How Costa Rican am I?

Remember it has only been a month.

I say Hola to everyone. 

I like having beans with breakfast.

Not so much rice, I still like potatoes.

I wake up with the sun, or at least light, and start settling down with darkness so I don't have to use lights and draw the bugs in.

I have gotten used to washing dishes in cold water and blue soap.

I keep my eggs out on the counter.

Jamon, or ham, is sliced very thin.

I clean often to keep the bug population down.

I flirt - yes, it is a Costa Rican trait.

If it doesn't get done today it is OK, tomorrow will work also.

I go to the trees and bushes and pick the fruit I want.

I eat almost no sandwiches - although I couldn't resist a meatloaf one - and I eat much more fresh from scratch food.

I waste very little.

All the toilet paper goes in the container, not the toilet.

I am trying, trying, trying to ignore barking dogs.

Now this is me, not a Tica. I love the choice I made of where I live. I could not have been luckier.

New experience, pictures, part 2

I had a new experience

 I had been told there was a store across the street from the Super Mercado but I hadn't been up to checking it out. This morning I tried my cookies out on Ana and Gerardo, made up a batch of bread and headed with my cookie container. I headed for the hotel and Katherine. The other time I went with cookies she wasn't there and the same was true today. She was off running errands while she had someone at the hotel. Weekends are busy for them with local people so there is a lot of cleaning Monday morning and she has a helper. The helper loved the cookies. Down the street and around the corner and down the street 25 meters. Everything here is 25 meters unless it is a mile and then it is 100 meters. The store looks like a dress shop from outside but it is a mini department store. A treasure trove. I picked a lot of stuff and handed out cookies to everyone and went to the girl who was helping me and had all my stuff. No, you don't pay her even though she has been ringing everything up and can give you the total. You go to the register and he pulls it up and you pay him. He gives you a receipt and you go back to the first girl and only then does she start bagging everything. I had read about this but had not encountered it before today.

Across the street I go to the Super Mercado. I hadn't taken my shopping cart with me - yes I still have it since the last shopping trip. The cocoa cookies are a big hit. I looked and looked but I couldn't find cocoa so I will wait to get that. Maybe I will make it to WalMart and I can get it there.

So, now I have stuff from 2 stores so I have to take the cart. Not to worry though, I just unloaded inside the door to the compound and took the cart back so I only have one. 

I don't know if I have mentioned I love the song Sugar by Maroon V. I can't believe how often I hear it around here. In the department store it was playing and I'm bouncing right along to it. Pura Vida!

My leg did better on this outing so maybe this afternoon I will head for the nursery and herbs. We will see how the rain and my leg hold out.

The pictures are the outside - front - of the Super Mercado, the bank next door and at the end of he block is the pizza place I have been told is really good. The few times I have checked it hasn't been open so I haven't tried it yet. It may only be open late in the day.  Then inside the SM is the ice cream and liquor on the right and the registers. The meat market and the fruits and vegetables and anything that has to be weighed is in that area because the scales are there. Even eggs are weighed and priced by weight. The last area is in the back and is the small misc dept section.

I'll put a few pictures in this message and do a separate message with the rest of them.

Do you think I liked it?

I think I just ate more then any meal the last two weeks. Maybe that is a sign things are getting better. I will now have meatloaf to eat with black beans and in sandwiches. I will need to move it to a dish so I can use the pan to make bread tomorrow.

We have Meatloaf and Chocolate Cookies

People here love chocolate so I made a batch of Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. They have cocoa in them and then you roll them in powdered sugar. One broke so I just had to eat it. They are very good. Then I made Meatloaf in the only pan that works and added some potatoes to bake. Looks like the ground beef doesn't have as much fat as what I am used to. I am anxious to try it. A side of cucumber and tomato and onion should be good.

Tomorrow I have to go to the Super Mercado as I am out of milk and butter. I will at least have chocolate cookies to share.

I am having a little trouble with recipes that have brown sugar as the texture is so different. Granules that don't pack.

We won't talk about the leg. It is just a very slow process. I love Otto, who does a very good job on the massage.

I just had the best time

I didn't know if I would have anything to write today but I just had the best time. As I have mentioned, Tia lives across the courtyard from me. Tia has dementia and they weren't even sure she would remember me from one visit to the next. That hasn't been the case. Gerardo has been here mowing all the grass and I came out to the porch and noticed Tia and Ana. Tia came over and sat down and Ana was close by. Between my translate program and my Spanish/English dictionary and their patience, we had a great conversation. Tia explained that she has to have someone sleep in her house with her at night and she thinks I am very brave to stay alone in my house. I also found out where and when I should be taking the garbage. And, I have 3 cement blocks on the ground in front of my house and I want to plant them with herbs and I worked all of that out. When Gerardo was finished he came over and I explained what I wanted to do and that I have room for 5 herbs. He gave his OK. The list seems to be cilantro, mint, thyme. Then I have to pick 2 from dill, Rosemary, oregano and Basil. This will be so much fun. I got directions to where to go to get the starter plants or seeds. I'm sure there is dirt around here I can use. 

I love having food in my refrigerator.

Otto has come and gone this morning and we have agreed to 10:00am on Thursday morning until I leave for the U.S. He is a massage therapist besides being a masseuse and uses some of those techniques in his massage. Very interesting man. A vegetarian and very interested in natural remedies. 

I wasn't supposed to eat a lot before the massage so I waited until after he left. I think I will make it as a Tica - except maybe the rice. For breakfast I fried some potatoes from the Pot Roast, cooked some beans from the Bean Soup and had scrambled eggs with ham and onion. And, I cooked it all in the same pan. I like to cook, I didn't say I liked to do dishes. There is Salsa Inglesa over the whole thing. It is so good. I could open a Soda. Next I am making Banana Bread Crumb Cake with the bananas Gerardo brought.

News! I think I will be having a visitor within the next couple weeks. I will definitely have to go shopping as all I brought with me is one sheet, no pillow cases and 2 towels. I have this big thick king size pillow on my bed so my solution to pillow cases is a tee shirt slipped on each end. It's amazing what you can use to make do. I do have tons of tee shirts with me. I also have memory foam mattress toppers and mattress pads and all kinds of linens and towels but they are either at Heather's or still in Hutch. I will let you know more about my visitor when plans are finalized.

It rained all night so my laundry still isn't dry but the sun is shining now so hopefully I will be able to take it in this afternoon.

Back to eating my wonderful breakfast.

I got it all done

Just not quite the way I planned. The sun was shining and still is so I decided to do laundry. I am getting pretty good at it. Usually when I put the clothes in the spinner it is not balanced and makes lots of noise and bounces around. Not this time. Two loads and not a bounce or squeak. What I did find out is hanging up clothes is very hard on a pinched nerve and clenched muscles. My leg has been pretty bad this afternoon so I only made it as far as the Super Mercado to get some towels. I got 3 large, very thin towels for 8000 colones which is about $16.00. They will work fine for my massage, dry fast and I can cut them up to use for other things when I bring more of my own down in September. One of the reasons I wanted to go to WalMart is for some craft project. I didn't bring anything with me and I need something to work on, especially while I am sitting around.

We have had so much rain lately that it has been really nice to have a break.  This is Tia. They kept telling me she eats like a bird but she did try some of the French Toast.

It was a hit!

I made the French Toast and took it along with cream, syrup and butter as toppings to Tia's house at 9:00am. It was Gerardo, Ana, Tia, another sister and me. Ana had made coffee and there was vanilla coffee creamer that Gerardo has to get in Cartago. It isn't available here. I had the name of what I made in Spanish so they would know and we went through the ingredients. I am getting pretty good with azucar y leche y huevos y pan - although I pronounce pan wrong. It isn't like Peter Pan it is a soft a.

No one took any toppings but they did seem to love it. I asked Ana if I could leave what was left and she willingly took it. 

Now I am going to see if my leg is ready for an excursion to WalMart to check on a few things including some towels for my massage tomorrow and chocolate chips. Catch you later.

I had so much fun.

I may have mentioned it before, and those who know me know that I love grocery stores. Byerly's is one of my favorite places and I can spend half a day slowly wandering through a good grocery store. In Portland I loved visiting the Asian Markets even though I didn't know what half the stuff was. That was one of the reasons I was so happy to be right close to the Super Mercado. Now, let's get a mental picture here. This isn't a super WalMart or Target. This is even much smaller than Cash Wise in Hutchinson. It has liquor, an ice cream stand, a meat dept a dept store kind of area and then groceries including fruits and vegetables. The frozen section and refrigerated section is pretty much dairy. No prepared meals or vegetables or anything like that. 

Off I go with my cart and my container of cookies, which by the way are almost all gone. The cart helps me to limp along. I go in the back door and start handing out cookies to the guys unloading product. 

I didn't really need that much - some cream for the French toast and more eggs since I will be out when I make the French toast and onions. So, it was a great time to check out everything on the shelves. I came home with a big bag of I am not really sure what. If it looked good I got it. Now I have to translate everything to see how close I am to what I thought I was getting. I do know I have cocoa and that they don't carry chocolate chips. I think I have a bag of stuff to make instant hot chocolate also. I needed crema and I have crema de leche. I don't know if they are the same.  I have been looking for powdered sugar which is azucar en polvo and what I got is azucar molido. Looks like it but so did the yeast. It says it is ground white sugar so how bad can it be. I now have walnuts and pecans and coconut and raisins and I have a package called - whoops I just read the English. It is chocolate flavored coating for frozen fruits. That should make some interesting treats.

Tuesday must not be a really great day for fruits and vegetables. That dept was pretty much cleared out. I could have gone up the street to the fruit and vegetable stand but my leg wasn't up to that. Next time. I wanted some fresh fruit for the French toast but I will do with raisins.

All in all a wonderful time. When I came out the back door to come home I even had someone help me with the cart. I love it here.

Delivery

I have just had fresh bananas delivered to my porch - right off the tree. I had just come across a recipe for Banana Bread Crumb Cake and I thought I would have to go looking for some bananas. Turns out 9:00am will work better tomorrow morning so I will have to get started cooking a little earlier. I did bake a batch of cookies this morning - they are called Bachelor Buttons - for my trip to the Super Mercado for the few ingredients I need. They are a brown sugar cookie. I am still on a hunt for powered sugar and chocolate bits.

We are set

I saw Ana and Tia this morning and we set a date for tomorrow at 10:00am at Tia's house. They will have the coffee and I will bring the pan - bread. It will be the Cinnamon Baked French Toast. I will start it this afternoon as it needs a night in the refrigerator. Can you tell I am feeling a little better?

There will be pictures. 

Black Bean Soup isn't very photogenic

So I won't be including a picture but it is very good. It has beef from yesterday and the tomato based sauce and some of the carrots and onions and garlic and a package of Knorr's Black Bean soup mix and a bunch of black beans and seasoning including mild salsa and water. That's it. I love making soup cuz you can throw just about anything in it. It would be really good with some sour cream and chopped green onion. Next time.

I was going to make the Cinnamon Baked French Toast for tomorrow at 10:00am for mid morning snack but Cynthia leaves early tomorrow so I will wait for another day. 

I said there would be pictures.

It is really very good. Tomorrow I will use some of the beef and the juice and make a pot of black beans. I have both black and red beans but I like black best. I love black bean soup which I might do.

Happy Father's Day

To all the fathers following along, or those who have played the role of father, even if the child wasn't theirs. Sometimes what you do means so much more in the life of a child than if you were their biological parent. Enjoy your day.

Well wait until you hear about tonight

If you know me, you know I go for the unusual. That is why the Quinta or Compound appealed to me so much. I have mentioned there is an event or party room that gets rented or loaned out. Thursday evening it was for a 10 year olds birthday party. This afternoon I noticed people around and tables being moved so I figured it was another party. And I was told when I rented my house that when there are parties they bring me food. I thought it was quite a deal.

Turned out it wasn't a party but some type of rally. I could hear people giving speeches and very lively music and singing. I went out on the porch and listened and now and then I would hear an amen and an alleluia so I figured it was some type of church group. I did a little video to record a little of the music. I hope you can hear it.

As to an update on tomorrow's crock pot menu, I am going to do a Pot Roast. I have potatoes and carrots and onions and a lovely little roast. I think it may end up with a tomato based liquid. Pictures tomorrow, if it turns out.

Looks like it won't let me attach the video. If I can figure out another way, I will.

I have a crock pot.

I had my translate program write out that I wanted to purchase a crock pot from Gerardo's store. Nothing fancy, high and low and not small. He just came with two choices and I now have a large crock pot. I figured you never know when you want to make a big batch so I figured it would be better to go with the bigger one. And, in case you are interested, it cost me 20,000 colones which is about $37.00. Now tomorrow I can make either chicken and rice or beef and beans. Today's lunch was chicken salad from the deli chicken with some sliced tomatoes and cucumbers and lettuce and some ice cream with yogurt on top. The ice cream is vanilla and the yogurt is pourable and fruit flavored. Very good. 

I had my first power outage this morning for a couple hours. No wifi and no electricity. I noticed it seemed so quiet. I didn't hear anything running. It has been so still today. No wind blowing.

My leg has improved but still giving me problems so I am sticking close to home.

I'm not sure I was ready

I enthusiastically made my trip to the Super Mercado, treats in hand. I had frozen and saved the chocolate Rice Krispie treats and started handing them out at the back door. No one had forgotten. The cute kid in the meat market turned up every time I turned around waiting for another one and going on and on about how delicious they are. I haven't found powdered sugar or chocolate chips. I did find nutmeg. I got a lovely deli cooked chicken so dinner will be easy tonight. I'm bushed though. I now have ham for breakfast with eggs, beef for the crockpot with black beans and chicken for with the wild rice. I even have ice cream. I may need to make a trip to WalMart for the baking things I want. That is between Paraiso and Cartago. Now I just need to get the Crock Pot.

I have been saved

I am not yet cured, but it is better. I sent out e-mails this morning to all the people I know in Orosi - all 3 of them. Katherine from the hotel answered first and suggested a massage therapist named Otto Cruz. He came to my house and gave me an hour massage. I still have a couple tight, sore spots, especially in my lower leg but things are better. He is coming again next Thursday and get this - he charges $10.00 an hour. 

Now off to the Super Mercado!

Costa Rican Birthday Party

I was invited to a birthday party tonight for Cynthia's son. He turned 10. I went thru the house and checked to see what I could give as a gift. I narrowed it down to Minnesota Wild Rice or hand lotion. So instead I took pictures of everyone all evening long. It was really fun and everyone enjoys how they look on the iPad.

There was food and drink and cake and ice cream. And a piñata. I have seen it done before where the person was blindfolded. That didn't happen. The kid had a stick and 3 tries and it was moved around and raised and lowered. Once it was cracked open Gerardo got on a chair and shook out all the contents. Everyone had a sack and shared in the goodies. Here are pictures of the birthday boy and his mother and sharing the piñata.

There may be hope

I no longer have a shooting pain with each step. The pain is more constant, more like a sore muscle from clenching for so long. I did manage to clean up the kitchen and do a load of laundry. Standing is the worse right now. I hoped to go to the Super Mercado this afternoon - it was a gorgeous sun shiny morning - but it is raining cats and dogs and we even had some thunder. My laundry is hanging out, covered, but it may take it days to dry. I am making my grocery list but it will probably be tomorrow when I go. I also want to go to the hotel where I stayed and see if she knows a masseuse or where I might find one. I think that would really help the leg. Where is Katherine when you need her!

I want to make overnight bread pudding as a treat for everyone to share as a mid-morning snack but it may be Saturday before that happens. There is no hurry on all of this as I am here until August 22nd when I fly back to Madison for my road trip with Kaye and Donna and Karen to Door County, WI and Mackinac Island - we got into the Grand Hotel at a really good rate - over the lake to Duluth and then back to Ottertail Lake in Minnesota. After that it is on to Hutchinson and the Cities before heading back to Madison and figuring what all I am bringing down with me. And, take another little truck load from Hutchinson where Red and Linda are guarding it. Did I tell you how great they have been? My last day my leg was hurting, my mind was no longer working and I didn't know if I would ever get out of town. Red shows up and just steps in and OK, where does this go and off he takes it, and what do you want done with this and he does it. I don't know what I would have done without his help. I had other good help also but I really appreciate all he did.

Everyone must be gone. It is so quiet around the compound - or Quinta - as I am told it is called. Not even the dogs are barking.

Back to checking out recipes and making my ingredient list. I have to talk to Gerardo about a Crock Pot from his store. I have come across so many interesting recipes. I can't imagine if I were here without electronics especially since I brought so little with me to start. I can play games and read books and look up anything. Such a world it is today.

I know, I know, I'm Boring

It's Wednesday afternoon and I would like to say I am all better but it isn't the case. I am down to my last pills tonight and the muscles just don't want to let go. I do think it is a bit better and hurts in fewer places. I promise, I will let you know as soon as I am out and about again. Thank heavens I filled the kitchen and haven't had to worry about finding food. Also, I am happy I am not alone and isolated. People come and check on me. I wish I had projects with me but they are all in the containers to come later. I was even thinking today now could I find branches and something like a string and I could make dream catchers from natural products. Course I ended up not getting off my chair. I don't like to do housework but I am even anxious to do that. I will say the Pine Sol seems to have taken care of them in the kitchen. There haven't been any. It's either that or because I haven't been cooking. I want to try that all over the house and wash my tons of windows. I do have a project for as soon as I am back on my feet and that is the window area in the kitchen. There isn't anything but wire so if you have the lights on at night tons of bugs come in. I want to put up sheer fabric so the air still gets thru but it slows down the bugs. I don't know if Cartago has a fabric store or if I will have to take an excursion to San Jose. It isn't like Minnesota where there is a fabric store on every other street corner. If I have to be laid up it couldn't be in a prettier spot and Cynthia and I have been trying to convince Gerardo that he needs a water feature here in the Quinta. He has lovely ones at his other houses in the mountains and we think we need one too. There is an unused fountain in one area but we are thinking something more dramatic like cascading down the wall of the compound. We will see. That is about it. I am sure you are not interested in knowing I get up at 6am and go to bed at 6pm and take naps in between. I am doing stretching exercises and using hot and cold packs. I will see what tomorrow brings. Maybe the last pills tonight will be the magic ones.

I have drugs

We just got back from the pharmacy. I was in good hands with a local who knows everyone and a Puerto Rican woman from New York who isn't afraid to talk. I just took an anti inflammatory and a muscle relaxer. I take them every 12 hours and I have a 3 day supply, just in case. The total was under $22.00.

I just home the muscle relaxer doesn't make me talk even slower. They said they might make me sleepy but I don't care as long as they do the job.

I have promised a Pecan Pie Bread Pudding as soon as I can stand. The recipe looks really good.

I have been falling down on the job.

I am sure you are wondering what is going on. Gayle is settled in beautiful Orosi, in her casa, in her compound, with full cupboards and not a word about all the wonderful things she is doing.

Well kids, that is because I haven't been doing a thing. In fact I have barely left the casa, let alone the compound. My sciatica problem moved to my right leg and I have barely been able to walk. 

Gerardo has some friends staying in the upstairs apt. and Cynthia has agreed to help me today to get drugs from the pharmacy or go to the doctor ow whatever needs to be done. I hate not being able to be out and about and not being able to make more cookies cuz I can't stand. I will keep you posted. I would think if I could just get a muscle relaxer I would be on my way to healing.

Here's a picture so you won't think I am in terrible shape. I will be back on the job as soon as I get my leg straightened out.

I love it!

Cookies seem to speak a universal language. I went over to the Super Mercado to get ingredients for Rice Krispie Bars. No cookies in hand this time, but everyone greeted me - even the customers and delivery drivers. They all helped me - I had the ingredients written down. They had to be chocolate, but they are made. I also found cream of tartar so I can make my coconut macaroons tomorrow. It's raining so I may have to wait and deliver black and white treats tomorrow.

Also, the Pine Sol seemed to work. No sign of ants in the kitchen.

We have tortillas

I just finished my tortilla party. They were corn tortillas and a little thicker than I usually see. Wrapped in banana leaf to keep them warm and moist. From what I understood, it doesn't take long to make them. Most nationalities seem to have their thin bread/pancake item. I was raised with crepes, the Norwegians have lefse and the Spanish countries tortillas. I am sure you could use all the same toppings. We used butter, jelly, sugar, milk, or syrup on the crepes. The first time I had thick pancakes I was 15 and on my way to California. I had no idea what they were.

Another cookie day

This morning, when Gerardo came to feed the dogs, I took him some slices of bread. He invited me for coffee at Tia's so I came and got more bread. Ana had made bread knots so we shared and they invited me to come tomorrow morning for Ana's fresh tortillas. What do you bring to share at a tortilla party?

This afternoon I made a batch of Coconut Cookies and I think he can smell them baking because sure enough there was Gerardo. I gave him two and he thought they were even better than yesterday. I took some to Tia and Ana and then made my way around town delivering them. Some of the guys are so funny - can I take 2? The ones yesterday were really good.

I have a small table that I use as a counter and I was having ant problems. I bought some Pine Sol and washed it down really good. So far no sign of ants so maybe that will help. I may have to do the same thing to the cupboard around the sink, and all the floors. If it works and lasts a while, it will be worth it.

There was a really heavy rain storm last night and I think Tia was trying to tell me she only slept a little. She gets very nervous at night and someone is always there with her.

I guess Bread is Bread

Doesn't matter where you are or if the ingredients are the same or even the utensils. Can't wait to taste it. This is Peasant Bread, really easy to make and I try all kinds of things with it. Small bowls for little loaves, cinnamon sugar on top, spices or seasonings or garlic on top. This one is just plain.

There is hope

I used both the aluminum foil and the Pam and not a cookie stuck. I wanted to try my bread but I only have one bowl so I finished baking the cookies and now I have a batch of bread rising. I usually bake it in glass bowls but since I didn't bring any yet I will use the stainless pan that is kinda shaped like a bowl that I brought. I brought a small fry pan, a large frypan and that pan and have used all of them. The only thing here was an electric frypan. I do have a coffeemaker and a rice cooker. I want to get a crock pot and I will be anxious to bring some things like my mixer when I come back in September. I do also have a microwave.

Sometimes you shouldn't guess.

I was wandering thru the baking section of the market and I came across a bag of what looked like it should be powdered sugar. Unfortunately when I got home and checked my translate program, it turned out to be yeast. Now that is one thing I brought with me and do not need. Back to the store I think. I really do need to carry my Spanish/English dictionary with me.

The cookie lady has hit!

I just got back from passing out a container of cookies. Now I need to make more. I still have half the batch of dough left. I bought some Pam spray and aluminum foil to see if I can solve the sticking problem. I also got some floor cleaner and I think today will be cleaning day as I did mass murder on some ants this morning and emptied all the garbage.

As the cookies weren't warm, I don't think I got engaged to anyone this morning.

This is my cookie delivery outfit.

In case you are wondering, it is raining in Orosi.

We have cookies

I decided to try with Snickerdoodles since they are quite simple. I have the instruction book for the oven so I figured I was close on the temp. Whether I greased the pans or I didn't, they all stuck to the pans. They taste pretty good so once I get the sticking figured out - and get everything scraped off the pans, I will be in business. I want to make coconut macaroons and they are trickier so I have to work out the glitches before I try other kinds. Gerardo was here mowing the soccer field so he got the first warm cookies. He gave them a 2 thumbs up. I hope serving warm cookies to a man doesn't mean we are engaged or I am in trouble. 

The laundry is done - Costa Rican style.

I did three loads of clothes. First I put the clothes in the washer part, sprinkle a little detergent, turn the control to wash and add water with a hose from the sink nearby. Then I set the control for the length of time I want it to agitate. Next I change the control to empty and then turn it back and add more water for a rinse cycle and drain again. Then you move the clothes to the spinner basket, close the lid and set it for the length of time you want it to spin. You take the clothes out - they are really quite dry and hang them up. I am sure I flunked the hang up lesson I got in Atenas but I only needed room for my stuff and it is covered and protected so I didn't have to worry about the sun fading them.

My oven lighter has been delivered so now I just have to figure out a way to check the temp. in the oven. I think I will try cookies before I try bread. I'll keep you posted.

Th rest of the ingredients

I have taken the cart back, picked up carrots to go with the cabbage and onions and flour and butter for the cookies. The only item missing is the electronic match to light the oven. I looked several places and went to Gerardo's and he called all over and he is having one brought from Cartago tomorrow. Katherine, from the hotel, lent me two cookie sheets so I am in good shape. Going to pick them up gives me an excuse to stop at the ice cream place next door. They have a list two pages long of flavor so and I just point to two and they put it in a cup. It is 1200 colones and I haven't had a bad flavor yet. 

The one thing missing is a thermometer for the oven. Hopefully I can find that locally. 

The lady I went house hunting with on Tuesday has decided to live in the upstairs apt here in the compound. She was here today and will be returning in October for at least 3 months. She is an artist and can't wait to return and paint. She is the one who was born and raised in Rochester, MN.

I did have my laundry lesson this morning but it is too late so I will plan on that first thing in the morning. Then I can make a batch of bread and maybe some Snickerdoodles. I will take pictures of the results, even if it isn't good.

In case you are wondering

This is what 63,000 in colones buys at the Super Mercado. I didn't get quite everything because it was late and I hadn't eaten so my blood sugar got a bit low but I had a great time. People were so helpful and some spoke very good English. I go up to a cute cashier named Diana and try and figure out how I am going to explain I want to take the cart out the back door because I live across the street. She says OK. I go on to say it is at Gerardo's and she says "he is my father." I really am in a small town. 

Back to the Soda

Since I don't have any food yet it was back to the Soda for a meal to go. The lady there is so nice and works so hard to have me understand. The name of the place is Rabbit's and I keep waiting for that to be the special of the day. Today the Casado was a stewed chicken with potatoes and Gallo Pinto and salad and fried bananas. The drink today was pineapple. It is very quite around the compound although this morning church livened things up. For a celebration they add guns being fired. Some of them sounded like cannons. The last time I experienced this was in San Isidro de el General for Easter. Today it is Corpus Christi. 

It has been raining off and on all day. The soggy dog has kind of adopted me and sleeps by the door when he isn't chained up. The guard dogs are much quieter today so they must be getting used to me.

Tomorrow I will try and do laundry if I can find someone to give me a lesson. With all the rain, it may take days for the laundry to dry. 

I am pretty much unpacked and have found spots for everything - until I bring more of course. There is plenty of room here for my sewing machine and all my fabric and my yarn and craft things. 

I am out on the glider which is a lovely spot. I also love the porch where I am protected from the sun - when it is out.

I am in!

Early this afternoon Jose came and got me and all my luggage and we came to the Compound and met up with Gerardo. The house had been cleaned and cleared of Gerardo's stuff and some of the furniture had been moved around. I love my bedroom - it is so big. A new 4 burner gas stove with an oven has been added to the kitchen as well as a nice size refrigerator. He left a TV and a stereo system so I can blast music to my heart's content. I may have inherited a dog. He is tied up in the area behind he kitchen and he pushes the kitchen door open and sleeps inside the door. I think Gerardo said he was taking him with him so we will see.

I have lots of unpacking to do so I best get busy. It has started raining so I may have to wait to start getting ingredients for cooking and baking.

Tonight's dinner

There is a little Soda not far from where I am and even closer to where I will be starting tomorrow. Nicest lady. It is right next door to the shop run by one of the ladies I met when I was here before. Tonight I had the fish Casado and a fruit drink with water. When I figure out what flavor it is I will let you know. Total for everything was 1800 colones. At about 500 colones to a dollar, that is a pretty reasonable dinner. Rice, beans, salad, potatoes and carrots and a fish fillet. Very good.

I have been to the church!

I am spending the day, or part of it, wandering around Orosi. I finally made it to the church when it is open. It is a lovely old church, small, with beautiful statues. I don't know yet the times of the masses.

The first picture is the main altar and the second is a side area behind bars so I don't know if it is used for any services.