Life in Costa Rica: But there were no empanadas at the feria!

I know, I haven't written since Tuesday and you probably think I have been laying around on my front porch, in my tropical paradise, doing nothing. Well, I have done some of that but it has been a busy week.

Did I tell you I had a big bag of guayaba pulp in the freezer? Well I ended up with 20 cups, divided between 2 pans and 18 cups of sugar. I was concerned there would be problems since it had been frozen but that was not the case. Turned out really good. I did add the juice of 1/2 a sweet lemon to each pan and I like the taste. I am not good at having everything turn out the same every time because I change things a bit every time.

I ran into Johanna in the Super when I went to get sugar and I understood she was calling me that evening. Instead she was at the door and called to have me open it. She and her daughter. She was not at last year's dinner so she wanted to know more and about what to bring. She decided on salad and also made sure I knew about her daughter's party on the 19th. It is celebrating her 15th so it is a big deal. Mass at 4:00pm and then the party for 90. Speaking of parties, Papa's 91st birthday party is tomorrow. I made a pan of fudge and will try and cut it into 100 pieces so everyone can get a little piece. I leave here at 10:15 in the morning to go to Ziomara's but I plan to be back before the party is over. It is a cowboy theme and Ana let me know my white shirt and bandana and jeans will work just fine. No cowboy hat though unless I use Gerardo's Mexican sombrero hanging on my living room wall.

I made lots of bows for Ziomara to decorate her house for Christmas and I only have the binding left on the cashmere throw for Heather. Thursday afternoon was the craft ladies and I found out about their Christmas party at Iliana's farm on December 1. They tried to give me directions but gave up since I don't know where anything is so they will pick me up at the craft ladies place and take me. Anita had another lady, the wife of the security guard at the bank, who needs a hat. When I got home I took 2 to Emilio's father at the pizza shop to take to Rosita to give to Anita. Our pony express. Now we only have the ones I want to try and sell so I really need to get back to crocheting hats. I will sell my crochet ladies work but I will only do the cancer ladies hats. I am also going to work on the card to put with the hats we sell. The craft ladies decided we would speak only Spanish to help me but I said how can I teach you English if I only speak Spanish. We haven't solved that problem yet. They did ask me about the election and that is all I will say.

I headed for the feria at 9:45am without having breakfast because I was so looking forward to an empanada fix. It has been a long time. I walked the whole feria twice thinking I had just missed them because they had moved. They had always been right around the corner to the right, next to the stand where you can buy a coconut to drink out of. Neither place was there. There were eggs on the corner. Now, that doesn't mean I didn't find bread, a beautiful plant, then a bakery where I had something and coffee, then a street vendor with strawberries, and another street vendor trying to sell me an orchid because he saw my plant sticking out of my red bag. I decided to walk around and checked out several stores but didn't find anything I couldn't live without. Back at LaQuinta several family members are here decorating for tomorrow's party.

It doesn't seem to be mango season so I have to switch to papaya or something else. I have been having bananas from the tree by my house and yogurt. I can't say I enjoy the green plantains most of the ways they are served but the bananas here in La Quinta are very good.

Next week I will be going turkey hunting - maybe literally. I figure once I get them I will put them in the refrigerator in one of the other apartments and have a talk with Gerardo about how and where I will cook them. I have a really great recipe for doing turkey breast in aluminum foil and lemons and herbs that I can use if I don't get whole turkeys. I might be over 35 people so a 5 pound turkey isn't going to do it.

That brings you up to date with everything I remember. I am still helping Katherine with her tour packages and tomorrow Ziomara and I are making plans for a garage sale of all the clothes I have brought. I can't believe it is only 2 weeks till my dinner. And you absolutely wouldn't believe the hollyhock and sunflowers. We had to brace the hollyhock up but the sunflowers are standing tall.