Life in Costa Rica: My house is quiet.

My kids are all gone. It was such a fun week having them here. I am so glad they were able to all come and enjoyed each other so much. We had more cold and rain than I would have liked but so far I can't control that. The hot, dry season is just slow in starting all over the country. We made do and I had enough blankets to keep everyone warm at night.

We had a variety of busy, noisy gatherings and quiet times and excursions. Let me go over the week.

Last Wednesday Ligia Sanchez came to go over the scarf for Kathy and get the yarn. The other crochet ladies didn't come because they were busy with tamales. Johanna and her daughter came and then the whole family came and had dinner with us. I made spagetti and salad and garlic bread.

Thursday was Otto and massages for me and Adriana and then in the afternoon Heather and Adriana and I went with Jose to deliver the Christmas goodies to his people.

Friday was just around Orosi and Saturday was Christmas Eve and Ziomara's family. They were concerned about a 10:00pm dinner and decided we would have Jose pick us up at 11:30 and bring us home because they didn't think they could handle being up late into the night. I made wild rice with peas, a bean casserole and shredded chicken so that with corn tortillas Kent would always have something to eat as he doesn't do gluten. All night at Ziomara's they kept saying "why didn't you tell us there would be so much food!" I also brought all the makings for Tom and Jerrys and gave one to each person. The kids got them without alcohol. There was tons of food and as at any Tico event it kept coming in courses. Kent spent pretty much the whole time with most of the kids gathered around him playing games and speaking Spanish. He has been teaching himself for 2 years and is very good with languages but he doesn't have any opportunities to speak so he has been wanting to spend time in Spanish speaking countries so he would learn more by speaking. With a Spanish teacher in house and all the opportunities he had this trip for extended conversations, he loved it.

Sunday was Christmas and I made the ham Heather and Kent brought me. She loves Honey Baked Ham and was looking at bringing one but with shipping and everything to Madison it would have been about $80.00 for the ham. I told her to go to the deli at Hy Vee and talk to them. She did and taste tested all their ham and ended up getting a pineapple ham for $28.00. Still not cheap but it was a delicious ham that I did in the crock pot with more pineapple and cloves. With mashed potatoes and green beans with bacon and cranberry sauce we had a great dinner. She also brought me 2 more packages of bacon and tons and tons of coconut and chocolate chips - all kinds. Two big packages of fancy cupcake holders also. I know there is more I will remember later. We had things for Ziomara and Katherine and Emilio in the suitcases besides all the yarn and fabric and clothes for the garage sale. I had forgotten about all the kitchen towels I had ordered so I have things for gifts.

Monday Adriana had another massage and then I took her over to meet Tia. Tia had not been out much and when I had seen her the girls were either still sleeping or out eating and wandering the town. I didn't make any effort to cook every meal because they love the sodas and Gallo pinto and casados. After chatting with Tia, Adriana was off to meet Emilio. They had quite a time and since it wasn't a great day for sightseeing and touring they ended up at the Star Wars movie. Ligia Sanchez came with the finished scarf and I gave her more yarn for another one and I was working on another hat as I had finished the first one. We managed to do 2 hats and 2 long scarves during this week even though it was also Christmas and a busy week.

Yesterday, their last day here, they met Johanna when they were out eating and she took them to her house for a long chat. In the afternoon, Ligia Sanchez and the other crochet ladies came and Johanna so we had lots of talking and laughing. Johanna brought fruit cake and I had made a run to the bakery so I had lots for coffee. They made a run out for food later but not much was open. They made an fun discovery. There is a tiny little soda -1 table- in the corner of Gerardo's hardware store. I have rarely seen it open. They ate there and it turned out to be wonderful food. They also ran into Gerardo and were able to say goodbye. We haven't seen much of him as he has been so busy covering for employees absent during the holidays.

I started on the 22nd giving them one gift a day. One day Heather said "do I get a gift today and what about my birthday gift." Her birthday is in November. I took her out on the porch and showed her the bells wind chime and said I bought that for her, if she wants it. She loved it. Christmas Eve I gave them all more gifts and she said "but where is my throw?" I just shrugged my shoulders. I had it packed to take to Ziomara's and have her open when the kids opened their gifts. We weren't there late enough so I brought it back and gave it to her on Christmas Day. She loved it and now we are thinking of one for Adriana. She has a couple things from her mother that I will work into the throw for her and I will have enough cashmere with what I have and what Heather still has. Heather will felt them and then I can bring them down. Adriana will send what she wants me to use to Heather's.

I did get teased a bit. Monday evening it was raining so Heather was saying maybe we could just stay here and have dinner. We had chicken and wild rice and beans and ham. When she got to the ham I made a frowning face and from then on they teased that I had given them as much ham as I was willing to share and I wanted to keep the rest for me. I had also made ham and scrambled eggs for everyone that morning so there wasn't much left. Every time I would say we have ham they would say no, no, no, the rest is for you. I did end up making ham with tortillas and beans for Kent for coffee yesterday.

And that has been our week. Jose picked us up at 7:00pm and we drove them to the hotel by the airport. Adriana's flight was at 7:30 and Heather and Kent's was at 9:00 this morning. Since there wasn't as much luggage I rode along and Jose and I chatted on the way back. He enjoyed them also and joked a lot with them.

It was definitely a week filled with what the season is all about.

I didn't take many pictures. Adriana did. I will include a few.