Life in Costa Rica: 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.