I might have met another gypsy.

And sometimes someone comes into your life to help you learn a lesson and then leaves after a minute. I, better than others, understand a gypsy as I am one. Apparently so is my dog. Pups I have been calling him. For several days he stayed very close, only being gone for short stretches. He would come up to me and put both front paws on my knees and let me pet or scratch him. I didn't handle him much because I was concerned about fleas and ticks. He would eat food from my fingers, very gently. He ate what I fed him and I even made a big pot of dog food. Hamburger, chicken, pasta peas and green beans in a thick soup base gravy. Wasn't bad, I tasted it. He kept trying to get in the house when I was working in the kitchen but that I didn't allow. I figured I would wait a couple days till he was more used to me and give him a bath and then decide about taking him to the vet to get checked over and tell me about how old he is so I could have him fixed if necessary.

Yesterday, while I was lying in the hammock, he left and I haven't seen him since. I walked to the bus and back and didn't see him either way.

I just hope he is ok - and maybe that is what people think about me on my gypsy adventures. He is known in the area so no local would hurt him. It just seems strange I haven't seen anything of him or his little friend. Guess he really didn't want to have to eat green beans and peas. Dennis, did you give him sanctuary and promise no peas?

I made 30 baking powder biscuits for  Paty's party and took them to Orosi yesterday along with a bag of cas for Katherine and one for Emilio. My tree is dropping fruit like mad and I still have a bag here. I think I better make more jelly. I did buy pineapple from the fruit and vegetable truck last night.

Jose is coming tomorrow with help and they are going to move more of the concrete to up by my house. I want to move the plants from the concrete blocks to the big planter because the plants are getting pretty big for the concrete blocks. I can start my herbs in the concrete blocks

I have finally started the chicken scratch stitching with Edith's help. There is a difference between the Ticas and me when it comes to stitching. They are very traditional with stitches and colors. Not so much me. I get bored with 40,000 of the same stitch so I see how I can change it up. It is done on all sizes of checked gingham. I am using the very large to make it easier for learning. I plan to add the yellow in the black squares surrounding the ones I have done but maybe a different stitch or with 2 strands. I did get congratulations when I showed them this. I have just one little spot that isn't quite right. Upper right square, bottom line. Once I get my cataract taken care of I can really go to town.

November 17 is senior day here. Food, beverages, music, dancing, craft, stories by Otto, enjoying the area. Should be fun. Then November 24 is one Thanksgiving dinner for about 20 and November 27 is the other one for about the same number. I have discovered I have access to 26 chairs and another table besides the 3 I have. I have silverware from last year. This year I will buy 2 turkeys and I have ham from Kaye. I have wild rice for dressing. I think we will again try potluck but I will explain better about passing dishes. With only 20 at a time it will be easier and we can eat either in the house or on the deck with the hammock put away. Ziomara has offered to come early and help.

I got a message from Adriana today. She lives in the San Antonio area. I was concerned because of the hurricane, Harvey. She is fine and the main concern now is flooding because of all the heavy rain.  School is scheduled to start tomorrow but they aren't sure.

My new craft

I don't think my oven gets real hot enough. They call for 450. They are cooked and good but not browned.

Gypsy Pups.

I have been adopted

Time seems to just fly. I notice it has been over a week since I posted. I have walked to the church a few times and taken the bus - all downhill. I even took the bus home the other day and lucked out. He was coming to the terminal so I only had 300 meters to walk uphill. I have called Luis several times and he is so great. He has always been available and speedy about coming to get me and willing to help carry everything.

Let's see, I haven't told you about my refrigerator. To start it was very noisy and then it got quieter and quieter and warmer and warmer. When the landlord stopped by I explained I thought there might be a problem. He and a technician showed up Sunday. First they unloaded the freezer, then I gave them tubs for everything in the refrigerator. They took it out on the deck and worked on it for a while and think it is fixed. I have been checking it often and so far so good. One thing I have discovered is Ticos aren't real good about testing or putting things back like they were. They used the hose and changed some settings so when I went to do laundry on Monday I had no water going to the washer. I knew I didn't change anything so I figured it was broken. I checked to make sure the electricity was working and it was so I decided I would just try adjusting everything and that worked.

Monday the guys came,  at 8:00am, and trimmed all the yard.  I had chocolate chip cookies for everyone both days and  I also shared jars of my newest jelly. It has quite an assortment of fruits but people really like it. The tree right outside my front door drops lots of cas everyday and I have been bringing them in. Here they mainly use it for a refreshing drink but I decided to see what I could do. I used lo

Here to stay

Jeanette being a kid

Paty and one of my wonderful rocks

Overlooking the creek on the best sidewalk in all of Costa Rica

A tablecloth Edith from Paraiso made.

ts of cas, a whole pineapple, juice of one lemon, a few pieces of mango and papaya that I had in the refrigerator. When I got it cooked and blended and strained and in the pot and sugar added I also added a jar of mango strawberry jelly to add more flavor and sweetness.

I haven't been very good about taking cookies to the guys at the Super so I made a big batch of chocolate chip cookies and on Saturday took 2 dozen with me. Katherine and family, the pizza shop then the Super and I was out. Needless to say they were a big hit. For some reason - altitude or humidity they turn out thin and crispy. My favorite. Speaking of thin and crispy, I finally got a pizza that way. They make it special for Katherine's husband so I asked for one like he gets. It was so good.

Yesterday the crochet ladies were here and they love my new place. They were like kids at the park and had so much fun. There is so much room here. We are talking about having the seniors out for a picnic and party. I think they will love it out here. Hopefully Otto can come to tell stories and we will have music and dancing and food and drinks. Should be so much fun.

I made biscuits and sausage gravy for coffee yesterday and the baking powder biscuits were such a hit that i am making 30 for Paty for her celebration of her granddaughter's baptism on Sunday. I made another batch today to take to craft ladies tomorrow along with a jar of jelly. I will have to get more butter tomorrow as well as more baking powder.

I have mentioned the little dog that comes around and I feed. Well I think he has decided to adopt me. He is here more and more and if I go out he follows behind me. He has progressed from the deck floor to the lumpy couch on the deck. He allows me to touch him and will stand in front of me and put both paws up on my knees. I haven't given him - or her, I haven't checked - a name yet. If you speak English, Perro isn't a bad name. But if you speak Spanish it just means dog. We'll see. When I closed everything up tonight he was still sleeping on the towel I put on the couch.

I went for a walk

Now that may not seem like much but let me explain. I lived most of my adult life in North Dakota. And yes I walked - for a long time 3-5 miles a day. But one major difference between there and here is in North Dakota there isn't a hill in sight. Kaye jokes about her mountain removal program and believe me she did a very thorough job. Not even a hill, let alone a mountain in all of eastern North Dakota. Yes, once you get to the west there are the Badlands but I lived in the east.

So, I get to Costa Rica and any direction is up and down. My hips don't know and don't like up and down. So, I am taking it slow to convince them mountains are good. At least there is no sciatica problem, just hips.

So I went out the gate and headed left, up the hill. I checked out the place across the road and they have the most beautiful area of the creek. I don't know if it is all natural or partially created but it is beautiful. I said hello to everyone I saw and did my best to convince a barking dog I was just looking at their beautiful flowers. He wasn't buying it and kept barking.

There was an opening in a fence and no houses so I went in and went over to the river. You might be able to climb down if you are very agile but I just looked. So beautiful.

Back on the best sidewalk in all of Costa Rica and up the hill to where there are openings in the fence to get to the area of the river with big rocks. There were a few people having picnics. I thought there would be more. It is a bright sunny day and a holiday. Mother's Day is celebrated here on August 15. Again it is an interesting climb down to the water's edge - over rocks and little paths. Not a spot for me to try alone.

I walked a little past there and then turned around. I suppose about 800 meters which is about 8 long blocks. Now we are going downhill so my hips aren't crying but I have to be careful that I don't go too fast and stumble.

The reason for this walk was looking for small rocks. I will have to figure out a way to check in the water cuz I want river rock or at least slightly polished. I did see lots of various sized rocks in a light blue and I was very tempted but I need Emilio along for that.

On the way back I took pictures of the river and the creek. The people were just leaving and I told them how beautiful it is. Then I came across to my gate so they would see I am a local and not an outsider checking out their property.

My mango tree and pineapple are planted, the mosquito netting for the front door is made, the big rocks are gathered for the front of the planter,  I'm coming along. Tomorrow will be the big craft group in Orosi and Thursday will be Otto and the craft ladies in Paraiso. I must bake something before then. I think muffins or cupcakes.

 

The river up the road from me.

 

The river in the other direction.

The creek across the road.

We have progressed to a dish.

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Two weeks and two days as a country girl

Well kids, it is time for an update

It is August and I have moved, but let me back up a bit.

Here is a picture Johanna from the craft ladies made it and raffled it off. I got it and it will look great in my new house.

Remember I told you this new place is quite rustic. It is like a cabin, with a creek running past and a river a short distance away. It is fast running water with big rocks so I have the sound of the river all the time. It kept me up the first night but now I am sleeping. There aren't many noises besides the river and the birds in the morning.

We started moving things in on Monday of last week, went shopping on Tuesday, did more moving on Wednesday and finished on Friday. That was my first night here. We moved everything with Jose's  old vehicle and some trips we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies. It was amazing how much they managed to get in for a load. Course sometimes the helper was so buried in the back you could barely see him. Remember, I have a mattress, 3 memory foam mattress toppers and many shelving units, 9 tubs and about 20 suitcases of things I or family have brought down over the last 2 years. And we moved lots of plants. One of the first things they did was begin my garden.

The owner, Adrian, has been doing so much work here. Remember they weren't really ready to rent it out and only had two weeks from the time I said I wanted it. They were working in the house and had lots of things in here and here I am bringing tons more. I spent Wednesday afternoon here putting things away and getting organized because clutter bothers me more than dirt. By the time we came on Friday with the last 2 loads, in the rain, they had cleared their things out and it was easier to figure out where to put everything. I had put everything from the plastic tubs that wasn't breakable in yard size garbage bags so first I had to unpack the tubs so I could put the stuff back in that belonged there. Then figure out where to stick them. I am down to 1 suitcase and a little in 1 tub and everything will be unpacked.

We have had some interesting situations. The range in the kitchen wouldn't work at all and they told me 2 of the burners didn't work anyway. They increased the power to that outlet and brought a different stove where everything worked. Then I discovered there was no hot water in the shower - I was of course ready to hop in. The next day they came and replaced part of the shower and again, last night I was all ready for a shower and after a minute of running the water, I blew the breaker. So today they took more parts off the shower and maybe tomorrow. I have high hopes for a shower tomorrow. It has been a while!

I did get a washer today. It is a Whirlpool, not a Costa Rican type. I am anxious to try it but I am waiting till we get all the electricity problems solved.

Brandon, Adrian's 20 year old son, took me yesterday to visit his grandmother and aunt. We didn't take the road or sidewalk. We went the back way, thru the coffee field where I will learn to pick coffee. Past the greenhouses, past the chicken coops - I just need to ask them when I need eggs. Grandma is called Lala and she has a beautiful house and a beautiful kitchen. She loves to cook as does the aunt, Lara who lives next door.  Lala remembered me from a party at la Quinta. They also are Arce - the same last name as Gerardo.  Cousins. 

The internet out here is great and they were very fast at installing. I did also make a big purchase on my shopping trip that took 4 guys to carry. I had seen an ad so when Jose and his helper came, José  called the lady in Cartago and we went to see it. I bought it and Jose called his cousin - one of 240 - with a truck to meet us at 3:00 back by the lady's house. In the mean time we went to EPA for a few things ( kinda like Menards) and then on to Bazar ABC for lamps and a picture. They didn't have the picture I really wanted but the clerk was from the Cartago store and remembered me and said he would see if he could get it from one of their other stores. I haven't heard anything so I told Katherine she and Courtney will need to paint me one.

Half of my house is 2 bedrooms and the living room and the other half is kitchen/dining and a sewing table. It is split down the center the long way. I have a table with fold down sides for the island in the kitchen, the great big long table for eating and the table for sewing is under the front window. I am already thinking about Thanksgiving and I have a good start on tables but only 3 chairs. I need to work on that.

Several times the owner or his son have given me a ride back to Orosi but I did call Luis, the taxi driver, to bring me back out here on Sunday and yesterday I took the bus for the first time. They come as far as the church and it is a good hike, uphill, on my lovely sidewalk. A long walk. There is 1 little store - a puperia along the way so I stopped to see what all they have. The basics. I got an ice cream cone and finished my walk home. I did do a lot of grocery shopping on Friday so I wouldn't need to go right away. Saturday I even made a crockpot full of chicken, potatoes and vegetables which will last several days. Thursday Otto should be coming and I should be going to Paraiso to the craft ladies.

Brandon and his sister have both taken English but don't have anyone to speak with to practice and learn more. They are anxious to start coming here so we can talk and I can help. I figure one day it will be gardening, one day sewing, one day cooking so we can cover different areas and words.

If you come to visit, mine is the gate with multicolored scarves tied to it. Ziomara and María José came on Saturday and in a couple weeks I will have the crochet ladies and the senior center ladies who live out here. Jeanette says there are 4 of them including Emili's great aunt. Emilio and Rosita are coming soon too. 

This is pretty long. I will post as many pictures as I can and may have to do a separate post with the rest.

My new washer and hammmock

From the front door, the kitchen and dining . My island that I move to where I need it. There is an outlet there.

My living room looks out on the garden.

My table and feather picture

Some  plants added to the front.

My new garden - lots more to do.

My bridge over the creek to where the peanut butter and mango trees will be planted.

The chief Beverly Hillbilly

The helper squeezing in

My big purchase. I love it

Loading it up

The picture I really want