Category Archives: Belize

Words Echoing in My Brain…

The Artist Known as Gnome.
The Artist Known as Gnome.

Even though the Munchkin hasn’t said anything, this look,

munchkin-eating-bread-chair

at breakfast, makes these words reverberate in my brain:

“Since everybody is writing posts, you should write too!”

Gnome.Glasses.Shot.Another

So, today, I put the clear tin on the potato garden; ground sorghum for flour and breadcrumbs; watered everything with horrible, stinky water; sorted out Munchkin’s photographs for blogging; put another egg in the incubator; crocheted another row of “the blanket” and now I am settling myself down to sit in front of the computer and do some coding….moving on to end of Chapter 3 quiz…

See?!?!?  I wrote something…remaining bloggers together…I hope I get one of these:

munchkin-with-hamburger-smiling

rather than one of these:

munchkin-funny-look-yet-another.png

Cheers!  Have a good day everyone.

Lime Sulphur Pet Dip is Popular!

Presidente.Pet.Sulphur.Lime.Dip

We just delivered a fresh batch of Lime Sulphur XXX Pet Dip For Mange, Fleas, Ticks and Ringworm (wow…what a looooong name).  The guys at the Farm Store in Punta Gorda just call it Presidente (the name of beer from which we have recycled the bottle)…for Pets.  Brian, the manager at the Farm Store tells us that the Pet Dip is very popular.

Mr. Brian Cho at The Farm Store.
Mr. Brian Cho at The Farm Store.

Later on I spoke with Gnome and discussed the possible reasons for the popularity of this particular product.

munchkin-buying-food

Munchkin: “Hmmmm, Maybe it’s because we use recycled bottles.”

or

“Maybe it’s the Triple XXX on the label…makes it look really serious.”

or

Maybe it’s because people imagine two doctors in the bush, stirring over a cauldron of sulphur pet dip, and think it’s really cool imagery….”

Gnome, of course had a reply:

Glowing.Gnome

“Maybe it’s because it actually does what it says on the label.”

Oh. Selling something that actually works.  What good marketing strategy!

munchkin-amazed

Checkout this product in The Apothecary or check it out at The Farm Store in Punta Gorda, Belize.

This Is What Happened Today.

gnome-sitting-on-rocksToday I was talked at:

Munchkin:  “Since everybody is going to write posts, you should write posts too…”together-munchkin-pointing

Gnome:  “Yeah, but I’m too busy coding right now, I’m almost at Chapter 3; and I have to move the tin for the potato garden cover I made with Panda; and there is the gate to chisel out and fix…maybe when things settle down…”

Gnome.Smiling

Munchkin:  “Since everybody is going to write posts, you should write posts too…”together-munchkin-pointing

Gnome:  “I don’t think I have time…maybe some other time…”

Gnome.with.DrinkMunchkin:  “Since everybody is going to write posts, you should write posts too…”together-munchkin-pointing

Gnome:  “I think I really don’t have time…”

The Artist Known as Gnome.

…but I guess since everybody is writing posts…

Gnome.Writing.in.the.Library

Munchkin And Gnome Genisys.

together-from-front.png

Well, we’ve been here for 12 years.  We came to Belize clueless and naive to be wannabe farmers.  So what have we achieved in all this time.  We have fulfilled our main goal of reducing our footprint on the earth.  We dig in the dirt, grow our own food, eat and cook our own food, live in a very modest wooden shack and catch all our own rain water for all our needs.   We can build with sticks, we can start a fire and we can slaughter our own fowl for meat.  Our doctoring skills have been put to good use with our practice of medicine without the need for numbers, blood tests and scans to make diagnoses (yes, you just need to know the human body and mind and ask the right questions to arrive at the same, or even more precise, conclusion as a machine).  In short, we have become no-nonsense, pragmatic people who tell you what you need (if you ask) and not what you want.

Anyway, what’s next?  This is Munchkin and Gnome Part 2:

We have decided to gather forces and find people of like-minded philosophy.  In doing this, we have made a recruitment; he goes by the name of The Panda and he has moved onto a piece of our farmland.  His goal is to reduce his footprint on the Earth.  Our goal now is to impart our experience and knowledge to help him make this transition as positive as possible.  The Panda will be posting his experiences on this blog so watch this space!

panda
Hello, I’m the Panda!

Our regular WordPress Followers will automatically get these new posts.  My FaceBook Followers will have to go into our WP site (or follow) to get these new instalments.  Undoubtedly, the Panda will publicize onto to his own FB account.

Finding The Creativity To Write.

munchkin-cute-look

Gnome just saw this title and tells me that I go through a 3 month cycle where I go through very busy times (doing outside farm work, making products, cooking, patients, etc) and then I find that I have no energy to write anything.  He says this goes on for a little while until I start going on about finding creativity and then I write a post like this.

Well my response to his observation was,

“I don’t think so…”

munchkin-sexy-back-shot

He’s such a smart-arse!!  Unfortunately, he is correct and now I am on the upward cycle where I feel that I need to write more regularly.  I have to re-evaluate my reasons for writing; it is to keep a journal and to remind myself of what I do and why I do things.  I don’t want to run automatically through my life and do things for no good reason except to keep busy.  I think about life a lot, the way that we live it and the way that I can live with significance in my actions.  This is deep Munchkin talking…she doesn’t come out much because she’s too busy writing inane blogs to entertain people.

Gnome says in response to this:

“That sounds like the beginning of a thought…are you taking this somewhere?”

gnome-another-look.png

Munchkin: “No.”

munchkin-full-hankie

Well that was a conversation stopper if I ever saw one!!

Zazen Piggies!!

Mayor Gnome Gets it Done!
Mayor Gnome Gets it Done!

Mayor Gnome was true to his word and moved the piggies to the Zen Garden this morning.  The Big Move:

Piggie Home.
Piggie Home.

Concrete blocks make great little cubby holes for shelter from the rain.

Piggie Development.
Piggie Development.

Zen Piggie Home:

Piggie Home.
Piggie Home.

Master Zazen Duckie greeted the piggies and gave a rousing welcome speech to the new residents.

Master Zazen Duckie.
Master Zazen Duckie.

At the end of the speech, the Duckies invited them for a group meditation.  This is what the piggies said:

“We’ve still got some packing to do love…and then we need to eat a whole bunch of grass.  Maybe see you laterz!!”

Zazen Duckie replied with:

“I see you need to learn discipline…that is so.”

Big Move For The Piggies!

Lots.of.Piggies

The Piggies have been grumbling a lot lately…about the weather, you know the usual stuff that we all get miserable about.  On top of all that, their Yoga teacher left a couple of months ago to the greener pastures of San Antonio.  There has been a lot of squealing, squeaking and squawking and general complaining on Coco-Prune Resorts.  Of course Mayor Gnome was awfully concerned for the emotional welfare of the community of Paradise Piggies and held a meeting to find a solution.

Mayor Gnome: “How can I make life better for the gated community of Paradise Pastures/ Coco-Prune Resorts and Condos?”

gnome-shiny-glasses.png

Piggies: “There is nothing to do at the resort…it’s so boring!!  What are we supposed to do in the condos…watch telly all day?”

We Are Bored!!
We Are Bored!!

Piggies: “We need a reason to live…we need to find meaning in life!”

Gnome: “Okay, Piggies, it looks like you have done all your frolicking and fun and now you want some spiritual food.  I know what you need!”

Piggies: “Oh Mayor Gnome, what are you going to do?”

Gnome: “We’re moving you to the Zen Garden.  The Zazen Duckies can help you lot get back on your feet!  No more resorts!!”

Zen Garden For Duckies and Piggies.
Zen Garden For Duckies and Piggies.

Tune in tomorrow (if you are really bored and have nothing else to do) for THE BIG MOVE!!  How exciting, can’t wait….

Lemonade, Worth The Wait!!

Special Lemonade.
Special Lemonade.

When we were living in Scotland (yonks ago), we came across an old doctor’s book dating back to the 1900’s.  There was a section on diet in convalescence and this is where we discovered an old-fashioned recipe for lemonade.  Gnome remembered the time that I made it and he absolutely loved it.  Since then, he has said a few things now and then like:

“Dearest…do you remember that smashing lemonade you made once in Scotland…it was really good!”

and,

“Oh, I could do with some of that lemonade you made once.”

and,

“Oh it’s hot today, a nice glass of refreshing lemonade would go down well, don’t you think?”

I Could Murder a Lemonade!
I Could Murder a Lemonade!

I would normally respond with,

“Yes dear, when I have the time.”

and then promptly forget.

munchkin-buying-food

Well this time, Gnome (after 12 years of waiting patiently for lemonade which never materialised) growled at me at said,

“MISSUS!!!  WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET A GLASS OF LEMONADE AROUND HERE!!!!”

Gnome.Angry.Look

At that point it suddenly dawned on me that he had asked me millions of times for over a decade.  He really was losing patience…and gosh…what an amount of patience he had!!

This is what I said,

“Yes, right away dear.”

Munchkin.Running

And this is what I made:

Old Fashioned Lemonade:

Squeeze the juice of 5 lemons,

Add one lemon, sliced

Add 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 tbsp tartaric acid dissolved in 1 cup of water

Add enough water to all ingredients above to make up  a quart (about 1 litre) and refrigerate until nice and cool.

Serve with ice.

Ahhhhh!!  Lovely and refreshing….

This is what Gnome said after I made the lemonade in a record 15 minutes,

“Well it didn’t actually take that long to make!  Why did I have to wait so long for it!!”

Stacks of Soaps!

Stacks of Soaps.
Stacks of Soaps.

Ooooh…look at that…stacks of Chocolate Artisan Soaps.  We are getting ready for the new season with our lovely soaps made from Toledo Cacao and coconut oil.  Here is a gallery of some of our chocolate offerings made by Gnome, the budding artist!

The Artist Known as Gnome.
The Artist Known as Gnome.

These are brand new for the season: White Chocolate Mint Soap….smells delicious…you’d think you could eat them!!

White Chocolate Mint Soaps.
White Chocolate Mint Soaps.

Artisan Chocolate Soaps…these are the swirly ones….

Chocolate Artisan Soaps.
Chocolate Artisan Soaps.
Chocolate Artisan Soaps.
Chocolate Artisan Soaps.

Oh…and of course….100% Doggy Approval…this one tries to grab and eat them!!

Please Can I have a Chocolate Soap?
Please Can I have a Chocolate Soap?

They are not for eating, doggy!!

The Perfect Chips!!

together-munchkin-eating-food

When I say Chips, I mean fried potato cut into chunks like what you get in the Fish ‘n Chip shop in Glasgow.  Some people call them french fries but that has connotations of skinny fried potatoes.  I mean chunks!

I got this idea from watching an anime about a young chef trying to create innovative meals and in one particular episode he was cooking potatoes in a bamboo steamer.  The reason behind is that you get perfectly cooked potatoes without the sogginess associated with boiling them.  So, I tried this method too but took it a step further to make chips:

Steaming Potatoes.
Steaming Potatoes.

They just need to be steamed for 15 to 20 minutes until they are tender but still firm.  Switch off the heat and allow to cool down.  At this point, they are dry and ready to be fried.  Simply fry the chips at about 400F (200C) until nicely browned.  Double fry if you want it extra crispy…this is another anime tip…just scoop the fried potato and hold it over the oil in a wire basket for 30 seconds (letting the oil drain) and then re-immerse in cooking oil for the second fry.

Ooooh…look at this:

Fried Chips.
Fried Chips.

Just like Glasgow…but serve with a wedge of lime for some Belizean flair.  Otherwise, if you want to be traditional, smothered in tomato ketchup and malted vinegar!