Life in Costa Rica: Let me tell you about my weekend.

When I picked up pizza Friday evening, Emelio said they had gone to Price Smart (kinda like Costco) and they bought Hershey's cocoa and baking powder and it was for me if I wanted it. Regular, normal baking powder. I said I had 2 cans of cocoa so if they used it I would not take that but I would love to have the baking powder. He also said that his aunt and mother were inviting me to go along next time. They go several times a month for their business. They don't speak much English so he would go along to make it easier. He also asked me if I had a recipe for really good chocolate chip cookies. I said I would bring it tomorrow when I picked up the baking powder.

Well, you can't just give a recipe without the product so Saturday I baked chocolate chip cookies and also chocolate crinkle cookies which uses cocoa. I wrote out both recipes along with the one Heather sent me for her wonderful chocolate chip cookies. The ones I made I was using up bags so I had milk chocolate, semi sweet and white chocolate chips in them. I put 4 in each bag and took them to Emelio, paid for the baking powder and had him read over everything to make sure he understood what I had written.

Also on Saturday morning when Gerardo came by I said estoy loco - I am crazy - and also handed him my translate program that said I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs. All I do is buy plants and chocolate. He thought that was funny and the next thing you know he brings Ana over to see the plants and tell her what I said. In a few minutes I had an assortment of containers and he showed me which ones should go in the house and which ones outside. Even Tia came over in the afternoon to see the plants. She and Ana love the Moss Rose. I think Ana was saying she has a white one. That would be gorgeous hanging next to the colored one in the next section of the porch.

Sunday morning, 10:00am Mass. Back to normal crowd, and good lively music, and a young priest. I haven't figured out if they are all visiting priests or maybe the old priest is on a vacation. During the homily the kids were called up and they all went inside the altar railing and he closed it and they were kinda locked in for the rest of the homily. I understood he told them I am going to tell you a story, a very sad story and that was about it.

Once I got home and changed and ate, I got some dirt and repotted everything except one little cactus. I need to get a little container for that. All the rest of the cactus I planted together in one container. I separated the asparagus fern and added it to several planters. I also discovered some stuff growing way up on the fence next to my house - above the concrete wall. I have to ask Gerardo and who knows, I may have him climbing the walls to get me some. Apparently the thing I bought that is kinda attached to a little log gets tied to a branch on a tree and that is how it lives and grows. No dirt. I did that on the avocado tree in front of the porch.

Oh, and by the way, I was delivered another dish of arroz con leche. I am going to have to have a cooking lesson on that. I really do love it.

I am adding another picture so it isn't me on Facebook. Doesn't seem to be working so I will have to live with me showing on the post.

Since I have had requests, and I am a sucker for requests, here is how my hair looks.

That's about it. The sun is shining brightly and it hasn't rained all day. I was given a pair of clippers to use on the bamboo so I did a little trimming today so I don't have branches and leaves in my way on every sidewalk. Most of the people here are much shorter than me so they don't have that problem.