Tinian begins to blossom

It is getting more difficult to find flowers on Tinian, due, I suppose, to the lack of water















Many of the large 'post' gardens have few flowers blooming right now. Most of the flowers I can find are ones planted in pots.

Just a few months ago, this garden had lots of flowers blooming...

I discovered this group of flowers growing near the Grace Christian Academy... they must have been hand-watered?

Painting has begun on this large building along Broadway

they have their work cut out for them!

They are still working on the parking area around the amphitheater

The water is rather rough, as the wind has been blowing for a few days.

Flame trees

No, this is not a flame tree...

Nor this...
This is the new underwater cover I got for my camera. I can't wait to try it snorkeling and/or scuba diving! Now, as long as it doesn't leak and ruin my camera...

We have a great new window in our apartment, next to our bed. With the breeze that comes through this window, we seldom have to use our air conditioner!

Now this is a flame tree! When the sun hits it just right, it makes it look like it is on fire!


Some of the flame trees still struggle, perhaps with the lack of rain (although we did finally have quite a storm the other night).

With all the wind we have had recently, I always worry about the homes that are built using metal siding.

Preparing for Tinian Fiesta

This weekend is the Tinian Fiesta

I discovered a crew surveying the island. They have been staying at the LoryLynne where we live, but this is the first time I have seen them in the bush!

The paper has said that Tinian will be having a lottery to give out land to the locals. It is my understanding that all Chamorro can receive a plot of land to build a home on; they are simply required to do a certain amount of work on the land in order to keep it. Every few years the island holds a lottery to give out land to qualified locals... Good Luck!

Here is the rest of the crew...taking a break while they watch the other two site their next location.

This is the local park where the Tinian Fiesta will be held. They have been working on building booths for food and artists.




The little man at the Japanese shrine has a new hat and bib!



Most of the flame trees are now coming out in blooms

Here is one of Tinian's new flowers-- our daughter Liz....

I was trying out my new camera lens that will be used for underwater photos. The red is supposed to counteract the blue in the water, to give better colors underwater.





They are carving out a large parking area at the new amphitheater


This is the large drainage field at the bottom of north main, where all the water running down the street will end up after a rain.

The curbing crew finally reached the end of the road, by the dock

And roadwork continues from one end to the other


This crew was pouring concrete for the sidewalks, by the Elementary School



This is one of the few 'cross-overs' that will exist between north and south main street.