Water maker is running today, we haven't had significant rain in a while. I'm reading the news on Dominica. There is a relief effort here in Grenada to load boats that will be heading up there in the next few days. This island was destroyed by a CAT5 hurricane earlier this week and there is very little left. Every tree stripped almost every roof top destroyed. This is a small island country that relies of agriculture exports and tourism. There is no more agriculture and the rain forest that attract the tourist have been shredded. Pray for them, but they need more than prayers - do what you can to help, they need everything.
The Lesser Antilles have never been hit by CAT5 hurricanes in recorded history, this year two of these storm have hit and destroyed most of the northern islands. Vote for politician that believe in science and the impact CO2 is having on the global environment! Governments are to manage resources, yet we fail to manage CO2 emissions (thanks Big Oil and Big Coal - drill baby drill, burn baby burn - makes you rich while destroying the world). If you want to see how extensive the air pollution is go to Hong Kong when the wind is from the North - it is not much different than the reports of London in the coal burning days.

CAT5 hurricane is still mucking with our winds and seas down here in Grenada. CALABUIG drifted over the bar as the tide went out in northwest winds. This is a 100ft sailboat and she is sitting on the bar, waiting for high tide to float her back. Divers when on her just an hour ago to check the rudder and keel. They left so I assume she is okay. Her stern is about 1 foot above the waterline at low tide. She should be fine once the high tide comes in this afternoon. The waves are crazy and the white caps on the reefs are huge just outside of the bay. We have a steady short chop of waves coming in from the South, but the wind is also from the South so the boat is pointed straight into the waves which is comfortable, not rolley. Looks like Dominica was destroyed, Guadeloupe was damaged and St. Croix is next. Most of the Leeward Islands have been destroyed this year.

Not much else going on today.

Here is the sequence for constructing the pot of goodies for Oil Down. First the pot is lined with bread fruit:



Then the meats that take a while to cook are added (in this case Turtle and Lambis)
Then herbs and spices are added

Then bananas, dashine, and more bread fruit

Looking pretty Yummy eh?

More veggies on top before the next layer

Chicken, pork, salt fish and then more herbs and onions, bananas and bread fruit

Now comes the seafood, ochre, carrots and more dashine.

All in the pot before the final topping


Callalou is then put on top the help seal in the steam with coconut milk and turmeric spread on top

Then on to the fire, once it is hot dumplings are added and then she simmers for a couple hours.

Yummy Stuff!!! This was our second Oil Down on Hog Island. I don't know how you could make a small pot of this stuff. Feeds 30 to 40 people and it is rich and yummy.

Yeh, we went to Whisper Cove and I purchased two veal chops with bone-in. This afternoon we went to Hog Island for a coast guard briefing where I asked lots of questions. This evening I cooked the veal medium rare to rare and after eating the chops the dogs each got one of the bones. They have been chewing on them non-stop since they got them. Chances are I'll have to hear them chewing on bones all night long… Oh well, It is Jupiter's Birthday. I'll live with it and love it all the same.