that is filled with the small bunches of bananas. As the bud opens, or flowers, the individual petals reveal a bunch of bananas beneath. Soon these petals fall away and the small bunches grow larger. All of the buds and bunches are on a long stem, so the petals of the flower fall away, but the stem continues to droop down and grow with new petals

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-84802135364156148762008-02-25T18:34:00.002-04:002008-02-25T18:41:26.540-04:00

The wind can blow pretty hard here, and winter is the stormy time of year. It has been very mild since I arrived compared with the norm, I hear. Just now the wind is up as the sun sets. My windows are rattling in their frames. Wooden wedges (like a doorstop but smaller) hang on a peg inside each windowframe. The wedge goes between the lower and upper window to stop the rattling. You can figure,

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-41070904483687608042008-02-24T09:16:00.004-04:002008-02-24T09:27:30.422-04:00

Bermuda SKINK and other such critters ...Very few critters are on the roam here ... insects - yes, and there will probably be even more of them as it warms. Recently I learned of the endangered "Bermuda skink" ... it is a lizard, or lizard's cousin. The skink is a gardener's friend, so we are asked to be their friend in return. They eat insects! Skinks are one of the few of anything considered '

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-20565376449221357742008-02-16T20:03:00.002-04:002008-02-16T20:23:15.762-04:00

Today (Saturday) I rode the ferry boat into town and back. It's much better for carrying bags and boxes than a crowded bus. Yesterday the guys dug and tilled my vegetable garden plot! So today I got about a dozen more plants - and many seed packets - to set out. It took a few hours to get them in the ground, but was good exercise. Last weekend I purchased a hoe, rake, 50 pounds of organic

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-83302266078060778472008-02-08T19:33:00.000-04:002008-02-08T19:49:24.350-04:00

Water surrounds the islands, fills coves and inlets, and is deep enough in the harbour for ocean cruise or container ships to constantly be bringing people and frieght. Ferry boats ply various routes with commuters and tourists. White sails from sailboats dot the blue water, especially on weekends or celebration days. The famed pink sands evolved from the coral reefs that lie off-shore, sometimes

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881291534567401442.post-36887328196135181262008-02-08T18:55:00.000-04:002008-02-08T19:12:13.458-04:00

Most of my family and friends know they are welcome to visit. But there is one big caveat to that ... no surprise visits! Seriously, contact me well in advance so we can make a plan. Immigration is very serious about letting people in -- or NOT. For example, recently I had an artist friend visit whom I've know for years. I was thrilled that she wanted to see Bermuda and me. (Yes, the light here

Bermuda Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06603404457030507140noreply@blogger.com1