Wow.... it's really cold out there right now. Of course one doesn't expect to come back to temperatures equivalent to what there was last week in the Caribbean, but waking up to sub-freezing weather this morning in the middle of Florida, the self proclaimed 'Land of Sunshine'.... it was kind of hard to get out of bed and turn the heaters on.
    And yet... it has been sunny all day, and the afternoon temperature got nearly to 60 degrees, so it hasn't been as bad as the northeastern states with the huge blizzard that is blowing through. For that I am truly thankful.
    I have to admit that except for a somewhat abbreviated walk this afternoon, I didn't spend much time outside today. Instead it was a day to lay around and read my book and do crossword puzzles on the computer. There will be a point one of these days when it will actually start to warm up again and I'll be happy to be out and about again at that time. Until then though, I'm just going to go into semi-hibernation and wait it out.
    I did get a start on vacation pictures this afternoon, so there are some new ones to post this evening. In the end there will be around 150 total, so there is no hurry to get them all done at once. Tonight we have the activities of the first full day on St Croix last week. Enjoy.

St Croix Contra Dance Week - February 2015

Thursday Morning - Feb. 5

A repeat from last night, but it is a good place to start this series of photo's. This is the dance tent at Sugar Beach Resort on St. Croix. Our leader, George Marshall had the tent built and added a portable wooden floor to it that we can dance on.

Another look at the tent. On the first morning everyone is there as George and his crew serve up breakfast for everyone. We then all come over here for a couple of hours of orientation. George tells us all of his collected wisdom from doing this for more than 20 years, and then answers any other questions we may have.

At night the light from the bulbs inside the tent shine up and through all the stars on the top of the tent. It makes for a pretty magical feeling while you are dancing.

Some of the crew and dance group waiting for the discussion to begin. Bruce, the guy in the middle there is one of the crew leaders for George. He and others are responsible for coming down early to put everything up and staying a couple days after to put it all away again. They still seem to have plenty of time to have fun and to dance with all of the rest of us. I'm envious!

More of the dancers listening to George talk, including my little sister Cheryl.

Looking up at the tent ceiling. At night the light goes out the clear stars giving the tent this wonderful feel to it.

That's George over there telling us all what to do.

Over the years George and others have become friends with many of the locals, including this women who runs a bird sanctuary where she takes care of injured birds of all kinds. She allows groups to come over and see her home where she keeps the birds if you set it up ahead of time. The bird she brought today was a injured red tail hawk. It was blind in one eye.

A closer look at the star filled ceiling of the dance tent.

brk*