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.
1 comment:
Hi G
I had a little catching up to do....
You are so good to all those people but in return it appears you have gotten yourself a wonderful family. Pretty darn good trade off! I am
so sorry that your little Pups is gone, but he too found a great home, and someone to love him for the last months of his life.
Your home is definitely YOUR Home now. Just another great adventure.
Your front porch your workers,the bridge, the creek, your mediation rock.....All so perfect Huh?
Thank you for this blog and the pictures, I may not read everyday but
when I do they are a real gift to me and Red.....Merry Christmas G
R & L
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