We had a great day on the mountain.

Gerardo came and got us about 11:00am. I did a platter with 2 sliced loaves of the fruit bread and a big tin of guayaba jelly and a container of refrigerator pickles. Debbie and John did a platter of raw vegetables and dip. Shortly after we arrived Marta started the cooking lesson. It is a cup of milk and a big hunk of something called dulce. I will have to do research and tell you later exactly what it is. It starts out as a good size brown circle that is broken into chunks.  That and the milk go in a pan on high heat until it is pretty much gone. We added a package of coconut and some nuts and cooked it until it would stick together. At the same time Ana had a burner on medium and was running banana leaves over it. I think it was to soften them. She cut them up and the cajeta was put on them. Lots of people helped. They were definitely a big hit. Lunch was Cas and Guayaba juice, chicken and beef rice, tuna pasta salad, a potato chayote dish, another pasta salad and the things we brought. The bread and jelly were saved for with coffee later in the afternoon. It was all so good.

Gerardo brought out dominoes and several members of the family played for hours. John played for most of the time and was finally declared champion and kicked out. Normally you leave when you lose but he never lost.

Marta asked me if I wanted to go outside and we admired the flowers. I realized there was an orchard on the property loaded with lemon and orange trees. I went back and got several sacks I carry and we filled them all up with fruit. Tomorrow I will see if Janet wants them for the senior center on Friday.

On the way home we spent some time enjoying the views from Gerardo's other mountain home.

What a great day spent with a great family. At one point I stood up and put my hand on Sylvia's head and looked at Gerardo and said usted meaning she is yours. Then I matched up all the younger people there with their parents so I could figure out who belonged to whom. Ana had 3 sons there,  Flor had one, Dora had two daughters and Marta had a daughter and either a son or grandson. At least it was a start.

We have 3 or 4 cats entertaining us with a concert tonight and I think we just had an earthquake. Life is definitely exciting in Orosi!

And I stirred and I stirred and I stirred with Marta and Ana's help.

Lots of hands helping. Gerardo and Marta and Debbie.

Marta trying to break one off for me.

So many beautiful flowers.