Rock Passes Away: July 19, 2005
Rock Talbot, husband of Netty Talbot, passed away in Nassau after a brief illness.
Rock was a great fisherman, builder and all around good man. He will be missed greatly. He always had a warm smile, a good story, and such pride of family.
Last Christmas his granddaughter RandiAnn was on island for a visit. She rode around with her grandfather like a little princess. He was so proud and never stopped smiling.
If anyone would like to fill out the names of his family, it would be greatly appreciated.
This photo is one of the few photos I have of Rock. It is of poor quality, sorry. But it is the best I have and can do.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Friday, July 15, 2005
The Summer Blog Is Here!
To obtain a print of most pictures featured in this blog, please link to
www.fresnochile.com and follow the links to the desired gallery.
You can contact Michele McNair at michele@saltcay.us
www.fresnochile.com and follow the links to the desired gallery.
You can contact Michele McNair at michele@saltcay.us
The First Few Days
We’ve all felt it here...someone move that big rock off me and let me get out of bed! After a night of traveling from California to New York, Provo and Salt Cay, I was one whipped puppy.
I got through Immigration pretty quickly actually. They seem to have sped up the computer process a little. Then I waited for my luggage. Of course it’s more than any one woman should be carrying. And, with the ice chest visible, I was queried as if I was importing human organs for transplant. I personally do not admit to carrying human organs, just fresh vegetables and frozen meats.
While waiting for my luggage I was standing there, in my stupor, when a lady came up with a magazine. I looked at the magazine in her hand and IT WAS MINE! St. John’s Door gracing the cover of Times Of The Islands. My heart stopped.
The lady handing it to me thought I was nuts. "That’s my cover! That’s my picture!" I’m sputtering. Well, she was pretty excited too as she had read the article and was from Salt Cay herself. She is Miss Aramenta Smith’s daughter, Loyce (sp?). We talked and I was giddy for a while.
I met Kathy Borsuk, the editor of Times Of The Islands and had a great lunch. It was encouraging to hear the cover and article already has great response. Certainly better than a sharp stick to the eye and ego.
Finally it was time to go home to Salt Cay and the Compass Rose. I cannot put into the words what it means to arrive on Salt Cay and be greeted by Debbie, Lionel, Barba and others. All you are bringing is yourself...nothing for anyone in particular. They are just happy to see you and have you back.
I don’t even mind unpacking the house for a stay of a couple of weeks. I just take longer to do it and start packing it before I’m finished.
It was great to have dinner with Debbie...just the two of us catching up after a busy season. Enjoying steaks, raviolis, good wine and best company. Someone had to do it.
Wednesday, Hump Day; No Grand Turk For Me
Wednesday brought my old buddy Sandi Knight from Naples, Florida. She’s known Jim and Sharon Shafer from when they weren’t even married and they all lived in Provo in the 70's. She’s the one responsible for making me come to the Turks and Caicos Islands in the first place.
We got into trouble by ourselves for a day or so and then Marilyn James showed up with her buddies Lu and Shannon, and Women’s Week began.
Since I’ve been sworn to a secret oath for the week, the details will remain faceless and nameless. Sort of like those Las Vegas ads.....
Sandi, a professional photographer, taught me a few things with Photoshop and out photographing the island. We had a great time shooting Porter William’s Coconut Shrimp for the upcoming Red Cross Cookbook. If you could see what a "shoot" looks like on Salt Cay you’d wonder how photographs ever get published frankly. We all like to died of dehydration in Island Thyme’s back yard getting the right light.
We’ve all felt it here...someone move that big rock off me and let me get out of bed! After a night of traveling from California to New York, Provo and Salt Cay, I was one whipped puppy.
I got through Immigration pretty quickly actually. They seem to have sped up the computer process a little. Then I waited for my luggage. Of course it’s more than any one woman should be carrying. And, with the ice chest visible, I was queried as if I was importing human organs for transplant. I personally do not admit to carrying human organs, just fresh vegetables and frozen meats.
While waiting for my luggage I was standing there, in my stupor, when a lady came up with a magazine. I looked at the magazine in her hand and IT WAS MINE! St. John’s Door gracing the cover of Times Of The Islands. My heart stopped.
The lady handing it to me thought I was nuts. "That’s my cover! That’s my picture!" I’m sputtering. Well, she was pretty excited too as she had read the article and was from Salt Cay herself. She is Miss Aramenta Smith’s daughter, Loyce (sp?). We talked and I was giddy for a while.
I met Kathy Borsuk, the editor of Times Of The Islands and had a great lunch. It was encouraging to hear the cover and article already has great response. Certainly better than a sharp stick to the eye and ego.
Finally it was time to go home to Salt Cay and the Compass Rose. I cannot put into the words what it means to arrive on Salt Cay and be greeted by Debbie, Lionel, Barba and others. All you are bringing is yourself...nothing for anyone in particular. They are just happy to see you and have you back.
I don’t even mind unpacking the house for a stay of a couple of weeks. I just take longer to do it and start packing it before I’m finished.
It was great to have dinner with Debbie...just the two of us catching up after a busy season. Enjoying steaks, raviolis, good wine and best company. Someone had to do it.
Wednesday, Hump Day; No Grand Turk For Me
Wednesday brought my old buddy Sandi Knight from Naples, Florida. She’s known Jim and Sharon Shafer from when they weren’t even married and they all lived in Provo in the 70's. She’s the one responsible for making me come to the Turks and Caicos Islands in the first place.
We got into trouble by ourselves for a day or so and then Marilyn James showed up with her buddies Lu and Shannon, and Women’s Week began.
Since I’ve been sworn to a secret oath for the week, the details will remain faceless and nameless. Sort of like those Las Vegas ads.....
Sandi, a professional photographer, taught me a few things with Photoshop and out photographing the island. We had a great time shooting Porter William’s Coconut Shrimp for the upcoming Red Cross Cookbook. If you could see what a "shoot" looks like on Salt Cay you’d wonder how photographs ever get published frankly. We all like to died of dehydration in Island Thyme’s back yard getting the right light.
Meet Governor Williams
The most amusing event was when Sandi, a hair stylist in a former life, cut off Porter’s pony tail..as in at the base of it. She got hold of it and hung on as I shot pictures of the event. In mid-cut Porter looked exactly like a Bermudan Governor or official from Pirates Of The Caribbean...look for yourself...he could have been Ben Franklin in a movie role for that matter.
But now he looks like Porter of days gone by.
Sandi left on Sunday, leaving a large hole in her absence. Marilyn, Lu and Shannon leave Wednesday and it will be down to Deb and I to be the social life of Salt Cay for awhile.
The most amusing event was when Sandi, a hair stylist in a former life, cut off Porter’s pony tail..as in at the base of it. She got hold of it and hung on as I shot pictures of the event. In mid-cut Porter looked exactly like a Bermudan Governor or official from Pirates Of The Caribbean...look for yourself...he could have been Ben Franklin in a movie role for that matter.
But now he looks like Porter of days gone by.
Sandi left on Sunday, leaving a large hole in her absence. Marilyn, Lu and Shannon leave Wednesday and it will be down to Deb and I to be the social life of Salt Cay for awhile.
Some Days Should Last Forever....
Some days should last forever. Then others should never even be started.
Usually they are back to back least you get full of yourself.
Saturday was the day that shouldn’t have ended any time soon. Sandi and I had a great time shooting pictures in the morning. She got Uncle Lou’s picture sitting on the wall by Netty’s, enjoying his smoke with his bike next to him.
While Sandi took Uncle Lou’s picture, I chatted with Miss Minta waiting patiently in the DC’s van for her ride home. Miss Minta grew up on the hill where the Compass Rose is. Miss Minta told me about carrying water on her head from the White House up that long hill to the house. She had to do it over and over so that the barrel would get filled for the day. Keeping the cows out was the trick, even then.
The line of the trip is from Miss Minta: "They were hard times, but they were good times."
A donkey walked down Victoria Street like he owned it. But for us, he did that morning. He cleaned up the streets of Salt Cay eating an abandoned soda can.
Some days should last forever. Then others should never even be started.
Usually they are back to back least you get full of yourself.
Saturday was the day that shouldn’t have ended any time soon. Sandi and I had a great time shooting pictures in the morning. She got Uncle Lou’s picture sitting on the wall by Netty’s, enjoying his smoke with his bike next to him.
While Sandi took Uncle Lou’s picture, I chatted with Miss Minta waiting patiently in the DC’s van for her ride home. Miss Minta grew up on the hill where the Compass Rose is. Miss Minta told me about carrying water on her head from the White House up that long hill to the house. She had to do it over and over so that the barrel would get filled for the day. Keeping the cows out was the trick, even then.
The line of the trip is from Miss Minta: "They were hard times, but they were good times."
A donkey walked down Victoria Street like he owned it. But for us, he did that morning. He cleaned up the streets of Salt Cay eating an abandoned soda can.
We did the shoot at Island Thyme and had a pretty good idea the pictures were going to be fun. We weren’t disappointed. So we spent the heat of the day working on the editing until it was time to go diving.
Late afternoon, Sandi, Marilyn and myself went diving with Zoltan to Shark’s Point and had a great time getting our gear wet finally.
Then we came in, got Deb and the rest of the gang and went out for a Girl’s Day on the water. They snorkeled and Sandi and I dove Power House. What a great dive! A good size turtle seemed happy to swim with just two friendly women not chasing him with a camera. Then a Spotted Moray thought we should be patrolled for a little while. All the while two barracuda’s accompanied us out and back.
Under the boat Sandi spotted a huge, Green Moray in the rock pile. Deb says he is about 8 feet long. I do not doubt that. His head is at least a foot high. When he opens his mouth (I think of it as hissing at me) he is huge. What a profile! His tail alone was intimidating. I did not pull it either.
We closed the day with a dinner at Island Thyme and showing our pictures of Coconut Shrimp and Chef John. You have to buy a cookbook though to see the pictures. It should be out in October as I understand it.
Of course we drank and partied far too hard for our own good.
As we turned out the lights Sandi said, from her little bed on the couch, what a great day it was. It felt like a Walton’s good night, it was such a great day.
Then Sunday has to happen. Sandi left. The washer was pronounced deceased by Lucien. Maria moved out of the Mt. Pleasant as the new owners come to take over. It was hot, the weather was here and I still wasn’t beautiful. And it wasn’t noon yet. I took a nap but it was fitful.
When all was said and done, Sunday wasn’t all that bad. It’s all relative. No one can take Saturday away from me or Sandi. It was as good as a day gets.
Late afternoon, Sandi, Marilyn and myself went diving with Zoltan to Shark’s Point and had a great time getting our gear wet finally.
Then we came in, got Deb and the rest of the gang and went out for a Girl’s Day on the water. They snorkeled and Sandi and I dove Power House. What a great dive! A good size turtle seemed happy to swim with just two friendly women not chasing him with a camera. Then a Spotted Moray thought we should be patrolled for a little while. All the while two barracuda’s accompanied us out and back.
Under the boat Sandi spotted a huge, Green Moray in the rock pile. Deb says he is about 8 feet long. I do not doubt that. His head is at least a foot high. When he opens his mouth (I think of it as hissing at me) he is huge. What a profile! His tail alone was intimidating. I did not pull it either.
We closed the day with a dinner at Island Thyme and showing our pictures of Coconut Shrimp and Chef John. You have to buy a cookbook though to see the pictures. It should be out in October as I understand it.
Of course we drank and partied far too hard for our own good.
As we turned out the lights Sandi said, from her little bed on the couch, what a great day it was. It felt like a Walton’s good night, it was such a great day.
Then Sunday has to happen. Sandi left. The washer was pronounced deceased by Lucien. Maria moved out of the Mt. Pleasant as the new owners come to take over. It was hot, the weather was here and I still wasn’t beautiful. And it wasn’t noon yet. I took a nap but it was fitful.
When all was said and done, Sunday wasn’t all that bad. It’s all relative. No one can take Saturday away from me or Sandi. It was as good as a day gets.
Chicken Quiet
Monday, June 27, 2005
This morning I was up early..not because I wanted to shoot pictures with the thunder heads as I didn’t know they were there really, but I knew I had to go. Nor was it because I’d slept poorly. I had less sleep than one gets in a Coach seat to Australia actually. Something made me very restless. I guess it was dreams of a washing machine...
Anyway, long story short, after I napped from 4 am when the thunderstorm hit to when my alarm went off, I got up and heard the "peeps". The peeps are the baby chickens in the yard this month. One hen must have 10 or so, I cannot count them they are so busy. Another hen has 5 adolescents..I can count them.
I was on the deck sipping my coffee wondering where the train was that hit me when the entire yard got still. Two roosters were on the wall and the peeps...all 15 or so of them and the hens stopped in their tracks. They didn’t move a muscle or say a peep, literally.
A grey heron was in the yard and he was not a regular, not invited and not wanted. Everyone stopped pecking for this bird trespasser. The roosters were waiting to pounce...which seems rather unselfish for a rooster actually.
I saw a Kestrel fly over the other morning and the hens circled the peep wagon like no one’s business and ran around like chickens with their heads cut off. I guess if you move around really quickly the Kestrel can’t get you as easily if you wait there to be taken. If only our human mothers could do the same with their teenagers...but I digress.
This morning though, everything stood stock still for minutes. I went in for my camera, but the animal kingdom did it’s job and the shoot was over when I got back.
Monday, June 27, 2005
This morning I was up early..not because I wanted to shoot pictures with the thunder heads as I didn’t know they were there really, but I knew I had to go. Nor was it because I’d slept poorly. I had less sleep than one gets in a Coach seat to Australia actually. Something made me very restless. I guess it was dreams of a washing machine...
Anyway, long story short, after I napped from 4 am when the thunderstorm hit to when my alarm went off, I got up and heard the "peeps". The peeps are the baby chickens in the yard this month. One hen must have 10 or so, I cannot count them they are so busy. Another hen has 5 adolescents..I can count them.
I was on the deck sipping my coffee wondering where the train was that hit me when the entire yard got still. Two roosters were on the wall and the peeps...all 15 or so of them and the hens stopped in their tracks. They didn’t move a muscle or say a peep, literally.
A grey heron was in the yard and he was not a regular, not invited and not wanted. Everyone stopped pecking for this bird trespasser. The roosters were waiting to pounce...which seems rather unselfish for a rooster actually.
I saw a Kestrel fly over the other morning and the hens circled the peep wagon like no one’s business and ran around like chickens with their heads cut off. I guess if you move around really quickly the Kestrel can’t get you as easily if you wait there to be taken. If only our human mothers could do the same with their teenagers...but I digress.
This morning though, everything stood stock still for minutes. I went in for my camera, but the animal kingdom did it’s job and the shoot was over when I got back.
But when all was said and done I still had cow pies, donkey crap and chicken ...stuff all over the yard. But the sand burrs are calming down for free. I have all these peeps that think I am grandma, Loppy still comes around like a clock and Bossie, or whatever Herbert calls his cow..well the farm girl in me still loves it all. I could hear my dad saying, "Michele, water the stock, it’s hot out and the water’s low".
Salt Cay. Where else can you dress up like a pretty girl if you want; wear your string bikini if you can; play cowgirl if you like; go diving; take pictures and meet the happiest people on earth.
Good night or bad, I wake up blessed and thank my lucky stars I found Salt Cay.
Salt Cay. Where else can you dress up like a pretty girl if you want; wear your string bikini if you can; play cowgirl if you like; go diving; take pictures and meet the happiest people on earth.
Good night or bad, I wake up blessed and thank my lucky stars I found Salt Cay.
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