I have a bird

I don’t have curtains in my kitchen window and there is a bird who keeps flying to the window and pecking against it. I also have a cat - well half a cat - and this morning, for the first time, the cat noticed the bird. It was quite funny watching her stalk the bird. She is now climbing on everything. My spray bottle and I are quite busy. Yesterday she climbed up a towel and was on the stove. Just now she managed to get on the cabinet with the sink to get a closer look.  She is also verturing farther outside but she pretty much only goes when I am also outside. Otherwise she just goes on the deck or in the planters outside the front door.

I decided where I wanted to start my all white garden and all I had to do was message Jose and I had a trailer of rich dirt and workers. Once the holes between the rocks were filled, I replaced the plants  and they planted them. I had a couple others already planted so they transplanted them. There is room for more so I will keep looking. I also cut some of the green leaves with white edging to add as soon as they root. Jose checked the branches I had from the tree that fell and he said two were good. They planted them near the new garden, in the rocks over my little stream. They have big clusters of white flowers so they will fit right in.

Jose brought his daughter, Denise, and his son, Ishmael, and they had a fun time playing with Dally.  Denise will stay here while I am in the US. I have told her that during April she should bring her puppy, Agatha, over to let the two animals get to know each other. I don’t want Dally to beat up the  puppy. German Shepherd puppy!

Next week is Holy Week so no crochet or craft ladies. I will go to Ziomara's one day and Saturday is her birthday. Last year I went on Good Friday.

I love, love, love my skylight. There is so much natural light, not just little areas of lights. Even with the doors and shutters closed, I don’t need to turn the lights on until it is dark outside.

   

Queen of the mountain in the new Jardín Blanco.

  

Yes she did but so far I got her down before she got stuck. 

 

Pieces I am rooting for Jardin Blanco.

  

I have an ayote. Just one and I haven’t found the bag of seeds yet.

  

This isn’t mine but how cute is he! It is Heather’s new puppy. His name was Cosmo  but they call him Cozzy.

Dally and the bird.

This is so big I had to write right away.

Last night Brandon sent me a message that he and his father would come today and work on the roof. You know what that means! SKYLIGHT! I said great, I have a massage in the morning and I will be taking Dally into town for her vaccination in the afternoon.

When the drilling and the hammering started I figured it wouldn’t be a very relaxing massage but I didn’t care. Lack of light never used to bother me but it really has here. I don’t know if it is because my eyes are bad, cataracts, or because the walls are brown or what. But, no more. As soon as they got  the old panel off the roof and the white one on it made all the difference in the world. It is so  wonderful. I love it. Adrien also measured the two windows with broken glass so that should be fixed soon also. I am hoping my enthusiasm showed him how pleased I am.

Now, yesterday. I went to the bank and dealt with the same person. I didn’t have Jose to keep me calm so I just kept my mouth shut. He didn’t think I knew any Spanish so it made it easier. I got my  debit card, made a deposit, got my PIN number and headed to the pharmacy. But, I forgot. When I got on the bus I had my card in one hand and money in the other. He took my card, scanned it and said it worked. I got to ride for free! I have gotten a variety of opinions. Some buses it won’t work, some it will be a discount, some will be free, it will work to San Jose but not the beach. I will just have to wait and see. I had also read you have to be a permanent resident but that wouldn’t be for 3 years. So,  whenever it works I am happy.

At the pharmacy I got set up for the one med. she had to call in to get me registered. She handed me the phone but the man didn’t speak English so she took care of it. She said when I am down to 3 pills  to come back. I think it will be free. I still pay for insulin because of the kind I use. Little by little I   will get things changed. I still need to make an appointment with a CAJA doctor .

After a stop at the supermarket I stopped at Katherine’s. Their cat had 3 kittens that morning. I haven’t seen them but I told her if she still has them when I get back from the US I may take one. That way Dally will have a playmate to chew on instead of me.

Time for my massage. The work is done and the house is quiet.

The WiFi has been out most of the day so I had to wait to finish

It has never been so bright

My new skylight

this.  Massage was great. I called Luis to take Dally and I to Orosi for her vaccination. It didn’t take long and I called him again to bring us home. Again she traveled in my red bag but I was concerned if I went on the bus they would see the bag moving as she is getting bigger. The house is like there are lights on with the skylight. Let’s see if I love it as much at 6:00am.

It has only taken since Sept. 2016

That was when I first went to the attorney’s office in San Jose at the ARCR office. I still had to go to the US and get the documentation I needed from Minnesota. The paperwork was filed November 1st. A year later it was approved but now I had to get registered with CAJA and get the appointment with immigration. That took a while because of the long Christmas break. Then I had to wait for the ID to come to the Paraiso post office. Today the waiting was over.

Jose picked me up at 10:45 and we headed for Paraiso. First stop was the post office with a line of people waiting. Only 1 clerk and 6-7 people ahead of me. The wait wasn’t too bad and I had all my paperwork, and Jose to help, so it was easy. Next stop was CAJA. They have had me listed under my passport so it didn’t take long to change me to my new ID number. Now I am all set for Medical. I will need to go to a CAJA doctor in Orosi to have him go over my meds and get set up with prescriptions.

Since Jose’s schedule had opened up a bit, we headed for the nursery. I do love that place. They even had 1 white bougainvillea and I got a white hanging basket and a jasmine and 2 white hydrangea and a couple other things. Next stop WalMart for cat food and a couple other things.

Since we were doing good time wise we stopped in Orosi to open a bank account. OH MY GOD! It was lucky Jose was there to keep me calm. It is definitely not a service industry here. We kinda got done finally and I go back tomorrow to get my debit card and deposit money and give them a little more info. I had a whole binder of info with me but it wasn’t enough. Just an FYI, if they ask for your ID number from the US they don’t mean your passport, they mean your social security number.

I no longer need to carry my passport because my ID is what I use for everything.  I also don’t need
    to leave every 3 months and I don’t need to have a ticket to leave when I fly back here.

      

   

The hanging basket

Some of my plants today

She’ll sleep anywhere. One day I found her with her head in the pin box.  

Worth an update.

i just received a call from Ivy at ARCR. My ID is at the post office already, not April 6. Once I line up someone who speaks Spanish we will go to Paraiso to pick it up and go to the CAJA office to register my new number. Then I am really official!

It has been a busy week with a funny story.

The ladies came on Tuesday to do the second installment of cleaning and so did Adrien and the boys to do outside cutting. I felt a little bad. Sometimes I over react and I did when I first came here and they cut everything between me and the creek and I could see the neighbors. This time he had Jose  ask me what they could cut. I said anything as long as they left what was along the creek and blocked  the neighbors. That is just what he has done. They have been cutting for 3 days. Ligia brought me a bunch of cuttings that I have to figure out where to plant.

The ladies got to work, inside and out while I made ayote muffins for everyone. I had some ayote cooked and frozen from Thanksgiving. I had also made a beef and bean soup that we had for lunch. I now have 6 bags of shredded beef and 2 bags of black beans and 2 of juice in the freezer for other  days.

 The ladies brought enough hats for another visit to the hospital. I contacted Natalie and Thursday morning worked for her. We agreed to meet outside the hospital at 9:45 as she had to head  to San Jose for school at 11:00. That meant me leaving the house at 8:15 for the 8:30 bus. I made it! If you remember last time she said she is very shy and she could tell the ladies wanted to talk and if I would invite her again she would talk. She did and I think she really enjoyed it. She was in charge of the treats and made sure everyone got some. Guard, staff and patients. When we came out there were people sitting in the hall. One lady had a hat on so we went over and Natalie explained and we gave her a hat too and passed out treats to her and those sitting around her. We still had time for coffee and then she headed to the bus and I headed to the old grocery store and then to the bus to Orosi.

Now my story. When I went to the doctor he switched one of my meds. I got some and the   pharmacist said that company has a special if you register online. I went back to the doctor and  he    said if I come back he would have my ID. I got it and yesterday I went into a pharmacy in Cartago to see if I could eliminate the stop in Orosi. They had the med but didn’t accept the card so I came to Orosi. The assistant who speaks little English said it had to be registered online. The number didn’t work on my phone so she called and then it got to the point they needed the number on my ID, which I wont have till April 6. We gave up and will try again when i have my ID. everything here seems to depend on your ID.

Luis brought me home, I had an hour and then back to the bus to go to Paraiso for craft ladies. I had picked up breads in Cartago and went to the cheese store in Paraiso (same as the butter store) and got some cheese to go with it. It is the first time I have seen them since 11/30. When I left to go to the bus I went to the fruit and vegetable market across the street. I started talking with a young lady, the  owners daughter. Her name is Maria Laura. She has studied English but doesn’t have anyone to  practice with. I told her about the trip to the hospital and she wants to go next time. I told her I would       let her know when I have enough hats for another trip and it would be a Monday or Friday. I love involving people in this and it does make it a little easier if I have someone bilingual with me. At first people are concerned there is a charge and they can reassure them the hats are free.

And, last but not least, me and my Spanglish are booked to the US. I fly to Heather’s April 26 and back here May 16. I have a car rented for May 1-10 for my road trip. I have picked those dates because my brothers from Oregon and Washington will be in Minnesota also. We will hook up part of the time, along with Sandy in Little Falls, and do separate visiting part of the time. I haven’t worked out details yet.

That’s my week. It has been doing some good raining so hopefully everything we planted is doing good. I planted the colored leaves and onions and carrots and cucumbers. I have to hunt more for where I put the ayote seeds. I think I have only 1 coming up so I want to plant more. I cut the bottom  off a celery stalk and have it started in water. Today I stuck a camote in water to grow shoots. That’s sweet potato. I have never been much of a farmer but I am enjoying it. I have never been much of a farmer but I am really enjoying it. I have 2 pineapple and 2 mango planted and 4 more mango sprouting.

   

These two are Adrien’s but since I live here, I claim them. There are more amaryllis and I love the orange rose. 

 

  

This lady was so happy with the green hat. 

 

She was very pleased and put it on right away. We also gave a black and white one to a man

 

I love how it will look when everything starts growing. I cut the poinsettia back and I see it has little, new leaves 

Nothing gets missed!

Dally report. She is climbing on everything. We are still working out details but Jose’s daughter, Denise, has agreed to stay here while I am gone. She and her German Shepherd puppy, Agatha,  would be here. They have 4 cats at their house so she is used to them. We will arrange visits in the next month to make sure they are ok together. I don’t want to leave the house empty while I am gone and this way I know Jose would keep an eye on things also.

I have been preparing myself mentally.

For my trip to Immigration for my residency. I knew I wouldn’t get my ID for another 4 weeks and I knew I had a 9:00am appointment. I have heard and read horror stories about the lines and the time it takes. I could just see me playing the Costa Rican musical chairs for hours.

I got up at 5:00 and Jose was here at 6:00. I had put out clothes and packed my red bag last night. Showered too so I didn’t have a lot to do this morning. It was cold, cold, cold so I even had a jacket on and my coat in my bag. I had beverages and a container of Mango Almond bread for a snack. I had 8 slices cuz you never know when you need something to hand out.

We didn’t go far before we saw Glorianna’s sister and her son walking to the bus. Jose asked if it was OK we give them a ride. They live next to the bus terminal. The son is 7 and goes to school in Cartago and she runs a pharmacy in Cartago and works 6 long days a week. Turns out his school is the one  right at the Orosi bus station and she works nearby. Someone else will go get him and bring him home mid afternoon. Yes, 4 pieces of bread for this part of the trip.

Traffic was heavy as it was morning rush hour and we got there right on time. Ivy was the lady who helped me. She was very organized and she only needed to copy my new passport and get my deposit receipts. She had me write down my parents names and she wrote my telephone and address and the closest post office - Paraiso. She said there was another lady going with us and I invited them to all go with us. AND we were not going to immigration, we were going to the main post office in San Jose. Jose dropped us off and said to call him when we were finished as there is no parking there. Beautiful old building and it is the main post office of Costa Rica.  

First stop was to pay a fee and get a receipt. That done we went into a room with 2 agents at desks  and maybe 6 people waiting. Yup, musical chairs but as it was 2 or 3 people together it went very fast. We each got an agent, they checked over stuff, took a picture and got our signature and that was it. Now we were probably there early but by just after 9:00am we were done. My ID card will be available April 6. Then I go to CAJA to give them the number. Right now I am registered but under my passport number. I called Jose and he had me give the phone to Ivy. He was in a parking lot  nearby and told her how to get there. 

Back to Ivy’s office to get a few copies and off we go. Now we can play which includes a stop at PriceSmart to stock up a bit. I now have Spam and pork and beans again, frozen berries, ham, hot dogs and a big, big container of kitty litter. Since the girls are coming for their overnight tomorrow I wanted to make sure I had things for them to eat. They follow a gluten free diet so I can’t just feed them bread. Tomorrow morning I am making chocolate meringue cookies as Courtney asked for chocolate cookies and these don’t have flour. 

Next stop was a nursery Jose has been telling me about. We made a quick stop and I bought 2 things and I can’t wait to go back. It is very big with tons of things and things I haven’t seen other places.  We were going to have lunch at Nila’s which has wonderful food and Jose hasn’t eaten there but they were closed so we headed home. We were talking about other places and I said one day I wanted to eat at the Spa in Palomo. As we got near home, Jose turned the other way and said he was abducting me. I said no problem we were ahead of schedule. We ended up at the spa. What a nice place with tons of flowers and birds. An open air restaurant. In one area, the ceiling area is covered with a Guatemalan hanging flowering vine. Very unusual. I really wanted a cutting but she said it wasn’t possible because it is all one plant. I did offer to give her some of my new plant that is so unusual and I could see she didn’t have one like it. I agreed to give it to her anyway and Jose will hunt for some for me. I had a choice of the bigger piece or the small piece she planted in a neat pot. It’s ok, the little  one will grow.

Isn’t it pretty. In my new garden it will be a beautiful touch of color.

My new pot and little plant.

 

I found this in my garden. I love it.

Lunch was a platter for two with tortillas, chips, pico de Gallo, refried beans, onion rings, fried plantains, chunks of pork, beef and chicken. We both ate and there was still some left to take home. Very good. They also served ice cream to women because of Day of the Woman and I had a green beverage. A form of lemonade but stronger. I liked it.

Home, unload and that was my day. Very successful.