I did it, all by myself

As soon as I saw Gerardo this morning I went out with my pan and said mas guayaba por jelly. He grabbed the picker and we went in the back yard and I ended up with enough for two batches. I also asked for cinco naranja and dos limons. He got the oranges but he said the lemons would have to be later from the house by the river. Ours aren't ripe yet. Next was a trip to the Super Mercado to check for a bigger strainer and little containers and ham - finally and another bag of sugar. Now a stop at TIa's to borrow the blender. That is the only thing I don't have yet. I got a strainer and pot.

The lemons were delivered mid morning so I was set for the Orange Marmalade.

I was just dishing up the second batch of guayaba jelly when Gerardo asked permission to come in and asked me how the jelly was going. I showed him all the containers and I noticed there was a woman with him. He seemed to be showing her around La Quinta and I was on the tour. He got a knife to try one of the jars from the first batch and I got a perfecto! Ana was there also and they both complimented me on the jelly. They explained to the lady that I didn't speak much Spanish but I made wonderful chocolate treats and apparently now jelly. I put the lid on the container and gave it to Gerardo.

Once that was all done I thinly sliced 4 oranges and 2 lemons - by hand since my mandoline is still in the states and put it on to boil with 8 cups of water. Once it boils you add 8 cups of sugar. You cover it and let it set overnight. Tomorrow it will cook for 2 hours on low and 1/2 hour on medium. I really like orange marmalade and am looking forward to trying this. How bad can anything be with 8 cups of sugar!

You would think I had been making jelly most of my life. Nope, this was a first. I also want to make a loaf of Banana Nutella bread tomorrow while I still have some bananas. I can't wait to see what other fruit I can make into jelly!

In case you are wondering, guayaba jelly is great on chicken sandwiches and smoked pork chops. I know that from experience! 

My two batches plus one of the jars with the orange top that I gave Gerardo.

My new pot full of orange marmalade. This pot worked really great and didn't move around like the one I used the first time. It has rubber on the handles if I do need to hold it.

My red bag was full so I had to go home.

I don't know what I would do without my red bag. I put everything in it and zip the top and away I go. It was a lovely morning so I headed to Cartago. While I was waiting for the bus I went to the shake place and had a great natural drink - with water rather than milk. It was papaya and pineapple and mandarina and Limon. A little sugar. It is only 1000 colones for the smaller size. I will have to try this more often. 

My first stop was the yarn shop because I brought her cookies and chocolate covered bananas and a dish of guayaba jelly. Business was good so we talked in between customers. I told her about the classes and she wants to come on the 16th. She would do the Spanish and it would be great for me because she understands crafts also. A week from Friday I am going to meet her in Cartago and we are going to Pequeno Mundo. I have a feeling it is going to be a taxi home day.

From the yarn shop I went around the corner to a couple large stores and bought some containers for jelly. I love the little ones. I just wish they had lids. I will have to use them for here. Apparently I will find lots of containers at Pequendo Mundo so that will be for the next batch.

Off I go again to the fabric shop. I picked up beads and in most cases they are not in packages, you buy them individually. I bought a bunch of pony beads so the poor lady stood there and counted forever. In fact I had two ladies helping me. I went thru the ribbons and pulled down all the ones I wanted and said I wanted 5 meters of each. Believe me, I have ribbon. I didn't make it to the place where I get the cording for the web but that will be next time. 

I headed home and stopped in Orosi for lunch because it was very late and all I had all day was the fruit drink. I had a lovely salad with hot chicken and cooked cucumbers and tomatoes and another fruit drink. This time it was mixed and I don't know what was in it except I could taste pineapple.

I also stopped at the other grocery store and got ziplock bags - my store had been out of them and I got a big pot so I don't have to borrow Tia's. Now the only thing I have to borrow is the blender, until I bring mine.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a jelly making day!

Another great day in Costa Rica. It is 4:00pm and it hasn't rained yet.

It is hard to tell but the little one is only about half a cup and it is tin. 

I did notice when we went by the nursery in Paraiso that there were tons of flowers. I might not be able to resist another visit.

Tomorrow is jelly making, Thursday is Otto and Friday is the ladies about the class. My, my, my what a busy life I lead!

It is only Monday and already a great week.

The day starts with Ana bringing me a fresh tortilla. It was very good with my jelly on it. I spent the morning on the porch organizing all my ribbons and threads into seperate bags so they will be easy to use for the classes. I want everything in order so when I get the bamboo I can just concentrate on that. Then Ana and Tia came over with a good size bunch of bananas. I haven't made the chocolate covered with peanut butter or Nutella for quite a while so I got busy and used 8 small bananas. I set a small plateful aside for Tia's house and packed up the rest and headed out about 3:10 for the pizza place. Emelio wasn't there yet so I went to the Super Mercado to get the few things I needed. I left the list at home and couldn't for the life of me remember the 3rd item so I am still out of ham. At least I have milk for tomorrow mornings coffee. I went back to the pizza shop and Emelio was there so we headed for a place to have a drink. The Swiss place and the smoothie place were both closed so we went to the place by Katherine's hotel. I really like the watermelon drink and I was hoping to see Katherine to tell her about the classes. It is like everyone I know goes by there. Today Otto went by so I asked him if he likes guayaba jelly and his face lit up and he said yes so I told him I would save one for when he comes on Thursday. Katherine and Lexi came and sat with us for a bit. What a happy baby. 

Before they left it started raining like mad so we used our umbrellas to help her get home. We waited a bit until it let up to head back to the pizza shop. I got a lesson in Orosi coffee. Emilio really likes good quality coffee and gave me some suggestions on what to try. 

I haven't been to Cartago since I came back so tomorrow is the day unless it is already pouring in the morning. 

She had been laughing but no way when we wanted to take a picture.

There are other small buds but this is the only flower.

My Sunday

Mass was super! At least the music was. The priest came up the center aisle dancing to it and then got everyone clapping. It was lively. It was the same two men who were there the first time I went to church. This time they had also added a woman. There was also a display in church using some of the statues. It is lovely.

Shortly after I got home Gerardo brought a lady over to talk to me. She is the head of the senior crafting group and October is International Senior month. This is the lady I have been waiting to meet. I got out several of my dreamcatchers to show her and she asked if I would be willing to teach a class. 41 people! I said I would be happy to but I thought we should break it into 2 groups. So, October 16 and 23 is when it is scheduled. We have a meeting scheduled for this coming Friday at 10:00am to go over things and for the lady who will help with the Spanish to come talk with me. Thankfully I have tons of feathers, ribbons and thread for the web. The only thing I don't have is lots of beads. I bought lots when I was in the states but that was part of the 40 pounds I had to leave with Heather. She will bring it the end of October. Gerardo will have to get busy cutting down bamboo as I will have to soak it and shape it before the classes.

Then the church group met here today. I have had lively music all evening. A good day all the way around.

I went over to the pizza shop to check what had happened to Emelio last Thursday. He felt so bad. He didn't have my number to call me. He didn't sleep well and got up with a headache so didn't come bake. He has an English lesson on Monday so we are meeting at 3:00pm for coffee. His mother was there so he translated to her what we were talking about. I had forgotten to bring cookies - coconut macaroons - so I came home and got some and took them back over to them. By then there were several people in the pizza shop so I just said good bye and left. I was going to pick up milk but for the first time the Super Mercado was closed. I guess I will just have to use eggnog tomorrow morning. Did I tell you I read the box and it has alcohol in it?

Let me tell you about my toilet problem. It kept running so I told Gerardo and he checked it out and said he would bring a new part the next day. He did and installed it and away he went. It started running all the time again and now it would whine every little while. I knew I needed to get it fixed because Heather would never be able to sleep thru that when she can't sleep through my gentle snoring. I know she is laughing now. So, I call Gerardo back in the next day - it's lucky I have fresh bread and guayaba jelly and coconut macaroons. It seems to be quiet but as soon as he gets out of sight it starts running and whining. I decided it was time for me to see if I could take care of it myself. Yup, you guessed it. I can now add master plumber to my resume. No running and no whine for over 24 hours.

It was a lovely warm sunny day here in Orosi until about 7:00pm and has been raining very hard since then. May not be able to see the Blood Moon tonight.  

Back to the rainy season

It is raining so hard it drove me off the front porch. The bread is great, especially with butter - which I finally found in the refrigerator case in little containers. I had to leave my 5 pounds with Heather. Besides butter I put guayaba jelly and chicken. The beans are good also. Jose brought his son with him - a different son. I need to ask him how many kids he has. Ana was out with two little girls. I handed out chocolate so I am almost out of treats again.

I told Gerardo this morning uno bamboo meaning I only have one bamboo dreamcatcher left. Then I said no mas bamboo meaning no more bamboo. He asked if I needed more right away and I said no so I expect one of these days I will have a pile on my porch. He and another man and some big equipment have been working back there today. I don't know if they are clearing out along the river bank or planting more bamboo or what.

I can't believe it!

It is 8:58am and I have beans cooking in the crockpot, bread in the pan on the stove, rising and three loads of laundry washed and hung on the line. I am on my second big cup of coffee. - I know, those of you who know me are thinking you don't drink coffee. Well, if you start out with hazelnut coffee and add half a cup of warm milk and some sweetener, it is pretty good. I know, I know, you can't taste the coffee but that is the way I like it. I do Chai tea the same way.

The sky is all blue and the sun is shining. It looks like a lovely day in Orosi - at least till it isn't.

The wall along the left side of the soccer field has some kind of greenery growing up it to the top. Not so much anymore. A big section has fallen. I don't know if there is anyway to reattach it or if it will just have to be cut down.

Tomorrow is beans and bread day

Emelio and I didn't connect today for cookie baking. Not sure what happened. I did enjoy all the people I recogonized and greeted as I sat on the pizza shop step for a half hour. Lots of activity on Main Street at mid-day. I gave up and took my mixer and container of cookies down the street to the Super Mercado. I had run out of oatmeal to cookies and I kept forgetting to get garlic. They had a sale on toilet paper so I stocked up for when the girls come. I also got a container of what I think might be eggnog to try. I decided I am making a crockpot of black beans tomorrow as I have all the ingredients and I thought a fresh loaf of peasant bread would taste good. If the weather is better I will also do laundry and that way I will be free for excursions on Saturday. It has been raining off and on all day. I planted some seeds and I hope they don't all float away. The banana tree by me has a couple yellow bananas that the birds are thoroughly enjoying. Every once in a while I will hear a loud thud on the roof and it is fruit falling from the trees. Sometimes it is because the birds have already partially eaten it. I have seen that in a couple big avocados.

Jose is going to stop over when he has a chance so we can talk about a beach excursion while the girls are here. Courtney is talking the Pacific and Heather is talking the Caribbean so I will see what I can work out.

Beautiful bird but I can't get any closer or it flies away.

Part 2 It made a big batch

Here is what I ended up with. Next time I will be prepared with little jars so I can give it for gifts. For now I will just be in guava jelly heaven. Not to worry Heather and Courtney I will save plenty for you.

We had to get a bigger pot!

I have had my quava (guayaba here) jelly lesson and I am sure I now qualify as a Tica. Martha came with her pot but we ended up using mine to cook the guava. First you wash them and cut off the ends and cut them in half or quarters depending on the size. Put them in the pot along with water to cover. When they are soft you put them along with the water in the blender. You then strain the pulp to collect the seeds. You measure the pulp and add a cup of sugar for each cup of pulp. Back on the stove, but they were afraid my pot was too small and it would boil over so they brought a bigger pot from Tia's. By next year I will have my stock pot here and that should work great. And now the stirring starts because the burner is on high the whole time. I ended up with an oven mit on my hand and a pot holder on the handle of the pot to keep from getting burned. My almost full pot boiled away to less than half by the time I was told it was good because it stuck to a metal spoon. Now it is cooling until I can put it in the cute little dishes Gerardo brought me this morning.

We had lots of visitors popping in and out during the process. Ana and Dorie and even Tia, all checking on my progress.

Tomorrow's adventure is at 11:00am I am going to the pizza shop and Emelio and I are making Thumbprint Cookies from a recipe he found on Pininterest. He is bringing the ingredients and I am bringing my mixer to save him bringing one.

Heather will be so jealous. When Tia came this morning she brought me more jade to put in my new pot.

Martha and the guayaba

What we cooked.

The finished product

My jelly dishes.

My jade clippings.

I have to go buy jars

I mentioned I wanted to make guava jelly and things started moving. Tomorrow morning at 9:00am Martha, one of the sisters will be coming to my house to give me a lesson. I showed them my pot and it was approved. Then I showed them my wooden spoons and they were approved. I showed them my bag of azucar and I was told I had enough to do the whole tree. Apparently I can get jars at the hardware store so off I go. I was told I didn't need anything else. So kids, I will have fresh homemade guava jelly for when you come to visit.

The gate was open

So I knew the dogs were in their kennels. For anyone who is concerned, Soggy dog is just fine. Anyway, since the gate was open I went with my camera to take some pictures of the fruit crop in the back yard. This time I know what they are. 

My breakfast consisted of avocado and guava from the trees in the yard and papaya and pineapple from the market. I went out and picked a Limon for the papaya and avocado. They are very good although the guava was just for picture taking. It is still a little hard but I can use it for my jelly. 

It is official. Both Heather and Courtney are confirmed and ticketed to come. I am so excited! 

Today I am going to go thru my seed packets and find little flowers for under the trees Gerardo planted for me yesterday. He divided them into 5 plants so a whole area will be that plant.

Oranges

More oranges

Guava

Mandarin oranges

More oranges. 

It's OK, you can correct me if I am wrong.

What a good afternoon

I made no bake chocolate cookies with oats and coconut and cocoa and headed out with a container full. I made my way thru the Super Mercado and the store across the street before heading to make sure the new restaurant by Katherine's hotel was open for lunch. I headed back to the pizza shop to join up with Emelio and we headed for lunch. We had watermelon naturals and a platter of chicken and salad with palmero and a light dressing. It was all very good.

You would think I was a local! Jose stopped by and talked for a while. He and his girlfriend will come over at 7:00pm today to check out the candy molds I brought. Katherine and her girls stopped also and we chatted. It is the first I have talked with her since I got back. 

I said I want to make guava jelly so Emelio is bringing me a recipe from his mother tomorrow. We forgot to talk about everything but he did say we could go to the feria on Saturday morning. I will work out the details when I pick up the recipe tomorrow.

I got home to discover the back door open and the parchment paper on the floor and the rest of the cookies gone. It's lucky I had taken most of them with me. Soggy Dog is looking a bit guilty. I just hope he doesn't get sick from the cocoa. I will have to make sure I keep that door locked.

Gerardo planted my tree while I was gone. He divided it up into a half dozen pieces so I have a whole section of them. I was going to plant the red flowers when I got back but now it is raining like mad so it will have to wait.

I think I will head to Cartago tomorrow.

I have a bud on my Christmas Cactus

I am learning

I had a fruit lesson this morning. If you go back to yesterday and the picture that says I haven't a clue it is mandarina (mandarin orange). The one Ana gave me is a little tart and she says the skin is good for keeping the cockroaches away. She says it is also good for the eyes.

I also asked about the one that I said it was getting ripe and that is lemon dulce. The one that Gerardo gave me looks like grapefruit inside. It definitely doesn't taste like a lemon. 

I also had him tell me where to plant the tree - just past the bananas. Next are the red flowers. I think we are going to fill up the half wall along the soccer field.

The sun is shining. It is a beautiful morning in Orosi. 

A weekend report

Yesterday started out really nice so another trip to the Super Mercado with brownie bites. One of my hanging pots fell down and broke so I bought one to replace it as well as more eggs. In the afternoon the skies opened up and we had two seperate storms with wild thunder and lightning and no wifi. Gerardo has been picking a bag full of guava every day. I love the jam and want to make some. I will talk to Emelio on Monday when we have lunch about jars. I found a recipe for guava jelly that takes a little apple cider vinegar so I need to find some of that. The season is short so I have to get busy.

Have I mentioned that Christmas has hit the Super Mercado? There are even artificial trees in the back room waiting to go out on the floor.

I did get my hydrangea branches planted yesterday but I haven't planted the red flowers or the tree. I need to check where I can plant them since they get quite big. I made the crock pot dish of chicken and potatoes and green beans again. I added onion, chilies and carrots. I do really like it.

Church today, great music again and a stop at the other grocery store. It isn't as nice as mine but they have some things mine doesn't have like Salsa Inglesa, which I use a lot.

When I got home I saw Gerardo and gave him half a pan of the brownies. He took it to Tia's and brought back a dish of chicken and fried rice from her. I sat on the porch and ate and watched Soggy Dog get a bath. He really does smell better.

It has been warm and lovely this morning. Who knows what the afternoon will bring.

I took some fruit pictures - and a flower one. I didn't go in the back yard since Mean dog is out but there is chayote, mandarin oranges, oranges, mora, cas and guava.

I hate to jinx anything but my legs don't hurt today. Let's hope it lasts.

Lemons

Avocado

Bananas

Guava

I don't know but they are beautiful.

Whatever they are it looks like they are getting ripe.

Haven't a clue.

The day just kept getting better.

GI made my brownies and since I don't have a 9 x 13 pan I used the 3 loaf pans I have and lined them with aluminum foil so I can use them again. Gerardo took Ana and I to Dorie's about 1:30 and for a while it was just Dorie and I and sometimes her father. She showed me all around including her father's dream catcher and the chickens. She has some very interesting ones. I also got more bird feathers. Gerardo and Ana and 5 other ladies came about 3:00pm and shortly after the men had left and it was just the girls. They were looking at catalogues and then giving money to one of the ladies. I think it was Tupperware and something like Avon. Dorie gave me branches from her hydrangea and two plants that I love. I can't wait to get them planted and see them grow. She also has a tree that I love. It is called Flame of the Forest and is sticky on the inside of the flowers. A fly will get stuck. One of the ladies brought Gerardo a cooked chayote dish and he gave me a taste. It was very good. I asked if it could be used in Rice Pudding and he said yes. I said I need a cooking lesson. Dorie made a bread pudding type dish to go with coffee.

I went back to the Super Mercado to get what I had forgotten and what I needed for the brownies. I am now completely out of chocolate treats except the 2 pans of brownies. I have also used up the bag of coconut I brought with me. And I have gone thru a can of cocoa already.

I walked home just before dark. A very nice, fun afternoon.

The tree I got

The plant I got.

The tree I want.

Some of the chickens.

The fuzziest white chickens I have ever seen.

What a great day and it is only 10:00am.

Papaya from the Super Mercado with lemon right off the tree. Ham omelet and Hazelnut coffee for breakfast. I found a recipe for Fudge Brownies with a coconut layer in the middle to make and bring to Dorie's for coffee this afternoon. AND, Heather just sent me her confirmed flight itinerary! She is coming on 10/29 and leaving on 11/7. Hopefully Courtney is coming too. We will have so much fun! I also went out and picked 2 avocado and one guava this morning. I just love seeing ripe fruit on the trees.

Monday I am having lunch with Emelio so we can work out the details for me to visit their family home in Paraiso. 

It is a beautiful sunny morning in Orosi. I am off to the Super Mercado (I have my cart back) to pick up the things I didn't get last night.

I know I am in Costa Rica

By 7:00am the dogs were being fed and I could hear people talking on my front porch. Then I heard the lawn mower on the soccer field. I have so many new plants and even a basket hanging from the tree with an orchid in it. Some of the plants didn't make it and the leaves I planted from the hydrangea are gone but lots of things are doing just fine. I love what they did to the tree at the end of the porch. It lets lots more light in and I love the wood of the tree. I even have plastic pinwheel flowers now.

It is getting closer to time for all the fruits to be ripe. I walked around this morning and there are tons on the trees.

I said good morning to Soggy Dog and Mean Dog barked at me. I got a kiss on the cheek from Gerardo and the lawn mower said Hola. I know I am home.

I AM BACK!

I spent my days at Heather's going thru everything and unloading my truck so they can move it out of the garage. I bought candy melts at the candy mold store and made chocolate covered bananas with peanut butter or Nutella for our dinner Monday. Once I had gone thru everything I spent time filling two really big suitcases. This morning at the airport we spent our time removing 40 pounds of stuff. That is how much I was overweight. Heather took it home, including my 5 pounds of butter. It will all have to come another time.

I learned it definitely pays to order transfer assistance. I was concerned about distances in Chicago and Houston and hadn't even thought about San Jose. We were 30 minutes late out of Madison and I only had 45 minutes to start with. They were waiting for me in the jetway and called ahead to the gate. They were waiting for me and called me by name at the gate and had held the plane. I did have to check my carry on as all the luggage bins were full. We were late leaving Chicago and again they were waiting for me in the jetway. This time it was an easy transfer, basically across the hall but I checked in and got right on the airplane. In San Jose, again, waiting in the jetway, took the elevator and to the far end which is for handicapped people and there was no line or any waiting. 

Since we were late out of Madison I was sure my two big bags wouldn't make it and I didn't know about my carry on. The wheelchair person rounded up a baggage person and we headed for the carousel. I had taken pictures of my luggage before leaving Heather's in case they didn't make it like last time and I showed them the pictures and the yarn I tied on them to make it easier to identify them. Sure enough they were there, but not the carry on I had to check. It is to be delivered tomorrow afternoon. It was documented it was still in Houston.

Jose was there to get me as soon as I came out and we chatter all the way home. My house is so nice and clean and there are more plants and planters outside. I am anxious to see them in the daylight. Looks like some trees have been trimmed also.

I have unpacked and tomorrow Jose will come and get the candy molds. I will have to make something chocolate to take to the Super Mercado to pick up a few things and say Hello.

Now I am off to bed.

I spent 2 days working at St. A's while I was in Hutchinson. Here is an example of the 30 center pieces we made and the dried flower arrangements.

Good news

I know I wasn't going to post till I got back to Orosi, but I got really good news yesterday that I wanted to share. I had a doctor appointment and I learned I have lost 20 pounds since I started this adventure. Also, my hemoglobin A1C was 8.1 before I left which is high and not good and it is now 6.1. Now I have to watch for lows and may have to reduce my insulin even more than I have already. It looks like Costa Rica and Gallo Pinto are really good for me. My cholesterol is 130 with all good levels. It is all good.

We are not at the Grand anymore

Breakfast on top of the Radisson in Duluth in the revolving restaurant. Our next stop was at the Barn in Brainerd. Definitely not the Grand but again, good food. We took a detour to Perham for a little shopping. We are back at the lake and our road trip is over. You can imagine four strong, independent, opionated women traveling together in a car for long days of driving. It was an interesting adventure. We are still all talking to each other and no one came to blows.

I will be doing a lot of visiting with family and friends over the next 2 weeks so you won't hear much from me. I return to Costa Rica on Sept. 16th. I will continue again then.