We took the bus and went to town.

We you may ask! Well, when you have a kitten who needs a vaccination and you only take the bus, what else do you do but stick her in your red bag, with her blue fur blanket so it will smell like home and head to town. When I told Courtney I brought her on the bus she said “wait a minute, you can’t take kittens on the bus. Well I did and no one knew she was there unless they saw me talking to my red bag.

Everything went well, she was weighed, checked over, got her shot and her nails clipped. I headed for     Katherine’s and my doctor and his wife were there. I know they have cats so I handed him Dally and  discussed with him just how many vaccinations she really needs. His wife makes jewelry and was talking with Katherine about having some in her shop when she has one. When Courtney came I put the red bag with Dally in it on her lap and they had a nice gentle quiet time. No biting, no scratching. Courtney wants to come for a sleepover. I said soon. Lexi was there too and she seems to be back to the Lexi she was before Tesla was born. Just took a little time. And she is a big girl now. No more diapers. We have been doing a lot of cuddling and squeezes lately and she will come over to me and say mas squeeze which means more squeeze. I tell her she has the best cheeks for kisses and get her giggling. The latest is they put my hat on me with the brim down and tell me to go to sleep. They      giggle and giggle when I start snoring.

You should have seen the goings on here yesterday. Jeanette and Ligia Sánchez came with their aprons on and tied scarves on their heads and started attacking my house. I showed them what I have for cleaning tools and cleaning supplies and away they went. One was outside using the broom to get rid of all the cobwebs while the other was inside brushing everything off the windows. Then they were washing both sides of the windows and drying with newspaper and pointing out anything that  was missed. The place shines. You have never seen cleaning like a tica’s cleaning. They got the main        room done and are coming back in two weeks to do the bedrooms and bathroom. I spent the day cooking and in the morning we had hot cinnamon popovers and coffee and for lunch it was turkey rice soup which was thick like a casserole and mixed salads with homemade dressing. I have a big container of rice and I don’t eat much rice so I sent them home with a bag of rice, a container of soup   and lemons and greens they picked. Also yarn. Ligia brought several hats and some coasters she had     made. They have also agreed to embroider a table runner for my friend Roz.

Monday I got my deposit paid for immigration. Tomorrow will be cookie making to take with me for  the end of novena for Ziomara’s father on Friday. They will be having food afterwards and when I offered they said it would be very nice. I think they have arranged to have the rest catered. No craft ladies again this week because it is the novena for Aura’s nephew.

Things are doing good in the new garden but no signs of ayote yet. Hopefully they  will come up.  

My aunt posted on my last blog. Seems they had an accident at their house and her husband fell on her. Her leg was broken in 4 places and the entire leg is in a cast. Let’s all send prayers their way for a full recovery.

Once we got to the vet I let her out. 

      

We have started.

I let Jose know that Adrien said ICE was finished with the front area. This morning he showed up with 2 helpers, Victor and I don’t know, and they went to work. My flower beds have been weeded,  there are rocks surrounding all of them and the new garden in the front has been started. Adrien was  here and talked with Jose so I won’t get in trouble for anything I have planned. Bougainvillea all along the fence, the peanut butter tree on the end, the branches in place, the bromeliads from the cut down tree tucked amount the rocks, Hortensia and poinsettias planted. Ground cover and lots of coleus. I love the look of the area. It is very welcoming and inviting. The dog next door came and  christened and claimed the area. Some of the plants came out of my concrete planters so now I have room for new things. I am not so sure any of the sticks I put in dirt will grow as there is no evidence of any roots. I did have them plant the mango tree near the new garden. I do still have to plant the ayote seeds near the branches.

One thing I am having trouble with, for the first time is tiny worms falling from the trees. I don’t like them so much but they sure seem to like me. I must say I will be very happy when whatever ICE is doing is done. I keep being without water - today again. I used my saved water for lemonade for the workers and ended up getting a container full at the creek to wash hands. It better not be just me and they have to dig up my new garden to fix the problem.

I love the look

Peanut butter tree is finally in the ground.

Colors will be beautiful.

My creek spot.

Easy path right down to the water.

I didn’t know

that although I have been to the Basilica many times, my first service there would be a funeral for someone I knew. I took an early bus and sat off to the side, people watching and crocheting until it was time to move to the center area. The family walked in with the coffin. The grief was obvious in all of them. Ziomara and her daughter, María José, and Douglas and his 3 children, Natalie, Rebeccah and Douglas,  Isaac’s wife and Ziomara’s sister, Monica. Their brother and his wife and their boys. Although I forget lots of names, it is easy for me to remember Monica’s. That was the name of my daughter that died of crib death. Throughout the funeral there were still visitors looking at the church and people crawling up the aisles on their knees.

At the end of mass, Monica and her brother and María José gave their talks. For María José, Isaac had been a father all of her life so his loss hurt her very much. Ziomara was also very close to her father and had been doing everything she could to help him be strong and fight to stay alive. He was only in his late 60’s.

When the coffin left the church, the ladies in the family followed and were greeted with hugs and kisses and condolences all the way out. Waiting outside was the hearse with the top totally covered with flowers and another truck completely full of flowers that had not been brought into the church. Some people rode in cars and some walked behind the hearse to the cemetery. Ziomara made arrangements for me to ride with a friend of hers and her mother. They have been friends since kindergarten.

At the cemetery the men hoisted the coffin onto their shoulders and carried it to the grave site. The    cemetery part was different. There is no priest involved and the coffin is actually buried and the cover is covered with flowers. I did note the coffin is much smaller, not as deep or as wide, as in the US.          

I have a few questions for Ziomara when the time is right. Why the Basilica, why that cemetery. They lived miles away and had churches much closer.

I was taken back to the Basilica and then went to lunch at the Mexican restaurant I really like, had my hair cut and went to the Banco Costa Rica to make my deposits. I got there at 4:03 and they close at 4:00. Mañana. There is no craft ladies tomorrow because Aura’s great-nephew died and the funeral is tomorrow. There is the Banco Costa Rica in Paraiso also so I don’t have to go all the way to Cartago.

Otto will be here at 9:00 and I have to take Dally for her shot. Next Tuesday Ligia and Jeanette are coming to help me clean this place. Being a cabin with open areas to outside I end up with lots of cobwebs and dust so I have hired them for a thorough cleaning. I will take all the curtains down and wash them starting Saturday.

I will put another picture first so I don’t publish the funeral pictures.

My shoes were missing. They turned up under the loveseat. She uses the laces to pull them under. 

 

The hearse

 

The truck of flowers

 

All the cemeteries in this area have been white.

 

The flowers on the grave.

I was going to wait

until more was done but so much has been going on I thought I should get it written before I forget it all. Let’s see. The road work has moved on but before they left I acquired lots of dirt and more rocks. And a light pole next to my fence. I have been told that when ICE wants to put up something the residents negotiate for what they want. Adrien agreed to let them put the dirt and rocks here and they created a dirt bridge and moved rocks. I still need to have some put between the ones I have in front and the new fence to finish the crescent shape of rocks. Jose and his crew ( Victor and Ishmael) came for the morning and then Ishmael went to school and Jose’s daughter, Denise, came in the afternoon. She is a lovely girl (20) and loves dream catchers so I pulled out all my supplies and taught her how to make them. Jose came back and got her when we were finished. She sent me a message asking if she and her 11 year old cousin could come and make another one. Saturday works best for them and it works good for me too. She goes to university, studying English and also wants to be a writer and have an animal office or store. She loves animals and has a German Shepherd puppy named - Agatha.
For those who don’t know that was my mother’s name. She and Ishmael had a great time with Dally.

I did feed everyone before they left. I have to make another trip to PriceSmart as I am now out of the pork and beans ( I put mild salsa in with them) and spam. We also had mixed vegetables and chocolate dipped strawberries. Definitely not a casado but they liked it. I also gave Jose a jar of the second batch of jelly with the Colombian guava (Arrayan) and strawberries. I have made 25 jars altogether so far.

Jose and crew couldn’t work in the front because ICE wasnt done so they did other things. There was a guayaba tree covered with fungus so they cut it down to the trunk. It is very hard wood and all they used were machetes. I did have them plant a mango and 2 pineapple by the tree that is only the trunk. I ended up with 2 big branches that I am using in the front garden. I will plant ayote (pumpkin) under them and they can grow on the branches. I also now have red, purple, pink, lavender and orange bougainvillea for that area. Jose will bring me white. I have a bunch of other flowers and trees also. I am really anxious to get it going. Jose will put a thick layer of rich soil before we plant.

While Jose was changing kids, Victor worked on my creek area. I love it. It is close to the house, has big rocks for me to sit on, and a little path to go right down to the water. He cut some bamboo to  make access easier. I think it is great.

We are getting a little less rain and fewer cold days or nights. I haven’t slept in my jogging suit lately.  Dally is growing and doing more everyday. So far she is very good about not going far if she goes out the door. She is doing great with the litter box and later this week she will have her first shot. She has her wild times and then she heads for me with her claws out and her teeth ready. Other times she is very cuddly and usually sleeps with me at night. I am so afraid I will roll over and squish her.

Ziomara’s father has been having a terrible time with his health, in and out of the hospital. She messaged me early this morning that he died. I will go to the funeral on Wednesday morning at the Basicila in Cartago. Usually here the funeral is the next day but her brother is outside the country so I am assuming they are allowing extra time for him to get here.

Crochet Ladies starts this week and I will go to Craft ladies for the first time. Otto is coming Thursday morning. The funeral Wednesday and Dally to town for her shot. Busy week.

Some of th new plants.

You should have seen the guys carrying these on their shoulders 

 

Denise and her dream catcher

My new light being installed. I gave everyone chocolate. 

So many new leaves on the Colombian Guava

 

Little bit braver 

Step two done

as you know I went to San Jose a couple weeks ago to renew my passport. By myself, by bus and taxi and stayed overnight. When I came home I went online and made arrangements to have it sent to the central post office in Cartago. I was told 2 weeks which was last  Thursday. I made arrangements for  Emilio to go with me and I printed out my receipts from Correos and the Embassy.

When I checked with Emilio last night, he was sick so I said no problem, I can do this by myself. I kinda knew where it is - up the street from the old and new yarn shop. I had the address in Spanish  and I am not afraid to ask for directions. Took a bus about 10:20 and got to Cartago and hour later.  Headed for Correos because I was concuerned they would close for an hour for lunch.  I walked and walked and figured I had gone too far so I went into a pharmacy because I figured someone would speak at least a little English. I showed her the name and address and said donde está? She took me to the door and pointed up the street on the other side. I just hadn’t gone quite far enough. See the directions said so far East of such and such church. I was just using the wrong church. There is one  every few blocks.

So, I went in, looked around to see if I needed a number and instead participated in musical chairs.  When a person goes up to the counter, everyone moves to the chair closer to the front. There were 3 seats and 2 at the counter ahead of me. Finally my turn. I had my papers and my old passport in my  hand. She entered stuff in the computer and quoted a figure I had to pay. I said no, I have already paid. She calls another lady out and they ask me for something else. It isn’t my name or my telephone number and I have no idea what they want. A lady gets up from the chairs and says email address.  

Both the employees leave and they also have a man involved at this point. I was very relieved when  they came back with a mailing envelope and no more mention of any money due. I signed the new     passport and off I went to the market for strawberries.  Well, no outside vendors on Monday so I went  in and had lunch and went to the garden store for ayote seeds and a small cactus. Next was the old grocery store for coffee. It is one of the few places that carries Buen Día which Heather really likes.

Back to the bus and asked for WalMart. The driver told me I should go to the Paraiso bus so I   continued on to that. The food Otto brought with Dally was from there so I didn’t want to change .  But I did. I will do it slowly and the reason I did is his food doesn’t say for kittens. This one does. I  also got litter and a brush and some treats.  And yogurt and strawberries and bread and lots of other things. I called Edwin but it went to message so I went down to the taxis and took one. He was very nice but didn’t talk much and I was able to direct him with no problem. He understood to stay on the upper road because there is so much mud in my yard. It isn’t just because of the rain. You can  imagine a backhoe isn’t gentle on the yard.

About that. I now have a nice fence, little gate and double gate for cars. They aren’t done yet but it is  coming along. When they are finished Jose and helpers will come and plant the area around there. I also have a big dirt bridge over the little creek. I got ayote seeds today to plant along with the flowers  and trees. For those that don’t know, that’s pumpkin.

Numbers 3 is to go to the bank in Paraiso or Cartago to get receipts for depositing the money that immigration needs for my residency. You deposit it into their account. We have a bank in Orosi but it  isn’t the right one. Number 4 is the trip to San Jose March 8. I guess there is a 5. I will have to go to Correos again to pick up my ID card. That will be a couple weeks after the San Jose appointment.  Oops, 6 and 7 will be to take my ID and register with CAJA and then go to the CAJA clinic, get an  appointment with the doctor so he can go over my meds and ok or figure out what they have to substitute. They don’t carry all meds for instance my insulin pen. Guess I still have lots to do.

Dally is good but has given me scratches and bite marks all over my body. Everyday she tries new   things and is a little more adventuresome. She can now climb up the chair and the sheets to my bed. And she goes to the litter box by herself.

Isn’t it just beautiful. I have only seen one so far. My gardening group calls it crinum.

Dally taking a nap. 

Imagine after about 20 trips. 

Not finished but it will be great. 

The new bridge.

I am teaching Dally what she may need to do.

12 pints of the Colombian guava jelly. So far all the ticos who have tried it really like it. Tomorrow another batch with strawberries. 

We have a name.

I have received lots of suggestions and the winner is one I thought of myself. Meet Dally. Short for Dalmatian, female enough, and I can add other words like dilly dally. I like it.

Things are going well. She eats, drinks, poops and pees although so far not where I want her to. She  slept last night, in her basket, from 10:00pm until 6:30 this morning. She has started moving about more and play a bit and she can climb in and out of her basket. We will see how she does alone as tomorrow I have to go to town or soon I will be eating her cat food. I will put her in the bedroom so   she can’t go all over.

Remember the terrible fruit Heather and I tried from the tree by the deck? Well there were only a few on the tree. Adrien said it was Colombian Guava.  Now the tree is loaded so I picked the ripe ones and made 12 pints of jelly. I added lemon and grapefruit juice to help the sour taste and the same amount of sugar I add to regular guayaba jelly. I will be able to make another batch and I want to add strawberries.

And no, I won’t be posting daily pictures and stories about Dally.

 

Miss Dally 

12 pints  Colombian guava

She loves to burrow 

I would like you to meet my new roommate.

I would tell you her name but she doesn’t have one yet. Otto picked her up this morning and the man was very watchful and concerned that she was going with a good person to a good home. He petted and calmed her and put her in his backpack. He stopped several times on the way here to check on her but she never made a peep.

I made up a basket for her - I now owe Katherine a piece of blue fur and when I brought her inside I put her in the basket. She took a couple minutes to settle and now is sound asleep, snuggled into the fur. I am going to make some powdered milk for her and Otto brought a bag of kitten food so I have something to start with.

She seems to be calm but maybe that is because she is worn out from all the excitement this morning. I like calm.

Meet ?

All tired out

I need to check this place out - maybe later.