Saba History

Okay, last adventure to share with you for a while… the Museum! Believe it or not, Saba does have a Museum. It is set up with how life would have been early on, in a home built in 1840 by a sea captain named Josiah Peterson. The home is scattered with paintings from the last owner of the home, that painted life then, his name was Harry Johnson. He was a police officer and an “amateur artist”. 

In the home, we saw Sulphur from the mine here in Saba that has since been closed down due to tourist that got trapped inside. We saw old fashioned irons, and cooking kettles. An old record player and a 100 year old organ!

I loved the paintings and old pictures of sailors and Sea Captains. Looked to me, like pirates! I asked about the different races, and the museum guide said that they didn’t have slaves. But that the darker skin was the indigenous people or they came over from the Netherlands as they abolished slavery in 1863.

We also saw very interesting vases they used to hold flowers in beautiful arrangements. Interesting maps and an old school chalk board. 

In the bedroom we found a VERY tall bed, and a baptism dress, draperies, and bedding of original Saba Lace…. A tradition they still maintain today.

This is a picture of a passport from the 1900’s! How they have changed!

This picture is from the FIRST CAR to come to Saba in 1947 and here is the 2^nd that came a while later.

The first airplane to land her BY SEA was also in 1947, and it wasn’t until 1959 that an airplane was able to make a landing on the island itself.

For reference… this is the airport today!

After the museum we took time to enjoy the nice weather outside, and the swings hanging from a tree on the grounds. 

Mini Adventures

When we aren’t having adventures out and about... 

 (At a local bakery, Bizzy Bee's. Sadie climbed on this after seeing her siblings riding around)

(The restaurant Long Haul has a bin of toys, and play kitchen for the kids)

We have adventures here at home. This last week we finished putting our garden together! I’m in love! I don’t know what it is about watching things grow, after hard work and care, but it sure is satisfying. We also plan to make a chicken coop during Matthews break! We are excited to have Chickens again, and fresh eggs! 

As you can see, the kids had fun Gardening too! Sadie especially loved the dirt.

This Sadie munchkin has been climbing on everything! Onto beds, couches, in cupboards, on chairs…. You name it, she will climb it. Even though she refuses to stand on her own still…. Let alone conquer walking.

We have also had fun with friends! I’m glad we are meeting more people and the kids are making good friends.

(Hannah and her friend "mayla" as Hannah says it. They are showing of the nails they got painted and the fun they had making matching friendship bracelets)

(Hannah and her friend coloring)

(Another little girl that comes over a couple times a week. Her mom is starting work at the children's school. She is a little younger then Thomas. They all have fun together. She understands English, but hasn't spoken any to us yet. Her native language is dutch.)

This last week we also celebrated Daddy’s birthday! We did it on Sunday as that is the only day he doesn’t study. He enjoyed his presents and having time with the family!

A few weeks ago Matthew and I took the opportunity for adate! Since activities are limited we decided to do a progressive dinner. Eating appetizer, main, and dessert each at different places… except the place for our main was closed… 

They served us really fancy water that looked like an alcoholic beverage, and we got to try some yummy food. We also brought a game to play at each place. So either it was telling each other something we don’t know about each other, or playing a simple card game. It was fun and a very nice, very needed refresher from the day-to-day life of med-school and kids. 

We also decided it was time to get a car. A little Daihatsu Charade, that still has half of its mileage left. A gal was leaving the island and needed to sell it, she took wonderful care of it, and it was an investment worth making, as we will be able to sell it when we leave, and it's been so valuable getting around with the kids!

 

(Don't worry this was just for the picture. Shortly after we picked up the carseat…. even though majority here don't really use them. )

Also, everything here molds. Everything. And if it doesn't mold, it gets ants in it. I have discovered you have to store Syrup and powdered milk in the fridge (or ants get in it), and anything that is baked. So bread, croissants, cream puffs, cake, etc.... if the ants don't get it, it will be moldy within only a day or two. So into the fridge it goes. Ants even got into the baby powder, and so we had to put it in the fridge too. 

Your clothes have to be completely clean when stored, and even if you have washed them, they might still mold. The only thing I have a picture of is Matthews suit.... which we did not have cleaned before we came.... things were just so hectic. So you can see literally child size fingerprints in mold on his suit. As well as where HANNAH spit up down his back when she was a baby. Yes. Gross. No dry cleaners here... so... well, it went in the wash. 

I have had fun crafting at home, I have done bracelets (One below was my 1st one... I'm working on one that has mountains designed in it. I'm hoping it will turn out looking like Saba). I have also picked up crocheting again and am making a blanket like I made a year ago for Sadie in the hospital, but this one will be much bigger for Hannah. I enjoy these crafts that don't require a lot of thinking or attention, that I can do while the kids play and I watch, or when they are in bed and I'm taking a break. Plus, the material to do them is inexpensive. The more intricate the craft, the more entertaining and creative, but also the more expensive.