31 December, 2013

Time and Other Things That Fly

2013 is flitting out of our lives and making way for 2014. 
Blue morpho butterfly, always on the move, just like time. 
2013 was an eventful year for us that passed in a blur.  Dennis and Max completed their first full year in Belize and Dennis celebrated a year of being retired.  I retired at the end of June 2013 and relocated to Belize in October.  We got our car imported to Belize too.
We love Belize dragonflies because they love mosquitoes.  This isn't part of the Mosquito Coast for nothing!
We actually haven't seen too many mosquitoes around our place.  The most bothersome insects are the various flies - sand flies, red flies, bottlass (bottle ass) flies, black flies.
Fortunately the dragonflies are voracious and non-discriminating eaters of flying insects.
 I still haven't started trying to key out the dragonflies; there are so many new critters and plants to learn.  Never a dull or boring moment!
Sometimes the air is thick with dragonflies. 
They perch on every little stick or twig to soak up the sun.
Even with all the dragonflies, 2013 brought me another "first" that I could have done without - a mosquito infected me with Dengue Fever earlier this month.  That was a week of hell and then several weeks of recovery.  Seem to be just about over it now.  I think I was mosquito bitten while at the plant nursery - lots of standing water there from flooding and plant watering.
This Tropical/Couch's Kingbird is one of many that reside at our place.
They also are big eaters of insects and are quite acrobatic in their flycatching.  Great entertainment.
 Now - ringing the old year out and the new year in are 2 butterflies.  I haven't ID'ed either of them - something I can do next year!  
Old and tattered, just like 2013.
What other plans for 2014?  Well, Dennis hopes to become a Belize resident.  That means we can bring in our household goods that are currently in storage in Minnesota down to Belize without horrendous import duties.  We would like to get the construction of the addition completed and get solar panels installed.  I would like to become qualified to apply for residency.  But when you get down to it, all that is really important is that we stay healthy and happy and continue to enjoy life in this semi-functional paradise called Belize.
Fresh and pristine, just like 2014.  Notice that it seems to have its head at the top, but really its head is at the bottom.  Don't know what that means for 2014!  We shall see... 
Wishing all the readers of this blog a very Happy, Healthy, and Delightful 2014.

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20 comments:

  1. Very best wishes for 2014 to you and yours Wilma and hope you steer clear of any more mosquitoes.

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    1. Thanks, John. I just read that 50% of the world's population is at risk of getting Dengue - that's a lot of people!

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  2. I wish you and Dennis all the very best for 2014 and beyond, in your paradise.

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    1. Thanks, Keith. Paradise is what you make of it!

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  3. Happy New Year Wilma! I hope it is a year of good health for you and Dennis. Beautiful photos in this post. I love the blue morphos. So stunning... and always flying.... just like time.

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    1. Thank you, Nan. Glad you like the photos. The blue amorphous seem to fly about so lazily, but they are deceptively fast.

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    1. Thanks, Roy. We are looking forward to it.

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  5. Wishing you both a Happy New Year from a cold , wet& windy Lancashire.

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    1. Thanks, David. Believe it or not, sometimes it feels cold to us here. But then all we have to do is remember the cold in Minnesota and we feel warm again. :-)

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  6. Happy New Year Wilma and Dennis. The first whole year in your new place of residence and me thinks that it will be a special year - good luck to you both.

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    1. Thank you, Derek. We feel like kids again with a whole new world to explore.

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  7. Great variety and selection of images.

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  8. Nice post Wilma... Happy new year!

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  9. Yikes! Dengue Fever...yes, that was a first you could have done without. Glad you are done with that first and can get back to your photography... Looking forward to seeing what you find to shoot this year.

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    1. Thanks, Alice. I, too, am looking forward to seeking out new targets.

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  10. Hi Wilma, this is Nick and Silke your next door neighbors :) We are house sitting Steppingstones Resort and look forward to meeting you once you return.

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    1. Wish I could have been there to help welcome you. See you soon!

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