A little of Holy Week.

Sunday morning about 1:15am I received a video from Emilio. It was by the church in Paraiso. It was the procession of the risen Christ. I must say they were really clipping along. Ours here in Orosi was about 4:00am. Now that Holy Week is over everything has been quiet and back to normal. No cannons going off during the night. I have tried to upload it here but it isn't working. If I figure out a way I will do it later.

I have a new project that sent Heather on a mission to Dig and Save. Ziomara asked if I knew how to make bows and I told her if I could find directions I could do it. For the Christmas season she would like to decorate the shop and have available for sale big bows. Well, I found some tutorials and tried a couple and came up with these. I only have a limited amount of wired ribbon to work with so that is why Heather is hunting. I think they turned out pretty good. Donna gave me the gold mesh to use on my suitcase and that works great. I also pulled out a bunch of low socks that I want to try making bunnies so I can show them to Janet. That would make 2 craft classes. I also love the heart and we all know I have access to lots of branches.

The lady from Denver is back for the week so we will see if tomorrow is a pool day. Yesterday and today were cool and overcast.

Thursday is Ziomara's birthday. She plans on coming here for a massage in May so I am going to give her a coupon for her massage as a birthday gift. She also really liked the color of one of my skeins of yarn so I will put the two things together.

A good Monday in Orosi.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Heather

I have a great, generous daughter. And, I know this didn't come from Dig and Save! I cooked up the whole pound of bacon in the electric frypan. I watched it very close because I didn't want to talk a chance of ruining any. I even saved the tiny pieces - there is a pile of them in the pan. I also saved the bacon grease in a glass jar for another time, or many other times. I used my homemade cinnamon bread and a tiny bit of coconut oil to make the French toast. Debbie told me I had to use enough maple syrup to run the bacon thru the syrup. As you can see I did just that and really pigged out for breakfast.

Happy Easter to all. Only thing better would be ham for dinner. Chicken will have to do.

I know, what is going on. 3 posts in one day!

But I couldn't wait to show you. You have to look close, there are two, not one. I may have tomatoes!

Yup, that's right, I did it!

What better way to celebrate Easter than with having bacon! No, I am not going to eat the whole package. I am going to cook the whole package and keep some in the freezer. That is just as bad because I can eat it any time. It will be easy to add a little now and then.

Gerardo likes my new clippers. I bought a pair with titanium blades when I was in Oregon. He is here trimming the avocado tree and asked to borrow clippers. I handed him those and he went oh, titanium.

I have done laundry, cleaned up all my dishes and made bread.

For the most part sandwiches aren't offered here. I love sandwiches. It has been said that a Plante (my maiden name) will eat anything if you put it between two slices of bread. Maybe not quite true - I don't know that Dennis would eat peas even that way, but close. Mom's idea of a sandwich was one thin slice of meat and maybe lettuce and mayonnaise. Mine on the other hand is New York deli. I just had a big hamburger bun with mayonnaise, cucumber slices, tomato slices, avocado, grilled ham, a thin slice of grilled pineapple and grilled onion. Oh my it was good. Now, back to work!

Happy Easter to all of you.

I have been hearing drums!

The last several days. Early in the morning and late at night. I know, you are thinking why don't you just go see what is happening. Well, at 5:00am it isn't going to happen and at 10:00pm I am pretty much all tucked in. Yesterday I saw what was going on. Dressed as Romans the procession of Jesus and the Passion was happening all over towns. I saw it again in Paraiso from the bus. Streets are closed for it. The one I saw was right in front of Katherine's hotel and on to Main Street so I knew the bus would have to change it's route. I walked up to the bus stop by the gas station and there were several people waiting so I figured I had the time right. I was concerned it would be full since there were so few operating on Friday and it would be better getting on there than by the appliance store. Sure enough, they stopped there and then turned and headed down my street. They don't usually take it because there are speed bumps. It wasn't very full so I didn't have a problem with my big purse and my duffle bag. My red bag wasn't quite big enough for my cake pan size carrier. I walked over to the church and although it wasn't open, I found a spot to sit in the shade and called Ziomara to let her know I was there. It was only about fifteen minutes till she arrived. 

I had a great time at her house. Her mother and father were there and her sister came for lunch. It was a day of no meat so lunch was a potato and vegetable soup with a little fish and the entree was a rice dish with palmetto and cheese that was put together and baked in the oven. Very creamy and good. The treats were a big hit. I started by cutting each item into smaller pieces so they could try everything and then have more of what they really liked. 

Before lunch, Ziomara's daughter, Maria Jose, and I played a game of Quiddler. Halfway through I looked at Ziomara and said "you didn't tell me she is a whiz." I was getting beat really bad. We were using both English and Spanish words. She is only about 9. After lunch 4 of us played. They liked the game enough I left it with them. I have the new one for when I get some new victims. 

After lunch, at 3:00pm we all sat down for prayers with Ziomara and her mother leading them. It wasn't the rosary but was said in rosary fashion.

After prayers we went to visit Douglas's mother and his aunt and took treats and rice to them. Two stories get told. The first one is about Douglas hiding the jar of guayaba jelly in the refrigerator behind everything else so no one will see it and the other is about my lesson to make chiverre and all the hammering. 

Then we  headed for Orosi. We took the new highway which doesn't have near as much traffic but has a short stretch that isn't finished and is gravel. In one field along the road was a large group of people enacting the Passion including the 3 crosses. When we got to Orosi there was a large group outside the church with the same kind of reenactment. From what I understand they also reenact taking Jesus down from the cross. The events of Holy Week are taken very seriously here but not with just sitting in church. All of the groups are dresses in costumes.

Ziomara and Douglas came in for a minute and I packed up the rest of the dessert and gave it to them. The favorite was the pumpkin roll and I was surprised how much everyone liked the lemon curd cookies. The chocolate is always a favorite but it wasn't top of the list. The strawberries held up very well. Douglas had Ziomara translate to me that this Thanksgiving I need to have more chairs. I told him he is invited. A memorable Good Friday.

There were more in blue.

Our game.

I have been strung up.

It has been a busy day with all the treats I decided to make to take to Ziomara's tomorrow. Let me back up a bit. Emilio checked and it turned out there are only 2 buses from here to Cartago at 8:00 and 10:00 and coming back at 9:30 and 11:30. Things really change here today and tomorrow. I sent a message to Ziomara saying I didn't think I could come. Her reply was take the bus to Cartago and I will drive you home. I really wanted to go and be part of the day so I said if you are sure, I will come and call you when I get to Cartago since I am not positive of the times. She said yes. March 31 is her birthday. I will have to find something special. Rosa, Emilio's mother's birthday is this Saturday. I brought some really pretty fabric back with me so I will give it to her. It is the same as the microwave bowl potholder she chose, so I know she will like it.

So, back to my baking. Last night I made homemade lemon curd and this morning I made a batch of lemon coconut macaroon nests (kinda like thumbprint cookies). When I was putting the second tray into the oven, the door refused to shut. I didn't want to break it worse but I couldn't get it to close. Not good timing. I took the pan out and shut the oven off and went outside to talk to Gerardo. I had noticed him working in my garden. He had tied up or braced up anything big enough to need it. He was now transplanting some lettuce to thin out what was in the pot. He came with me and looked the hinges over and left saying uno momento. He came back with a big jug of oil and greased them and the door now works better than ever. I also explained I had 2 pineapple tops with roots and asked where I could plant them. He showed me a spot along the soccer field by the orange and sweet lemon tree that he thought would work good. It is amazing between English and Spanish and sign language how much we can communicate.

Back to the baking. The second batch was plain coconut macaroon nests with either chocolate or Nutella filling. On top is a chocolate dipped strawberry with a drizzle of white chocolate. Last was the Pumpkin Roll with a pecan and cream cheese filling. Tomorrow morning I will sprinkle it with powdered sugar and slice it.

Although I try and wash dishes as I go, I do have a mess to clean up. I am glad I have the baking done. I think I will make a bunch of ice so I can put a layer under the goodies for the trip to Cartago.

The tomato patch

Squash

Not sure what this one is for but I will probably need it.

By the way, I am seeing little cosmos plants in the flower bed so I think they survived the mowing.

What I have been up to

My two fans have been wondering what I have been up to the last several days so I will start back on Thursday. Otto was here for my massage Thursday morning - it was great- and I left here for the 2:15pm bus to Paraiso, loaded down with all the goodies from Oregon and chocolate for coffee time. The ladies were so excited when I started unpacking things from the red bag. It was so fun to hear the oohs and aahs which told me I had made some good choices. The lady in charge, Rosa, asked about prices and I got out my book where I had carefully listed each item, the price in US dollars and the conversion to colones. I had used a conversion program to make sure I had correct amounts. We had a little trouble when I tried to explain that the big spool of thread was less than the little spool because I got it at buy one get one free. I was able to explain that the little packages of patterns had a price but all the books and torn out patterns were free. Donna and I went through her craft room and sorted through her books. We didn't send many books because of the weight but tore out the patterns. A lot of them were from her woodworking days but I figured the ladies could use them to trace for embroidery or even appliqué. When it came to the fabric, the flower squares and the Santa squares seemed to be the most popular. So, now we get down to pricing. Rosa used tape to attach prices to everything and in every case she upped the price a little so I would make a little money. She also came up with some creative dividing. The Santa fabric was $6.50 for a yard. There were 10 rows of squares so she cut it into rows and sold them for 600 colones. Times 10 that is 6000 or about $12.00. Same idea with the flower squares but there were 18 of them because I bought 2 yards. They spent a lot of time going thru the patterns and seemed to like the crochet thread and the quilting thread. I left everything with them and Rosa will collect the money. I didn't bring the batting because I couldn't carry everything so next time.

Friday Katherine and her girls came over. I had brought hot chile seeds for Katherine and Donna gave me bubbles and bubble blowers and a bubble gun that I gave to the girls. Courtney wanted to open her's and load her gun but we convinced her to wait until she got home.

Saturday was laundry and off to Cartago to see Ziomara. I had a bag of items for her and a big bag of wicker plate holders from Gerry and Donna and John and Sandy. She was thrilled. I had also bought some yarn to give her company names and a kit to make a child's hat. I took a few of my skeins of yarn along explaining that I had one skein of a lot of different yarns and if she wanted to have a bargain basket I would sell them to her for $1.00 each. She bought almost everything I had with me and said she will talk with her partner. She sells some quilting fabric and said if I want to do a consignment type of thing on fabric we can do that. From the bus window I saw a yard stacked with chiverre which is a Holy Week treat. That was what Vera was teaching me how to make.

Starting Saturday there have been parades and cannon type notice going off as Holy Week is starting. Sunday morning I went to church but I have to explain. There is the old church I always go to, then the museum, then the new church. It is being completed as they have the money. The outside is complete but not the inside. There are only chairs and never enough. It is very large. I don't so much like the new church. When there is a big event it is in the new church and Holy Week is a very big deal here. Thursday and Friday a lot of places will be closed. Anyway, mass was in the new church and I spent an hour in the old church. I have my missal book so I read that and God and I talked. I assume all the Easter services will be in the new church also.

Ziomara invited me to lunch on Friday at her house. I will be able to meet her parents. I am bringing the Pumpkin Log that I made for Thanksgiving and maybe something chocolate. The buses operate on a different schedule during Holy Week so Emilio is checking the times for me so I can meet Ziomara about 1:00pm. 

That brings me to today. Donna had picked up black upholstery thread so I could repair my chair on the front porch. I did that and made magnesium oil for Ziomara and myself and did a little gardening. I see a couple cosmos so I think the mowed down ones are coming back.

I have to tell you about my crown of thorns. When I lived in Oregon I had a bunch and I would even break off small pieces and sell them at The Grotto as a fund raiser.  Heather found them a couple places here, along the sidewalk, but they are quite big. It would be hard to just break one off. They have wicked thorns. I have been told if it is out in the open it is ok to take a piece. Not so if it is inside the fence. So, as I was walking to the bus Saturday the owner was out caring for his flowers. I said beautiful and pointed to the crown of thorns. He said you like and proceeded to find a smaller shoot and broke it off. He bent back the thorns and handed it to me. I put it in my sunglasses case so I wouldn't get poked and dug out my container of chocolate. I gave him one and said thank you. It is now in with all my other cactus.

Tomorrow I will go to the hardware and appliance stores with chocolate as I haven't been there in a while. I also want to track down Janet and bring her here and show her the sewing machines and fabric. I am still looking for someone to teach.

In case I don't write more this week, Happy Easter to all - or both - of you.

My (John's) tomatoes are big enough they needed bracing so I used the bamboo dreamcatcher frames.

The cactus we saved have flowers. The leafy one is my crown of thorns.

More cactus babies.

It has been a year!

I started writing this a couple weeks ago so I would have it ready to post today. It was a good thing as I have been quite busy since I came back.

March 17, 2015

This is the day I first arrived in Costa Rica. A year ago and what a year it has been. One that I will never forget, no matter how long I live or how long I am here. Who could have imagined my first year of retirement would be such an adventure. During my first month I met John and Debbie who became friends and who continue to be part of my life. On my first day back in Orosi in May I met Katherine and her kids. On my first full day in Orosi I met Jose and Gerardo and on my second full day I met Ana and Tia. They are all still very important people in my life and now, so many more. It took a little longer for me to meet Ziomara and Johana at the yarn shop in Cartago, Emilio and his mother and father at the pizza shop, all my cookie loving friends at the Super, Dora and Marta and Flors and Janet and Dona Alicia and Dona Rosa and Otto and the lady who runs Rabbits and Oscar.  

People who have been so kind to me and will be in my heart the rest of my life. As much as I like to travel and to begin new places, I could never have imagined the last year being possible. I just realized I now have people in three towns in Costa Rica greeting me with a kiss on the cheek and asking how I am. I love it especially since I still speak so little of the language here. Emilio said today “you speak with your food.” It does describe well what I do, how I live. I took treats to the guys in the back room of the Super today and one of the owners was there. He knows quite a bit of English and he said “you make the best food. God Bless You.” I really couldn’t ask for more.

The longer I am here the more I want to do to help in whatever way I can. I could not have chosen a happier, better place to live. Pura Vida and thanks to all the Ticos and Ticas who have made me feel so welcome.

I wonder what exciting things the year ahead will bring. I see Heather more often than I did when I lived in Minnesota and she lived in Wisconsin. She also has come to love Orosi and the people here. She will be back in April for her third visit. I do hope to visit more areas of Costa Rica during the coming year. I haven’t bought dishes yet because I am waiting for the right happy dishes. I need to look for them. Maybe Sarchi. 

There are people who don’t understand how I could turn my back on life in the United States. It isn’t that I have done that. It is just that I have moved forward to something that fits me better. I can’t say this will be the last place I live. I can say, for now, it is where I am the happiest.

I am home!

This may take a while. Thank you to Gerry and Donna. I could not have asked for more or a better time in Oregon. Thank you to everyone who helped fill my suitcases, and for providing the suitcases. We had a great time at our party on Saturday. Lots of laughing and story telling. Lots of good food and I even had some Dungeness Crab. I love Dungeness Crab! Also came back with a couple packages of  Chocolate Covered Hazelnuts. And, I found my friend, Jean. She was very happy to see us and then I left my iPad and we went back again the next day for another visit.

Donna and I spent a lot of time at fabric and craft stores. She has done woodworking for years and is just new into sewing and quilting. She was happy to have someone around who has done it for years. Gerry just kept shaking his head saying your budget, your budget. We just grinned. First she said she wasn't buying anything unless it was for a specific project. Then she got bit by the fabric bug. It was so fun.

I have been trying off and on all day to write this and keep getting busy with one thing or another. Back to trying again.

I got up at 2:30 Tuesday morning and we headed for the airport at 3:30. Since I now have my red bag, my lavender carry on and 2 suitcases, Gerry parked and they both came in with me to help with the luggage. I had tried to check in online and couldn't but I had no problems at the airport. Alaska air gave me boarding passes for the entire trip. Off to Burbank in an exit row seat. I mentioned to the person by me that I had never been to Burbank airport in all my years in the travel business. I arrived at one terminal and was told it would be a couple block walk to the other terminal. I had an hour so I said I thought I could make it without transfer assistance. When I arrived at security they saw the Alaska boarding pass and told me I was in the wrong terminal. I said no, they sent me here and I am going out on American. The agent had to get a supervisor and they finally let me through. I was scanned and had to show them both wrists. They accepted they were just bracelets. Then they pulled my bag to the side and I thought it was my little scissors. Nope, I forgot there was some water in my water bottle and I was told I would have to go outside to pour it out and come thru again. I said can I drink it and she said yes you can but you would have to drink it outside. You aren't allowed to drink anything in here. So I went outside and poured it out and came back to security. Now there was a line and when I get to the front we go thru the same thing including the supervisor. Finally got sent thru and this time they didn't want to check my wrists but under my left armpit. I have no idea what that was about. At least the bag made it thru and I went to the gate. I told her what happened and she said I know, they called here. She gave me new American boarding passes and it turned out I had TSA Precheck now that I didn't need it anymore. The Alaska air boarding passes hadn't shown that. I told her it was my first time at the Burbank airport and it might be my last. In Phoenix it was about the same length walk from one terminal to another but you didn't go outside so you didn't go thru security again. San Jose was really fast. I was in row 13 so I got off quick and there weren't any other flights so I made it thru immigration really fast. I grabbed a baggage handler and showed him pictures of my luggage and the big ribbons tied to them and he had no problem claiming them. Everything made it thru security with no problem. In all my years in the travel business I never suggested taking pictures of your luggage but it is a great help. If it happens to not make it, it is so much easier filing the claim. If it does make it, it is so much easier for the baggage handler. We started doing it because I was using suitcases Heather got me at Dig and Save and I never remembered which ones I had with me without pictures. Jose was there to meet me and off we went.

I slept late this morning and once I was dressed I went out to check all my babies. Boy have they grown in the week I was gone. The mystery plant is four feet tall and I have two morning glory flowers. I made a batch of the crockpot candy and when it was set I headed for the Super to stock up the cupboards and refrigerator and hand out candy. I unpacked everything and sorted what I brought back with me. When I showed my hammock hanger to Gerardo I also showed the football to him and told him who it was for. Tonight I heard my name being called and there was Gerardo and the football man. He was so excited when I brought it out and said para usted and handed it to him. He thanked me and said Santa Claus? I said yes. Thank you Santa Claus Gerry. He tucked it under his arm like he knew what he was doing.

Tomorrow is Otto and a massage in the morning and the craft ladies group in the afternoon. I will take the books and patterns, thread, crochet thread, carbon paper and fabric I brought for them. The batting will have to wait for next week. I am making a list of what I paid for everything as they insist on paying. I also have some samples of yarn and a yarn kit to make a baby hat for Ziomara that I will take to her the next time she is at the yarn shop. That just leaves all the things I brought for Emilio. Gerardo's chocolate covered hazelnuts are safe in the refrigerator. The lady from Denver isn't here so I may give them to him since I don't know when the party will be.

It was a very good trip and I am happy also to be back to the quiet of Orosi.

Morning Glory

Peas

My mystery plant

The crockpot candy

Am I lucky!

I slept some and finally got up about 12:30am. By 1:50 I was all ready and out front. One thing about Jose, he is very punctual. A lot of times he is early. So, when it was 2:07 and no sign of him I called, I texted, I emailed, I messaged, I used whatsApp. Nothing. At 2:21am I called Gerardo and said no Jose. He tried calling him and called me back to say wait a minute. Just before 3:00am Gerardo arrived and switched cars and away we went. It usually takes 2 hours to the airport, a little less at off times. If you have to pay your departure tax it can take some time so I was already prepared to have to take a later flight. I did check and American had several. Not the case! Gerardo has a bit of a heavy foot, just like I do. There was no traffic and red lights were just a suggestion. We arrived at the airport a couple minutes before 4:00am so I had plenty of time. It turns out Jose had moved and his reminder didn't work. I have reconfirmed he will be there next Tuesday. 

I am so lucky to be able to call on Gerardo. So far everything is going great. Flights have all been right on time. From San JOse to Phoenix I was in the exit row so lots of legroom. Flight wasn't even half full so an empty seat next to me also. I also had TSA Precheck so didn't have to take my shoes off or take anything out of my bags at security. Gerry and Donna were there to meet me and we stopped at the Portland Seafood Company for dinner. Great Prawns and Alaskan Haddock. Their service is just great and our waiter, Shane was really attentive. Speaking of service, on Alaska Airlines from Phoenix to Portland they make a special point of using your name. When they scanned my boarding pass they said welcome Gayle, enjoy your trip. On board if you bought something using your credit card they would call you by name such as Gayle, can I get you anything else or Mr. jOhnson, how else may I help you. Very ice. They also have a policy if you don't get your luggage within 20 minutes you get a discount coupon for your next trip. It was nice.

It was a sad day in Paradise

I have mentioned Oscar before. He comes and does the mowing and pruning and whatever else Gerardo needs him to do. He is the kindest person, speaks a little English and uses it with me every time he is here.

He was here Monday and mowed the soccer field among other things. In the early afternoon I went out to check my flower babies again and they were all gone. Yup, they had been mowed down. Now in his defense I hadn't put a fence around them and they did stick out into the soccer field in a semicircle of dirt. Everyone else knew I had planted there but he and I hadn't talked about it. He had mowed since I planted so I thought he knew. He felt SOOOOOO terrible and when Gerardo found out he felt awful also. The back row is still there so he didn't get the Morning Glory but pretty much everything else. Well, maybe it will still keep growing. If not, I have a great reason to get more seeds and plant again. Gerardo loves all the things I plant and every so often I see evidence that he has been weeding in my planters or flower patches. He knows I don't know the difference between a weed and a flower plant so I let everything grow. Oscar even found a ripe guayaba and brought it to me and put hooks up in the wood around the vegetable garden for hanging things. I moved all the plants from my porch to the vegetable garden for while I am gone. With the Zaran they will be protected from the harsh sun and will get rain so Ana won't have to worry about watering them.

Gerardo told me they are spraying for rodents tomorrow so I should be bug and rodent free when I return. He specifically mentioned cockroaches so Heather and Courtney will be happy. They won't need the cutting board to go after them.

It is 1:34am and Jose will be here at 2:00 for our trip to the airport. I got a little sleep but this is going to be one droopy girl by the time she gets to Oregon. Goodbye for now from Orosi.

I am pretty much packed.

Yesterday was a hard working day. I made lemon bars and refrigerator pickles. I did laundry and cleaning and started packing. I watered but I didn't need to because it rained a lot last night. I started cleaning out the refrigerator and using what I had on hand so it doesn't spoil while I am gone. I tucked the Quiddler game in the suitcase as I will have some new victims.

Today I delivered lemon bars around including the pizza shop and said my goodbyes. Tomorrow morning I will be able to do my online check in, give Ana any food that might be left and might spoil, ask that my flowers and vegetables are tended while I am gone. The vegetables are doing really great. Can't wait to bring more seeds and plant more. 

Jose will be here at 2:00am Tuesday morning to get me. My flight is about 6:30am on Tuesday. I decided to not go to a hotel for the night since he agreed to the night transfer. Coming back it will be an early morning departure from Portland and I get to San Jose about 6:30pm so that will be good.

Janice and Jack, I will call you from Oregon. Maybe we can do FaceTime or Skype on Saturday and you can say hello to everyone who is there.

Not sure how much I will post over the next 10 days. There should be a bridal party to tell you about when I get back.

Let me tell you about chiverre.

If you are looking for something you make with a mix, leave now because this definitely isn't it. From the outside it looks like a watermelon and is about the size of a large one. You start by charing it over a gas burner to soften the skin and make it easier to peel. Once it is peeled it looks like a giant potato. It is actually a type of squash with edible seeds - they look like pumpkin seeds. After you peel it and wash it good you cut it up, including the seeds but removing the stringy part around the seeds. Put all the pieces in a large pot of water and cook for an hour. Take the pieces out one by one and beat them with a hammer until they are soft and shredded. Now my thought is you just cook them longer and they would be much easier to shred but that may not be the traditional way. Let me just say I am now well experienced at hammering the squash. I did almost all the pieces. Rosita did the last two. Either she felt sorry for me or I was just too slow.

Once it is all shredded you wash it really good and leave it to drain till tomorrow.

Next step is to add 3 dulce de cana, one pineapple, figs and fig leaves and cinnamon and let it cook over low heat for 7 hours. It looks like a thick brown stringy paste with chunks of figs and is used as a jelly on crackers or in dabs on rice pudding or I am sure in many ways. It is only available this time of year and is a Holy Week treat. Vera said she would get 3 or 4 small ice cream tubs from what we cooked today. She also had another even bigger one to cook. I think she makes a variety of things including breads and rolls to sell. I am anxious to take in more cooking lessons from her. Between the English she knows and my little Spanish we managed to do quite well.

I made chocolate covered bananas to take along today and tomorrow I am making a pan of lemon bars. I plan to make a run to Cartago tomorrow. Ziomara is working and Emilio drew me a map to the restaurant supply place. I need more cranberries and want to check out the bags of coconut. What I find in the Super is little bags of finely shredded dehydrated coconut. What I bring from the states is a bigger shred and moist. That is what I am hoping to find in Cartago. Vera showed us a big box of coconuts. She must shred her own. I can only imagine how much work that is.

 

This is what it looks like to start. This one cost 11,000 colones.

Charred and peeled.

Cut it up and take out the stringy part.

The sweetener. You use 3 of these.

Cooking

Now the hammering starts.

Washing the shredded squash.

It's looking like a real garden.

I have finished pulling up whatever was coming up in most areas as I wasn't convinced any of it was vegetables. I think Gerardo was right. I will bring back more seeds with me from Oregon. Just no peas or big seeds as those raised questions at security in San Jose for Heather. What is growing is lettuce, carrots, peas, cucumbers and squash, parsley, tomatoes and the mystery plant. The flowers are coming along also. I know what Cosmos looks like and I think the biggest ones might be the morning glory. So far I have not had any luck with Sunflowers. Next time I am going to try soaking the seeds before I plant them. 

I had a great time yesterday at the craft group and I sold 3 of the microwave bowl potholders. It was a kick. These ladies insist on paying for things and already want whatever thread and batting I bring back. They can get it in San Jose but it is very expensive. Donna got the batting at Joann's at 50 or 40% off so it makes it quite reasonable.  Also, the quality of what I can get is much higher than what they have here. Rosa's cousin knows quite a bit of English and she was a great help. She explained her husband was taught English but needs someone to practice with so when I get back we are going to arrange that. Also, one of the ladies is an expert on cooking typical foods and I have been invited today and tomorrow to a cooking session. We had some yesterday, it is made special for Holy Week, it has figs in it and it takes 2 days to make it. I will let you know the name and what else is in it when I figure it out. Speaking of names, I am so terrible with them. Hopefully little by little I will learn them. It isn't like they are Mary or Sue or Jane. Names I have been used to all my life. They are all new and different. A lot of them I can't even pronounce. I think I am going to get name tags and ask the ladies to wear them until I learn the names. One of the things they are very interested in is patterns for quilting and embroidery and appliqué. Knitting and crochet also but those are tricky if they are in English. I know I have a bunch at Heather's and I will see if I can pick up a couple in Oregon. They take them apart and put them in binders so everyone can use them.

The papaya raisin bread was a big hit yesterday and I need to decide what to take today and go make it. I can't believe it is Friday already and I leave real early Tuesday morning.

They aren't weeds!

I think peas.

Looking healthy.

Lettuce and purple carrots.

.

The mystery plant

Can't wait till I actually see a tomato. 

My flower babies.

I have been a little worried

I had asked how much the Zaran (correct spelling) cost and I had understood 1500 colones a meter and 8 meters long and 4 meters wide. I figured it out and I knew it was going to cost me about $100.00 but I figured oh well, I have committed and I need it if I am going to have a vegetable garden. When it came it was more like 8 feet wide so I knew the price would go up. I figured I would also ask about paying Oscar as it took him all day. Gerardo came this morning and I brought out my money and mentioned the Zaran and Oscar. He let me know that Oscar is on his payroll and called his store to check on what I got. It must have been 150 colones a meter, not 1500, and with the family discount it cost me 10,000 colones or about $20.00. Such a deal to help my babies grow big and strong. I paid the 10,000 and gave him a plate of cinnamon bread. It was fun to watch him checking out my new babies and figuring out what they are and picking out rocks and piling dirt around them. I think he must  be a farmer at heart. He may be right about most of the stuff just being weeds. I may have to replant a lot of it but at least I don't have to worry about the season as things grow year round.

It started out cool and cloudy but it is only 10:30 and the sun is shining and it is warm enough I need to change my top. I think it might be a good morning to do some pruning.

All tied up so it gets a little sun.

I do have a few flowers.