Life in Costa Rica: Everyone is gone

And it is quiet again. I had 20 here and with the cooking lessons I asked for helpers for everything so they could remember better. There was tons of food including one of the biggest pots I have seen.

I met everyone at the gate and welcomed them. It had been Ileana's birthday within the last few days so I gave her one of my stockpile of metal spatulas. Once most of the people were here I started with the coconut balls and bananas as they had to spend sometime in the freezer. Next came the artichoke dip as it needed a half hour in the oven. I knew most of them would have no idea what the pickles were so I brought out the batch I made on Monday and gave them each a fork. Once they knew they really liked them I brought up helpers and went thru making another batch. The soup -pozol - was cooking on the stove and I reheated the picadillo in the microwave. I brought the guacamole and the artichoke dip. I had put out my bread to go with the dip as well as 2 kinds of chips. There was bread pudding squares and the most beautifully decorated cake. I also has strawberry banana bread and there were little apple tarts. There were tortillas to go with the picadillo de papa. Now about the pozol. I have been asking around and I was told it was made with pigs head. Another said pigs ears. Another laughed and said she makes it with carne. I was prepared to try it no matter what it was since it was being made special for me. I did have to ask though. First they said yes to pigs head. Then they asked Vera and she said no, pigs leg and pigs meat. The other main ingredient is corn. They called it Cartago corn and it wasn't like any corn I had ever seen. It was very good and I would eat it again. The problem is, it was all brought cooked so I now know how to eat it but not how to cook it.

The ladies made good use of the yarn and scarves and I was asked what I would charge. I explained that as long as the yarn was used for hats for cancer ladies that I was happy to donate it. I was asked by many for crochet hooks but they have to wait until October. I have 10 sets of 12 bamboo crochet hooks on their way to Heather's house. I have lent out all I have here.

At the end a half dozen of the ladies took over my kitchen. As they worked I added pins to the backs of the deGrazia pictures and pinned one on each of them. I have to admit I am tired and it is so nice to not have to worry about cleanup. I did clean up and empty the party room. I have a little dip, a little guacamole and some desserts left.

Now the funny part. I had read on the blog for the group not to bring food, to bring some little gift. They would share the cost of the food that was brought. When Ileana and her car full got here they had a gift for me and I put it up on the shelf. I noticed lots of gifts being put up there. I was also given a gift by Emilio's little cousin and I put it on the shelf. I thought they were all for me. After dinner they had us each draw a number and they started giving away all the gifts including the one Ileana gave me and the earrings Emilio's cousin gave me. Ileana explained and I was given my gifts back. I apologized saying I didn't know what was going on and I just thought they were all for me. Since I hadn't participated but I was given a gift, Aura didn't get one. I will give her a spatula at the next meeting. I wasn't thinking fast enough to do it right then.

The avocado tree in front of my porch was partially harvested today to keep branches from breaking. They were just enormous. Only the ones on the branches over the roof were harvested. There are still plenty.

It was a busy but very good day.