We were on the road for 4 and a half months. This was a different trip for us filled with Family, Friends and Fun AND a lot of moving around. We headed to the US in June for Michael’s Goddaughter’s wedding in CT and then migrated to Vermont, Maine and then onto Toronto for a Jazz weekend and then Caribana (Toronto’s Carnival). From there, Michael jagged back to the Caribbean to shoot Grenada’s Carnival while I spent time with his family at Big Moose and, together again, we headed to Cape Cod to catch the last taste of a New England summer, then off Italy for 3 weeks, more visiting and now we are back in Grenada. Lots of stories, insights and reflections which will be shared in other posts, but for now ~ WE ARE HOME!

Day 1 ~ Sitting on the patio, gazing at the horizon and writing for the first time in a long time. I’ve missed blogging but was too busy ‘seeing’ to be to be able really write in earnest – time to begin again.

Below is a random listing of my first impressions after being gone so long and seeing the house mostly complete for the first time ….

~ The welcoming feeling of coming home

~ Sunday ~ A day of rest and quiet ~ a perfect way to settle back in

~ Stunning views of verdant green climbing up the hills and mountains

~ Palm trees swaying and dancing in the breeze

~ Sounds of water land boat motors running – daily life happening

~ Hot 90’s and a soft breeze, enhanced by a lazy fan twirling above

~ Freshly squeezed fruit juices in the refrigerator. Plus freshly baked coconut bread and sweet bananas

~ Michael’s hammock is already up!

~ Mick settling right in, in his hammock bed, getting treats

~ Everyone is relaxed

~ Our pool. Glistening, clear water, wiggling waves from the breeze ~ a little ‘cold’ !

(86 degrees if you believe the thermometer. Need to turn on the solar heater. HA!)

~ Micks’ first dip in the pool, then splat! as he runs on the newly waxed living room floor – splayed out and wondering, What just happened?

~ A clean, neat, organized house. Thanks to –

Nadica – my Grenadian best friend and our housekeeper

Sheila – a wonderful new friend and our groundskeeper

Antonio – our terrific general contractor

Kim – our fabulous house manager and ‘go to’ person when we are off island

~ Thank you all for taking such great care of us ~

Thinking about people – Wanting to reach out and make contact

~ Karen, Boots and Ruby – our favorite restauranteers

~ Spencer and Ovis – our neighbors across the street

~ Rain – good friend and chef extraordinaire

~ Seeing our “completed” house for the first time. There was still a lot of work to be completed when we left Grenada in June. Michael had a sneak peek when he was back in August but it is all new to me.

~ Greeting the house like an old friend who has new secrets to share – new spaces, finishes completed

~ Discoveries – We shipped 5 barrels of ‘stuff’. Items tucked everywhere – waiting for their new homes

~ Places to sit! Lots of new cushions ~ a whole other story

~ A new big office – so large I just want to dance in it. A space of my own. Finally!

~ Maria’s glass waterfall displayed on the floor of the living room – looking magnificent and wrong on the floor instead of flowing down the patio wall

~ Sleeping in my own bed ~ delicious and heavenly!

~ One of our favorite restaurants, La Boulangerie, is closed. So much disappointment…. Another failed business and if rumors are true – the owner left the island without paying the workers or back rent. Heartbreaking all the way around.

~ Carib Sushi – Our favorite sushi restaurant ~ just the same – same wait staff, happy to have us back and the wonderful Sushi chef who likes me because I like him. Feeling welcomed and spoiled.

~ Thinking about priorities and contemplating what to do first? How to design my life now that the house is basically complete? What DO I want to do when I grow up?

Coming home ~ celebrating

Coming home ~ a feeling of endless time

Coming home ~ Feeling settled – home, sweet, sweet home.