Merry Christmas And Happy Holidays

to all my friends and family all over. I was going to say the sun is shining and it is nice and warm but now it is raining. Hopefully that will change again soon.

The major celebrating is done here on the 24th with eating and prayers and gift exchange going on late into the night. I was originally going to spend yesterday with Ziomara’s family but her father has been very ill and she decided to cancel her dinner. He is in the hospital and just had surgery so she is spending her time with him.

So, I packed up 8 styrofoam containers of goodies and gifts and headed to town. I dropped everything off at the pizza shop and went to visit Katherine and the girls. Heather had brought a good assortment of gifts for them. Books, stickers, a sun hat for Lexi, purses and little animals for both of them. She also brought a bunch of large bags and cocoa butter oil and I gave one of each to Katherine.

Back to the pizza shop where I unpacked and set up on one of the tables. Peppermint patties, fudge, tootsie rolls, chocolate coconut peanut butter snowballs, gingerbread cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies dipped in white chocolate, pretzels dipped in white and dark chocolate, Christmas cheesecake cookies and Christmas Crack. Anyone who came in got goodies. I also texted Jose and his family came and got one of each. Today, if it stops raining I will take containers to the neighbors.

I also brought a gift for Rosita. A big bag, cocoa butter oil, cookie cutters and a small spatula . She gave me a lovely belt. One of the things Heather brought for me was a new supply of beads. One of the strings was large black ones for Emilio. I also had some large green ones so those were his gift. I am going to their house soon and he will give me my gift. Rosita loved one of the strands so I will make her a bracelet of that.

I have lots of work to do outside and the grass is jungle length but with it raining so much and it being coffee picking time not a lot of other things get done. They have my skylight and screening and when they have some time they will install them.

I have had trouble here with beef being tough. I bought a lovely piece a few days ago. I put it in the crockpot at 11:00am and when I went to bed it was still tough. I left it on all night and by morning it was so so fall apart tender. I have several bags of it in the freezer that I can grab and use. Maybe that is the problem. It just never gets cooked long enough.

Jose is bringing me white and pink bougainvillea and I bought orange. I also have white and red poinsettia and 6 hydrangeas to plant in the front in the rocky area near the gate. The hydrangeas are moving from my herb planter so I can plant more herbs in there. I also have cucumber and green onion to plant. The garlic is doing great and I have celery and a couple other herbs to add. These concrete culvert halves are working great for planters. Everything is doing great. The cactus one is set close to the house so it doesn’t get near as much rain as the other ones. I also have 2 more pineapple and 3 mango seeds sprouting and ready to go in the ground. Farmer Gayle - my grandfather would be so proud of me!

The neighbors must think I am crazy. When I hear a noise during the night I grab my long stick and beat on everything within reach to hopefully scare away whatever is making the noise. Sometimes it is several times a night. Besides sleeping with all the lights on except my bedroom light. I am thankful that right now the house is quiet. I didn’t hear anything last night but there was a victim on the table this morning. Apparently it didn’t make it back to the woods to die. Emilio’s father is making me a paste they use since now the poison Adrien put out is gone.

There are no crochet ladies meetings or classes in Paraíso until February so I have time to work on my projects and hopefully get my residency ID card and my passport renewed in January. Emilio and Douglas’s oldest daughter and I are going to San Jose for an excursion before they go back to school. This is like the summer school break in the states so it has been a long one.

I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season full of love and blessings. Sun is shining again.

At the pizza shop last night.

My Christmas decorations. 

   

I supplied the beads, he made it.

My crown of thorns in bloom. 

Still plenty of coffee to ripen and pick. I haven’t had my lesson yet. 

   

Irazu volcano -- yes it is snow 

I am in hibernation.

November has been a very busy month for me. Lots of shopping trips where I have to come home by taxi because I have too much for the bus. Lots of cooking. It amazed me I was able to manage with 2 20 pound turkeys in the refrigerator. 4 parties and lots of people. Those who know me well know I am a loner, a hermit, and having lots of people around drains me of energy.  So, I now have a chance to replenish that energy. I have only one more event scheduled until Christmas with Ziomara and that is Tuesday morning at 10;00am at the senior center. We are making cinnamon stick Christmas trees and I am bringing all the pieces. Glue, string to hang, cinnamon sticks, greenery, buttons and hearts and shiny things. The classes in Paraíso will begin again next year as will the crochet gatherings.

I have projects to finish including the nap mat for Katherine’s baby which was born early Saturday morning. In the car, along the side of the road, on the way to the hospital. She had a tough week, in and out of labor and was worried so they headed to the hospital. After the baby was born they turned around and came home. Tesla is a little over 8 pounds and Katherine is very small. Both are doing good.  They had other excitement also. Courtney, who is 5 decided Lexi needed a haircut. Lexi now wears a hat I crocheted Courtney because the only solution was to shave her head and start over. Courtney is a talented artist, especially for her age. Not so much hairdresser. Besides having no hair, Lexi is having a little trouble adjusting to not being the baby anymore. Katherine has her hands full. There is a hat pattern for a cabbage patch hat. I have the yarn pulled out to make it. A good project during hibernation.

We had music and karaoke for all the parties. Arnaldo for three and Emilio using my laptop and his speakers for the last one. It worked really good and the ladies had so much fun. I did a quick change from thanksgiving to Christmas, but only on the deck. Emilio helped which was great. There were no decorations in the house and the sheer curtains were closed to the deck. When they opened them they could see everything we had done and loved it. Lights strung, stockings and big shiny balls hanging. Three tables with centerpieces. Covered tubs to put their gifts. A beverage area and a quilted tree skirt around a giant poinsettia on the washer. Ziomara gave it to me when she came for thanksgiving. It all looked lovely.

Heather and Kent got to San Jose about 1:00pm on the 23rd but between immigration and traffic it was almost 7:00pm by the time they got to Rio Macho so they went right to the hotel and Jose brought the suitcases here for me to unpack and put away. They had been up since 3:00am. They decided to stay at the Chalet Orosi which is a 22 minute walk from me. They did that several times and took a taxi when they had lots to carry. There are only 3 houses, different sizes and each has a hot tub on the deck. Lots of dogs and cats which they loved and outside town. The house was stocked with food and there are sodas or restaurants within an easy walk. They loved it and would definitely stay there again.

This year was my first experience with using and cooking real pumpkin instead of canned. I couldn’t find canned in a trip to PriceSmart or 2 trips to WalMart.  So, at WalMart I bought what I was told was pumpkin. They were small and shaped more like one of the squashes. I cut it open, took the seeds out and roasted it. It turned out so good that Saturday morning Kent and I took the bus to the feria in Paraiso to look for more. This time it looked like a green pumpkin and was called ayote. Was I making pies you say. No, I made soup. 3 batches and they all tasted different because I had to use different ingredients. Roasted pumpkin, apples, onions and garlic. Liquid was vegetable broth or chicken broth and apple juice. All that in the blender. Then on the stove I added some cream, some milk and spices. Oh yes, Emilio made me add butter and a little s alt. It was really good, all 3 times. Even Kent loved it and had 2. Kent is a little picky. I also sprinkled chopped pecans on it when we served it.

The rest of the dinners turned out good too. I cooked the turkey a day early and took it all off the bone. I heated it back up with some chicken stock in the pan. The ham was sliced with pineapple and cloves. A crockpot of dressing each day and 10 pounds of potatoes. I roasted 6 heads of garlic each time and used it all in the potatoes. I sliced the ka   mote the day before and it gets cooked with butter, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Not the typical way here but really good and they liked it very much.

I didn’t manage to memorize the blessing but I was able to read it and pronounce it so everyone understood me.

A big hit was the sangria. The first dinner Rosita made it and I had a hibiscus drink for the kids. The second dinner I mixed a carton of sangria, a bottle of red wine and a jug of the hibiscus drink. Sliced oranges and frozen blueberries and raspberries. Everyone raved! After dinner there was Bailey’s and Amarula. Everyone left happy. Kent played the role of the Pied Piper and kept all the young people entertained with games, excursions and trips in the water. They all seemed to have a great time.

My tables have been moved back in the house and as soon as I find them my clothesline’s will go back up and I will get some laundry done. I am going to leave the lights up on the deck. I love the look. I have to bring my extension cord back in for my sewing machine so I have to figure something out.

I had 2 days this week without WiFi and then yesterday the calling part of my phone wasn’t working. Jose called to say he was outside and it rang but he couldn’t hear me and I couldn’t hear him. I thought maybe I had used up my service when I didn’t have WiFi. I just tried and a call went thru. Jose said he had reported it so they must have done something to fix it.

That’s enough for now. I think I will have a bowl of the ham and split pea soup I made yesterday using the ham bone. Turned out good.

The pictures got a bit mixed up.

The craft ladies Christmas party   

 

Checking out what is for sale. I gave each one a number. I started with 1-5 then did 18-14 and so on.

Douglas and Ziomara and Adrien and his wife. 

Ayote

Santa (Edith) stopped in.

 

My beautiful poinsettia

Otto entertaining with his lovely voice. 

   

My gift in the exchange. From Edith. 

The craft ladies. 

The first one.

I could tell you my life has been very quiet and boring.

But, I would not be telling the truth. I have so much fun and have so much going on for an old lady. I have to write about it or I will forget everything.

Since my trip to PriceSmart I have made two big trips to WalMart. I go on the bus and have just a half block walk. The first trip was the non perishables and today was everything else on my list. My refrigerator is full with 2 turkeys and the table is covered with all the fruits and vegetables. When you come down the ramp there is a lineup of taxis. I met a new driver, Edwin. He is working hard to learn English because it will be good for his business. We chatted all the way here and he complimented me on my Spanish. He added his telephone number to my phone for future trips. As soon as I finished checking out today I called him and explained who I was and he said he would be at WalMart in 2 minutes. I went down to the taxi area and an older man came over to me. I said I am waiting for Edwin and he said that is my son and you must be the beautiful lady from Rio Macho. Talk about making me feel good! Edwin came and loaded everything up and again we chatted all the way home. I had given him a jar of jelly last time and he told me how much he enjoyed it. So, tomorrow the cooking starts and Monday Emilio is coming to help.

Jose and Victor were here Thursday to get the yard in order for the party Friday and he and Victor also put up my mosquito netting so now bugs have to fight to get in. I also now have an address and a utility bill. Well, kinda. It seems I don't have one so we are using Grandpa's. I am 500 meters south of the church but it is really more then that. As soon as all my parties are over I will take care of getting a bank account and going to immigration for my ID card.

The first party, with the senior citizens, was yesterday and it went so well. Everyone had a great time. I think there were 38 here but it wasn't a problem. They spent most of the time on the deck and that gave us the house to do all the food prep. The music was great and I have hired him to come back for my dinners. All the food and drinks were wonderful too.They planned to leave about 1:00 but it was 2:15. As they left, Adrien was here with a backhoe and dug out all the deadish trees and brush between the driveway and the creek. I am not sure what they plan to do but I think something with rocks. I also learned the roof panel is ordered but hasn't come yet. That is why the work hasn't been done on the house.

I did have a little trouble with an animal in the house. I know it was bigger than a mouse because of the holes it was making in food and wrappers but I never saw it. That was the reason they put the mosquito netting up and there have been no signs for the last 3 nights so I think it is working. They are going to put up more permanent screening but for now this works. Either that or the fact I have been leaving the kitchen light on at night.

I think that is about it. I will see if I can add a few pictures. I forgot to tell you my salad greens story.

The greens

How the front looks now

The backhoe 

Jeanette and lunch

Jose and Victor 

I asked them to cut a bamboo tree for Ziomara 

How it looks now

Courtney drew me a picture of my dog.

Jose  has told me the greens growing in the water in the concrete area by the house are good and extremely healthy. When the group was here yesterday, Ligia and Janette noticed them and Ligia took her shoes off and climbed down and picked lots. Jeanette said she buys them in the market in Cartago and they were very happy to get them so fresh. It is a form of culantro I think. It is also used in various cooked dishes. I also got the ladder out and picked Jeanette grapefruit to take for drinks. They made a wonderful drink with the guayaba I had and brought a mora drink with them. Mora is like blackberry.

When Jose was here we talked about more chairs and of course there is a cousin who rents. This time it wasn't Jose's cousin but I think Adrien's and he is also Victor's nephew and maybe Glorian's cousin. So I rented a long table and 10 chairs which really helps. I will have them thru the 26th.

Life doesn't get much better than this.

Most of my thoughts lately have been about the upcoming four events. Inviting new people since some of the ones I invited can't come. There is a fundraiser for the seniors that got scheduled for the 23rd - remember thanksgiving isn't a holiday here. The crochet ladies won't be able to make it and I have 24 for Sunday so I can't include them that day. There will be a lot of craft ladies from Paraiso and Emilio will be here both days. Jose will miss again this year but I will package up lots for him as he will be going to San Jose to get Heather and Kent.

Things are moving a little slow. Nothing was done on my house this week and I don't have an address or bank account yet. I think I read in the paperwork that I have 90 days so I won't panic yet.

My beautiful orchid is in bloom

My ham, my ham, my ham

Under the ham are some of the fabrics I am using for Katherine's baby snuggle sack or nap mat. I will use memory foam in the bottom so it is like a portable bed. 

 

 

Emilio said we needed a good sound system for the parties.

This year's craft  project for the seniors. I have the cinnamon sticks and greenery. Heather will bring the buttons. 

Emilio and I haven't done much for a long time. School and his internship were keeping him so busy. We made up for it on Friday. I left Rio Macho at 9:30 am and it was 3:00 or 4:00 by the time we got back here. I took the bus to Paraiso and then the bus to San Jose, getting off at PriceSmart. He hadn't done that before and realized how easy it is. I have never taken the bus back because I always have too much. I told him I wanted to checkout everything, and we did. The things I found. As the cart kept getting fuller I kept saying to myself - Thanksgiving is only once a year. And now I won't have to buy paper towels or toilet paper for about that long. When we finished and I renewed my membership for another year we stopped for chicken in their food area. It was very good. We packed up the bags I brought with the smaller things and he called Uber. We filled the trunk and half of the back seat and headed home. I asked Emilio to ask the driver if we could make a 5 minute stop at Mayca in Cartago. I promised it would be only 5 minutes and I only needed 1 thing. It is the only place I have found frozen cranberries for my cranberry sauce.We did and it was 5 minutes!

When we got here I opened the gate and he backed to the door and we unloaded everything.  All of that cost 13,000 colones which is about $23.00 -the Uber I mean, not my purchases.  When Emilio got ready to leave he checked with Uber and there was a car in Cachi and they came and got him to go to Paraiso.

So, why life is so good today. I just had bacon - yes, yes, yes, real bacon and fried eggs and toast with guayaba jelly AND coffee with hazelnut flavored coffee creamer! I have Van Camps pork and beans in the cupboard and a spiral cut ham in the refrigerator. Yes Gerry, Spam too! The only sad part is it is not mango season so if you find them, they are expensive. It is citrus season so lots of oranges and mandarinas.

Then, yesterday, after the big day Friday, I headed for Cartago. So did everyone else in this whole area. It took an hour and we weren't even to WalMart. Slow moving and people waiting at every stop. I made it to Ziomara's yarn shop, spent a good amount of time at the market including a fish lunch at my usual place, got a hose at the garden shop as well as some cucumber, carrot and green onion seeds. Then to the old grocery store for lots of things. I could just carry everything - my purse strapped over me, my red bag over my shoulder and a big heavy duty white bag - I love them. Turned out it was the same bus driver that brought me from Rio Macho. I only went to Orosi this time, spent some time at the pizza shop and with Katherine and had Luis bring me home. I could have gone on the bus but it is the climb up the hill carrying all that stuff.

My back has been bothering me a lot and I expected problems from the last few days, but no. Guess I will have to walk more.

I still have to get turkeys but not till Saturday at the earliest. I also haven't found canned pumpkin. I am going to make a trip to WalMart early this week. I still have lots of groceries to get, but most are
perishable so it is too early. I think I have decided on serving food. We will dish up the turkey and ham and have everything set out with ladies serving. My problem is I love family style and hate to give that up. It also means I need an extra table for serving. As everyone is bringing something I will do turkey, ham, dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. Desserts are cherry cheesecake, something pumpkin and something lemon and whatever others bring. I love lemon meringue pie and it should be pumpkin pie but I have never done much with pie crust. We will see. Sangria from Rosita, Hibiscus punch and after dinner drinks. Coffee, bread and desserts will be later.

It seems I have no history.

My iPad was filling up and running out of space so I decided to see what I could do to clean it out. I decided to go thru email and delete the patterns I hadn't made and the recipes I hadn't made and all the emails older than 1 year. Well, apparently my fingers worked faster than my brain because the next morning I was checking and it seems I deleted everything in most folders. I have no family, I have no friends, I have no birthday, I have nothing. Talk about being isolated. I even have no Roz or Kaye. At least I didn't mess with taxes. I do still have that. And Heather.

And, after all of that it didnt even give me much more space. It's my photo program. 3 years of pictures I have taken takes up too much space. I have to figure out what to do. I need a geek!

This week should be exciting. Hopefully I will open a bank account. Two years from now I will have to produce a statement from the bank that I have deposited $1000.00 a month. I can take it out and use it to live but I have to have deposited it. I need an address and a utility bill for here. Then I will authorize my first 3 month payment for Caja. Usually you have to pay every month but thru the group I am joining you can do it on your credit card and pay for longer periods. In case you are interested, their monthly rate for me for CAJA is $89.00. That covers doctor, hospital and meds. My attorney will set up an appointment for Immigration and Jose will take me so I can get my ID card. There are a few more funds to pay. They hold money for a one way ticket to leave in case they have to kick you out. And the ID card fee and whatever else.  Also, Adrien and a worker were here yesterday and this week they are coming to put in my skylight and screening to keep as many flying things out as possible.

I have added another event for November. The craft ladies are coming on the 30th for a fiesta to celebrate my residency and see what Heather brought with her. With 4 suitcases full, everyone should find something they like. Even after saying the suitcases are full, she has managed to add a bunch of books. Very popular with María José and her friends are the American Girl books and Katherine reads to Courtney every evening so there are some for her. The beads we ordered arrived but the buttons aren't there yet. I hope they come in time.

Yup, I am in the creek. With my phone in one hand and my walking stick in the other hand and being very careful.

Some of the books they found.

I have written about the craft lady who works at the hospital and got me the pass to the chemo room. This is Flory.

My residency application has been approved

It has taken exactly a year. Now I must register for the national health insurance, CAJA, and when I fly into Costa Rica I won't have to have a ticket to leave. I also don't need to leave to get a new visa.  I am still a US citizen and travel on a US passport which by the way I have to renew early next year.

I'll tell you more when I have met with the attorney and know more. A trip to San Jose soon.

Timber

Jose and a helper were here today and I had a list of things for them to do to get ready for the 17th when the seniors are coming. I don't know how adventuresome they will be but I wanted to be prepared and have everything as safe as possible. Jose said I want to cut this other branch off the cas tree and that is where they started after I took them around to show them what I wanted done. I went back in the house to get the pound cake in the oven and when I heard a branch breaking, I headed out with the camera. It looks much better in one way. The fungus and another great big bees nest are gone. But, it looks like half a tree. Lots of new leaves after the other branch was cut off so hopefully that will happen again. Jose used his vehicle to haul off the big pieces and the rest were picked up and hauled away. At one point I did see him jumping and waving to get rid of the bees. I did lose a couple flowers but a small price to pay for getting the tree cleaned up. I had also asked them to pick up all my piles around the yard and they did. I had thrown a bunch of rocks from the field to the front yard and they carried them to the planters. Now another big job.

I mentioned the growth along the creek had been cut down and I found a beautiful spot that is like a pool. There were some things that needed to be cleared out and I wanted to know how deep it is and if the bottom is safe and if it will be safe for the girls. It is about knee deep with a good bottom. He checked it all out and cleared away the stuff that was caught there. He created some openings so sticks can float thru. He declared it safe. I plan to try it myself, but not alone. He also put my bamboo frame back up by my meditation rock. Then in the house he put in a stronger bulb in the living room and new light covers that Ziomara had given me. It really does make a difference. You should have seen this! They brought the ladder from Jose's vehicle. A straight ladder! His helper held it as Jose climbed up and worked with the light. I have high, high ceilings with bulbs dangling down. In case you are wondering, there have been several different helpers and I am so awful with names that are different from those I have known all my life. I think today it was Lalo. I know Victor who is older and has been here several times. He is so strong and works so hard. But none of them sluff off. Jose doesn't allow it.

I have been told that soon Adrien will have some extra time to work here and is going to put in a little gate so I don't have to use the big one to go in and out. He is also going to put in the skylight and screening in the open areas to cut down the bug population in here. We were going to put mosquito netting in those areas today but he said no because he has it on his list.

I did make a trip to Cartago this week and tomorrow is craft ladies. Ziomara plans to come Sunday. After that I start concentrating on everything I have going on the rest of the month.

Besides the pound cake in a bundt pan I made a batch of Spritz cookies. Some I added peppermint extract and green food coloring and they have a chocolate chip in the middle. Others are white and some are red. Others are multicolored. The green and white went thru the cookie press just fine but not the red even though I had refrigerated them so I rolled them into balls. Next batch I will try a different recipe. I want to get things baked and in the freezer for all the events. I am going to ask Adrien for as much fruit as possible for the seniors. Hopefully there are bananas and grapefruit and lemons and guayabas. I found a mandarina tree with lots of fruit, if it is ripe by then.

My pool area.

My new light covers

Finished product

What it took to get there

Lots came off

This was when I heard the crack

It's Saturday and I am good.

I think the heavy rain is supposed to let up. Unless of course another tropical storm heads this way. We are supposed to be getting towards the end of the rainy season. We will still have rain, but not as much or as often. Maybe my laundry will dry in a day.

All my flowers that Jose and his crew planted are doing really good and he also came out one day while I was in Orosi with the crochet ladies and cut a big branch off the cas tree. It was a very big branch and covered with fungus. He said it made it very heavy and there was also a bee hive in it so it would have made a very funny video. He had to use his vehicle to drag it away.

One morning this week, when Jose was here, we noticed someone by the creek. We went to check and it turned out he was cutting everything down. Now there was good and bad to this but my first reaction was not good. It turned out Adrien was here also and it was his brother in law who was cutting everything down so I could enjoy the rocks and the creek. Problem is now you can see right to the neighbors. I don't do anything naughty but I loved how private it was and the look of branches hanging over the creek. I went walking along the creek and they have opened up some beautiful spots. I also discovered how much work they had done cutting down a very long area along the creek, on both sides.  I felt bad and had Jose apologize for me. I have now paid my rent for the next 3 months and there is even talk of a cottage being built back behind me to be used as a guest house or another rental. At this point it is just talk and they did ask if I would mind. I said this is such a large area I was sure it would not be a problem. During December I will be having my coffee lessons from picking all the way to a cup at the table.

I have told you a fruit and vegetable truck stops on Saturday evening. Last week a man came by with pots and pans. I said no, I had lots from the US. And I do, nice stainless. Today, when I went to unlock the gate, he was here again. This time he had a big pots and pans box strapped over his shoulder. He showed me a big pot and I said I have 3. He showed me a big frying pan and I said no, I have one. A little frypan and no, I have one. Then out came the medium frypan. Now most of what I have seen here is very lightweight but this isn't. And I like that the covers aren't glass. I have broken more than 1. So I said how much. 18,000. So I hesitated and waited and he said 15,000. I said yes and came to get money. I only had 20,000 and he said he didn't have change so I now also have a tea kettle. Now I am not dumb, I know the game, but it was fun.

November will be very busy. The 17th the seniors are coming for the day and then thanksgiving dinners the 23 and 26. Lots of shopping to do and cooking and baking. I also have some people from the US that I haven't met here for the 23rd. One of the Bursch Travel employees in the St. Cloud office contacted me to say some of her family are coming and I invited them for thanksgiving. They fly in on the 21st and will be here the 23rd. Then Heather and Kent fly in on the 23rd and will be here the 24th. Jose and his crew will be coming before the 17th to get everything looking good and also safe for the seniors.

I still have to walk to the animal shelter to donate everything I had gotten for Pups. Their hours are 8:00-11:00 every morning but I don't get going very early.



I have lots of guayaba. I have used almost all my jars for jelly and today I have 3 bags of them outside my gate for anyone to take. We were talking about the jelly at crochet ladies and Jeanette said she doesn't make good jelly but mine is very good. I couldn't believe it. She makes all kind of food to sell but not good jelly. We said it was time for another cooking lesson at my house but this time I am teaching a Tica how to make something a Tica taught me. I had never made jelly till I moved here. Not having to buy the fruit makes it so much better.

Otto was here on Wednesday and will be back soon to check out the new spots on the creek. I found one near my house that actually seems like a pool with big rocks around it.

As you know, the whole time I was at La Quinta I was starting pineapple. I had my pineapple plantation. I brought 3 with me and planted them. They got mowed down. Jose brought me one and Victor planted it and yesterday I discovered it was gone. We think maybe it got pulled out when the big tree branch was removed. I guess I am not supposed to have a pineapple crop. The peanut butter and mango trees are doing just fine. I have garlic growing also.

Now I can see thru the tree with the bad branch cut off. Still one area with lots of fungus.

My new frypan and tea kettle.

Some of the things I bought Thursday from Edith. She does such lovely work.

I am so glad I went yesterday.

During the night Pups got worse and died this morning. We are going to get him soon and we will bury him here where he enjoyed himself so much. Jose and Victor were here planting flowers so Jose dug his grave and we will plant some flowers. He brought lots of joy and fun to my life the little time he was in it. I will miss him.

A sad day but I did good.

No, no, no Pups is still alive. Yesterday afternoon I authorized the doctor to have blood work done. She sent me a copy of the results and explained them to me. It seems Pups is having problems with kidney failure so they started him on treatment. She said it would be 1-3 days to tell if it is working. She also suggested I come to visit as he needs to see me. I did that this morning. I walked to the church to get the bus and showed the doctor's card to the driver and said it was by McDonalds and WalMart. I have to say he wasn't the nicest, friendliest driver - most of them are- and said he understood nothing. I figured I can figure it out myself. As soon as I could see the Golden Arches I pressed the button to get off. I had only about 2 blocks to walk. There probably was a stop closer but I didn't want to take a chance. Dr. Laura took me back to where he was, lying in a kennel with an iv in his front leg. He didn't get up but was quiet and let me pet him. She said on Tuesday he yelped and nipped at her when she touched his stomach but that wasn't happening today. And he was no longer vomiting. I explained to him that the neighbors would all be really mad if he didn't get better and come home. I have authorized another blood test to see if anything is changing.

After a long visit I decided to walk for a ways back towards Paraiso. I came to the smaller nursery I have seen and wanted to visit and yup, I didn't make it out without 3 bags full. 2 in my red bag and another bag for the taller plants. Next, on the other side of the road is a restaurant, Nila, that I have been wanting to try. Lovely place. I was given several options of specials and I chose salmon. First came my fruit drink and tomato soup. Then a plate of vegetables and the entree which had little mounds of mashed potatoes around the outside of the plate and a salmon fillet with salsa on it. Absolutely wonderful. Not soda prices but worth every penny.

I loaded up again and walk as far as my regular nursery - no I did not go in. The bus stop is across the road. Bus to the church in Rio Macho and then walk home. Lots of exercise for me. I just hope tomorrow will bring good news about Pups.

Lunch

It has been a difficult week.

And it is only Wednesday. I am not a lover of all animals kind of person, like Heather or Courtney. I am a selective animal lover. Heather even tells some of her cats that grandma doesn't like them as much as others. So, when an animal picks me, adopts me, what can I do but return the feelings. For heavens sake I even moved plants so he could lay in the planter.

Anyway, by Sunday evening I was getting really concerned the way Pups was acting so I messaged the doctor, and Heather, and she messaged Kent's cousin who is a vet and her friend who is a nurse. We had lots of people involved. The doctor here said bring him in Monday morning so I lined up Jose to pick us up at 10:00am. Monday was a holiday so the regular doctor was off but there was a substitute filling in. She looked him over good and thought it would be better if he spend the night since he wasn't eating and hadn't eaten since Saturday afternoon. That was Monday, now it is Wednesday and he is still there. He is on meds for stomach, vomiting, antibiotics and pain and iv for fluids. He still won't eat and now they are going to do blood work to see if they can figure out what is wrong with him and his stomach. The doctor said today they were going to try giving him some chicken cooked in plain water and see if he would take that. He just lays and sleeps. I am very sad and worried. All I wanted to do was get him bug free and healthy.

Oh my goodness, what a week!

I am definitely, definitely, definitely not a Pups doctor. When we were kids we always had dogs but we lived by a busy highway so they changed quite often. There was one adventure when I was married with a Great Dane named Trouble that my youngest sister convinced me we should get. Other than that it has been cats.

So, Wednesday José picked Pups and I up and we went to the vet to get his ears checked and to leave him for surgery the next morning. Then we went to the nursery for flowers so I would have more color in my gardens. Jose brought my flowers here and I headed for Cartago on the bus for yarn and to check for coffee for Heather. She loves Buen Día Gourmet and we only found 2 when she was here. There was plenty on the shelf so I bought 4. And lots of beautiful yarn.

Thursday is craft ladies and I was taking lots of fabric with me and the baby quilt I made for Vera's new grandson. It is fun and has frogs all over. I went to call Luis and discovered I was out of minutes. I could still message Katherine and Jose and they both ended up putting minutes on my phone and I called Luis. No problem he says and was here in 5 minutes. There is an area the other side of Orosi that is down  to one lane because the bank is sliding into the river. He stopped so I could take pictures - the bus just won't do that.

Jose was outside the craft ladies at 5:00pm to take me to get Pups. They had called to say everything went well and I could pick him up. In case you are interested, this whole adventure has cost $300.00 including the first visit, 2 shots, ear spray, flea collar and pill, brush, large kennel, collar,  teeth cleaning, neutering, antibiotics, pain meds, salve,We came home and that is when the challenge started. The first night he slept in the kennel I bought and I slept on the loveseat. We made a couple trips outside. After that he has been sleeping on his bed behind the chair in the living room and me in my bed. He has a plastic collar on so he can't lick his stitches and bumps into things and gets stuck. And, he HATES the meds! One for pain, one for antibiotic, salve to put on his incision and the ear spray. The ears are much better and they cleaned them out but I need to continue for another week. I have tried everything with the pills, in every kind of stinky food I can think of but the food might be gone and the pieces of pill are still there. Because they did his teeth his mouth is sore so I don't dare try and pry it open. He isn't eating now - probable afraid there are pills in the food. I have tried his food, his food soaked in water, beef, tuna, eggs, cheese, biscuits with jelly, oatmeal and yes, even a cookie.

When he is outside he heads for the creek to drink. This morning he wanted to be on the other side of my little creek. I have a long lightweight red cord tied to his collar. The other end is tied to a bamboo stick so I can anchor it. I put it under the heavy blue hoses they have by the water and came in to make oatmeal for him. I went to check and here he was back in the living room on his bed and the stick was outside the door. Don't know how he managed but he did. Sure hope he starts feeling better or I will have to call the doctor again. I do still have rice and chicken and hamburger to try and tempt him.

Ziomara and María José were here yesterday and we went to Orosi for pizza and breadsticks and a chat with Emilio. Now I have 2 1/2 days to stay home and convince Pups it isn't the end of the world and he can live and have fun in this altered state.

 

The closed lane area.

See how close the house is to the edge.

The river is eating away the land.

Poor Pups 

Ziomara brought me a gift from her sister, Monica. They are actual butterfly wings in resin. Beautiful. I love them 

Courtney needed an outfit for school so she could dress as an Indian. Her mother made the skirt. Her grandmother made the top, I made the headband and supplied the feathers. I think Carlos, an artistic friend had a hand in the finishing touches. 

Some flowers 

More flowers. It will be so pretty.