I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~Charles Dickens

I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays - let them overtake me unexpectedly - waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: "Why, this is Christmas Day!"

By~David Grayson

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

By Edmund Despot

I posted my Blog in June, 2009 and I got no response. I soon discovered that more must be written, than just posting a blog. I found the dash board and started to interface with the dialogue boxes and I got responses. I am at the mercy of Google+ and I am hoping that they have the answers, after all they are offering a free medium on which to Blog. I have some rough moments, an individual notified me that he is taking me out of his circle. I am shocked!  The people I come into contact with on Google+ have varying talents and for me this is most rewarding.  Should I use a single Blog for all my post or not, it is a decision I have to make.  The Google+ software prompts you and this makes it easy to navigate on the Blog, providing you have some basic software knowledge. Sometime I am hopelessly lost, I utter, “Where on earth am I, on this Google+ page”!

Why am I not getting a response from Bloggers, I posted my first blog “Living in Panama” June 2009.  It was just the punch line no more information.  I was working in the dash board clicking on the dialogue boxes seeking some kind of reaction. I had no one to call, I live in Trinidad and Tobago a twin island republic in the Caribbean. In my country, Bloggers are few and difficult to find. Even at this time I do not know any individual whom I can call and get help to navigating my way around the blog. With Google on my side I am hoping that I will prevail on the blog.

With Google as my tutor, I am guided in the dash board and prompted, to follow   groups or individuals. Put names of people in  circles and name the  circles. I did. I tinkered around and I clicked on “View in Google”, one thing led to another and there I was, seeing the "Stream" for the very first time . Filled with glee, I am out of the dash board discovering and exploring my circles. So I am very cautious, filled with anxiety, as I charge into my adventures.

I am shocked, to have a Google+ member posting a note to me, “I am going to take you out of my circle”. I remembered posting an article on “Universal Children’s Day Nov 20”, then another post, about Cruelty on Whaling. I responded to the individual asking what had offended him but I got no response. However if I published some item that offended this individual or any other persons, it was not intentional. In the absence of a response from the individual, I am truly sorry if I offended you. This individual will continue to remain in my circle.

Thrilled! I am notified by someone that I was placed into their circle on Google+. Then the invitation came, “say hello” to a fellow Google+ for placing me in their Circle. I can still remember Marina Gomez saying “Hi”, she is from India. This is indeed a global family. There is also those that have tolerated, pointed and guided me, in the stream. They have done this by inviting and encouraging words, I appreciate this. 

After posting fifty-nine articles on the same blog, “Build the Pan American Highway across the Darien Gap”, I am thinking that this not the best approach. With this Blog I was hoping to build some interest in completing the 18000 miles long Pan American Highway. There is a 50 miles gap in the highway between Panama and Colombia, if completed, you can drive from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Ushuaia in Argentina. To continue to spread the message about completing the Pan American Highway, I will use another strategy on the blog.  Google+ is indeed an experience worth sharing.

With Google’s supervision, I have been able to navigate the blog, I am evolving. It is with much trepidation I decided to use Google+ to express my views. I can recall days when I screamed “where on earth am I on this Google+”!  It is a challenging medium where you will eventually find yourself running with the wolves but I dare say, that, “I am in the pack”.  Google, sounds like a baby goooogling with saliva running from its lips. I wonder when Google+ is going to learn to talk?

Belize To Link Up With Pan American Highway

Belize March 3, 2011 By Belizean

Belize has signed a $47 million dollar contract to pave the last 23 miles of its southern highway to connect to Guatemala in the deep south and link up with the Pan American Highway system. The project funded by the Kuwaiti and OPEC investment funds will provide hundreds of new jobs over the next three years of the life of the project. And more importantly provide a sorely needed link to Central America in Belize’s deep south – the area with the largest concentration of poverty and underdevelopment in Belize – home of the Ketchi Maya and Garifuna nations.

Belize currently has but two land border crossings, one at the north with the prosperous Mexican state of Quintana Roo, and one at the west with the relatively underdeveloped town of Melchor de Mencos in Guatemala. The new highway will link Belize to the Izabal department in Guatemala and provide a strategic link to markets in the Rio Dulce, Moralez, Puerto Barrios, Santo Tomas de Castilla (both prominent deep water ports) and northern Honduras areas. All important for tourism and trade.

The highway will be built by Belizean company Cisco Constructiuon Ltd. and will pave the area known as The Dump near Punta Gorda, Toledo, to Jalacte which abuts the Belize Guatemala border in the southwest. The  upgrading will give the residents of Western Toledo improved access to Punta Gorda and the rest of the country. A spokeswoman for the Belize Ministry of Works was quoted as saying that “This 23 miles of road has been an area of major maintenance demands for us due to the rugged terrain so it’s a long overdue and we can’t wait to see it upgraded to the standard we have designed.”

There is speculation that the new highway may be linked to new petroleum deposits in southern Belize that have yet to be developed. Prime Minister Dean Barrow has been quoted as stating that the best prospects for further petroleum discoveries are in southern Belize. Belize currently exports 5,000 barrels per day of high grade sweet light crude oil to Central America and the U.S. This from but one oilfield in western Belize.

Red Pinecone Ginger- Ginger lily plants are aromatic perennials which come in many shapes and sizes. Some Ginger Lilies have beautiful clusters of flowers while others are known for their showy foliage.

 Most Ginger Lily blooms have a series of small flowers arranged spirally around a stem. Flowers typically have two nectar glands each making Ginger Lilies very effective in  attracting butterflies.

This Ixora can be used as a hedge. The leaves are not too large to be a good hedge material and when it is pruned  most of the stem tips are not cut, allowing the flowers to emerge. 

Not all ixoras are grown for flower color. Some are grown for there lingering scent. They thrive well in the tropical shade, produces huge beautiful blooms on a 4-5 foot bush. Excellent for shaded front door porches or backyard sitting areas

Almost all ixoras do best in full sun, acid soil, free from nematodes, a moist organic mix that is also well drained.