Author Archives: marta

Battle of the Bands

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Eight local bands wowed the crowds yesterday with their music in Turtle Cove.

Eight local bands wowed the crowds yesterday with their music in Turtle Cove.

What an evening as the Turks and Caicos highlighted some amazing talent. We really don’t need to bring anyone in from elsewhere as it’s all here………..eight bands took to the stage in Turtle Cove Marina where they battled it out at Islandcom’s first anniversary celebration.

Hoozya Daddy with Sally Greenwood lead singer/rythm guitar rocked the crowd. Steve Greenwood on drums, Bob Hawkins, lead guitar and Chris Conway playing base guitar.

Hoozya Daddy? with Sally Greenwood lead singer/rythm guitar rocked the crowd. Steve Greenwood on drums, Bob Hawkins, lead guitar and Chris Conway playing base guitar.

Hoozya Daddy? played a mixture of pop, blues and rock...loved it and what a voice Sally has!!

Hoozya Daddy? played a mixture of pop, blues and rock...loved it and what a voice Sally has!!

 Eight bands participated in this first ever event and battled it out all evening for the title of TCI’s Favorite Band……..Hoozya Daddy?, Lee Forbes and the Force, Just Spliff, Bowen Arrow, Keno and Kazz, Tropical Allstars, Kew Band Link (from North Caicos) and Rasta Generation.

This little girl was having such fun dancing, shadowing and mimicking all the moves!

This little girl was having such fun dancing, shadowing and mimicking all the moves!

How low can you go? ......... here they are again...everything he did, they did too.

How low can you go? ......... here they are again...everything he did, they did too.

AND THE WINNER IS………….BOWEN ARROW!!
I just low this one of David Bowen "in action"........... great entertainment that had the crowd dancing and rocking to their music.

I just love this one of David Bowen "in action"........... great entertainment that had the crowd dancing and rocking to their music.

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Bowen Arrow rocks it out.........fantastic performance!

The winner of the Battle of the Bands was Bowen Arrow.

The winner of the Battle of the Bands was Bowen Arrow.

"Are we having fun yet...Is it my turn to entertain" ?

"Are we having fun yet...Is it my turn to entertain" ?

To finish off the evening We Funk Junkanoo band.

To finish off the evening We Funk Junkanoo band.

Local DJ Liquafox and DJ Phantom kept revellers dancing between the sets, bars served drinks, a good mix of food was ready for those that were hungry and best of all, the proceeds from the evening went to the Provo Children’s Home and Ona Glinton Primary School to help their community programs.
A huge success and what extraordinary local talent. Well done and I’m hopefull we’ll all be there again next year.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turks Head Cactus

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Turks Head Cactus has a seed pod that is just like a mini rosy red apple.

Turks Head Cactus has a seed pod that is just like a mini rosy red apple.

 The recent rains have revived all the plants, bushes and everything is blooming like crazy including my Turks Head cacti. 

This one is flowering and fruiting at the same time.

This one is flowering and fruiting at the same time.

A close up of the pretty delicate looking flower of the Turks Head Cactus

A close up of the pretty delicate looking flower of the Turks Head Cactus

The cap of the Turks Head cactus with budding flowers just starting to pop up.

The cap of the Turks Head cactus with budding flowers just starting to pop up.

Looks like one of the numerous lizards at Harbour Club has eated part of the seed pod.

Looks like one of the numerous lizards at Harbour Club has eated part of the seed pod.

This particular young Turks Head is producing flowers and seed pods like crazy.

This particular young Turks Head is producing flowers and seed pods like crazy.

This is my mature Turks Head cactus....I'm thinking it has to be at least 25 years old.

This is my mature Turks Head cactus....I'm thinking it has to be at least 25 years old.

I love these cacti……….hope you enjoy the selection of photos.

 

 

Marta

 

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Fool’s Regatta 2011

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What a great day we had at the annual Fool's Regatta held at the Children's Park in the Bight today.

What a great day we had at the annual Fool's Regatta held at the Children's Park in the Bight today.

We were a bit late today getting down to the Regatta as we had guests checking out and coming in. What a great afternoon on the beach watching all the hobie cat races, the Caicos Sloops and tug-o-war events, lots of food, drinks, music and raffle sale for all kinds of prizes . All the proceeds went towards the Provo Sailing Club kids sailing programme. The event was held down in the Children’s Park at the Bight and the beach was filled with people, locals and visitors having a fun time.

Mike, Barry and Mr. H in his distinctive sailing attire enjoyed the afternoon.

Mike, Barry and Mr. H in his distinctive sailing attire enjoyed the afternoon.

Here's Will one of the talented youngsters from the Provo Primary Steel Band that wowed the audience with their playing.

Here's Will one of the talented youngsters from the Provo Primary Steel Band that wowed the audience with their playing.

  

Ahoy Matey! This pirate was loving the steel band music.

Ahoy Matey! This pirate (the infamous Capt. Tim of Beluga fame) had a great time listening to the steel band music.

The Turks and Caicos Island Flag flies high as the Hobie Cats are waiting and lined up along the beach

The Turks and Caicos Island Flag flies high as the Hobie Cats are waiting and lined up along the beach

This little island miss absolutely loved playing in the water, red dress and all.

This little island miss absolutely loved playing in the water, red dress and all.

I think this cute fellow was hoping to get out for a sail

I think this cute fellow was hoping to get out for a sail

 

View of the beach at the Children's Park in the Bight

View of the beach at the Children's Park in the Bight

One of the highlights of the Fool's Regatta is the Caicos Sloop races

One of the highlights of the Fool's Regatta is the Caicos Sloop races

 

Sailing, teaching kids to sail......life doesn't get any better than this. Dave I believe is the originator of the Fool's Regatta and instrumental in all phases of planning and pulling this event off.

Sailing, teaching kids to sail......life doesn't get any better than this. Dave I believe is the originator of the Fool's Regatta and instrumental in all phases of planning and pulling this event off.

Thanks Dave, to you and all your helpers and workers for another successful, fun filled regatta. We’ll all be there next year and WE CAN’T WAIT!   

Mike and Barry with new friends Fabienne and Lissa here from our home town of Banff and Calgary. My neck sure needs some "trigger point" therapy

Mike and Barry with new friends Fabienne and Lissa here from our home town of Banff and Calgary. My neck sure needs some "trigger point" therapy ladies!!

For those of you that missed all the fun today, we hope you’ll mark your calendars and join us next year.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Frogs and Lizards

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An anole lizard takes a closer look at Barry's forehead

An anole lizard takes a closer look at Barry's forehead

Hanging laundry out back can be hazardous as Barry found out the other day………..an anole lizard took a flying leap and landed on his forehead. Not quite sure what the little fella was looking for!! Of course he came looking for me to get some photos. I mean how often does something like this happen?

More exploration of Barry's head

More exploration of Barry's head

And for our entertainment today at Harbour Club Villas……….well, there’s a bit of a story here. We’ve been getting lots of rain and hearing frogs. So Barry decided to become a frog whisperer and call or croak to them. The frogs have been croaking back!!! The other night we heard a frog right outside our bedroom window somewhere in the bush. It was quiet for about 45 mins and Barry asked me if I wanted him to call the frog. Of course I said yes, he did and, THE FROG ANSWERED HIM BACK. I haven’t laughed so much in a while as we went through this excercise quite a few times and each time the frog answered.  Soooooo, this morning, Barry is in the shower when he calls me to bring the camera.
This morning a frog dropped by while Barry was having a shower

This morning a frog dropped by while Barry was having a shower

Barry must have charmed her last night with his croaking so she decided to come through the “whirly bird” fan above the shower to find her “handsome prince”  What a surprise she received and Barry too. He thought it was a crab initially and then it jumped almost landing on him. More photos of course and then Mike came up to lend a hand in the capture and release.
Mike tries to capture and release the little frog

Mike tries to capture and release the little frog

This little frog was really fast and a great jumper

This little frog was really fast and a great jumper

Frog whisperer Barry's photo.........great shot and angle!!

Frog whisperer Barry's photo.........great shot and angle!!

I just love the frog's legs.........suction cups for holding onto slippery wet shower stall tiles

I just love the frog's legs.........suction cups for holding onto slippery wet shower stall tiles

 

Ready to be let go in the bush....look at the suction cup like ends on its feet!

Ready to be let go in the bush....look at the suction cup like ends on its feet!

Ready to hop away from this nerve racking experience!!

Ready to hop away from this nerve racking experience!!

 Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

 

Hummingbird Update

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Here she is.....nest all finished and ready to lay her eggs.

Here she is.....nest all finished and ready to lay her eggs.

All during this last week, our little hummingbird mama has been soooo busy building her nest. It has grown quite substantially (see my earlier blog as she began building her nest). For the first several days we had consistent rain but that didn’t stop her as she flew in and out with soft bits of tree bark and glued her nest together with spider webs.

Note she has some fluff in her beak to line the nest with some softness.

Note she has some fluff in her beak to line the nest with some softness.

 

Clever little bird, she camouflaged her nest well and built it into a cactus branch

Clever little bird, she camouflaged her nest well and built it into a cactus branch. This is another of Mike's super photos...look at the colours on the tail feathers!!

A closer look at those spectacular colours on her tailfeathers

A closer look at those spectacular colours on her tailfeathers

Two days ago when I took a look inside the nest, the Bahama Woodstar hummingbird had laid a tiny egg. Apparently it will take 16 to 18 days to incubate but I’m thinking she will be laying another egg soon. So far though, there’s only the one. 

One little egg in the nest ..... will she lay another?

One little egg in the nest ..... will she lay another?

She spends lots of time sitting on the egg in her nest. We walk past here so many times during the day so she must be getting used to the traffic.

She spends lots of time sitting on the egg in her nest. We walk past here so many times during the day so she must be getting used to the traffic.

Hummingbirds build an amazing, well constructed nest that is a bit more than an inch or so in diameter and probably two inches high so that the eggs are secure.  It is round, open, and made of soft woolly material similar to cotton, camouflaged on the outside with tiny pieces of bark . We have some wild cotton here at Harbour Club so she has probably found some of that to line her nest with.  They may choose a variety of sites from two feet to twelve feet from the ground. Two rather elongated white eggs are generally laid so we are now waiting for the second egg to appear.

You can see a closer view of the egg in the hummingbird's nest

You can see a closer view of the egg in the hummingbird's nest

 

Nesting hummingbird hidden in the cactus tree close by our walkway to our house at Harbour Club Villas
Nesting hummingbird hidden in the cactus tree close by our walkway to our house at Harbour Club Villas

Much excitement with watching and photographing this little hummingbird! Watch for more as hopefully the babies will hatch in a few weeks. I’m also watching a Gray Kingbird nest which today has four eggs in it. When I first saw it, there were just two but these birds lay up to five eggs….so we’ll see. But this will be for another post.

Happy birding and birdwatching!!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Rainy Day Walk in the Bush

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Oh so pretty.....the bush is alive with a mass of purple flowers.

Oh so pretty.....the bush is alive with a mass of purple flowers.

We’ve had so much rain this past week and the liquid sunshine has created an abundance of flowers in the bush surrounding us here at Harbour Club Villas. I took a guest out to show him some of my favourite spots for bonefishing and discovered the rain had revived the parched bush.

The flowering Prickle Bush was everywhere with it's long trailing branches more like a vine than a bush.

The flowering Prickle Bush was everywhere with it's long trailing branches more like a vine than a bush.

Heavy cloud cover and just a few rain drops but still that wondrous turquoise ocean

Heavy cloud cover and just a few rain drops but still that wondrous turquoise ocean

The bush was alive with all kinds of flowers and of course new growth everywhere.

The bright yellow flowers of the Wild Senna bush were a stand outfrom amongst the greenery.

The bright yellow flowers of the Wild Senna bush were a stand out from amongst the greenery.

Pinkish Sea Sage with a yellow eye at the centre is a favourite attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.

Pinkish Sea Sage with a yellow eye at the centre is a favourite attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.

I caught a glimpse of something white and there it was, a beautiful passion flower.

I caught a glimpse of something white and there it was, a beautiful passion flower.

You may have noticed a dried twig like low bush........what a transformation as the rains bring out a mass of delicate white flowers.

You may have noticed a dried twig like low bush........what a transformation as the rains bring out a mass of delicate white flowers.

A heavenly scent as the Frangipani or plumeria flowers appear in clusters.

A heavenly scent as the Frangipani or plumeria flowers appear in clusters.

If you have a chance, look around you at the beauty and colours in our native bush right now. How lucky we are to see the many wild flowers and flowering bushes and vines.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com 

Hummingbird Nest

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I looked and looked trying to find the little hummingbird's nest........finally, there it was!

I looked and looked trying to find the little hummingbird's nest........finally, there it was!

Over the last few days, every time I walked up the stone pathway to our cabin, a tiny hummingbird would hover over my head as if to say….don’t come any closer!  I thought there might be a nest in the large Sapodilla tree but I kept looking there and couldn’t find anything. I finally stood there and took a few photos of the hummingbird as she perched and posed on a branch.

The start of a tiny nest on a cactus plant....soft plant material and cobwebs to glue it together.

The start of a tiny nest on a cactus plant....soft plant material and cobwebs to glue it together.

The Bahama Woodstar hummingbird spent alot of time today flying in with bits of soft  plant pieces and leaf hairs. The spider webs make terrific glue for the nest and allow the nest to stretch and be flexible as the baby hummingbirds grow. Take a look at the spider’s webs holding the nest on the cactus as well as the cactus spikes.

Bahama Woodstar hummingbird forming her nest with her body as she builds it in a tall cactus tree beside our cabin.

Bahama Woodstar hummingbird forming her nest with her body as she builds it in a tall cactus tree beside our cabin.

A mother hummingbird will sit in a nest and use a wing to press the nest against her body to mold it into the perfect shape. She will press her rump into the center of the nest and against the walls to round the inside. I’m excited at the prospect of watching this mama bird as she completes the nest and lays her eggs. Also wondering if this cactus branch isn’t a little too exposed especially with all the comings and goings of Barry and I as it’s right there at the entrance to our cabin.

The Mama hummingbird trying her nest on for size!

The Mama hummingbird trying her nest on for size!

I’m hoping in the days to come to get photos of the eggs and baby birds. Keep checking back.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Whale Shark

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This is an incredible shot Mickey! Gives you some perspective on sizes.

This is an incredible shot Mickey! Gives you some perspective on sizes.

First of all, my thanks to Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers for allowing me to share these amazing and spectacular photos with you.

The whale shark was spotted in shallow water as Flamingo Divers headed towards their dive site. They slipped into the water and snorkeled with this magnificent creature.

Wow.........what a sight! A whaleshark in the Sandbore Channel.
Wow………what a sight! A whale shark in the Sandbore Channel.

Jayne tells us  “I’ve seen one about 6 years ago – a fleeting glance as it passed over head. Mickey’s never seen one before. This one was great as we got to snorkel with it in shallow water, and it swam circles around and through our group! Loved it!

That's "little" Mickey swimming along to get up close to the whale shark. Thanks Paul for this great shot!

Look how tiny Mickey is as he swims along to get up close to the whale shark. Thanks Dave for this great shot!

The whale shark is the largest fish in the sea with an average length of about 26ft . It’s actually not a whale but a shark and it is quite different than most other sharks in the way that it eats. It has a very large mouth in front, a big square head and distinctive coloring. They have little eyes, big gills, six ridges along their backs and pale white dots evenly spread about the body with a white belly.

Face to face with the gentle giant of the seas.

Face to face with the gentle giant of the seas.

Even though it is so huge, the whale shark does not pose significant danger to humans. They are docile fish and sometimes will allow swimmers to hitch a ride (not recommended as these are wild animals). Whale sharks are actually quite gentle, can play with divers and thus you can swim with this giant fish without risk. Keep out of the way of the shark’s large tail fin though!

Close up view of feeding time.

Close up view of feeding time.

Our wedding couple along with friends have been diving with Mickey and Jayne at Flamingo Divers for a full two weeks now. They were hoping to see a whale shark. No whale shark but huge amounts of other sharks on almost every dive. Our bride and groom did take time out for their wedding though! (see my previous post)

We hope you’ll join Mickey and Jayne and Flamingo Divers as they guide you through some spectacular dive sites and the reefs of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Grab your dive buddy and book your dive adventure today…..Call or email Flamingo Divers at  Toll Free: 1 800-204-9282 or greatdiving@flamingodivers.com  You can also contact me to arrange all your diving needs too.

Marta

 

 

 

http://www.diving.tc

Sunset Beach Wedding

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Our bride and groom, Tam and Derek were married yesterday at a beach wedding ceremony out at Leeward beach.

Our bride and groom, Tam and Derek meet each other outside their villa. They were married yesterday at a sunset wedding ceremony out at Leeward beach.

A beautiful wedding day, sunny blue skies and the seas were gentle and calm as Tam and Derek exchanged their “I Do’s” on Pelican Beach at Leeward. Tam and Derek pose for wedding photographs in the grounds of Harbour Club Villas.

A beautiful wedding day, sunny blue skies and the seas were gentle and calm as Tam and Derek exchanged their "I Do's" on Pelican Beach at Leeward. Tam and Derek pose for wedding photographs in the grounds of Harbour Club Villas.

The happy smiling couple pose for wedding photos amongst the greenery and flowers at Harbour Club

Tam was stunning in her satin bridal gown, a veil draped around her shoulders and a bouquet of purple and orange bouganvillea. Derek was handsome and dashing in his suit and orange tie to match his boutonnier ……… and see below!!
Yup............Derek had striped brown, orange and fushia socks to match the wedding flowers

Yup............Derek had striped brown, orange and fushia socks to match the wedding flowers

A moment to cherish as the bride and groom exchange vows as the sun slowly slipped into the ocean

A moment to cherish as the bride and groom exchange vows as the sun slowly slipped into the ocean

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Heric on a beautiful life together!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Heric on a beautiful life together!

The pink and golden rays of the setting sun made for an awesome photo of the bride and groom.

The pink and golden rays of the setting sun made for an awesome photo of the bride and groom.

We did it!! Smiles of love and happiness as the last orange pastel glow of the sun spreads across the evening skies.

We did it!! Smiles of love and happiness as the last orange pastel glow of the sun spreads across the evening skies.

Xin chúc mừng 2 bạn! Congratulations on your marriage!

Xin chúc mừng 2 bạn! Congratulations on your marriage!

Love those socks Derek...........we wish you all the happiness in the world and a long life of love and laughter together.

Love those socks Derek...........we wish you all the happiness in the world and a long life of love and laughter together.

Derek and Tam will enjoy another honeymoon week of fun in the sun and lots of diving. They will be diving with Flamingo Divers and are looking forward to hopefully seeing a whale shark. More on that in a future post.
Congratulations to you both!
Marta
http://www.cloudnine.tc