Merry Christmas to All

No Lumps of Coal this Year!!!

Judging from the gift wrapped booty it appears that like there have been a bunch of good boys and girls this year

Kitchen Upgrades

The old oven/microwave combo unit in our kitchen had a small fire inside the microwave a few weeks back and gave us the opportunity to upgrade one of the last of the older fixtures in the kitchen. Still have to modify the drawer below but other than that things are good.

I'll never tell who started the fire......

Variations on a Theme

Was able to get a few photos of car-like pickups.  There were several other car makers that made versions as well.

An Original (mostly)

This was probably the most well kept air-cooled VW I saw over the past few weeks (heck, the last few years). Just moving through traffic in the metroplis of downtown Paracatu.

Supersize Me

While there are many VW vehicles in Brazil---both air and liquid cooled, the large trucks made by VW took me a bit by suprise. The combination above is of course a dump truck, but there were many
variations using the cab and frame---mobile crane (below), box bed (below) and regular semi
truck.

Big Black Beetle

Just your basic beetle running around here in Brazil ---not the German engineered variety (plenty of those) but the kind found in Mother Nature.  This one is about 3" long, very similar in size to some of the larger ones found when I was growing up.

Right Before the Fight Started....

 It seems that male hummingbirds have about the same personalities anywhere you go. In the upper right of the top photo, a near silhouette of a hummingbird roosting after feeding on the flower (the same one the parrot was eating).  Below, another hummingbird wants a bite but the homesteader wants none of it.

And off to the races---upside down!!!!

   This guys are a dark iridescent indigo color with lyre type tails.  I've also seen some of the now normal variety though with the abundance of flowers they are definitely not as numerous as 54 Holly Lane with some good sugar water.

Loud and Proud

The parrot (conure?) is the king of the hill as he begins to dismantle a tasty flower. Seemed to be plucking off the pedals and seed pods then cracking open the seeds as he pulled the petal through his mouth. There are many of these guys along with a few other varieties here in town that pretty much have it made snacking on tropical fruits that are growing in many of the yards as they make their daily rounds.

Miss DHS Dance is Tonight!!!

The Littlest Princess is set to dance the night away (ok, so not the whole night).

Evening at the Pousada da Vila

A composite panorama of the rear courtyard at night taken from my room.  Koi pond, winding stream and a statue of a woman pouring the gently gurgling headwaters makes the scene quite picturesque---broken only by the sounds of the city (lively culture here) and the loud shrill cries of the indigenous parrots at daybreak which actually may be the real reason there are no longer Carolina Parakeets.

Christmas Time on Pier 4

Looking down Pier 4 from the Commonwealth Yacht Club, home to the sailing vessel Time and Tide.

Kinross Paracatu

The new entrance to the mine site at Paracatu. The old entrance ran literally through the town of Paracatu and traffic was a mess. Kinross built the new road which gives a rather scenic view of the site. Pictured at the top of the hill---on the left, the large structure is the building which houses the SAG mill and 3, going on 4, ball mills.  On the right is a large covered ore stockpile that feeds the SAG mill.  Once the 4th ball mill is operational over 150,000 tonnes of ore a day can be processed.

International Down Home Flavor

One of the biggest questions I get asked about traveling to the different mine sites is what kind of food did I eat. I'm not the type who goes way out of my comfort zone when it comes to food. Needless to say, the food has been remarkably similar at all the mine sites. Granted, each has a different spin on things (cabbage=lettuce in Russia, cassavas=potatoes in Brazil and llama=.... well never mind). In the photo is a picture that has been my typical lunch served up by a great kitchen staff to hundreds of miners every day in Brazil. About the only things that change are the type of meat (it is fish today), the type of sliced fruit (melons, mangoes, papaya, unknown) and the fruit juice (mango, papaya, orange, lemon). Beans (red or black) and white rice are everyday. The meat has been roast beef, baby back ribs, the aforementioned fish and roast pork. The cute little banana is local to here---though definitely bland. The oddest twist so far has been the total lack of ground pepper.

Happy 21st Birthday to Our First Little Angel

Happy Birthday Miss B!!!!!!

Fresh Catch

Some time over this past summer, Great Value canned crab meat went missing from the shelf.  A more expensive competitor remained, but no "generic" brand.  Some time this past week the empty slot was refilled much to the glee of the little woman (who sent me the photo) so she can make crab cakes.

Change of Seasons

The Littlest Princess was dreaming of watermelon the other day and will have to wait for a few months until they are back in season.  I was reminded that the watermelon season is "now" in other parts of the world (and they taste just as good waaaay south of the border).

The Reclusive Brazilian Dancing Walrus

Gee, just what I would expect in a meeting room in Brazil---an Arctic mammal.

Mucho Expensivo Gasolina

Not sure what the US$ to R$ conversion is but things look a bit expensive for a car owner around Brasilia.

The Coveted Sargent York Trophy

This year marks the first year that the Sargent York trophy is residing in stately comfort in the hands of the Skyhawks who spanked the other members in the contest this past Fall. Way to go Skyhawks!!