Life in Costa Rica: Part two of this week..

So, ladies all over my house and deck and yard, food all over, a big pile of gifts for the baby shower and a beautiful giant cake pretty much describes the place. They just come in and know what needs to be done and do it. They find and use what they need and wash it and put it back when they are finished. A very big cooker was set up on the table on the deck. Rice with meat. Edith was at the sink cutting up tomatoes for the salad. Rosita was putting together appetizers, Anita was putting together the cas beverage. No fuss no bother. It was great. They all moved, along with the gifts and chairs to the deck for opening the gifts and cake and breads and the piñata. My gift was a patchwork baby blanket that is not quite finished. I brought it out to show them. I still have to sew the front and back together. The baby is a girl and it is lots of pink with a crocheted white heart in the center.

The piñata was so funny. It was filled with candy and took 3 women with a stick and Iliana moving it with the rope it was attached to before it finally broke open. Then they were all on the floor looking for candy. Not ladies of all ages, but kids.

I did centerpieces using what I have. Strips of burlap with baskets and candles and sprays of red berries and small branches of bamboo leaves. They looked quite nice.

After that, cleanup started. Chairs were piled and left on the deck, food was divided, silverware was washed, deck was swept, everything put back in order. Ana had me test my blood sugar again to make sure it was up before she left. It was. You wouldn't know the house had been full yesterday.

And, I got presents too! The same Ana brought me a box of roses and other plants and I was given a beautiful teapot and matching cup and saucer in a matching box, another cup and saucer in a matching box, wooden kitchen tools and a kitchen towel and a neat garden shovel in a little case.

A Buen Día all in all. Today will be quieter with an afternoon trip to Orosi for the doctor and a couple errands.

I forgot, I had asked them to say a little prayer for a day with no rain - it has been raining a lot - because we wanted to do things outside. Thank you God, no rain till last night.

The craft ladies have a group on WhatsApp and they have posted about 100 pictures and videos and comments since yesterday. I think that is a sign of a time enjoyed. I will post a few here.