Another Dog... ????

Well, it was bound to happen. We (mostly me) got suckered in to another puppy. Believe it or not, Luke Skywalker's mother is a miniature Dachsund, and his father is a Pomeranian.  We have no clue what this little boy is going to look like later! The file pictures below look very much like the parents.

Wherever I Want To Go...

Do I look Like a Skywalker?

Pomeranian

Dachshund

Thoughts and Ideas... Proposal

In 2006, Guy and Timber Washington bought the 4000 square foot house that Karen and I built… the first house in the Community.  At the time, we decided that we would then concentrate on helping buyers get their own Belize home built, and that has been gratifying, with three more homes up and running. (see Kokomo photos)

Since then, we have learned a lot, and are toying with the idea of building another "spec" house. This time we are thinking about a 2000 − 2500 square foot concrete home, with 3 bedrooms (master, guest, office), 2 baths, centered on a courtyard with a small pool. A portion of this design is planned as two story. We expect this home to be priced in the 350K − 450K range. 

What do folks think of this idea? Is this of interest? From the questions and comments we have received in the past several months, we think this might fit the needs and interests of quite a few who are ready and want to make the investment in a home in Belize. Let us know. You might just push us from "toying" to doing. 

The Maine Stay Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence...

The Maine Stay has won a 2011 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence! TripAdvisor awards this certificate to properties who consistently receive excellent ratings from their members. We feel it is particularly noteworthy for a very small resort to win this honor. Thank you so much for your help in getting this award...

           
• The Maine Stay Cabana Suites
     

 

Two Terrier Vineyards and "Attitude."

So Paul and Lisa are here from Sonoma enjoying Placencia. Yesterday they came to The Maine Stay and Kokomo and had the grand tour. See Lisa's blog entry in Left Coast Cowboys. What has kept me coming back (among lots of things) to her blog are the antics and adventures of the two characters that really run Two Terrier Vineyards. Lucy and Oscar definitely know what it takes to make sure the two-legged folks are doing what's needed to keep the vineyard running smoothly and all of them happy. And, as Lisa says, they do it with a great deal of "terrier-tude." Of course, if I had those glorious names, I would have an attitude too! Go check out the scene at Left Coast Cowboys.

Lady Lucy Davinia Doglington-Smyth

Sir Oscar Doglington-Smyth, Baronet

Bloggers Meet Up... Plan World Domination.

A couple of years ago I stumbled on Lisa Paul's wonderful blog Left Coast Cowboys. Lisa and Andy are from the Sonoma Valley in California and, along with their two fox terriers, are courageously making wine from the vineyards on their 40 acre organic farm.

They have been to Belize several times, but this is their first visit to Placencia. This morning we had breakfast at Robert's Grove and then showed them Seine Bight and The Maine Stay and Kokomo.

It was a delightful morning with lots of dog and parrot preening and show off! Then a nice golf cart tour of the mangrove planting in Kokomo and the The Maine Stay cabanas and beach. Andy will be diving tomorrow looking for the elusive whale shark.

 

 

Introducing the new mascot of Kokomo and The Maine Stay... It's Kokomouse !
Karen found him surfing...  
I'm working on a Kokomouse road crossing sign.
Can't be one-upped in that department! 
Even a theme song... think
K-O-K-O-M-O-U-S-E, K-O-K-O-M-O-U-S-E... 
Forever let us hold our banner
High! High! High! High! 
Come along and crack a nut, And join the jamboree!
What other ideas do you have?

It's a Snap... Nuthin' To It...

So we had this 40 foot container that needed to be made in to two "small" storage boxes.  Step one... cut in half with an acetylene torch and skil saw. Step two... move it to exactly where Miss Karen and Mr Drew decided it should go. But wait, there's a fence in the way. No problem for the SkyTrack... up and over and without breaking those Royal Palms. And then lift it in to place within a millimeter! Amazing... I love it.  More boring photos here.

Over an 8 foot fence and Miss Karen's Royal Palms!

and gently in to the next driveway 

And placed precisely on the mark...

Here Kitty, Kitty...

Jaguar at Cockscomb Reserve 

from CNN.

This is a nice description of the Jaguar reserve, officially known as Cockcomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.  Additional information from the Belize Audubon Society here. When you are here, don't miss spending the day at this wonderful place... exploring, hiking, river tubing, birding, water-falling, and generally having an outstanding day. It's only a 40 minute drive from The Maine Stay!  

Belize Information... Updated

The Knol that I write on Google needed some updates... 

check all the pages and links here... including information about...
Government
Location
Getting There
In Country Travel
Basics For Driving
Population
Geography
Climate
Travel Tips
Tourism
Living In Belize
References

Formerly known as British Honduras, until the name was changed in 1973.  Belize gained its independence September 1st, 1981 and was then admitted to the United Nations. It continues to have a strong democratic, British parliamentary system of Government. [1] The current Prime Minister-Hon. Dean Barrow.

What Boring Pictures...

In the continuing saga of getting things going on our beach side property to get our retirement home built... we have started the workshop site.  This will be in the grand tradition of putting those shipping containers we seem to gather to good use. We have already been through this once on the lagoon side of the property. See pictures below.  That shop is great, but we did learn that we wanted more work space between the containers... so 16 feet instead of 12. And the new containers are 46 feet instead of 40 and are made of aluminum. Better to withstand the salt air corrosion on the beach side.

Square it up, dig holes, add cement...

The Lagoon Side Shop

Lots of Space

Even "attic" storage

I love acetylene torches!

Before it Got Messy!

Where's Your Imagination?

It really doesn't take too much imagination to see the 

"Old Man In The Mountain."

Taken from the lagoon side of The Maine Stay and Kokomo property.

How About "Half?"

Karen and I frequently get inquiries... "can I have half of the Cabana Suite? It's just the two of us, and we don't need all that wonderful space." This has happened often enough, and we have turned away so many folks, that we decided to put a new unit right on the beach for the "smaller parties." It has to be just right though, so we're making it a little bigger (20 x 32 feet), and with all the amenities and privacy of our double cabana Suites, including full kitchen and laundry. With a king bed in a separate bedroom and full size very comfortable futon sofa, it will sleep mom, dad and one or two kids.

It's a spectacular location... right on the beach!

No. it's not that little security shack! That's going to a new location.

Postcards From Belize...

Great audio track... and the "postcards" are pretty good too!

"I Am Belize"....

This video has been around awhile, but is so well done and the music has a great sound... it's worth sharing again.