6th Graders at Julius Sprauve School | St John, Virgin Islands
Celebrate Momma Earth.
Swimming With The Fish.
Our new favorite thing to do.
At 7:45am I am loopy, Ivan is grim.
Caribbean Lobster
One Year Together.
Today 365 days ago we began.
Love,
Savanah
Seriously Love Monday.
I Love
Rhumb Lines, if it were our last night on island dinner would be there, eating spicy Szechuan noodles and veggie samosas.
Living without hipsters, the island is not hip enough. It’s great!!
It is impossible to walk through town without passing at least three people I know well enough that its rude not to say hello.
Woody’s kitchen guys know my voice via phone and “my usual” salad order.
But, Seriously.. The strength of an o-bomb.
Vegan Adventures: 15 Bean Burrito
I have to admit living on St John I have far teetered off of my vegan lifestyle with little access to fresh vegetables, and cooking at home on a budget with a shelf full of beans hand delivered by Ivan’s Mom.
What ingredients you’ll need:
Flour tortillas, 1 avocado, 1 can of tomatoes, (or 3 chopped roma tomatoes, 1/2 yellow onion, 5 cloves of garlic and a bag of 15 types of beans, salt+pepper.
Step One:
Fill a large pot with salted water, then add beans cover the pot, stir occasionally on medium heat. Allow the beans to cook until they are tender this may take 2-3 hours. If you notice the water evaporate low, add hot water (microwaved or stove heated) adding cold water will shock the beans.
Step Two:
Prepare the flavor, chop your onion, garlic, and tomatoes.
Add olive oil to a large pan, saute onions and garlic then add tomatoes and cooked beans. Stir and salt to taste.
Step Three:
Slice up an avocado and add your delicious beans to the tortilla. Roll burrito, and eat. YUM.
Caneel Hill Trail
Yesterday was not super eventful, but non the less exhausting, we made it up to the top of a Caneel Hill and back down in time for happy hour.
Caneel Hill is a sweet and steep trail that is easily accesible from Cruz Bay, no car needed. Lizards scuffle in the leaves, deer can be spotted wandering, and air plants of all sizes float in the trees. We have hiked it before, our very first day on St. John, my friend Liz, who I grew up with in Maine, now island local for the last 5 years lead us to the top to see the view. On that day the view was certainly a a stunning reward, but the surrounding islands, beaches and the bays that we could see were all new, so unfamiliar, all uncharted territory. It has been nearly 5 months now living on St John. This time the view from the top of Caneel Hill was a familiar site to both of us. Ivan pointed out the route he takes tourists on for jet ski tours, effortlessly naming off all the little islands in view. We could almost see our house two bays away, and many of the islands we have explored by boat, diving or snorkeling.
As we walked home at dusk, we reached a point on our road where there is a clear view of Great Cruz Bay. Ivan stopped for a moment, pointed out at the tallest hill in the far distance: “Look that’s where we were, that’s Caneel Hill.”
Underwater Breathing: Intro To Scuba
To breath underwater is an incredibly unnatural experience, it almost feels like a cheat in human evolution.
Living on St John makes every single day off from work sacred. It is hard to remember the last time I actually used my off day to sleep in and be completely lazy - there is just too much play time to be had outside. The island itself is only 4 by 9 miles long, but nearly 80% of the land is protected as National Park. There are countless trails to hike, beaches to snorkel, and as soon as I’m certified, dive sites and ship wrecks to explore underwater.
Yesterday was my off day, Ivan had to work. I decided to take my first leap off a boat all suited up in dive gear to swim deep along side the sea creatures below. When the day was done and our boat arrived back at the Westin dock I graciously thanked Morgan (our friend/dive instructor) for the awesome experience, and terrific first time guidance. Then excitedly raced to Ivan’s desk in the resort lobby were he was perched for the day selling boat trips..
What a phenomenal experience it was, it appears that February will be spent focused on a bit of book work and testing for dive certification. Next up: book work and testing to become certified.
If you find yourself in the US Virgin Islands and feel up for Scuba Diving hit up Cruz Bay Water Sports.
Learning To Love To Read No.3 :: Best Of Roald Dahl
Last year I made two solid attempts on a voyage I began; learning to love to read. I completed each of the books I posted (first and second book) and then fell right back into my same old cycle. I think I started at least four books that found themselves a part of the unfinished stack. I did complete a couple books worthy of blogging, but really fell off the blogging band wagon around that time, so they were never shared.
This is me declaring I’m back on the blog. I’m also back on the reading band wagon third time should be the charm.
A couple weeks ago Ivan surprised me with a package he ordered from the States. It included a few books and an amazing waterproof case for my iPhone, now I can bring my instagram addiction snorkeling. The book meant for me was: The Best Of Roald Dahl, it has been a wonderful inspiration! Not only is Roald Dahl my favorite children’s author (I read all of them, Matilda at least three times.) It turns out this awesome fella was one twisted character that wrote bunches of silly, sick, and twisted short stories, supposedly all the BEST are compiled into this book. They are just the perfect length to read before bed. Lately instead of indulging in a couple trashy episodes of Sons Of Anarchy season 4 on Netflix, we take turns reading out loud. Each story has a twisted end and feels like a tiny victory of another finish.
Roald Dahls stories were perfect at the beach. Just us two, cold beer and lunch.
(Dark clouds rolling over Dennis Bay, Ivan and the sail boat.)
Seriously, Love Monday
I Love:
- Our NEW hook bracelets. For the new year at Bamboo Studio, the jewelry store I work for gave the sales team of three a generous store credit to buy anything we’d like. I got Ivan and I hook bracelets. The Hook Bracelet comes from a Danish tradition dating back to when the Danes owned the Virgin Islands. Today many USVI locals wear the bracelet and thousands of tourists take them home each year. It is certainly a quick way of knowing if a person is in a relationship or single. The hook is worn facing up toward your heart to symbolize that your heart is taken or out toward your hand if you are single and looking for love. Ivan’s hook is called the ‘Ol Salty Dog,’ a unique design by one of the store owners, Chad, who comes from a background in landscaping. Chad, just like my Ivan is not the jewelry wearing type of guy, not even a watch. He designed a piece that he felt comfortable wearing. It goes through quite the process of hand crafting; first, they hammer the sterling silver, then it is oxidized to appear tarnished and worn, almost rustic. My hook is a 6mm 14k gold hook and wrap with a smooth silver band. (Who thought I could nerd out on jewelry.)
To order your own hook bracelet visit: bamboovi.com
Our store is one of the few on island taking the extra step of making sure all the silver and gold used to make our jewelry is recycled, and that the diamonds used are blood and conflict free. In addition our jewelry is hand crafted five steps away from the store in the workshop next-door. Keeping the work local, and supporting local jewelers rather than sending designs over seas to maximize on profit as many of the other stores do.
- Woody’s garden salad, after trying many salads on the island no one beats the dollar for veggie ratio.
- When it rains in the morning. Just 15 minutes worth.
- Identifying Maine and Vermonters in St John. The sweetest and most humble of travelers. and their New England drawl gives them away immediately.
- The Domicanos on the island give me great opportunities to practice mi Español.
But, seriously!!?
- Most of my favorite St John market items became 1 or 2 dollars more expensive when “high season” began.
- I have been waiting patiently, watching my online order sit checked into customs in Puerto Rico for three days. Its a swim suit not knives. Let it pass.
- Ivan and I will pay our fifth month of rent this week. Time moves too quickly.
Our House and All Of It’s Creatures..
(My favorite little lizard, doesn’t have a name…open for suggestion?)
The number one topic of conversation when hitching a ride to town, second to establishing where you are from, is “Were do you live on St. John?” There are no physical addresses on the island, but by now Ivan and I have our story down. We live on the “garden level” of a Villa about 1/2 a mile down Great Cruz Bay Road, that first road on the right, just past the Westin. We are lucky to have found a beautiful screened in basement of a family island house that fashions a slanted tin roof, to direct rain water into a cistern. Most of the window treatments are screened covered lattice. The bedroom is the only space that has a glass window and door with island typical slanted glass pieces that tilt open or closed. We have an outdoor toilet and shower, all sink drains flow into our yard (weird) and we have become friends with the outdoor creatures that find their way inside.
We have more than a few friends who share our home with us. Starting with the most annoying, the mosquito. They drive me so crazy that I have considered a “Deet” plug-in to be a wonderful idea, or really just bathing in 100% Deet (the active ingredient in mosquito spray.) Mosquitos are relentless, I think they wait patiently for us to turn on the Air Conditioner and fly right on through for a nightly blood buffet. Next up the occasional cricket, quietly creeping along, I don’t mind them so much and if they eat those mosquitos it’s an open door “mi casa es su casa” policy for them. If only they wouldn’t mind falling dead outside, rather than on the kitchen floor. Ants, I’m used to dealing with these team players. During California summers these bad boys would make a trail as thick as the Nile River (in proportion to their size) traveling in marching rows from one end of my house to the other to reach Monster’s food bowl. Here in St. John they assume the roll of “clean up crew,” seldom are they seen until they’ve spotted a dash of fallen peanut butter or another dead insect. My absolute favorite creature are all the lizards, they each seem to have a uniqueness about them. Sometimes while we’re sitting in the screened “dining room” one will hang out very close and appear to be watching us. I love them. Over the last few days we have discovered a new friend, I call her Sally. Ivan thinks its a little outrageous, not only have I deemed her female, but named her. She’s a mouse, perhaps I am crazy, maybe disgusting, but she is so cute and light grey. I’m not certain what she is eating in our kitchen since everything is in the fridge to keep it fresh and lasting. Every so often if we come home late at night or step into the kitchen for a mid-night glass of water she’ll be up to no good, get spooked and runaway to her secret lair. Last night I met someone new. A tree frog!! I’m not even certain how the little thing maneuvered it’s way in, but certainly didn’t want it to be lost inside our house I can’t clean up a dead frog so I scooped it up and set it free.
Seriously / Love Monday
It has been quite some time since I’ve pieced together a list of things that I love and to hold the balance, a list of things so ridiculous I question its seriousness.
Today marks day 12 that Ivan and I have been living on St. John, a beautiful little island in the U.S.Virgin Islands. We found a home, jobs, and a solid route to a stunning white sandy beach. There are so many amazing things about living in this paradise, and a few things that are very important to understand. 1. The notion “island time” is a reality here. It means double the wait time on postal service, construction, or even a returned phone call. Grumbling or having resistance will only make your wait longer. 2. It is imperative to greet others (good morning, good afternoon, good night) on the street, the beach, in a store, restaurant, the ferry, a cab, it doesn’t matter where you are it is custom to acknowledge one another - and that is a beautiful thing!
Here is my list, have a wonderful week. xo
I Absolutely Love!
- The sunset every night, see the photo above taken one evening walking home from the market. iPhones don’t compete with a real camera, take a look at amazing island photos by local Photographer Old Mango.
- Bananas and avocados so much more from the Dominican Republic. Sorry California!
- Our new “garden level” apartment, we lucked out big time. (And the family upstairs is super sweet.)
- A liter of Jameson is only $20 on this magical island.
- When it pours rain for 4 minutes with the sun still shining bright.
- Our screened in dining porch, my favorite spot to be second to the beach and my bed. Ivan The Beard is so resistant to any change unless its social/political, stepped out of his five year strong comfortable routine to join me on this Caribbean Adventure. He loves me. :)
But, Seriously!?
- The cost of electricity is out of this world a home with a family of 4 can easily run $500 per month.
- There is not much push for the use of solar energy though a residential home owner could see a return on investment in as little as 3-4 years.
- Businesses will close at any opportunity. Indigenous Peoples Day / Columbus Day. Memorial Day. Saturday afternoon the Star Fish Market closed at 4pm because there was a tropical storm warning for late that night. The storm didn’t happen.
- The way people drive on tiny winding roads is terrifying.
- The recycling program here. Working on “unlearning” how to recycle.
- To work in the restaurant industry you must have a St. John health card, obtained by bringing a fecal sample to the local clinic along with a passport and social security card. A passport (the strongest form of identification used by employers, TSA, Homeland security simply will not do.) To obtain a copy of your Social Security card, if yours happens to be lost in a million boxes in storage at your mothers home 4,000 miles away, A stop at the Social Security office with your passport is all that is needed.
- The cost of Oreos $8, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Bar $7, Sunscreen SPF 15 + Bug Spray (cheapest option) $10, Laundry $4 Wash, Dry $3, Water $2/gallon is gold.
Finding The Happy.
Since 2008 when the Banks hustled our Government and swindled the American public, millions of people nation-wide were forced to take a pay cut either by fur-low or being laid off and left with little choice, but to work another job (or two) at a lower pay rate.
I survived three waves of layoffs at the office I worked for, I suppose being a department of one, being awesome and having a not-so-senior salary helped in my favor. After months of serious thinking, the choice became clear to me that I no longer wanted to focus my 40+ hours a week in a career aimed to grow the bottom line each fiscal quarter. In fact I made the sound decision to never be in a position where I am forced into a meeting to discuss those evil capitalist words ever again. There is far too much work that needs to be done in the human world that fiscal calendars, and profit margins are no longer something that deserves my time.
In August 2011 I took a giant leap of hope and resigned from the corporate world (only 5 years in) and began to spend my days putting in work that is important to me (social/environmental activism and teaching children.) As a result I took a 30% pay cut, no longer have the luxury of paid vacations and haven’t linked in with an affordable health insurance plan, but my level of stress has insurmountably decreased, I’m healthier in mind and body, and now genuinely happy.
Living in a smaller city, sealed off in a sweet, happy, progressive bubble that is Portland, Oregon has definitely made the transition much easier. I now have clarity of my mind and removed the “extra” things I no longer never needed.
Ex Libris Anonymous | Handmade Journals
On the days that I walk to pre-school I pass a handful of pretty awesome shops along the way that are never open at 7:30am. Walking home in the afternoon I’m beat from a day of singing children’s songs, and herding 12-16 little ones through their day of snack, play, lunch, art, snack and bathroom time in-between so needless to say I prefer to bee-line it home.
I finally stopped at the one store I was most curious about, Ex Libris Anonymous. A one stop, pick your vintage book and have it instantly made into a sweet little journal full of blank pages and a handful of the original story pages scattered through to fill with whatever your heart may desire. I selected one of my absolute favorites from childhood, Are You My Mother? by Dr. Seuss.
If you are in Portland I highly recommend stopping in and grabbing yourself an awesome vintage journal. Even if you are not in Portland don’t fret they have an insane website store you can select from and shipping is FREE.
Ex Libris Anonymous {order online} Find Them On: {Facebook} {Twitter} {Tumblr}
4185 SE Division Street | Portland, Oregon | 360-350-2927
Seriously / Love Monday : Food Coma
This weekend was pretty well planned to be amazing and even slightly productive. I worked through most of it, but I still managed to plant a round of my baby vegetable seeds in recycled egg cartons, and experience an after brunch “food coma” for the first time since embarking on this Vegan lifestyle (8 months ago). It was intense, took me down for a whole hour and would have been longer had I not had a sweet afternoon photo shoot scheduled with two wonderful people who have shared 8 years together.
I Love (!!!)
This, this, this, and this by Maggie Nichols she is an amazing artist/painter/illustrator in Portland that I will be spending a morning with real soon for some coffee, paint, talk, with my camera in hand shooting the whole way through. [Can’t even wait] Buy Prints, Like Her on Facebook, visit her website SimplyKumquat.com
Awesome twelve year in Seventh Grade at The Rachel L. Carson School for Environmental Science. I canvassed his parents house on Saturday afternoon and he was so excited about protecting Crater Lake National Park with Environment Oregon that he came along with me canvassing his neighborhood for my last remaining hours.
Biscuits, gravy, and a quality bloody mary in the company of my favorite person. Holy moly mackerel do they get down on the best food at GRAVY North Portland.
That the Leftist Party in Greek has taken a lead.
These non-white centric uses of the term “nude”
Vermont is now the first state to Ban Fracking, thats fracking awesome now for the rest of the nation to join in. [Here]
Los Angeles is the LARGEST city to Ban plastic single use grocery bags.
But, Seriously (!?!)
In 29 states it is absolutely legal to fire someone because they are gay, lesbian, or bi-sexual. In 34 states is it legal to fire someone solely for being transgender. {June 15-17 I will be putting in work at the Northwest Pride Festival in Portland for Human Rights Campaign to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.}
A passenger on board an American Airline flight was forced to change her pro-choice t-shirt that read: “If I wanted government in my womb, I’d [expletive] a senator.” It was the same message on a sign held by Oklahoma State Senator Judy McIntyre at a rally march. The Captain threatened that if she did not change her shirt that she would not be allowed to ride her connecting flight. She was forced to miss her connecting flight, then boarded the next available one out covering her shirt with a shall. {This is a joke right}? -nope
Too often I’ve knocked on a door to canvass a house and had a child under the age of 9 answer the door, as they shouldn’t do for strangers while home alone. Then when I ask to speak to a Mom or Dad they break stranger rule number two and tell me that their parents are still at work and will be home around 6pm. Yikes PSA on strangers??
