Category Archives: Odds and Ends

Mushroom

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I found this wonderful mushroom growing in our wild area at Harbour Club Villas.
I found this wonderful mushroom growing in our wild area at Harbour Club Villas.

After all that wonderful rain that we’ve had, this wild mushroom suddenly appeared just up behind one of our villas.  I asked my favourite biologist and good friend Nicky whether he thought it was edible or not. He seemed to think it was but I wasn’t prepared to give it a try. Nicky’s the only one that seems to know so many things about the flora and fauna of the islands as well as being able to give me names and tell me what different things might be!!!  Apparently out at Tucker’s Hill on Providenciales there used to be edible mushrooms growing there that he would harvest.

Mushroom on Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands
It really looked good enough to eat!!!!!!!!
Cheers
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Shopping Turks and Caicos

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Our shopping trip was pleasantly interrupted by two beautiful little girls who posed for me by the great mural at Ports of Call

Our shopping trip was pleasantly interrupted by two beautiful little girls who posed for me by the great mural at Ports of Call

Today was the day I took Sam and Marilyn shopping as we visited my favourite stores with such a variety of gifts just made for everyone. We stopped at the colourful Haitien market with stalls full of metal painted art. It was a day of turtles as Sam bought a turtle wall piece and then Marilyn found a beautiful turtle box in another shop.

Hard to pass up all the vibrant colours of metal art work......from geckos to fish, turtles to sunmasks

Hard to pass up all the vibrant colours of metal art work......from geckos to fish, turtles to sunmasks

Ports of Call was another stop where we made sure to drop in at Mama’s Gift Shop….Mama wasn’t there today but Chalice as always was full of smiles and happy to see us. On your next Provo visit, tell the ladies Marta at Harbour Club sent you! Sam, whose real name is Sandy bought the new children’s book Where is Simon, Sandy? for her grandkids. It is based on an actual event from the Turks and Caicos Islands and is set on Grand Turk.

Check out the great selection at our shopping areas in The Salt Mills and Ports of Call

Check out the great selection at our shopping areas in The Salt Mills and Ports of Call

The SaltMills is full of quality shops especially Anna’s Gallery which is a must with the most exquisite original paintings on silk. You’ll often find the artist, Anna Bourne painting her latest silk work of tropical fish, turtles, frogs or sea horses. Other artists’ works are also on display.

Happy shopping everyone!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Beach Barbecue

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Tents are set up and waiting for tonights Full Moon BBQ on the beach infront of the Bay Bistro

Tents are set up and waiting for tonight's Full Moon BBQ on the beach in front of the Bay Bistro

We were down for lunch and pina coladas at the Bay Bistro. We decided that these guys have the BEST pina coladas and yes, lunch was great too.  Chef Clive Whent was busy preparing the prime rib for the “feast on the full moon” barbecue held on the beach by the Bay Bistro.

Did I say Clive was working hard preparing tonight's prime rib?

Did I say Clive was working hard preparing tonight's prime rib?

Well, we  figured it was pretty tiring work watching the prime rib slowly cook on the spit especially when the weather on the beach was just too good to be true. On tonight’s menu will be prime rib and shrimp,  buffet style under the full moon with music and a bonfire…………………$40.00 for adults and $20.00 for kids. Make sure you take in this event if you are here on island for the next full moon. It’s something that shouldn’t be missed!

See you on the beach.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Spring Storm at sea

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A spring storm out over the banks creates unbelievable colours as we watched from the Marina at Harbour Club

A spring storm out over the banks creates unbelievable colours as we watched from the Marina at Harbour Club

The days of late have been unsettled with sporadic showers. I glanced out to sea from our villas at Harbour Club and saw a vivid streak of turquoise. I rushed to get my camera and went up to our look out on the hill overlooking our marina. Wow, what a sight…………. storm clouds were gathering out at sea and had turned the waters of Discovery Bay into the most glorious turquoise, green and aqua colours.

Fisherman Stanley's boat out in the Marina Channel at Harbour Club Villas

Fisherman Stanley's boat out in the Marina Channel at Harbour Club Villas

The colours of the ocean today were breathtaking as we watched the storm move over the water.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sapodilla

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Sapodilla fruit and flowers locally known as the "dilly" tree

Sapodilla fruit and flowers locally known as the "dilly" tree

I just thought you might like to know what a Sapodilla is…………this tropical tree is called a “dilly” locally and grows here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.  The fruits are favoured by our island iguanas and the taste is sweet and pleasant, ranging from a pear flavor to crunchy brown sugar.

The flowers of the Sapodilla are quite beautiful and I hadn't noticed this until I went out to take photos.

The flowers of the Sapodilla are quite beautiful and I hadn't noticed this until I went out to take photos.

The bark of the Sapodilla tree produces Chicle which is a latex that has been used for many years as a chewing gum base .
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sapodilla Bay

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Kite boarding and visiting boats at anchor at Sapodilla Bay

Kite boarding and visiting boats at anchor at Sapodilla Bay

Late afternoon is such a beautiful time of day………….we watched a kiteboarder as he skimmed across the bay past and around some boats that were at anchor.  Shooting into the sun gave the photo a soft quality as the sun glinted and sparkled off the water.  Don’t forget to bring glasses and a bottle of wine to sip on as you watch the sun go down into the water. Sapodilla is the best place to watch the sun set and perhaps even to see the elusive “Green Flash”.
Cheers!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sea Ox Eye Daisy

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The Sea Ox Eye Daisy found growing right off the sand among some rocks at Long Bay Beach

The Sea Ox Eye Daisy found growing right off the sand among some rocks at Long Bay Beach

I’m just amazed at how many wild flowers I see that are growing here in the islands. Some grow in the most precarious positions just out of pockets of dirt or sand in the rocks. There are two species of Sea Ox Eye Daisy found in The Turks and Caicos Islands. The one above has the official name of Borrichia Frutescens whose succulent leaves are covered in a fine silver fuzz. Until I took a close look at my photos, I didn’t realize there were two species.

Bright yellow flowers resembling a daisy appear throughout the year

Bright yellow flowers resembling a daisy appear throughout the year

This Sea Ox Eye Daisy is named Borrichia Arborescens and has leaves that are a deep green and smooth. These beautiful flowers are used by the locals and brewed into a tea for calming nerves and the stomach. The tea also treats colds, asthma, allergies and food poisoning. You can also eat the leaves in a salad to boost your Vitamin C content.

Watch for these pretty flowers the next time you are out for a walk.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sea Urchin

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A sea urchin found on the beach still has spines attached and with some neat looking encrustations

A Club or Pencil sea urchin found on the beach

 

Isn’t this something ! Anna found this sea urchin on the beach and I thought it just had all kinds of encrustations making it look quite unique. However on looking things up, I discovered that this is a Club or Pencil urchin.

See you on the beach,

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc