Hike to Pine Ridge

So today we went to Mountain Pine Ridge with Nery and Marien and the girls.
Because some parts of the road were not only gravel, but dirt, it took us a good hour to drive up there. 
First we went to a destination called Rio Frio Cave. 'Rio' means river and 'frio' or fria means cold. It makes sense because the river was REALLY cold. Basically it's a mountain that had a small river running through it, and as time went on, the river ate away at the mountain and hollowed it out. Now it is a cave with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. We walked through it on big rocks and it was really cool.

Some of the big stalactites hanging outside the cave.

This is some of the rocks inside the cave.

there was a little sandy area in the middle
beside the river that we went on. It was inside
 the cave still!
 

The next spot we went to was called Rio on Pools. I don't really know why they named it that because I don't get how the words fit.
Anyway, it is a big mix of rivers, waterfalls and big stone boulders with more than enough space for a 9 person picnic, all squished together. some of the 'pools' were shallow and some of them deep. We made big human chains to cross over waterfalls and wide streams.
we had a little picnic on the rocks then went swimming in the rivers.

Some of us sitting on the rocks.

 

The last place we went to was called Big Rock. It was a lot like Rio on Pools, but the water was deeper and the waterfalls were flowing faster. I don't think that it is a very good place for kids to play.





one of the many raging waterfalls at
Big Rock

So that was all of my journey. I hoped it would never end, but all things do.
I hope to share with you more of these fun adventures.

Love you all,
Paige

BLESSINGS FROM BELIZE

Laying hens, Posibly a new property/house...And more than that.....WOW, I havn't done a post for a long time!!!!!

Wow,
I just realized how long its been since I last wrote up a post.
Sorry to all who were itching for another one.

So we now have broilers AND laying hens. Daddy built a cage called 'the chicken tractor' for the broilers to go in. ( A Joel Salatin book is where he got it from) We kept the laying hens in their coop for about 2 weeks so that at night the hens know were to go to lay and sleep. We let them out into their pen after clipping their wings and let them be free to go were ever they wanted to in their pen. We named them all because they all look different.
There is Ruestin, who is black and white, Elsa who is light brown and dark brown, Queen LaQuichea 1 and Queen LaQuichea 2 who are light, light brown and black, Collet 1, 2, and 3, who are pure black, Blizzard, who is pure white, Uncle Kyle, who is the only hen with hairy feet,(sorry uncle Kyle!) and McFlurry, who is dark brown. Mom and I like the sound that the hens make better than what the broilers make. They make a purring sound in their throat instead of a chirping noise.
We have only gotten one egg a day so far. It seems to be the same one every time.


Two weeks ago, Our friends Nery and Marien and the girls(I talk about them in other posts to)
went and walked a 33 acre property(we walked the perimeter only) that was for sale. We are praying and asking God if it is the right place to live. I would like to because if we do we will both build on the same property.(us and Nerys family(Our best friends)) It took us about an hour and 15 minutes to walk only the perimeter. We have made some house plans already. Our house is hopefully going to be made out of earth blocks. To get more details about earth block homes, simply look up 'compressed earth block homes.'



About a week ago, Nery's family and us went to Belize City for an Aquaponics trip.
Mr. Jimmy raised big Tilapia fish. Basically you use the fish poo and pee water to water your plants. He had a big green house with lettuce and kale. It was the GREENEST plants I've seen in Belize!!!!!
To know more, just look up 'Aquaponics.'

Yesterday we went to Nery's and we hiked the forest behind their house. after that they got out the horses and we went for horse rides. Not just rides, nobody held or touched me or the horse and I used the reigns the whole time!! It was fun to ride by myself. Daddy now sais I'm a real cow girl now, but I say not quite.
While we were there, we tasted Comquats and sweet limes.
Comquats are the size of dates. They have a citrusy outside and a really sour inside.  I ate off the skin and threw away the sour middle.
Sweet limes are about the size of a big grapefruit. The outside of it is light green. The inside is about 3 quarters of the white stuff around citrus. But instead of it being floppy and bitter, it was firm and had a mild sweetness. The pulpy part had a bit more sweetness than the white, but had a very, very slight sour taste. It was pretty tasty.

Last but not least, Nana and Papa are coming in 2 weeks!!!!!! We are going to have a great time with them. They can help feed the school kids on Wednesday mornings, go to the learning centre, and come to bible study with us!!!

But that's all for now,
love you all,
Paige

BLESSINGS FROM BELIZE

Meeting the owners

So yesterday(tuesday) daddy picked up Carmen and Faye Mcbride, who are the real owners of the property that we live on. They came back from Alberta, Canada. When daddy got home from the airport with them, we had a delishious super of spaghetti, and of coarse a salad. We had a wonderful supper wwith them.
Mr. Carmen is a tall man about 65 years old and no beard or facial hair.
Faye is avrage hight wth blonde, short hair. She is very nice.
So together they are a very nice pair.

On Mondays, we go to the learning center and help the school kids with homework. Mrs. And Mr. McBride are the owners of that too. It has been part of the community for 12 years and all the kids were happy to see them when they were back from Canada.

Now we have lots of people coming to visit. Nana and Papa are coming February and Aunt Mandy and Uncle Kyle and the girls are coming in April. YAAAAAAAYY!!!!!!!!!!

I hope all of you have a wonderful new year and remember.......
I LOVE comments,
Paige .D

OMA AND OPA, HERE AT LAST!!!!

Oma and Opa have finally arrived!!

They got to Belize at 12:30. We were all So glad that they had made it here safely. on the way back from the airport, Oma and Opa had gotten their first look at what Belize really look and sounds like.
Although, I don't think that they heard what Belize sounds like, but they sure did hear what the kids sound like!! As Oma still says, "We talked their ears off the whole ride!"(it was a 1and a half hr. drive!) When we got home, we showed them all around the property, then showed them the whole house. After that, we had a traditional meal of rice and beans  and chicken. Then Oma and Opa had a surprise for us!! They had brought us each an advent calendar!!

The next day,(Sunday)we wen t to church, then with Luke and Roxanne and their family, Nery and Marien and their family and us and Oma and Opa went to a place called Xantaninch, which is were the Mayan Ruins are. We got to climd the tallest ruin, ton the very top! It was about 275ft. tall!!!!
It was SUPER fun!!!

Today(Monday) Oma, Opa, Daddy  and Grady went shopping. Mom, Keaton and I stayed home to do some sewing ad food prep for tomorrow, as we are going to the resort for 4 days, starting tomorrow. When everyone came back from shopping, Oma, Mommy and I pretty much cooked ALL day! The boys worked downstairs while Grady coloured. Now(9:15 our time)We are just playing games and relaxing. Just having some fun together. Tonight is Grady's night to sleep in Oma and Opa's bed with them.

Tomorrow, we will be driving to the resort called Jaguar Reef. We are planning on doing lots of fun thing s there such as, what they call, the Bioluminescence Trip. Some people take you out at night to the ocean in a boat. Then you look at the water and you can see all of the light-up corals and jellyfish.

Ihope to write again soon,
I LOVE comments,
              Paige:)

Fun, Fun, Fun!!!

Hey!

Today I will be sharing with you what my family and I will be doing this week.

So, Oma and Opa are coming this Saturday!!!Yaaa!!! (the 13th) A week from today!
But.....shhhhhhh. Don't tell them that we don't even have a bed for them yet!!!  Well.... we are expecting a king bed to get delivered today sometime. Yesterday we cleaned out their room because we were using it as a computer room. We are also working on making a closet for in their room. All out of Belizean wood!!! We will take them down to a place called Hopkins, to a resort for 4 days.
   FUN, FUN, FUN!!!



On Monday,(the 8th of December) our good friends Nery and Marien and their girls, invited us to come to Chutemal, which is just inside of Mexico. That is were they do most of their shopping.
We will leave at 4:00 in the morning, drive for about three hours until we reach Mexico, go shopping,
check in at a hotel, play, meal, then sleep. It will be SO much fun!!!!
FUN, FUN, FUN!!

 I'm also writing book called "Friendship Is Magic." I'm typing it up on a word document, and hoping to publish it!!! I will give you a sneak-peak below of the 6th chapter.
FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

Chapter 6                                 MEETING THE QUEEN

Finally they came to a decision. They would believe that they would not harm them! "We will now show you around!" Said Emerald gleefully. Emerald went strait to the little, mushroom cottage. "This." She said "Is my house!" She took them inside and showed them around. First was the kitchen. There was a little, round dining table with about six chairs set around it. There was also a little oven and fridge. Next they went to the bedroom. There was a little, neatly made bed with a night table beside it. There was also a little closet with a few sets of clothes. Next I'll show you Flower park." said Sapphire. They walked down a gravel path for a few minutes. soon the came to a spot with sandy ground and tall, colorful flowers about eight times the height of Rosie! "Watch this!" said Sapphire. And she climbed up the big leaves of the flower, up to the big middle of the flower. She started jumping from the middle of one flower to the middle of the other flowers. "May I try?" asked Megan. "Sure" said Sapphire. So Megan did the same. She jumped from flower to flower. "Do you want to try?" Megan asked Rosie. "Sure. why not?" replied Rosie. So, she did the same, jumping from flower to flower. Even she had to admit that it was fun. "Now" said Ruby, "I will show you the queen." "WOW!" said Rosie. "The queen!" Ruby led the two girls down a long road to a beautiful courtyard in front of a light blue palace with two guards standing in front of it. "Hello Maiden Ruby." said one of the guards politely. "Hello Topaz. Is the queen home?" Said Ruby back. Yes ma'am, she is in the throne room." Replied Topaz, opening up the big, heavy palace door. Ruby led the girls through the big door opening. They were now in the great hall. All Megan and Rosie could do was look up at the ceiling, and stair. It was a dome shape with all different shades of blue. Baby blue, pale blue, dark blue and indigo. They went up a big, golden, winding staircase. At the top of the stairs, there was a door that said THRONE ROOM, in gold letters. Ruby knocked on the door. Who is it?" said a deep, but sweet voice. "It's Maiden Ruby, your highness." said Ruby. "Come in." said the voice.

Ruby walked into the room and bowed before the throne on witch the queen sat. "And who have you brought with you?" Asked the queen with a bit of seriousness in her voice. "Oh... well I'm not quite sure about that but all I do know is that they are very nice people." said Ruby. "What are your names?" asked the queen now looking at them. My name is Megan," said Megan "And this is my friend, Rosie. She just moved to Elms Ville about one and a half weeks ago."  "Megan and Rosie." repeated the queen. Then the queen whistled a short, sweet tune. A bluebird suddenly came flying and landed on the opened window. It whistled back a tune similar to the one the queen whistled, but a bit more slow and high pitched. "My bluebird has told me that he has been just flying around Elms Ville and he said that you will never hurt or harm anything and that you are not coming for any of our folk's things. So, as I know I can trust you, I will allow Megan to tell you my name." Said the queen. Rosie looked at Megan, then the queen and then Ruby, with a puzzled look. What was going on? Suddenly, Megan, Ruby and the queen began to laugh and Megan ran up to the queen and gave her a bow. "It is so good to see you again!" she said. "Rosie, this is Queen Matilda. Her daughter, princess Alia, has already gone to bed. Matilda, Ruby and all the other folk have been my closest friends for a long time. One day, I lost the key that kept Fairyland alive! I waited and waited for a time that I could see my dear friends again. but fairyland was lost before I could. Six months past and finally you came. When we made the fairy project, it was just the thing that was the key! I was just tricking you the whole time that I didn't know who the fairy folk were!"


So, other than that, our week is usual.

I hope you all are doing well,
Remember...I do love comments,
   Paige

Soccer Saturdays

In this posting I will tell you what we do on our free Saturdays.

Two weeks ago, my family and I decided that we should invite some of our friends over and play. We thought about what we could do with them. There is a huge soccer field (football as they call it in Belize. It makes more sense!)   with a cement pad for basket ball beside it, a few minutes away from where we live. So we sent out a text to all three families to come to the field on Saturday.  Saturday came, so we put some water, a basket ball, a frisbee, and a soccer ball in the trunk of the car. We went to the field and took the things out of the car. we started to pass the frisbee around. (The Belizean family that lives on our property have 3 kids so we took them along too!) Then our friends that own the restaurant beside the field.(Beatrice and Whitney and the kids Beyla and Lisa) dropped off only Beyla who is 1 year older than I am (she is 9). Then our other 2 friends came.(Nery and Marien and their kids Summer and Nicole(We call her Nicky)she is the same age as me!) and(Luke and Roxanne and their kids Naomi, Malachi, Courage, Prudence, Josiah and Titus.) Everyone wanted to play soccer so we did. Boys against girls. But we also soon found out that half the field was slippery mud! But did that stop us from playing soccer? NOT A CHANCE!! We played even with the mud! But there was LOTS of falling and laughing and we were all VERY muddy people at the end! Daddy and I even went sliding in it at the end! Since we were so muddy, Belay and Lisa have a beautiful creek behind their house, so we went over in the back of Nery's pick-up to the creek and go wash off. The current was very strong so we all had to go in one at a time.  It had been so fun that we decided to do it the next Saturday as well!


This is Summer in the purple shirt, Nicky
in the black, not muddy shirt, Marien in the
green flower shirt, and Mom in the teal shirt
and me in the muddy, black shirt.               

 This past Saturday, We did it again and this time 10 - 12 kids from the village joined in! But this time the mud had dried up and it was not slippery. After soccer we went over to our house and had hamburgers with them. They were delicious! After that, Daddy took Luke and Roxanne back home but Nery and Marien stayed. Summer, Nicky, Keaton, Gavin, Annika and I played a fun game of tag.
Then we went upstairs and played Pictionary boys against girls until 7:00! 
I had SOO much fun!!!! I now am hoping that we can don it almost every week!!!!

                   So that's all for now,
                           Remember to leave   comments!
                                                        Paige :)

Work Work Work, Fun Fun Fun!!

Hello all!
Sorry it has been SO long since my last post.

We have finally got our garden planted. We planted yellow peppers, hot peppers, carrots, wax beans, squash, watermelon, lettuce and pineapples. The watermelon is about an inch tall already! The lettuce is pretty tall to. In the rainy season, you don't even have to water your garden! To keep the garden nice and tidy, we went and found a few big branches to put a border on all the rows. We couldn't find enough to finish it, so daddy gets his machete, (they are in place of chainsaws here!)and wacked the trunk of a dead tree! I thought that must be illegal, but apparently not.

On Monday, we are hopefully getting our seed import permit. They said it would be ready last Friday afternoon but when dad went in they said they didn't have it yet, but on Monday they would. That's how Belize works. Oh, and a quick prayer request: To get a work/farm permit, we need a lot of things from the Canadian police. So if you could do that, that would be great!!

                                                          This post has been shorter than usual,
                                                                      hope to do another post soon,
                                                                                                     Paige Dietrich