Category Archives: Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos SPCA dog show

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Judges Donna and Peggy being interviewed by WIV 4 TV.

Judges Donna and Peggy being interviewed by WIV 4 TV.

The judges had a hard task picking winning potcakes and dogs in various competitions such as best trick, most like owner and best looking.

Anna and her potcake receiving their prize treats

Anna and her potcake Kaya receiving their prizes and treats in the best trick competition

 

Signing up for the various events and this potcake was eager to get started

Signing up for the various events and this potcake was eager to get started

They could have left some water for a thirsty dog!

They could have left some water for a thirsty dog!

I wish they'd get the show started as these doggy face painted youngsters wait patiently

I wish they'd get the show started as these doggy face painted youngsters wait patiently

There was great excitement as everyone watched the K-9 demonstration taking down an intruder

There was great excitement as everyone watched the K-9 demonstration taking down an intruder

On command, the handler ordered the dog to subdue the suspect or potential criminal.

On command, the handler ordered the dog to subdue the suspect or potential criminal.

See you all at the show next year.............Don't miss it!!

See you all at the show next year.............Don't miss it!!

 

I couldn’t stay to the end of the show so missed some great events such as the obstacle course but for sure I’ll be there again next year to take in all the fun. Big thanks go out to all those hard working volunteers. If you can help the potcakes and animals here on Provo  in any way, please contact the TCSPCA, Potcake Place or the Potcake Foundation. They will be glad you called.

See you in 2011,

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turks and Caicos Dog Show

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This gorgeous dog was almost as tall as his little friend at this afternoon's eagerly awaited Dog Show

This gorgeous dog was almost as tall as his little friend at this afternoon's eagerly awaited Dog Show

What a great afternoon it was as everyone and their dogs had some tail waggin’ fun under the tent set up in Turtle Cove Marina. Once again it was time for the annual TCSPCA Dog Show. All the “who’s who” of the Provo doggie world came to vie for some great prizes and two trophies…..one for the Best in Show and one for the winner of the Obstacle Course.

Top Dog trophy waiting for the winning dog announcement

Top Dog trophy waiting for the winning dog announcement

A great turn out of dogs and potcakes of all sizes, their proud owners, loads of kids with cute painted doggy faces, booths selling a variety of neat items like eco friendly doggy bags, T-shirts and too many other items to mention along with food and drinks.

This little cutie was ready to show it's stuff in a range of competition endeavours.

This little cutie was ready to show it's stuff in a range of competition endeavours.

   

Checking out the competition at the TCSPCA Dog Show!

Checking out the competition at the TCSPCA Dog Show!

I'm so handsome ....I deserve a treat for this pose woofs Rama.

I'm so "doggon" handsome ....I deserve a treat for this perky earred pose woofs Rama.

Kids with painted doggy faces were kept entertained at the craft tables

Kids with painted doggy faces were kept entertained at the craft tables

All the excitement made this potcake tired as it lay down for a rest
All the excitement made this potcake tired as it lay down for a short break

If you missed the action today make sure to mark your calendar for next year.  The show today included a demonstration by the K-9 unit and I’ll post some photos of this in tomorrow’s blog.

Keep those tails waggin’
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Fool’s Regatta 2010

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The Coast Guard put on a great rescue at sea demonstration for the huge crowd of spectators watching from the beach and water.

The Coast Guard put on a great rescue at sea demonstration for the huge crowd of spectators watching from the beach and water.

There were so many great entries in the annual Regatta Raft Race.
There were so many great entries in the annual Regatta Raft Race.
The raft races were exciting as every one paddled furiously to try and become the winner

The raft races were exciting as every one paddled furiously to try and become the winner

These guys were the winners in the adult raft races

These guys were the winners in the adult raft races

The start of the kid's raft race was noisy and colourful with teams jockeying for position

The start of the kid's raft race was noisy and colourful with teams jockeying for position

WIV4 interviewed the winning kid's team

WIV4 interviewed the winning kid's team

This team was pretty tired as they reached the shore

This team was pretty tired as they reached the shore

If you missed this year’s Fool’s Regatta, you missed the best one ever. Mark your calendar for next June as it really is worth coming down to the beach and enjoying all the activities.

See you next year!!!!

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Fools Regatta 2010

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Fun day at this year's Regatta held on the beach at the Bight park

Fun day at this year's Regatta held on the beach at the Bight park

Tents, music, hotdogs and hamburgers, beer, rum and sodas, Hobie Cat races, Caicos Sloop races, raft races, tug o’ war events…….I’ve never seen as many people enjoying themselves as we did today. The annual Fool’s Regatta was a huge success and lots of fun.

Those Hobie Cats skimmed over the water at such a fast pace even though there was a brisk wind and white caps on the ocean

Those Hobie Cats skimmed over the water at such a fast pace even though there was a brisk wind and white caps on the ocean

The Caicos Sloops sailed past.........I was late getting down to the beach and didn't get to see them race.

The Caicos Sloops sailed past.........I was late getting down to the beach and didn't get to see them race.

These kids and their Dad had a blast doing the tug o' war

These kids and their Dad had a blast doing the tug o' war

There were adult teams and kid's teams as they tugged and pulled against each other often collapsing in a large heap on the sand

There were adult teams and kid's teams as they tugged and pulled against each other often collapsing in a large heap on the sand

The Turks and Caicos Islands flag flew proudly ontop of one of the rafts while a Caicos Sloop lay at anchor just off the shore

The Turks and Caicos Islands flag flew proudly ontop of one of the rafts while a Caicos Sloop lay at anchor just off the shore

The Fool’s Regatta used to be held on April Fool’s day and was a chance for everyone to get together, sail and have a good time at the beach. The highlight of the afternoon is always the Great Raft Race where hand made, unique watercraft powered only by paddles,  race and try to get across the finish line with craft intact and in one piece and with all crew on board. Tomorrow’s blog will show you some of these great imaginative rafts.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Mini Passion Flower Vine

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A beautiful miniature Passion Flower vine started growing under one of our palm trees

A beautiful miniature Passion Flower vine started growing under one of our palm trees

I was doing some weeding the other day and came across the most beautiful miniature Passion Flower vine complete with tiny fruits the size of peas. The flowers were a pale yellow and smaller than a dime. I don’t really know what kind of Passiflora it is but it could be a Passiflora suberosa according to some of the books.

You can see how tiny the fruit is as I hold them on my fingers.

You can see how tiny the fruit is as I hold them on my fingers.

My fingers are quite small………my middle finger is 2 1/2 inches long so that gives you an idea of the size. This mini Passion Flower Vine was growing very happily under one of our Palm Trees.

Beautiful and tiny this wild passion flower bloom was just resting on some gravel.

Beautiful and tiny this wild passion flower bloom was just resting on some gravel.

Here's a couple of passion fruits hanging from the vine

Here's a couple of passion fruits hanging from the vine

 

When the fruits turn a dark purple-black colour, they are favoured by the birds

When the fruits turn a dark purple-black colour, they are favoured by the birds

This pretty,  small passionflower vine often creeps along the ground throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. You really have to look closely for it !!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Playtime at Taylor Bay Beach

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Malaika was fascinated by the wavelets rippling along on the sandbar

Malaika was fascinated by the wavelets rippling along on the sandbar

she'd run up to them and then run back and try and get away from the waves

She'd run up to them and then run back and try and get away from the waves

Once again the sandbar at Taylor Bay beach made for a great afternoon of play, fun and even lunch time snacks.

Once again the sandbar at Taylor Bay beach made for a great afternoon of play, fun and even lunch time snacks.

Perfect timing to enjoy the sandbars at Taylor Bay beach. We anchored the boat in two feet of water for the afternoon and played in the clear warm water as Malaika tried her new SwimWays outfit with a built in inflatable ring.
Come on down to Taylor Bay which has the most perfect shallow and calm waters just made for your little ones.
We’re there almost every Sunday!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Potcakes and Conchin’

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It was so hot this afternoon that even the local potcakes were sitting and cooling off in the water

It was so hot this afternoon that even the local potcakes were sitting and cooling off in the water

The guys wanted to watch World Cup soccer so the gals and lil’ munchkin headed down Turtle Tail to “My” beach. I don’t know the official name of this lovely little spot that’s tucked away but everyone locally calls it “Dog beach.” And YES there were two potcakes from a nearby house that showed up to play in the water.

These two potcakes had a great time splashing, romping and just sitting in the water.

These two potcakes had a great time splashing, romping and just sitting in the water.

The water right now is like a bathtub………unusual for this time of year for it to be already so warm. Looks like there’s going to be lots of hurricane activity this year. The beach was perfect as munchkin played in the sand and the water and some locals came by conchin’.  

Conkin' on the south side of Providenciales just down the road from Harbour Club Villas.

Conchin' on the south side of Providenciales just down the road from Harbour Club Villas.

I chatted with two locals who were spending the afternoon looking for conch. Used to be a time where you would find loads of conch in the waters off this little beach and further down past Bristol Hills. They had so far only found one and then another one that I took pictures of.

A "medium sized" conch he told me......I thought it looked pretty large.

A "medium sized" conch he told me......I thought it looked pretty large.

He cracked the conch, pulled out the meat and continued through the water looking for more.
He cracked the conch, pulled out the meat and continued through the water looking for more.

Sad to say, there weren’t many conch to be found in the waters………….not even escapees from the conch farm that would work their way down towards our villas.

Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Desert Rose Seed Pods

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What do you think this is a photo of?

What do you think this is a photo of?

I was cleaning up the pool area today and discovered my desert rose had a large seed pod that had just burst open. There was a little bit of a wind today so I had a great opportunity to take photos of the seeds before catching the wind and being dispersed.

The seed itself has fluffy, dandelion like tufts on either side of the seed itself

The seed has fluffy, dandelion like tufts on either side of the seed itself

Brownish casing with seeds ready to burst out

Brownish casing with seeds ready to burst out

The Desert Rose has bean-like seed pods. When the seed pod is fully ripe on the plant, it will split open revealing seeds with beautiful “wings” so that seeds can blow away.

The seeds were just waiting for the wind to blow them away.

The seeds were just waiting for the wind to blow them away.

Desert Rose and a mass of seeds ready to fly away

Desert Rose with seed pods holding a large mass of seeds

 

Here's one of my large Desert Rose bushes when it was in full bloom a month or so ago.

Here's one of my large Desert Rose bushes when it was in full bloom a month or so ago.

 

 

Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Queen Angelfish

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The Queen Angelfish is one of the most beautiful and colourful fish found in the warm waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Queen Angelfish is one of the most beautiful and colourful fish found in the warm waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands

Such amazing colours….electric blue speckled with a bright canary yellow body, yellow tail , fins and a face that has blue highlights around the eyes and mouth. The Queen Angelfish stands out in a crowd because of all that colour but this too works perfectly so that this fish can  hide and blend in with the surrounding vibrance of the coral reefs in our area.

Queen Angelfish have a speckled, blue ringed spot that loks like a crown

Queen Angelfish have a speckled, blue ringed spot that looks like a crown

The royal title comes from this distinctive marking. It is a blue circle on the top of its head, known as the “crown” that gives this fish its name. 

This shy fish feeds on the sponges, algae and soft corals of the reef.

This shy fish feeds on the sponges, algae and soft corals of the reef.

They are quite large for reef-dwellers and can grow up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) in length. The Queen Angel has a  rounded head and small beak-like mouth. They have these long upper and lower fins that stream dramatically behind them. Although I love the Queen Angelfish best, The French Angelfish is also among the most beautiful of all the reef fishes.

The French Angelfish.....it's scales have bright yellow edges, making a vibrant pattern against its dark blue body.

The French Angelfish.....it's scales have bright yellow edges, making a vibrant pattern against its dark blue body.

A big thankyou to our Harbour Club guests Brian Gatt and Connie McEgan for their spectacular photos of the French Angelfish. I don’t dive (only snorkel) so I have to rely on others for underwater photos. The Queen Angel photos were taken by our son Mike on some of his regular visits to Provo.

The French Angelfish has a light blue face, gray/white mouth, and yellow highlights on its eyes, gill plates, and fins.

The French Angelfish has a light blue face, gray/white mouth, and yellow highlights on its eyes, gill plates, and fins.

I’m sure you’ll see these exotic fish as you snorkel at Smith’s Reef and the Bight Reef at Coral Gardens. For those that scuba dive, our coral reefs and walls are some of the best in the world. Come to the Turks and Caicos Islands for your next dive vacation and stay with us at  Harbour Club Villas. Dive boats leave our Marina every day  and if you don’t dive, snorkeling is great here too.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.diving.tc

Taylor Bay Beach and Sandbar playtime

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How lucky can she be.......a whole sandbar playground to herself!!

How lucky can she be.......a whole sandbar playground to herself!!

Lucky little munchkin……….not many can say that they had a tropical sandbar playground to themselves for the whole afternoon. A magical afternoon as the tide drifted out and exposed the sandbars at Taylor Bay.  A gentle breeze ruffled the water and wavelets lapped around the edges of the sandbar.

Forget all those other toys....she wouldn't let go of the Joy detergent bottle

Forget all those other toys....she wouldn't let go of the Joy detergent bottle

It’s amazing how babes choose the simplest of things and play with it for hours. Lil’ munchkin loved the Joy bottle Mom had brought with her and had no interest in the bucket, spade or other water toys.

The best time to go to Taylor Bay is at low tide especially if you have little kids.

The best time to go to Taylor Bay is at low tide especially if you have little kids.

Hot work all this playing and time for a cold drink.

Hot work all this playing and time for a cold drink.

A sandbar kids’ playtime with inches of warm, gentle water sparkling as the sun sinks lower in the western sky. The sand ripples can be clearly seen through the water. It doesn’t get any more perfect than this. Head out to Taylor Bay with your kids and enjoy an afternoon of fun and sunshine.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com