Kite Boarding.

About 20 minutes east of us is Cabarete that is known around the world for it's winds and conditions that attract kite boarding/surfing people from all over. Occasionally they come down our way and gives us a thrill. This is 3 of 5 today, sorry that they did not get closer.

I know what happens if I fall of my horse. What do THEY do?

Go Figure...

We have been making some headway on the new pool and the finish cement coat is almost done, despite on and off rain. We have lost track of how many weeks.... or is it months since they started it? I can't figure it out.

Our gardens look like, not so good. Enough rain that many of the plants have drowned. I already have plans to re-due many of them and add several inches of soil/manure mix to raise them and give them proper drainage. Just another little project. Finding good soil here is a task, either very sandy or too much clay. I have found a source of horse "fertilizer" (you can figure where)that I can mix into our sandy base with some clay but I have to wait for things to dry out. Why the original garderner did what he did we don't know. I guess that he was cutting corners and that we would not and did not notice until now.

We have made some wonderful progress with our new Paso Fino horses and learning the Parelli techniques of horse/rider training. And thank goodness for the covered arena. We have to forget and un-train ourselves from the American Western style and learn a totally different way to ride using different saddles, bridles, mounting, sitting and commands. Oh, and do it all in Dominican Spanish. We are very fortunate to have Angela and Guillermo as our instructors. They not only do a superb job with the boarding, care and training of the horses but us too. Though Angela speaks 4 languges, English is not one of them and niether does Guillermo. So we trip over our Spanish learning all the new horsey terms with lots of panamime.

Angela was also an opera singer in France and has preformed at the concert hall in Santo Domingo. Go figure?

But then I have to give us some credit too! Almost 60 and learning to ride all over again after not riding for over 40 years. Go figure.

Horses again!

We went for our test trail ride on Chican and Soreno to see how they and us would handle life outside the stable. We got it all. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, barking dogs, other horses and cows. In the rain and sun. Along roads, across fields and down a very overgrown trail in the woods. Up hill and down. Hard surface, gravel and slippery rocks. Just about every condition. The horses came through like champs and faired better then us with us not knowing how they would handle it all.

We met with the Vet this AM and everything looks good but we will not get the blood test results until Tuesday. I did not get any photos during the test ride (I was a little busy), but the vet wanted the horses worked as part of the examination so have a couple of shots with an expert rider that makes it look so easy, even while not using a saddle on Sereno.

Some things can be fun!
We had an artist paint a sky and universe in the upper gazebo porch.

So we had another do an underwater scene in the lower gazebo.

... that overlooks the pool and ocean.

... that overlooks the Ocean. This will be an infinity pool that will join the pool and ocean looking as if they are one. See all the busy workers?

Sunset over Puerto Plata.

Chican and Sereno. New additions for some fun!

We are still getting a mix of Sun, clouds and a little rain as we exit rainy season. Overall it is very pleasant with daytime temps. in the 70s.

The construction on the second pool goes slowly and everyone is waiting for the plumber that was due last week. Not to worry, the other pool is in fine shape. We had an artist paint an underwater seen in the lower gazebo porch that came out pretty good. I'll take some photos later.

We also are in the process of buying a couple of Paso Fino horses. If the trail ride goes well and the Vet says they are fine then we will be the owners. We will board them at a place not too far from us that has hundreds of acres to ride. It will be nice to get out and see the country side from a different angle.

If you haven't noticed, we have lowered our rental prices at Villa Samia. This recession has hit everyone and to be honest, tourist and rental occupancy are down. So for those wanting some Sun and Fun, I hope that we have helped you. Puerto Plata airport, POP, is about a 1.5 hour flight from Miami then 15 minute drive to us. We will meet you you at POP. www.villasamia.com

More Sun and Less Rain.... at last!

The sun has been shining most days now and temps in the upper 70s. Work has resumed with our goal of finishing the main house this year. If I could only make that goal the same for the workers then we would be all set. The second swimming pool was to be done in two weeks; that was over a month ago. Today we considered ourselves lucky to have one man working on it.

Our grounds keeper has been busy pruning the shrubs and trees and completely destroying them. Many small trees that we planted are now missing the main trunk. I am soooo POed. I'll now have to go buy new ones. No matter how many times I tell him and show him, he just does not understand. It is a common problem that others have here also. We show they how to do things, give detailed instructions and they are all forgotten the next day.

Another couple has left the D.R. and did so rather quickly. No one knows why but it is assumed that they where "wanted" in their home country and had been found. They left just about everything they own including 6 adult dogs plus 7 puppies now. Also 6 horses. We will go look at the situation and see if we can help the person that took over caring for them. Maybe I should put them all in the unfinished part of the house so I can have the feeling of accomplishing something. (Just kidding dear.) I'll hide a couple of the horses on our vacant lot down the street.