Two weeks and two days as a country girl

It doesn't seem like it has already been two weeks and two days that I have been in La Cabana. It has been a quiet two weeks where I have been able to spend most of my time here, working or settling in. All of the windows and doors have coverings except my front door and I am working on that. Yesterday I washed all of the windows, inside and out, except the one in the guest bedroom.. almost everything has been planted in the garden and all the cactus and succulents have been planted in the concrete planters Jose moved to in front of the house when he brought the 6 bags of rich dirt for me to use for planting. I have been gathering rocks to put in front of that planter. Big enough to stand out and small enough for me to carry.

For some reason I can't get to the pictures although I know they are here so I will put the description here. I should read the instructions on how to operate this program. I only have trouble when I write a really long message.
1. My gate, so people will know where I live.
2. See how big my peanut butter tree is getting.
3. My garden. The droopy leaves are sticks I broke off a plant. I hope they make it. Everything else seems to be doing great.
4. The flowers in blocks I brought with me.
5. My new planter. Need a few more rocks.
6. My daily visitor.
7. Aren't they beautiful!
8. Starting to look like home.
9. There is this pile. So tempting.
10. Ligia made this, special order, for Kaye?
11. She made this one too. Aren't the colors beautiful.
12. My picture, finally in my house.

I have only been away 3 times in the last couple weeks. The first was a week ago last Thursday to the craft ladies in Paraiso. They cancelled this past week so I had another day at home. Anyway, I headed for the bus stop by the church and as I got to the Mobil sign a bus pulled out. I raised my hand and he stopped for me. Good luck for me. When I was heading back I got off in Orosi and visited with Katherine and then called Luis to bring me home.  Worked great. It is 2300 colones by taxi and less than 300 colones by bus but coming home, loaded down, climbing the hill, especially after dark is not something I want to do. Even if I have the best sidewalk in Costa Rica. Then, on Friday Jose picked me up for another shopping trip. Bazar ABC had messaged me that my picture was in. They were so great! Called and messaged and sent a picture. First the shop by the Basilica for hanging bells. No bells. Then a couple other places - no bells. Then PriceSmart - lots of stuff, then a new shop for me Yamuni- lots and lots of neat stuff and finally Bazar ABC. The picture is smaller than I expected but I love it. In my quick run thru the store I spotted some chairs that were quite reasonable so I bought 4 of them. Since then I have noticed a bunch more of the plastic ones in the storage shed so I may not have to rent any for Thanksgiving.  The last outing was last Tuesday. This time I had to go to the bus stop by the church. I was only going to Orosi and had several errands so I started with the farthest which was the pharmacy. One of my meds and a tube for my mosquito and ant bites. Yes there are a few. Walking back to Jeanette's house I passed Luis, the taxi driver. I asked that he pick me up at the Super at 5:30 and take me home. He agreed. At Jeanette's we sat in the front courtyard and talked to everyone who walked by on the street. Several ladies, dressed very nice, stopped and talked with Jeanette about what we do. I learned they are part of a large craft group at the church. We have been invited to visit them next Wednesday for their gathering. They were very interested in the yarns I bring from the US. After they left I explained to Jeanette it is not possible for me to bring yarn for all of Orosi. I have a hard enough time bringing yarn for our group and fabric for the craft ladies. Remember I still have 4 packed suitcases waiting at Heather's. Well,  that does include some chocolate chips and coconut. I left about 4:45 and went to the Super to get everything I needed. By the time Luis got there I was ready with a cart full. He was great about loading me up and unloading everything and bringing it to my house. I forgot to tell you about coffee. It was great. Jeanette used buns and had ham and cheese and lettuce and tomatoes. I brought a container of pickles which I made and slices of papaya banana pecan bread. They wanted the recipe and thank heavens I had just made it and remembered all the ingredient amounts. They love love love the pickles and again asked for the recipe for the juice. That's an easy one to remember as I have made it so many times. The only catchy ingredient is the celery seed cuz it isn't sold all over here.

I have had visitors. First Ziomara and her daughter, Maria Jose, and then Katherine and the girls. The girls were all prepared for swimming so, after a few long faces, I got out a low tub and filled it with water and it was enough to keep them happy. I had just baked chocolate crinkle cookies so that kept them happy. I also now have colored chalk artwork on my deck floor. Life is good.

I have been thinking about Thanksgiving and I think I might have to do two days. First, because of the number of people and my more limited space and second because weekends are really busy for Jose- last year he couldn't come - and Sunday is the only day Douglas, Ziomara's husband, can come -last year he couldn't come either. Emilio and Rosita can't come Sunday because it is a busy day in the pizza shop. So I am thinking 20 on Thursday and 20 on Sunday. That gives me 2 days in between to get ready. 2 turkeys this year, one for each day and ham that Kaye brought. I haven't figured out if it will be pot luck with better instructions on how to do family style or just me do everything. I'll think about that.

All in all I am very much enjoying La Cabana. People walk by the gate and wave. I have a dog that comes everyday for snacks. I met a neighbor, Angie, who also feeds him and has 2 cats of her own. It is very quiet. There is quite a bit of traffic but there is a speed bump on each side of me so no one is going very fast. Rarely do I hear barking dogs. I would love to figure out some light between the gate and the house for when I come home after dark. It is very dark around here. When I look out I can see one light across the road from me but nothing anywhere close. Remember, it gets dark by 6:00pm. Year round.

This week there will be no crochet ladies as Tuesday is a holiday- Mother's Day. It is always celebrated on August 15. Wednesday will be the Orosi Craft group and Thursday the Paraiso craft ladies. Hopefully by then I will have everything planted, all curtains hung, all windows washed and the mosquito netting ceiling I am planning for my bedroom. That was one of the things I bought a lot of at Yomani. I won't say my Cabana will be bug proof but I am doing my best.