An all around good weekend.

You know about my Saturday morning already and Saturday afternoon I headed for Cartago. There weren't many walkers as it was the hottest part of the day. I was able to see the area in front of the Basicila and could see how congested it was with both cars and people. The busiest days are today, Monday and Tuesday and then on Wednesday the statue will be moved to another church. After that things will quiet down and be back to normal. It turned out I spent the rest of the afternoon in the yarn shop and finished the hat I was working on. It was after dark when I got back to Orosi and dropped off my bag and headed for the pizza shop to give Emilio the pattern for the hat that he will translate to Spanish. I suggested he run it by his mother to make sure it is right as she crochets and would know. They were quite busy so I didn't stay long.

Today I was having a lazy day when I got a call from Ziomara saying they were coming to Orosi for pizza and would be here in an hour. My first thought was I need to make something quick for dessert besides pick up my house and shower and change. I was going to make chocolate cupcakes because they don't take long to bake but the recipes called for more milk then I had so I decided on fudge brownies and I would pick up ice cream and chocolate sauce. Turned out they didn't have any chocolate sauce at the Super so I went with Vanilla Caramel ice cream and caramel sauce. Pizza was great, breadsticks were great and the brownie sundaes were great also. Ziomara said there were lots of walkers and last night on the bus there were a lot of walkers along the road, in the dark. 

There are tons of birds around and they are enjoying the dish of fruit I have out for them.

Ziomara says during September I should go to the southern Costa Rica coast to watch the whales. Might be an interesting adventure.

The birds are definitely enjoying the fresh mowed soccer field.

Everyone enjoying pizza and dessert.

Worth a second post

Here is my Northh Dakota planting crew - planting corn and sun flowers. He is poking holes, evenly spaced to put the seeds. Gerardo had come to me earlier to show me how many corn there were, which was good, but how few sunflower seeds there were. I went and got more packages of sunflower seeds and then he was happy. I now have 3 sides of the other end of the soccer field planted. One side, by the posts and the end are alternating corn and sunflowers. The other side is just sunflowers. It has all been treated with disinfectant 

He is making holes for the seeds.

My pineapple plantation which now has 4 pineapple, mint, mojito herb and 3 areas of peas. They didn't do well in my garden. We will see how they do here. Pineapple grows very slowly so it works to plant other things around it.

Even the banana trees have been trimmed today.

I figure I have a pretty fancy looking corn field. I am not sure how much rain it will get as there is a little overhang so I will need to keep an eye on it.

Grandpa Perlinger would be so proud of me although I didn't do much to help this morning. Some weeding and a little planting and taking piles to the compost. I do want to plant new seeds in my flower patch. I still have a bunch of packets.

Laundry is done and mowing and gardening is done so La Quinta is quiet again. Ana is back so the walk is over. She said going over the mountains she got very tired. I let her know there are all kinds of vegetables on the mystery vine in the garden. It and the papaya trees are the only things that grow there. The 2 trees are so big I may have to remove the zarong.

I may head out for a bus ride this afternoon. I really do want to get a taste of Cartago.

Oscar is here!

He started mowing at 6:30 this morning. The soccer field really needed it. Gerardo came and we went over planting the corn and sunflowers along the end of the soccer field and he told Oscar about it. I can't do all the parts of planting and gardening like digging up the ground so I have been hoping Oscar would come. He hasn't been here for quite a while. I am also going to plant peas in my pineapple plantation. I did have to move one of my pineapple because it was too close to where the concrete block planter is going to go. I'm excited that Gerardo mentioned it. I asked when and he said when the worker had time so still don't know when but hopefully soon. I cleared that area yesterday so it is ready - until everything grows back again. The soccer field is being cut so short. It is great. I think I will get Oscar to help me bring some concrete slabs from the sink on the soccer field to my planter area so I can keep the grass and weeds from growing here.

Oscar spends a lot of time pulling the mower.

A good start to a Saturday morning!

I now have 4 in my pineapple plantation.

It has been a while since I spent time in the soccer field or my flower beds so this morning I put on jeans and socks and shoes and headed out, hoping the ants didn't get me. As fast as everything grows here, the weeds grow even faster. I spent a couple hours weeding and then cleared the area near my pineapple and dug it up and planted two more and the mint and the other herb that goes in mojitos. I cleared out all the grass and weeds around my planters and hydrangea and Bougainville and the 5 bushes Dora gave me from her yard. Things are looking much better. I was hot and sweaty when I quit and headed for the shower. Next on the agenda was to make a batch of the artichoke dip to take to Dora's. I wanted to have one for coffee and then we would do the cooking lesson so I also brought all the ingredients for a second batch. I realized she doesn't have an oven so I quickly looked up doing it in the microwave. I also cut up the coconut pound cake and took that for coffee. Everyone really liked the dip so I knew I would be doing the cooking lesson.

I also got some information on the walk to the Basicila. 5 of them are walking together including Dora, Marta, Ana, Johanna and I don't know who the fifth person is. They will leave here at 4:00am tomorrow and it will take 3 hours. The bus takes about 40 minutes, with stops. They walk one way. Some of the pilgrims actually walk barefoot. I know my Spanish is limited but I am sure they were talking about bringing the dip on tortillas. There was plenty left after making the second batch. They thought it would make a great pizza topping and were talking about what other ingredients could be used or added like I do when I make something new.

I just received a picture from the craft ladies of a sick lady wearing one of the hats I made. I can't wait to have a bunch of the craft ladies making them so we will have more to give. I sorted through my yarn last night, and my crochet hooks and have a bag put together for next Thursday. I also took time this morning to write out the basic pattern. Now I need to go over it with Emilio.

There were two squirrels in the guayaba tree this morning and they knocked down a partially eaten fruit. The guayaba are starting again so I need to hunt up jars for more jelly.

I'm not sure yet what the weekend will bring but you can be sure I will keep you posted. I do know I have to pick up my piles of weeds and dispose of them. And maybe a trip to the nursery with a stop at the feria for empanadas. Or a lazy day on the porch, crocheting. Who knows!

I love being out on the porch when it is raining really hard as it is now. All my new plantings are getting a good soaking. But I'm not. 

It has been a busy week

Tuesday morning Katherine and the girls came to visit. Lexi is changing so from a baby into a toddler. It has been too cool to put water in the pool for them but I do have an assortment of toys for when they come. Courtney loves the red bear and Lexi loves the little suitcase with puzzle blocks in it. They don't do the puzzle pictures but they are great for banging together or just dropping them all on the floor. Lexi will come to me and present her cheek for me to give her a noisy slobbery kiss. She will laugh and pull away and then give me the other cheek. She laughs and laughs when we are doing that. This week I made pancakes with chocolate shavings for snack. They also love the hammock.

Tuesday afternoon was sewing ladies and I started by telling them the machine is their friend. It at least made them laugh and we worked on marking and sewing the darts for the microwave bowl potholders. We had a fair amount of problems so I decided on Wednesday when Katherine was here to translate I would explain and demonstrate on a machine. I thought that would make it easier for them but it seemed to go from bad to worse. One of the ladies actually gave up and I am not sure she will be back. I said I knew I was being particular but that was how it had to be done to look good. Especially if we hoped to sell them. I called Janet to see if she wanted me to show the seniors how to make big bows and she came over to look at what I have. I am scheduled to go to the senior Center August 5th. 

Katherine told me the daughter of her maid has taken some sewing classes near here and has a machine. The lady charges 1000 colones per class. Since the girl isn't working, Katherine thought she might be interested in what I am doing here. She wants to learn how to sew clothes so we are working to come up with some patterns. Katherine would also be interested in making things for her girls. I really need to have a printer to download and print out patterns and recipes.

Today was craft lady day and I took the 10 bowl potholders I made for Claudia and gave them to Aura. I also brought the 3 finished hats and the one I was still working on. The hat was done but I was crocheting a flower to put on the side. They loved them. I said, with Ileana's help, that I have lots of scrap yarn and several of the size needles needed that I would lend if anyone else wants to make hats. They asked if I would teach them how to make the hats. They crochet but only with fine thread and tiny hooks around the outside edge of things or tablecloths. I said Emilio and I would work together to do a pattern in Spanish and I would bring everything next week. Profesora Gay Lee! I am now working on my 5th hat and I showed Ana how to do it and she took some yarn and the directions and we will see what she brings next week. It is an easy pattern and all just double crochet. I love this! I also brought another herb home with me today from Aura's husband. I forget the name but I know it is used in mojito. I like mojitos!

Tomorrow is cooking lesson at Dora's. It's the Artichoke dip and I baked bread today to cut up and serve with it. I had a little complication when I was baking. I ran out of gas. I took the container to the Super and paid for a new one. I showed the receipt to my friend in the back room and he indicated they would bring it. I left the door open and the young man from the meat dept brought it. I gave him a bag of fudge as a thank you. It put me behind schedule so I have the Coconut Pound Cake I mixed up baking now.

On the bus back from Paraiso there was a European family with lots of luggage and back packs. When we got to Orosi I asked them if they were going to the Orosi Lodge and they said no, Montana Linda, the hostel at the Spanish school. I told them I would show them where to get off. I gave them directions from the bus stop. I loved being able to do that. While we were on the bus I pointed out the church and told them about it. And the Pizza Place! I am an Orosi travel agent!

I will have to get more artichokes before August 11 when the craft ladies are here but it will probably wait until close to the date so I don't have to go to Cartago during the Pilgrimage. With two million extra people it gets a little crazy.

I made an orange flower for the striped hat.

Aura showing off the quilt squares she made with fabric I sold her.

Olivia and the pillow covers she made from one of Heather's Dig and Save finds.

Olivia and another fabric piece from Heather that she crocheted around. These ladies are so talented.

I had a lovely, lovely day!

I got an early morning call from Emilio - well 7:30 is early for me. He had today off from school and although he had work to do this morning he suggested we meet in Cartago this afternoon to visit the vendors around the Basicila. This is the time when pilgrims from all over this country and surrounding countries walk to the Basilica for the feast day of the patron saint. When they arrive at the back door they go down on their knees and crawl to the main altar. The number of pilgrims reaches 2 million. I know several people who will be walking from here.

So, after I agreed to meet him, leaving here at 2:10pm I went to take a shower. As I finished I could here someone calling Gay Lee, Gay Lee. I said uno momento and threw on some clothes.  It was Gerardo inviting me to coffee. I thought oh no, I have nothing to bring. It turned out it was in the party room and it was because their friend from the states was here for just a day. she used to come 3 to 4 times a year but she now has a full time job and it has been a year. She is the one who went with Gerardo to take me to the pharmacy when I was having so much trouble with sciatica. And, it wasn't just coffee. We had fresh tortillas, Gallo pinto, eggs and meat. There was also a corn item in two shapes. One was cookie or biscuit shape and one was a wedge. And breads. At the end I took over a plate of fudge that I made yesterday and said no pan, solamente chocolate.

After eating I brought my hats to show them and explained who they were for. Gerardo told me about 2 ladies right in the neighborhood who could use them so I will be making more. I am on number 4. I want to do 5 for the craft ladies and then a couple for the neighborhood ladies. Then we will see. They really go together quite fast.

Gerardo brought everyone over to check out everything I have growing in my planters and picked off leaves and smelled the herbs to tell them what it was. One of them is great for stomach problems so he used the clippers to cut off a bunch of branches for Johanna for her mother. I don't mind because it grows like mad. The other thing that grows big and fast is oregano which is planted in a concrete block with only a little dirt. He always goes through my planters and pulls out the weeds. He knows I don't know what is good and what is bad.

I made the bus and Emilio was there to meet me at the Basilica bus stop. Already the whole area is changing to get ready for the pilgrims. All kinds of food stands in the area around the square. The vendors are set up in a specific area across the street from the square. I had sent a message to Courtney and Heather to see if I was supposed to be looking for a hammock. Heather said no, Courtney said yes. She said red, yellow, green if possible and I could go up to $60.00. I only had to go up to $32.00. They were asking $36.00. I bought another thing that was $16.00 and I got it for $14.00.  

After several trips thru we went to a nearby restaurant and I had cafe Frio and we both had hamburgers. They weren't bad but they definitely aren't what you get at the Tavern in Madison. I am just going to have to make my own or wait till I get to the US. After eating we went to the Basilica and already there were lots of people crawling to the altar. Pews have been cleared out to make more room for them. By the weekend there will be 8 lines into the church. We checked out food vendors on the way to the bus and bought a package of churros. All the food vendors have pretty much the same things. Restaurants make a fortune between now and the 5th of August.

It was after 6:30 by the time I got home. I only got half a hat crocheted today so I will have to work hard tomorrow.

We aren't going to San Jose this Thursday, but next Thursday. I want to know about the bus and where I end up in case I ever need to do it on my own. You just never know what adventure I may decide to take.

Tomorrow is back to the sewing ladies.

I brought a bag of cassava flour to Heather. It is gluten free and the closest to wheat flour. She used her regular chocolate chip cookie recipe and just substituted. They turned out great and crispy. She gave the rest to her next door neighbor who has a paleo bakery. I may be going back loaded down with flour.

Back to yesterday. At church, Debbie and John, your favorite singers. They were so good. As the priest and altar boys were coming in, there was a dog in the way taking a nap. Didn't seem to bother anyone. They just went around it. Partway thru Mass there was a commotion in the pew behind me. A man seemed to be having problems and 3 people came and helped him. The ladies in the pew came and sat in my pew and they laid him down. After communion the priest  came and talked to him and by now he was sitting up. Could have just been the heat.

I think that is it and brings you up to date on life in and around Orosi.

In the Basilica

Emilio's new selfie stick.

Not the orange. That is another hammock.

Looking over all the merchandise.

It was a good day.

I had a talk with Gerardo - well my translate program did - and I explained about wanting to trade my little stove for a bigger one because my baking pans didn't fit in this one and also I wanted one big enough to cook a big turkey for Thanksgiving and what would it cost me. I took him inside and showed him. I said it didn't need to be new but everything needed to work and I wanted 2 racks. He said no problem. Now I don't know if that means no problem if I pay $500.00 or no problem he will take care of it. I am hoping he has one in one of his other houses that he can just trade for mine. Few of the Tico recipes require an oven. They are cooked on top of the stove and a lot of places only have burners. We'll see how it turns out. I cleaned mine all up in case anything happens soon. I also told him about the ladies coming on August 11th. I showed him my seed packets and the mint I brought home yesterday and he showed me where I can plant things. He said the mint will grow big so that goes in the area of the pineapple plantation. He agreed the corn could go along the other end of the soccer field. He wasn't sure the watermelon will grow here but the cantaloupe and peppers will go in the area past the Bougainville. I think I will see if I can hire Oscar to help dig up the ground. I don't want to put it in the vegetable garden area until I get the problem there solved.

I made a trip around town with my container of fudge. It was fun as I haven't done it in a while. I went to the hardware store to get lights for my living room fixture. My sewing ladies will be very happy to be able to see better. It has 5 lights in it but I think 3 have been burned out since I got here. Then on to the appliance store. I stopped on the street and bought a bag of lemons and gave the man fudge - and 1000 colones for a bag. Then I hit the Chinese market and the fruit market. I don't give out candy in the Chinese market but I do at the fruit market. I got mangoes and potatoes and sandwich meat - it is meat and vegetables and fruit and candy and chips. The lady who comes here on Wednesday to sweep was there and offered to carry one of my bags as I was pretty loaded down by this point. I thanked her but said I could manage. I just couldn't put my umbrella up but it wasn't raining very hard. I went home and dropped everything off. I headed to the Super and handed out more candy and picked up a few things and then to the bakery. Again more candy as I picked up some bread. I met up with the girl who chases me down the street yelling cookies and gave her some candy. Now I have to make more fudge as I am almost out. 

I finished the hat I had been working on and started another one and I also finished the 10 microwave bowl potholders for Claudia. 

It has been a good day. 

Tomorrow is laundry and then I will see what else I do. Empanadas at the Feria or a trip into Cartago. I want to go to the market there and see what berries they have to offer. I really do want to make a trip to the nursery. I haven't been there in ages. So many possibilities.

Claudia's microwave bowl potholders

One hat done.

I have a new project.

Sewing class went well yesterday. Katherine came a little early so I could look at her machine, which by the way is a lovely machine with all kinds of stitches and even a switch to vary the speed when you press the pedal. It turned out there wasn't a problem with the machine, she just hadn't connected the top thread with the bobbin thread. We continued with the work fabric and went on to hemming. With Katherine there she could translate for me. We had a lot fewer rethreading of the machines. One of the ladies gets very frustrated with herself because she wants to do it perfect. We did have a funny time. I had the other lady sewing together rag quilt potholders and she had a terrible time figuring out what sides to put together and what side to sew on so the exposed seams would be on the right fabric. Finally she got it, but she did have to take it out several times. One of the squares the fabric was sewn  on inside out and she went to all the trouble so taking it all apart and putting it right. If I can get the other lady to go back to sewing straight stitch instead of zigzag I will be in good shape. She wants so bad to learn. I told her we would keep trying.

For our coffee I made Snickerdoodle Cupcakes with a light glaze and fudge with dry roasted nuts and today I made another batch of the cupcakes to take to the craft ladies. 

Otto came this morning and I told him my hips were bothering me and they feel so much better now. 

I took the 3:10pm bus to Paraiso with my red bag in one hand and my cake carrier full of muffins in the other hand. As soon as I got there Aura's husband told me to follow him. We went outside and he showed me several pots of herbs, he told me to take one so I picked mint. He had checked out all my plants and herbs when he was here last week. We also decided on a date for their return visit for a cooking lesson - August 11th. I am going to do the artichoke dip and the chocolate covered coconut balls. I may work in some fudge also or the bread I made to go with the dip.They agreed that they would bring the ingredients and teach me how to make something. It will be great. I decided I am going to ask Gerardo if I can trade in my stove for one with a bigger oven so my pans will fit in it and I can cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. It doesn't need to be new, just so everything works and I can have two racks. We'll see how that goes.

Now to my project. One of the ladies there today speaks some English so she translated for me. One of their friends is in the hospital for cancer treatment and she has told them there are so many sick people with hair loss that need hats and could we please make them. I won't be the only one making them but those who know me know I make hats. I brought lots of yarn and all the chiffon scarf material that I use to weave in the hats. It will make them a little different from what the other ladies are making. I think I may have to set my iPad aside for a while so I can spend my time crocheting. As soon as I finish the 10 microwave bowl potholders I am making for Claudia. I think I forgot I am retired! Don't get me wrong, I am having the time of my life!

Patience Gayle patience

Katherine and the girls came over this morning and we had a great time. A few tears when Courtney had to go home without the red bear but nothing too serious. It is so fun to watch Lexi growing and becoming a toddler instead of a baby. Katherine mentioned she was having trouble with her sewing machine and would really like to learn how to sew. She is planning on coming over tomorrow, in the afternoon, and bring her machine. She will be able to help me explain things to the ladies and that may really help.

I have prepared fabric for today by marking it with lines and shapes so they can spend time just sewing, not making anything. I will see how that goes. Yesterday I used both machines so I know the problem isn't the machines. If this works tomorrow, I may ask Rosa to come one day next week. She knows how to sew and would be able to talk to them and follow my pantomime. She also understands quite a lot of English. 

Ana asked me today when the cooking lesson is because Dora wants to come. I will have to see what I can work out at the craft ladies meeting on Thursday.

Wish me well this afternoon!

My sewing guide. I also put colored thread in the machines so it will show up.

Well here is the report. Once they started sewing I was told I was malo - mean or bad. Then I moved to malo malo and then all the way to malo malo malo when they got to circles.

Arabella sits quietly and sews and concentrates. Efigenia on the other hand grumbles and mumbles and gets very frustrated. She did tell me today that she really wants to learn and I told her I would keep trying. I wanted to get the message across today that when you turn a corner, you must leave the needle in the fabric. I think I was understood. We will see if they remember tomorrow. I did end the day with laughs and muy bien when I turned the machines to zigzag. They were having a terrible time following the line with a straight stitch but with the zigzag it gave them a little more leaway. But, when you have to rip it out it is harder. Tomorrow is another day and this keeps life interesting. They did like the flannel I was using for the sewing class. I needed something plain so the marking and stitching could be seen. Heather got it at Dig and Save for very little. I plan to use it for the back of her cashmere throw. Maybe my sewers will get good enough to help me with that. Maybe not. In October I will be bringing another machine so I will hunt up another student. I may try for someone a little younger this time. It is a little frustrating when at the end of the day nothing is better than at the beginning. If I have any sewers reading this, and you have any suggestions, I would be happy to hear them. 

My sewing room

When I am home, if I am not cooking, I spend most of my time on the front porch. I take my projects out there and even if it rains, unless there is a strong wind, I am comfortable and protected. 

Today I decided to work on the 10 microwave bowl potholders I was asked to make for Claudia. I couldn't resist so I moved my table and equipment to the front porch. Even when if started raining I didn't have a problem. So much nicer than sitting inside. 

I even put on tennis shoes and socks today so I could go out into the soccer field and look over my flowers. The last 2 times I have gone in sandals the ants have attacked me and I have marks all over both feet. They aren't raised sores or anything and they don't itch but they don't look so good. Today I either missed the ant area or they only attack bare feet because I didn't have any trouble.

Saturday I spent most of the day in Cartago. Part of it was with Ziomara and part running errands. There is a bakery there I love and what is called the original WalMart of Cartago. I can find things there I can't find other places and stocked up again on artichoke hearts. And peanut butter. And Nutella. While I was with Ziomara she explained platano to me. It is like a banana but big and not eaten raw and tastes different and is cooked different depending on how ripe it is. I have had it in my meat soup that I really like.

The family left yesterday so it is just Tia and me again in La Quinta. I went to the pizza shop yesterday because Emilio said he had something for me. While I was there I met Marjorie who is from Canada and has lived here in Orosi for 10 years. She described to me where her house is and said I would be welcome to come visit. I came home with a big batch of crispy bread sticks. Tonight I think I will make a meatloaf. I haven't made one since Heather was here in April. I just saw a recipe where you do meatloaf on the bottom and a mashed potato mixture on top. I just may try that. 

M sewing room.

The view from the other direction.

Emilio said when he saw them they would be perfect for me. I also got a hair cut on Saturday but only on the bottom. I at least have a little hair now. This should last me for a few more months before the top is too long.

My craft lady day was a great success!

My week was a little different than planned. Katherine let me know that both girls had colds so we decided to wait to get together. That was Tuesday. I expected the sewing ladies in the afternoon but they didn't come. I called Janet to let her know and she said tomorrow. They did come and I decided to try something new. Rag quilt potholders. One lady seemed to get the concept and took off sewing but the other one had lots of problems. This was very simple sewing in the shape of an X. I have to remember I have sewn since I was a teenager and this is all very new to them. We agreed to Tuesday next week.

I made Papaya Raisin Bread and Coconut Macaroons for the coffee times and Thursday morning I went shopping to make sure I had everything I needed. I helped Ana set up the tables in the Party Room and used sheets to cover the tables. I had a cutting station, sewing station, food station and a long table with all the things for sale and chairs for them to sit. I had no idea how many ladies would come but there were plenty of extra chairs just in case. 

Just a little after 2:00 they started arriving and we were 12 altogether. I had also invited Johanna and she brought her daughter. It turned out Aura had been Johanna's Spanish teacher. Myra brought along her daughter, Katya, who lives in the US and it made it so much easier to have someone translating. I knew I could do the sewing lesson between pantomime and words because these ladies know how to sew. I planned to be at one machine and have one of them at another. I didn't end up sewing at all. I talked, Katya translated and Rosa, Emilio's mother sewed. She ended us sewing pretty much all afternoon long and Aura joined her at the second machine part of the time. Ileana took over for me doing the marking. Each of the ladies bought the supplies from me for one potholder and Claudia picked out fabric for 10 and asked me to make them for her as Mother's Day gifts. One day when Emilio is free I will get him to take me to her house for coffee and deliver them.

All the ladies brought wonderful breads and cake and cookies and I had Hazelnut coffee, hot and cold tea, And Coke. I made the hot artichoke dip, a double batch and everyone loved it. They have asked me to come back again and have a cooking lesson. Johanna was a tremendous help and when she looked over the table she said no chocolate. I went in and got the chocolate cookies and the rest of the crockpot candy that I had in the freezer. She and her daughter divided what was left into plastic bags for each lady and today I have hot and cold tea and some Coke. Everyone seemed to have a really good day and enjoyed themselves.

I have also been working on stringing beads for the dreamcatcher and making bows for Ziomara.  I am definitely keeping busy in Costa Rica!

The sewing station.

The cutting station.

The food table.

The main tables.

My gifts, 2 lovely towels, candied fruit and raisins.

My first 4 bows.

My group of ladies.

It has been a week

And a lovely week it has been. I have had quiet time and busy time and now I have a busy week coming up. It has been very quiet in La Quinta. I have seen Ana and Gerardo now and then as they walk by in the courtyard, but not often. It took me 2 days to get everything unpacked and the rest of the week to get everything put away or priced and sorted. 

My rent is paid for the next year and my cupboards and refrigerator are full. I again have fruit - mangos and papaya and pineapple and limes. There are small tangerines and lots of oranges on the trees. All the banana trees have fruit hanging from them. Thursday Otto came and helped my back feel much better. Thursday was the craft ladies also. I made a jelly roll and used the mora strawberry jelly for the filling. There was a pastry type cookie in the dish next to mine and it had a filling in the center. It turned out Rosa, Emilio's mother, made it and she used my mora fresa jelly in the center. I brought all the embroidery patterns with me and 4 books of mine for the club. 3 of the books were quilting patterns and the 4th one was all different kinds of stitches. The ladies loved them and spent most of the time looking at them. They did also buy 6 of the packages of patterns.

Saturday morning I headed for the bus at 8:15 to go to the feria. I was loaded up with a full red bag as I was going on to Ziomara and taking her the things I brought. As I walked to the bus stop I saw the bus pass by. I guess the times have changed a bit so I missed it. Katherine and the kids came to say hello and since I now had to wait for the next bus I left my bags with her and ran home to get the gift for Courtney. It is a backpack that folds out to a farm and the inside is full of plastic animals and a couple little farmers. She loved it and put it on and would walk up and down the street shaking it. The next bus came at 8:30 so the times are really off. Emilio called to see where I was and was waiting at the feria when I got there. We headed right for the empanada stand and took everything we bought to a picnic table in the square. They are so good, and so was the coffee. There was an event going on in the square with vendors and entertainers and musicians. A group of them came over and surrounded the table and played for us. I loved it. The costumes were crazy and they were lots of fun.

It was great to see Ziomara and show her all the things I brought. They are working hard to sell the yarn shop and hope to have everything decided and settled by the end of this month. She is working 5 days a week at her new job and Saturday's at the yarn shop so she is very tired. She invited me to her house for Mother's Day. Here it is celebrated August 15. She wasn't sure whether they would celebrate on Sunday or Monday but will let me know.

I have spent some time at the pizza shop, taking Emilio the charger cord and the Kind bars and taking his mother the magnesium and showing her all the fabric I brought. She was very interested and bought several pieces. I also brought a bag of deGrazia magnets that we are changing into pins and I made one for her and I gave one to Emilio without the pin. They are so beautiful. I really love his work. These are mainly children. I came away with a pizza one day and crispy breadsticks the next day. They were great.

This week Katherine and the kids are coming on Tuesday, the sewing ladies on Tuesday and Wednesday and the craft ladies are here on Thursday. I have to figure out things to eat for all of them.

There have been changes in Orosi since I left. The restaurant we like,  Rabbits, has closed. The one across the street has been closed also. I don't know if that is just a vacation kind of thing or permanent. It has been school break the last two weeks so lots of people are traveling.

I may be returning to the US earlier than expected to do a stretch of animal sitting. Heather and Kent are looking at going to Europe for a friend's wedding for a couple weeks in September and their 4 cats and a dog need a companion. It works out for me, timing wise, and I will work in a trip to California. I may also have to hit the consulate in Minnesota to have all my paperwork apostilled for my residency.  Everything has to be less than 6 months old when you submit it. Everything I have will also have to be translated into Spanish by an official translator. 

Emilio and I are planning an excursion to someplace I haven't been yet. We aren't sure yet where. We want to be able to do it round trip in a day. It will probably include a bus change in San Jose and I don't want to do that alone. He also said that later in July lots of Nicaraguan vendors gather in front of the Basicila so we will go and see what they have to offer. 

That's it kids. My life is getting very quiet and ordinary.

I have started my hen and chicks. These aloe juice bottles work great because they are square. I take the covers off and they are at a slant so the extra water can drain off. I used a larger aloe bottle for the red flowered branch.

The avocado tree is just loaded and they are getting big.

The hydrangea are doing really great.

I'm home, I'm home, I'm home!

Where do I start. I met a few people while waiting in line in Houston who were visiting for the first time and when they found out I live here they started asking me questions. I loved it because I could answer them. I also used my travel knowledge to help the people near me with their immigration forms. The crew was doing a poor job of helping with the questions and were really giving people the wrong answers. Again in the immigration line and in baggage claim there were questions. A young couple wanted to know if I could give them an idea of the value of their colones and what they needed with the customs forms since no one had taken them. I explained they still had to go thru customs and have their luggage scanned and then head outside. I was going to have Jose help them with a taxi but their luggage came fast and mine took forever. Another young man was a great help with putting my two heavy bags - 48 and 51 pounds on the cart and he helped me again at customs. Jose, of course, was waiting outside for me. It took about 45 minutes from the time we landed. I was in row 5 and on the aisle so I got off fast and had no trouble in immigration. The official didn't even ask when I was leaving, just gave me 90 days. I do have a ticket to leave, just in case, and I will use it towards my trip in October to California and Heather's.

Jose gave me some news on the way home - the kids are back in their school so it is just Tia and me at La Quinta. I have to say I have mixed feelings. I don't want to live in the middle of a daycare center but it wasn't unbearable.

The first thing I noticed when I got home was things in my planters had grown like mad. It seems to be mainly the herbs which I had cut back before I left. It's lucky I couldn't see because it was dark that the weeds had grown as much as the plants. This morning when I went out to check everything I ended up spending an hour pulling weeds. The ground is very wet as it is rainy season so everything pulled up easily. I will do more tomorrow. I also pulled all the carrots. The biggest is about 2 inches so I don't think I will be a carrot farmer - especially purple carrots. My corn seeds did make it thru so I will try that next. I decided, since things grow in my pots and around the soccer field, there is something wrong with the ground in my vegetable garden area. Jose says maybe little worms. He is going to talk to Gerardo to see what we can use to treat it before I try planting anything else there. I had moved all my smaller plants there so they would get water without someone having to water them. I noticed there are a few new ones mixed in, including a giant orchid. Last year there were surprise new plants also.

My house was spotless (Ana had cleaned for me just before I returned) which was so nice. No bug pile up. 

This morning I heard Gerardo feeding the dogs and I greeted him. He came to the house and gave me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. I booked the upstairs apartment for Heather and Kent for December and told him I would take my rent for the year to the appliance store today. I also saw Ana and Tia this morning. Ana was in long sleeves and an insulated vest and saying how cold it is. I am in shorts and thinking how wonderful it is compared to the heat of Texas. 

I have to make a stop at the Super to get some staples. I got rid of everything perishable so I don't have milk or bread or fruit. For breakfast I managed crackers with peanut butter. Now down here crackers don't stay fresh even if they are in unopened packages so let's say I had cracker pieces and peanut butter. And iced tea as I don't have milk for my coffee. I will pick it all up when I pay my rent. For now I am enjoying my front porch. I do have all my unpacking to do.

The guayaba and cas trees are empty but the avocados are getting very big and there is new fruit on the mandarina tree and the orange and sweet lemon trees. Bananas on the trees also.

I woke up to rain but the sun is shining now. It is a beautiful day in Orosi!

My view out my bedroom window at Bernadette's.

Lunch at the Grist Mill in Gruene, Texas. 

Adriana brought me a pink cowgirl hat when I arrived and took a great picture but I haven't been able to download it and post it here. This is when I left yesterday.

See how tall my herbs are!

I have added another city to my trip

What a good time I am having in Texas. The last few days I have spent with Adriana and her sister, Sonja. We have visited several small towns, many antique shops and lots of good food. I sent a message to Karen to see if she would be available to join us for lunch when we came to Austin. Instead she invited us to stay at her house and tonight we went for a really good barbecue dinner at a local restaurant. Tomorrow we will do some sightseeing in Austin including the Capitol and then on to Fredricksburg and the peach orchards and antique shops. We both wanted Jack, her Portugese Water dog to sleep with us but he doesn't come upstairs.

Sonja had to go to Laredo to help a friend so she won't be around to help Adriana pack and get ready for the move on Wednesday. I have seen her new apartment complex and it is lovely. Lots of nature and walking paths. I think I will be busy Sunday helping her get her things ready for the movers. There is still a chance she will be coming to Orosi later this month for a short visit.

It is definitely hotter here than it is in Orosi.

This is Jack. It was hard to get him to stop for a minute.

I found another one outside a yarn shop.

My new house.

Beautiful parks along the river.