Bunk Butter, Patio Coating, Lobsterfest 2, High Court Commissioner Stalking, Free Tree!

A wide variety of experiences last week...

We had a few dry days and rolled the dice, looking to the skies the whole time, and were able to fix our patio coating! Here is a before and after shot - it's so much nicer now, the aggregate is coated enough that it no longer hurts to walk on it! And it's one, uniform color. However, we coated it really thick, and there's a seam on the vertical walls when we pulled the tape that we fear water could intrude and get under - so tomorrow, 0% chance of rain, I am going to have to run a line of the coating and seal 'er up.

Maybe 3 months ago, I saw a Facebook message chain about butter tasting like soap - and responses stated it's because store owners spray the whole container with Fabuloso so it smells better. (If you have never opened a container, let me tell you...it is RIPE! We used to import containers of furniture from India. The stench would knock you over.) That cleaner permeates everything - and most of our butter here is only in the paper wrapper. I thought I was lucky - I had not yet experienced bunk butter. Until I did - within two weeks, I got a soapy butter. Here, it comes in a 1-pound slab, no markers for measurements, and is $7.50-10US per pound, so it's not a cheap thing to have to toss out!

I then switched to more expensive, but in a sealed container, Mennonite butter. 

Then I forgot to go to the Mennonites' markets for a few of their trips, and had to buy "local" butter. I smelled every block in Home Tan Market like a psychopath; no hint of Fabuloso. Made some garlic bread with it, and BOOM. Fabuloso. Thank God it wasn't something more expensive/delicious like a batch of brownies ruined...

"Safe" butter up top; soapy butter on the bottom

Publics sells Cocos Lagoon butter, shown above, and is a good substitute when I'm too lazy to make an additional stop to see the Mennonites.

Regarding our default judgment against the Canadian real estate agent who stole our stamp tax money, it's mostly on us to recover our judgment. We had a Marshal come over from Belize City to mark his goods for sale, but he doesn't have much. Our attorney sent over another document that I needed to sign in front of a Commissioner of the High Court ASAP - I went back to Mr. Abel's, and he was not in. I asked at Town Council if anyone else on the island was a High Court Commissioner, and they told me to ask at the Police Station - they sent me upstairs to speak with a court clerk. She said Mr. Baldemar in the yellow house by Caye Supplies is my only other option - and you just go to their home, knock on the door, to get your docs witnessed. I headed to his home, and he was in the City but due back after lunch. 

After lunch, I returned, and he was still not back, expected after 4. Mr. Abel, still not available, maybe after 5. 

My doc was dated, and the attorney wanted it back the same day - egads. 

Around 4:30, I was able to find Mr. Baldemar at home, and he graciously witnessed my documents. At 75, he's the younger of the two Commissioners (Mr. Abel is 88 or 89), so I wonder what will happen when they pass...? Will everyone who needs something witnessed have to travel to the City?

We're in the week of some "downer" memories - yesterday was the 4th anniversary of losing our favorite cat, Lola, shortly after her 9th birthday due to kidney failure. Tomorrow is the 1-year anniversary of the closing of our home in Phoenix. We both miss that house, and thought we would be moving into our new beach home around this time - instead, it hasn't even started, and we're in this villa we keep putting lipstick on to try to make it less crappy.

Packing this trailer in 118f for three days was also not a good memory!

Saturday, we rather spur-of-the-moment decided to take the water taxi to Caye Caulker for their Lobsterfest celebration! We haven't been to CC in...ten years...? It's also growing by leaps and bounds, but it still doesn't have paved roads or many vehicles. It's certainly a slower pace and has more of a "hippie" vibe. Here's a video: Caye Caulker Lobsterfest 2025

One of many "unique personalities" we saw on CC - note the socks!

I liked CC's Lobsterfest better - it's set up more like a galley, and a lot of the vendors had tables in the shade to eat your purchases - in San Pedro, we were stuck trying to stand, hold a drink, and eat simultaneously once the small area of folding chairs (no tables) filled up.

On Sunday, one of our neighbors brought over a plumeria tree he was removing from his yard - I was not expecting a six-foot-plus one! But what an awesome free tree! Plumerias are the flowers that Hawaiian leis are made. I had a few cuttings I was growing at our Phoenix home, but they never really took off. He grew this one from a cutting, and I hope it takes! We love free trees!

It's in a little bit of shock, so we'll baby it.

We're eleven days out from Ethan and Lilly's visit, so I have a laundry list of things I'd like to get done before they arrive - and they'll be here over our 1-year in Belize mark, when we can apply for Permanent Residency, so I'm also working to get all of our docs and certificates ready for that!