What I am learning from my farming.

Not everything that comes up is what you planted. 

It is a very good idea not to try and plant seeds when it is windy.

It would really help to know what you are planting looks like when it comes up.

I see why they have schools for farmers. 

I think Gerardo said he would give it 8 more days and then we will rake it all under and start over. I may be wrong. We will see. I have 8 days before I leave. The new stuff I planted is coming up and something is getting big. I think peppers. The flowers are coming along also. I think it helps they are shaded by the wall behind them. I have a new little hydrangea on one of my plants.

It is a beautiful sun shiny day in Orosi. The sky is all blue and I can see all the mountain tops around. I just may go to the pools tomorrow. Wednesday I will need to bake something to take to the craft meeting on Thursday. I think this time I will work on a crocheted hat. I found a use for the scraps I cut off when making the potholders. Emelio's mother took them for appliqué. Heather told me yesterday about one of her great deals at Dig and Save. She got almost 6 yards of white flannel for $2.00. That will work great for projects or the batting in placemats. I have several other things to see if I can get in Oregon.

The cycle is starting over here. There are new bananas on the tree, green guayaba, and flowers on the avocado tree. The cas has fruit also. I love it, not having to wait months and months. I have 2 pineapple tops that have roots. Wait till I show them to Gerardo and see what he says about planting them. This isn't where the pineapples or papaya or mango grow. I saved papaya seeds this morning and will let them dry out and see if they can be planted. I figure it can't hurt to try. If my farm gets so big I will bring farmer friends from Minnesota and North Dakota to help teach me. And locals to teach them. What fun. We may need to use the whole soccer field yet! 

My toddlers.

New babies. This is where I planted squash, peas and cucumbers.

I am hoping some of this is lettuce.

With any luck something is edible.

If you look close in the middle, new guayaba. Yeah, yeah, yeah, more jelly.

New little bananas. They are only 4-5 inches long. I will try and get a picture of the pink bananas Heather saw.

Avocado blossoms.

This has blossomed 3 or 4 times since I got it. Must like it in this pot.

My flower babies. Here I mixed the seeds together so it wouldn't be a structured garden so I will just have to wait and see what is flowers and what is weeds.

Let me tell you what 4000 colones bought today.

As you may remember, Ziomara and her family were planning to come to Orosi today to have pizza in the pizza shop. I hoped they would come to my house also and I wanted to be prepared. I went to the fruit market this morning and bought 2 papaya, 3 mango, a cantaloupe, 3 tomatoes, 4 onions, 3 lemons and 4 oranges. All for 4000 colones, which is less than $8.00. Then on to the super for a pineapple, avocado, chips and salsa more eggs and an assortment of pop. My house was well stocked and I made guacamole and an egg dip. Yesterday I made cranberry bars and cranberry sauce and I had chocolate crinkle cookies. I had promised Douglas a jar of Guayaba jelly and when I gave it to him he said he wasn't going to share. I let Ziomara try the cranberry sauce and she liked it so I gave her a jar of that. I also explained the microwave bowl pot holders and let her pick the one she wanted. She picked the pink flowered one. Off to the pizza shop. She had met Emilio's mother at Thanksgiving so they chatted. Pizza was great and they enjoyed dessert. When I took a plate of it to the counter for Emilio's parents, a customer asked me about it and how much it would be. I got him a piece and a cookie. He is from Germany, visiting here until Wednesday when he goes back to Germany. He even wrote down the word cranberry as he didn't seem familiar with it.

Before we left the shop, Ziomara mentioned to Rosa that she would like to come to the craft group when I do the class on the pot holders. They talked about the yarn shop. Hopefully it will work out well to help the ladies and Ziomara's shop. We then went to the area in front of the church so two of the kids could roller skate. Ziomara's daughter, Maria Jose, is just learning. All in all it was a great day and I have been invited back to their house for a barbecue.

I got a neat email from Heather. She is thinking of coming back in April. We joke that we see each other more often now that I live in Costa Rica than when I lived in Minnesota.

Yesterday Gerardo and I worked on the canopy and tied up the outside wall halfway so the plants would get some sun. I also planted the cilantro. I checked my flowers today and they are definitely growing. It has been raining the last couple nights so I haven't had to water.

I almost have a green house and it took all day

Oscar worked most of the day on my sarong and checked with me each step of the way even though most of the time I didn't know what he was saying. It was a big deal. He had to build the supports and in some cases attach them to concrete or try and bury them in the rock packed dirt. Then he went and  picked up the green fabric at Gerardo's store. I helped him a bit then to get it draped over the roof supports. The fabric still needs some trimming but that will probably wait till Monday as the workday is over and he just let me know he won't be here tomorrow or Sunday.  Since it is nailed down I assume it stays on but I asked when the plants get much bigger if the sides can be thrown over the top and he said yes. It should work great also to keep the birds from eating the vegetables. I am hopeful there will be a crop. I still have cilantro to plant. Gerardo gave me seeds. I assume Gerardo will bring me a bill as I haven't seen anything yet. These may end up being the most expensive vegetables in the world.

Oscar and his equipment. The barrel is instead of a short ladder.

Oscar working hard.

The green fabric up close. It will make it cooler to work in there.

The things I have done this week!

Sunday the kids went to the beach, Monday was Tia's birthday party, I made 4 microwave bowl pot holders and a placemat, washed all my curtains and windows, had a massage, went to the Thursday afternoon craft group in Paraiso and talked to Gerardo about adding a canopy over my garden. Wednesday the kids flew home from Liberia and we are all hoping we will be spending this Christmas here in Orosi together.

I think Gerardo is concerned I might be a poor gardner. I asked if I needed a canopy over my garden and he said yes. It is a sheet of fabric with holes to let in some sun and water but it protects the little plants from the severe sun. He figured out I need a piece 8 meters long and 4 meters wide. I asked where I would get it and he grinned and said la colonial, which is of course his store. He brought me a bottle of liquid fertilizer and showed me I use a capful in a liter of water. They don't use any chemicals here in la Quinta so I can be sure it is safe. He said Oscar would be here today to put it up. I am not sure if I am supposed to go get it or he is bringing it but I should know soon. Oscar is here and trimming the bamboo behind - or as they might say, in front of - the garden area. I will definitely post pictures. It is called a sarong or something that sounds like that. I will need to learn how long it stays up - just while the plants are little or the whole growing season. You do see them all over here. 

Heather brought me a small bottle of magnesium oil and Otto used it for part of my massage yesterday and it really works good. I am definitely getting the flakes when I am in Oregon to bring back and make my own. It is just the flakes and water.

Now the craft group. They are some very talented women who meet every Thursday at 2:30. There are about 20 ladies but maybe only 6-10 come and some spend an hour, some all afternoon. They bring something to share and have coffee and treats. Emilio had drawn me a map so I didn't have any trouble finding the house they rent. There is a big table and storage to keep all their projects in the main room. Some of the ladies sell what they make but most of them make it for their own use or gifts. Each one is working on something different and they also share their knowledge. One lady was helping another with a crochet stitch. They do crochet with the tiny needles and fine thread. Not like me with the big hooks and yarn. I worked on a dreamcatcher and brought the 3 pot holders. I gave Rosita, Emilio's mother, first choice and while we took a break I passed out papers and pencil for everyone to write their names. I put them in a bag and drew 2 names and gave the other 2 away.

Communicating was a bit of a problem. You know my Spanish! When I got there I explained I was Rosita's friend and they knew I was from Orosi. When she got there she called Emilio and put him on speaker and he translated for us. Then later in the day he stopped in and helped. One of the ladies is a Spanish teacher so I was really careful when I opened my mouth. They asked if I would help them with English and they all went away knowing the word cotton. We were talking about the pot holders and how everything had to be cotton. When I get back from Oregon and bring more batting and cotton thread I am going to do a class and show them how to make them. They insist on paying for the supplies so I can put together kits. I have lots of fabric already cut out but they may want to bring their own, as long as it is all cotton.

I need to make another potholder for Ziomara. Hopefully her family is coming on Sunday and we will go for pizza. I have a jar of guayaba jelly for her husband - he is a big fan.

I did make a double batch of the Chocolate Crinkle cookies Wednesday and took them with me to the craft group. They were a hit and Emilio and his mother started talking about some of the things I have cooked including the Thanksgiving dinner. I ended up telling them how I cooked the sweet potatoes because they loved them and it was so different from how they usually prepare them. I love it!

The clouds are very low today. If I was a little higher up the mountains I would definitely have clouds going thru my house. It is the first day this week that it hasn't been hot and sun shiny. It is also very still, no breeze. Last night I was hearing about high winds on both coasts but so far, not here.

Whatever they are, they are growing. I have also planted some peas, carrots, squash and cucumbers. We think these are peppers.

If you look close you can see a cosmos. I love cosmos. I wonder if the bigger ones are the morning glory. I pretty much never started from seeds before. Just seedlings.

John, look how big your tomatoes are!

Isn't this gorgeous!

I asked how long it took and she said she does one area each evening.

She won one of the pot holders and thought it made a lovely hat.

These are the 3 I brought.

Today was Tia's birthday party.

When I went to Tia's house this morning to tell Rosa or Gerardo that Heather - or Heidi and Kent had left and wouldn't be coming back, he invited me to coffee at 3:00 for Tia's birthday. I decided to make her gift so I made a placemat and a microwave bowl pot holder. I have fabric and batting and cotton thread. I also made a gift bag from fabric to put them in. 

It turned out it was being held in the living area of the little apt and when I went over Rosa was busy making tortillas. I went home and got the plate of cookies I had forgotten. There was also sweet bread. Cheese and sour cream. Coffee with French vanilla creamer and sugar. Dora and Marta and Flors and Gerardo and a friend of the family, Johana. Either they had told Tia it was tomorrow to surprise her or tomorrow is her actual birthday. I am not sure which.

When Tia opened her gift, I explained to everyone, with a demonstration, what the potholder was for.

I also used my translate program to let Gerardo know I now have 2 sewing machines and lots of fabric and I would be happy to show someone how to sew. Johana was very interested. I brought the fabric and batting over and showed it to her and she picked out a bright fabric with silly birds or chickens for hers. I will make it tomorrow.

I would like to teach a few women how to use the machines and they can come here and sew. If necessary I will bring more batting from my trip to Oregon. I can't just buy it here because it has to be all cotton for the pot holders. I will also need to get more cotton thread as I only brought a little of mine. I can get the rest when I go to Heather's in June.

It was a beautiful day in Orosi today. Very quiet in La Quinta. Tomorrow I will make another batch of Chocolate Crinkle Cookies as they are very popular and easy to freeze.

I have been invited to a craft ladies gathering on Thursday at 2:30 in Paraiso. Emilio's mother, Rosita, invited me. I will bring a crochet hook and some yarn and work on a hat. Each person brings something for coffee and whatever project they are working on. Should be fun.

I learned today that the lady from Denver took a big stock of garlic back with her but it was taken away so if you come to Costa Rica, don't try and load up on garlic to take home.

We don't have much fruit on the trees here in La Quinta right now but after coffee Tia brought me 4. I am not sure if they are limon dulce or plain limon or what. I will find out when I cut into them. She kept mentioning Gerardo so they may be from his mountain home. Did I tell you he is turning the one with many bedrooms into a bed and breakfast?

My kids have left.

I hate to say anything bad about Paradise but the weather has been bad the last week. Raining a lot even though the rainy season is supposed to be over and cold for here. So, Heather made arrangements and this morning we took them to the domestic airport next to the international airport for the flight to the Liberia airport and a 3 night stay on the beach. It will be hot and dry there. They are returning to a resort they stayed at and loved last January. They were able to change their Southwest tickets so they are flying home from Liberia.

It is very hot today but rain is forecast again Tuesday. I am alone. The Canadians are in Nicaragua, Heather and Kent are in Guanacaste and the lady from Denver seems to have left. It is very quiet at La Quinta.

It is here!

Heather received an email from the man at Southwest saying the missing suitcase had arrived on the Tuesday evening flight. She gave him my telephone number and said it would be delivered yesterday.  I went over the directions and address, such as it is. About 4:00 or 4:30 I got a call and all I understood was Southwest and no English. I went and got Kent, who is doing very well with his Spanish and we called the man back and I could hear talk about La Anita - which is the Super. The man said he would call back when he was by the Super. To cover all bases I stayed in front of La Quinta and Kent took the phone and went in front of the Super. He came and checked with me twice and finally called the man back. Turns out he had just left the airport and it would be a couple hours. We went in, had dinner and were playing a game of Quiddler - Heather won - when my phone rang. It was him and he wanted to know what to do. He was in front of the back door of the Super but no one was there. We went out and got the bag and he was on his way.

It was like Christmas because I forgot what was packed and got to go thru everything and be surprised. Nothing broke in this bag either soI was very happy. 

Yesterday was a warm, beautiful day. Today, not so much. It was forecast that a cold front was coming thru today. I hope it is a short one. We were going to the pools today but will do something else. Kent is off walking around town already this morning. Tuesday evening they went to Rabbit's for casados and the lady remembered Heather and enjoyed talking with Kent in Spanish. They also went to the convenience store and the man remembered her. I love that. It makes you feel like a part of the place, like you belong.

I have mentioned off and on about my sciatica problems. Heather brought me a small bottle of Magnesium Oil and it is amazing how it helps. I have used it a couple times and the pain goes away for hours. The literature suggests using it as a massage oil. I think I am going to get a gallon when I go to Oregon in March. Or, I will get the flakes and make my own using distilled water. Recipe seems quite easy. Apparently using it topically is so much better than orally. 

I have been checking on my babies everyday. Nothing super exciting going on although John's tomatoes seem to like my porch and are growing like mad. I now have cucumber and peas and 2 kinds of squash and carrots to plant. I need a bigger garden. The lettuce I will save for when I need it. 

They are here.

And, 3 of my 4 suitcases arrived also. Southwest has no idea where the 4th one is. There was a problem with the printer and first they had 16 baggage tags and then new ones but we have no idea if the new one ever got on the bag. They also started out with 4 boarding passes in Kent's name and security wanted to know if they both had the same name. We also have no idea what is in the missing bag. Remember I packed them back in December. I have the mattress topper and the sewing machine but the rest will have to wait until tomorrow. Because of the missing bag it took them over an hour to come out. It is now 2:15am. I have a feeling we will be sleeping quite late tomorrow.

But, wait till you hear about my present! A pound of bacon! I will have to use it very sparingly. They also brought Jose several boxes of chocolate. We are both happy campers. I have come across several bags of chocolate chips and 3 1/2 pounds of butter.

I am on pins and needles.

I got an email from Kent this morning suggesting they were cursed. They got to the Chicago Midway airport really early and were told the flight out would be late because the aircraft coming in from Atlanta was delayed. They only had 55 minutes in Houston to start with and now they were down to 25. There was a flight leaving about an hour earlier than theirs but it made a stop and got in at 7:00 giving them 50 minutes. About the time they decided to check on changing, their flight was put back to scheduled time. They did talk with the agent and were told they would make the Houston connection. What do you think the chances are that all 4 suitcases they are bringing to me will make it also! At least they have all their things in their carry ons. Jose isn't picking me up until 9:45 so we will have plenty of time to know if they are operating on schedule. The upstairs apartment is all stocked and ready for them to climb into bed. I am also bringing a blanket and pillow for Heather for the ride back. As well as snacks and beverages. Keep your fingers crossed

It is a beautiful day in Orosi, a sad day and a happy day.

I got up and got dressed and was at Debbie and John's apartment about 6:30 this morning. They planned to leave at 7:00 with all their luggage. I had suggested they try putting the toaster oven in their luggage, filled with things in plastic bags. At first she didn't think it would fit but they were able to work it in. They will end up leaving it in Nicaragua but at least they will have it to use the next couple months. I told them I have stayed in places where the staff line up to bid guests goodbye and I was the line up. I waved them off till they went out of sight. It is the 7:15 bus to Cartago and a few block walk to the train station then the train to San Jose. They are staying the night in San Jose tonight then heading to San Juan del Sur tomorrow morning. They had to go so early because the train only operates early morning to San Jose and late coming back. It is mainly for commuters. They will be missed here.

It is a beautiful day here. Sun shining and clear blue sky. It will be a busy day getting the apartment ready for Heather and Kent. Bread is already mixed and rising. I need to make a trip to the super for a few things and I need to make another batch of chocolate coconut balls. The batch I made yesterday is almost gone. I gave John and Debbie a box, Emilio a box and took them with me last night when we went to dinner. We went to the upstairs hamburger place. John and Debbie love their chicken and they were out of fish so I finally tried a hamburger. It was good. A pre made hamburger patty, lettuce, tomato, ham, mayonnaise and catsup. The fries are really good and I like the guanabana drink. The owner really liked the chocolates and didn't hesitate when I offered him a second one.

We stopped on the way and Emilio gave me my Valentine's Day gift. He bought me a visor so I didn't have to carry a hat with me all the time. So nice.

Babies are all doing fine and some are actually getting quite big. They are in the area where I have the chilies marker but Ana doesn't think they are chilies so I don't know what is coming up. I have moved the pot of tomatoes from upstairs to my porch. I think they will get more sun here.

Life goes on here in Orosi!

Doing really great. Cut cherry tomatoes in half and laid them on the dirt.

Mystery babies but look how big they are.

Flower babies.

I didn't plant them but aren't they beautiful!

My most recent hydrangea is doing really great.

The sun is shining!

Here is proof. Winter must be over. There was actually snow on Irazu volcano. I have a video to prove it. Now that is a strange one for Costa Rica! 

Yolanda and I spent the day at the pools. Debbie said she couldn't go and now I know why. They will be leaving here Monday morning to go to San Jose and Tuesday morning they leave for their stay in Nicaragua. They planned to leave later in the month but there was some confusion with their shuttle/bus tickets so they will be leaving earlier to make sure they have seats. It will be very different without them here. No more games of Quiddler every night. I think Yolanda is leaving Monday also so it will just be Heather and Kent and I.

It was so nice to have a sunny day for a change. I hope it sticks around. I am sure my babies liked it.

Kent likes bananas

I am ready for their visit.

I can see my babies from my porch!

The flowers are getting tall enough I can see them from the porch. For the back, the tall ones, I mixed sunflower, hollyhocks, cosmos and morning glory to climb up the wall. Next I have a wildflower/hummingbird mix, periwinkle mix, poppies and malva. In the front area I have Johnny jump ups, forget me nots, baby blue eyes and buffalo eyes. I don't know if all or some of them will grow here. We'll see!

Now about the weather! It has been raining pretty much all week, as well as being cool. People are blaming it on El Niño. Even during the rainy season it usually only rains part of the day. Not this week. Ana says it is great for my garden but the garden and I are ready for sun and heat. Ana said sun on Sunday. Poor Yolanda came for time in the pools and she hasn't been able to go even once. I know, I shouldn't be complaining about weather in paradise. To tell the truth I like it because it gives me variety, a feel of seasons. I would not like everyday the same.

We have been having soup lately. Today I am making a Pepper Pot soup and biscuits. I started biscuits yesterday but ran out of propane so instead I made a refried bean and salsa and cheese dip and took that and chips to John and Debbie's. She made an Arcadian dish of chicken, potatoes and vegetables in the crockpot and a fruit salad. It was great for a cool day.

It took the longest time for the bananas John cut off for me to start turning yellow, but they have and they are the best bananas. I have trouble with some of the bananas here having a hard strip in the center. Not these. I may not have enough left to make another batch of banana bread because I have eaten them all. I should maybe try making banana pudding.

Today is massage day. I love being able to get one every two weeks, and being able to have it right here in my home. I only have to go open the gate for Otto.

It's Thursday and Monday Kent and Heather get here. It is his first visit to this area and you know Heather loved it. Hopefully the weather will be better and we can get out and do things.

I know, I know, you have to look really close to the left of the big plant, but I can see them.

Wait till you see the pictures!

My babies are becoming toddlers! And, I have things coming up in the flower bed also. I don't know what it is but they look like butterfly wings. 

We were going to the pools today but not sure that will happen. It is raining - which is good for the babies - and cool and overcast. Things can change quickly here so who knows. I think John and Debbie are off on an excursion. They were going to take the bus to Cartago and then the train to San Jose. It only operates into the city in the morning and back late in the day. There are so many different climates in this little country that it may be nice in San Jose even though it isn't here. For people who are coming for a short stay, this coolness is probably frustrating. For me, I love it. It gives variety. The Ticos say the weather is changing. It is getting hotter and cooler than it used to get. 

The work on the new apt. is not happening so far this week. All is quiet. My brother Gerry and his wife Donna have been gathering things for me to bring back from my visit to Oregon in March. They are such good kids! They picked up 2 suitcases from a thrift shop, doing like Heather and carefully checking the wheels and zippers. I gave them a list of things that would be good to give away so one suitcase will have that in it. The latest items were a football for the worker here and wicker paper plate holders for Ziomara. Kids tee shirts and little toys and paper and pens and pencils were other things I mentioned. The other bag will have my hammock hanging kit and the things I want or need like butter and Da Vinci flavored syrup, sugar free. I love the hazelnut and I can't get that anywhere around here. With a lot of things it isn't that you can't get it here. It is just that it might only be available in San Jose and it is very expensive. I think I will ask to have bacon everyday while I am there. The bacon here is not cured - more like salt pork and I don't like it. I do miss good bacon. Nuts are very pricey here also. Heather gave me a big Costco size bag of pecans and I am almost out so I will get more. Chocolate chips are very hard to find also. Heather is bringing a bunch in the luggage she is bringing on Monday. As well as butter - I am out - and coconut. 

In the luggage coming on Monday is my cast iron frypan. I can't wait to see if my English Toffee turns out here.

I saw a guayaba on the ground yesterday. Maybe we are having another crop so I can make more jelly!

I give away most of what I make. Even the locals tell me it is very good. I just do what Marta taught me.

I have been playing travel agent this week, putting together a trip from Montreal to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Part is by train and part is by car. I think it will be great. It was a little tricky to coordinate it all since the train only operates 3 days a week and they wanted 2 night stays in each area they stopped. Got it done! Just have the cars to book.

The flower patch and my butterfly wings babies.

The lettuce.

I think this is what Debbie thought were beans so we will see.

See how big the babies are!

This is the dill patch but something else moved in!

I had a delightful day!

Mass at 10:00am and already the Main Street by the school was blocked off. Today is Election Day for local government offices. Their term is 4 years and in 2 years will be the presidential elections. Voting is in the schools and outside are the candidates and vendors and maybe music. Traffic was rerouted here in Orosi. I came home after Mass and picked up my loaf of bread and headed for the bus stop a block away. Because of the detour, the bus came right past La Quinta and continued on our street for a few blocks before heading back to the Main Street. After church some people asked me if Los Banos were up the street past the church. That is the pools in town and I was able to tell them no and head them in the right direction.

In Cartago I walked the block to the church operated by Franciscan monks. As I went in there was a monk blessing people and sprinkling them with holy water so I said me too. I've been blessed! I sat in the church for a little while and then waited in front for Ziomara. She and her daughter were right on time and we headed to her house, which is lovely. I met her husband and his 2 daughters and son. A lovely family. He owns the house next door so they spend their time between the two houses. I told Ziomara her house is not a normal one because it has lots of cabinets in the kitchen and storage areas. Lunch was salad, rice, a mixture of lentils and beans and bacon, broccoli, mushrooms and chicken. Dessert was chocolate cake and I brought a loaf of Papaya Raisin bread. When she tried it she asked if the raisins were soaked in alcohol and I said yes. The recipe says to soak them in rum for a half hour but they had been soaking for two weeks. She said she was going to keep the bread for herself.

After we ate we took a drive to their church where Mass had just started. It is a lovely church, very light and open. Next we walked across the street to the school for her to vote. It was very organized with a list of names outside each room. You find your name and that is the room you vote in. It only took a few minutes.

Back to the house for more talking and then they took me back to the bus. I was told I was welcome back anytime. Ziomara explained to me how much her husband likes my guayaba jelly. She said they were having it with bread and he took a little taste, then a bigger taste, then a really big taste. She said it is different from other guayaba jelly they have had and delicious. I need to bring her more.

When I got home I stopped to chat with John and Debbie and Debbie said "you have a bean about this tall - she motioned about 4 inches." I said that is interesting since I didn't plant any beans. It was dark by then so I can't wait till tomorrow to see it. I did see several little shoots in the flower bed this morning. The area of dill has tons of little spikes coming up. I am preparing myself for thinning time.

In case you are wondering how the 3:30 trip yesterday went, we didn't go. It was dark in the little apartment with no signs of life till about 8:00 last night so I think they slept through till then. They were very tired, having flown all night.

Tuesday is pool day and Thursday is massage. A good week.

Old friends are back

Today is change over day. Angela just left and the lady from Denver and her daughter arrived. The daughter is a flight attendant and will leave on Monday. Her mother will stay for a week. She is the one who first took me to the pools and her daughter and Gerardo first took me to the pharmacy for my sciatica problem. It is fun to have them back.

People here do a prayer and music service when they put the manger set away for the year. That is what went on at the senior center yesterday. Today I have been invited to one at their nephews house. They told me 3:30 and Ana joked that to me 3:30 means 3:30 not 5:00 as it does in Costa Rica. 

Yesterday at the senior center Janet brought me up front and told everyone I have no idea what. I just kept saying Si but I have no idea what I agreed to do. I asked Emilio last night to please call her so I know what is going on.

On the way to the Pizza Shop last night Debbie joked that I am the only person she knows who brings food to a restaurant. I made a pan of Cranberry Nut Bars and brought them along. They were very good and I came home with less than half a pan left. Pizza and garlic sticks were great and I won 2 games of Quiddler.

This morning is bread making to take to Ziomara's tomorrow. It was cool this morning but now is sun shiny and beautiful.

Life is good! I am so blessed with the people who are a part of my life and the adventure I am living!

How am I ever going to bring myself to thin out my babies!

This is a picture of my lettuce bed which is in a big pot in the vegetable garden. Can't possibly all be weeds! I checked the flower garden but not much sign of life yet. I only planted it Monday so maybe tomorrow. The second picture is something growing in the onion area but it is the only one so probably a weed. Such a farmer I am!

I guess there are more little ones if you look close.

I have babies!

I am so excited! Now I can't be sure they aren't all weeds but I am hopeful.

There is one by the big rock.

I had a totally delightful day.

I left here alone at 9:45 this morning for Paraiso and went right to the square and the church. Mass was scheduled for 10:00am and it was a little after but things were running a little late. The church was packed so I stood in the back and watched all the priests and police walk in. I then went and sat in the square to wait for Emiliio who was running a little late. A man came up to me and wanted to practice his English. He showed me all the words he had written in Spanish and English and we traded words until Emilio got there. A little later we joined Emilio's parents and another couple waiting for the ending. Another man came to speak English with me. 

As it turned out there weren't any guns firing but there were lots of noise fireworks and at the same time the church bells ringing. Lunch was being served next to the church and music and characters in costumes dancing. Lunch was great and afterwards I went home with Emilio and his mother. She continued to feed me with Cas ice cream and a Cas drink and homemade cookies. It was all great. At the gift shop by the church I bought a loaf of bread made by monks at the monastery in Paraiso. We tried it and the taste is really good but it falls apart so I couldn't toast it when I got home.

Emelio took off for his Tuesday evening class and Rosa and I came back to Orosi on the bus which was jam packed. I had just enough time to water the flowers and vegetables before it got dark. No sign of life in either garden yet.

This church is different than most of the others I have been in here.

A little formation work after Mass.

The virgin that is the patron.

Where the virgin is usually kept.

The masked and costumed dancers.

I know what it is like to spit into the wind.

You may remember the area of greenery along the soccer field that came loose and fell down. Well, Oscar has cleared that all away and there is a big patch of dirt so today I decided it would be a great spot to plant flowers. And, I have lots of packets of seeds. First I had to loosen up the dirt which took me a couple hours with my little trowel. They have a pick like thing that Oscar uses but I am not up to that. There are a lot of big roots from the climbing green stuff. If it was little I pulled it out. If it was big I just dug around it. When I was done digging, I raked a layer of dirt and rocks to the edge and decided to water it good. That is when the fun started. I took the hose from my house to the sink at the soccer field. It reached partway across and since there is no sprayer you use your finger or thumb over the spray to get it to go farther. The sink is to the right of where I was digging so that determined where I had to stand. There is a pretty good breeze today and it was blowing towards me. Yup, you got it! I got drenched. I let the wet ground set, had lunch and went back to plant. We picked tall, medium and short flowers and mixed all the tall ones together, all the medium together then all the short ones. After I spread the seeds I raked the dirt over them that I had raked to the front. You got it, now I have to water the whole thing again really good. Soaked again from head to toe. Now I will have to move the hose to the laundry sink and water my vegetable garden, then move it to my house to water all my flowers. Why didn't I start this during the rainy season! I think I may need to invest in some hoses.

This morning about 7:00 I heard a lot of noise involving the barrel that I had only heard once before. Sure enough, Costa Rica has one less zorro. They are really ugly!

Tomorrow morning we are going to Paraiso to the Central Park in front of the church for a celebration of the Mary that is the Patron Saint of the military. They don't have a military here but the police will be doing a gun salute. You rarely see weapons so it should be interesting.

Last night the power went off just as we were finishing dinner so we sat out on the balcony with a candle and flashlight. It was really beautiful to see the lights on the mountains and everything else closer was dark. It lasted maybe an hour and then everything came back on.

Speaking of dinner, I suggested kabobs. I got chicken, beef and pork, boiled some little potatoes to add to the skewers, cut up palmetto, pineapple, peppers and onion. I marinated the meat and put the skewers together and John took it from there and cooked them on the grill. They were very good and I have enough of the meat for a couple more meals. I will divide it up and freeze it.

Speaking of the meat, there is a meat market at the other grocery store. It is where I got the sausage for the dressing at Thanksgiving. The Super didn't have much to pick from so I went down the street. The guys there are so nice and got someone who spoke English to help me. They even deboned and cut up chicken breast for me so it would be thick like the beef and pork. By the time I left they were all saying words in English and they told me the cashier loved my purse. You know Heather, the one with all the scarf pieces hanging on the outside.

Two weeks from today! John and Debbie went to the lookout the other day and we think it will be a great spot to take Heather and Kent for a picnic.

My new flower patch.

So full and heavy it broke off. I have a bunch and John and Debbie have a bunch besides all of these.

I found this in my vegetable garden today but since it has only been 2 days, it must be a weed.

The area where the new flower garden will be.