It's Friday already.

Let's see Wednesday afternoon I headed for Paraiso and stopped at Aura's house to drop off the Sugar Cookie Bars with Guayaba Jelly and the Cinnamon Bread. There was only one other tray of bread so I figured it was a good day for me to be bringing mine. I went to Chrch for the Mass and noticed quite a bit of activity in the square. The microphones in church were turned up so loud that it was hard on the ears. By the time we came out there were tons of people in the square and music playing. Tomorrow is Independence Day so the festivities have already started.

We all went to Aura's house for the rosary. I don't yet understand the rosary here. Now I was raised in Catholic schools in a catholic family so the rosary was a common thing. Here they stand for the first decade. I follow the response of the Hail Mary in English and the words fit the length they are saying and their's ends in Amen also so I know they are  saying the Hail Mary. But, the second decade and the fourth decade they reply with something else because their's is longer and ends in Jesus. I need to do some investigating or get something in Spanish and English. 

Prayers done and time for food. You would not have believed all the food they had. Round after round was passed out to us including little tortillas with a potato filling, breads, rice pudding, candy and before we left we were given a bag of breads. 

Anita was there and was given the bag of hats. With the help of a translator she said she would take me along when she delivers some. I would love that.

You would not believe how great the corn looks. Oscar worked so hard. He even braced some of them up with sticks. The sunflowers are big also. He alternated them but in one spot he must have forgotten what was supposed to be planted and planted both. I will start with that picture because I don't want to post a person on Facebook without their permission.

Yesterday I could hear the parade going for a long time in the morning. No fancy floats. Just a lot of marchers and dancers and musicians. I was surprised the pizza shop was open so I walked over to get a little pizza. I took the Quiddler game with me so it took 2 hours for me to get home. It was a very good game and although it started out with Emilio 0 and me 33, he was only 4 behind me at the end. He is really good about long words. At one point he was helping a customer and his father picked up his cards and I said no español. He says a few words of English but it is mostly Spanish. 

The pizza was great.

Otto was here this morning and I was able to give him a bunch of guayaba and a container of jelly. They are falling from the trees and no one is picking them up and I don't have enough jars to make more jelly. He worked a little deeper today and I feel so much better. I will have another massage the day before I leave for the US. 

Ziomara sent me pictures of her co-worker's wife wearing the hat she gave her and said she knows more ladies who need them. Anita posted pictures of a few people she gave hats to. I have forwarded all the pictures to my group of ladies and they are feeling very good about what they are doing. I have pretty much bought out all the yarn in the US to bring down. I ordered 48 skeins that will arrive soon at Heather's. I was asked to make some microwave bowl potholders for a friend of Heather's so I placed an order for fabric this morning. I will make them while I am there. The service at the JoAnn's Fabrics in Madison is so terrible we hate to go there. It is the only fabric store around and they have about half as many clerks as they need. Heather did stop but the check out line went all the way back to the cutting table. It takes half a day to get anything. 

And, it's so exciting. Heather sent me pictures of big bags - over 5 cups of coconut for $1.28 per bag. They are only in this one store certain times of the year. She bought 10 bags and said she will buy more later. It will be easier this time to bring some because the other thing I am bringing - lots of yarn - is very light. Oh yes, and the printer I want to bring and 15 sets of crochet hooks and fabric and the other things we got for Ziomara's store and a half basement full of jelly jars and a sewing machine and all the stuffed animals. And the list goes on and on. 

I need to make a trip to the pharmacy to pick up one med and order insulin for next week so I have enough for while I am gone.  The rain seems to be stopping and the sun is out again. I think I will take cookies with me. 

I'm thinking I may go to the feria in Paraiso tomorrow morning for my empanada fix and to check out the plant area and the fruit and bread of course.

Suncorn.

Ziomara's co-worker's wife.

It was very lively in La Quinta this morning. As I mentioned Ana is in Nicaragua so other members of the family are here with Tia. This morning there were a bunch of the young cousins and little kids. They filled the pool and seemed to be having great fun. Now it is back to being very quiet.