Some days are just crazy!

this was one of them with some great laughs.

I had an appointment for my teeth at 10:00am and Craft Ladies in Paraiso at 2:00pm (thank heavens that was cancelled) and a meeting in Orosi at 5:00pm about the feria at the church on 9/30. Doesn’t sound like the life of an old retired lady to me.

In the past the lady in the reception area at the clinic told me to just go back to the waiting area for dental so that is what I did. I figured I would give her a brownie on the way out. I was hopeful since there was only 1 other person waiting. She got called and I figured I was next. An old man and woman came in and they went right in. Finally the assistant looked at me and asked if I had an appointment and said I had to register. That done I was next and it only took 5 minutes and I was told to come back in 6 months. Now I have been there 4 times and never an ex ray. I am not sure how they figure out where you have problems other than just ask you if you have a problem.

I carry a water bottle with me and this one was glass covered with a rubber cage. Well, about now, the glass cracked and leaked in my red bag so I threw it and most of the napkins I had for the brownies away. Not too much damage to what was in the red bag.

Not long ago I talked to Jose when he was at the hardware store and he told me the employees missed my cookies so after the dentist I headed there. The first person I saw was Gerardo and I explained why I was there. He said good and he got the first brownie. He started calling people over and I was happy I had enough for all the employees and the customers.

Next stop was the chicken place in front of the school. I ordered 2 pieces and papas and gave him a  brownie. He gave me an extra piece of chicken. I took care of what I needed to at the bank including handing out brownies and headed for the bus. It is now almost noon and I haven’t eaten anything yet so once I get on the bus I have a few fries then a small piece of chicken. The driver and passengers around me can smell the chicken and they are laughing and joking about the chicken. I pull a drumstick from the bag and hand it to the driver. He laughs and says no but everyone got a big kick out of it. When I got off the lady ahead of me got off too and walked with me until her house. Her name is Nora. I forgot. I stopped and bought a new water bottle and it turns out the clerk lives near me here in Rio Macho. When I say I live in the cabana of Adrian Arce they all know where that is.

I took the bus back to town about 4:30 and went to the Cafeteria by the church for the meeting. They decided too many people were coming so we moved to el jardín, the other pizza place in town. I haven’t had any of their pizza but it is a lovely place with a lovely garden with unusual, beautiful flowers. What it is also is very dark so it was hard to see the people at the other end of the table. It also turned out that it is a group concerned with much more than just this feria. Half were gringos and half ticos so both languages were used. By 7:00pm the place was full with customers so besides not being able to see, you couldn’t hear. Have you guessed, being part of a big group isn’t my thing. I am more a one on one person. I have been told that ticos aren’t good about working together so I would be concerned that a lot of talking happens but not so much action. I don’t know much more about the 30th than I did. BUT, I had a container of chocolate cookies and I got an order to make 60 cookies for a kids birthday party on Sunday. The man from the Cafeteria also said he would be happy to carry my cookies but I said thank you but I don’t want to work that hard making them all the time. And what you may ask did I charge for my cookies. I decided on 8000 colones for 60 cookies.

There were nice parts of the meeting. Ligia and Jeanette explained what we do from the hats for the cancer ladies to making the extra things to sell to buy more yarn for the hats. We are considered a non-profit so we can do the Féria’s for free. We stayed to speak with a couple people about other opportunities for us and for the seniors that Jeanette and Ligia work with. I  even had a man tell me I have a very big heart and another offer to donate some yarn.

It was 9:00 before I got home but it was taxi this time. He picked us up in front of the church and we took Ligia home then me. Life stays interesting.

Just because I haven’t been writing

Doesn’t mean nothing is happening. We had our meeting with the priest - I brought chocolate cookies to sweeten the deal. We showed him pictures of the cancer ladies and their hats and explained what we do. Well, I didn’t but Jeanette and Ligia did. He agreed to us participating at the feria at the church, without any charges. It turns out it will be Sept. 30.

We have also been invited to be the only vendor on 9/18 and 9/19 at San Francisco de dos Rios, San Jose at the Oficinas del Gobierno Servicio Civil. I do not include any crochet items but I will have microwave bowl potholders, jelly, pickles and some kind of cookie or bar. Today I made brownies  with a filling of a coconut mixture and they loved them. Jeanette thinks I should do them. It will be inside an office building so we won’t need the tent or table and chairs. Easier for traveling but it will be an early start with tubs of merchandise. We will be able to leave it there the 18th so a little less  carting. I don’t know yet if the bus will work for coming home the 18th and going on the 19th. Probable José for the other two trips. This should be a really interesting experience and the ladies are excited.

I love seeing how they have progressed since we started. At first they would only do what I told them. I had to pick out the colors and decide what they should make. Now, I give them yarn to choose from and they bring back the finished item. They are getting so creative. Jeanette has even bought  some yarn and made things on her own and put her label on it. I love it. I have told them if they want to bring their own things to the feria, that is fine. The whole idea was to help them make some money. I hope we sell everything. I would have some very happy ladies.

I am working on a crochet project. I am very interested in mandalas and have several patterns I like. I offered to make one for Otto. He chose the colors to follow the colors of the chakras and when I am  finished I will attach it to a bamboo frame.

Douglas,  (Ziomara’s husband) turns 50 on 9/15 and I have been invited to his birthday party. September will be a busy month.  Late September or early October Heather is coming for a week so  lots going on.

Heather and Kent  were going to come for Christmas but they have a puppy going thru the terrible twos and are concerned about leaving him so I am flying up for a few weeks. I will have to arrange for someone to take care of the cats. I am hoping for someone to spend some time here so the cats can get out and not be locked in the house for 3 weeks.

That’s about it. Lots of rain, little cold - I know, 60 isn’t cold. Next to the basket man - Gerardo - is another basket man - I think Hector. Yes, I bought another basket. These men are so talented. Hector  does furniture also.

The latest coin purses

A couple purses

Hats and purses for little girls

The mandala so far

Getting more adventuresome 

My latest basket.

Now I can pig out.

Every Saturday a market truck visits my area. Today I was gardening and saw it parked next door. I went to say hello and said I would be back in 5 minutes with my colones and my bag. Here is what I got:
3 mango, 3 mandarina, 1 papaya, 5 mangosteen or rambutan ( weird fruit but very healthy), cabbage, bag of green beans, 4 onions and 6 cucumbers for more pickles, and 4 potatoes.
The total was 7000 colones or about $12.50 today. Very fresh and they also have eggs and bread besides all the fruit and vegetables. It filled my envirosac and I only had to carry it from next door. Wonderful deal. I have a package of bacon so the green beans and cabbage will be really good.

I cooked a bag of white beans today and have made chili. I love it on baked potatoes or with crackers or chips.

Tuesday we have an appointment with the priest to tell him about our products and see if we can get his permission to set up in front of the church. Things are happening!

My haul

My weird fruit.

We may have taken a step forward.

My little group, Chicas Buenas, is down to just 3 of us. Ligia Sánchez, Jeanette and me. I only do hats for the cancer ladies and Jeanette is busy with her family and does what she can. Ligia helps take care of her father and keeps herself busy crocheting. I have 2 tubs full of finished products and had not found something that worked to sell what they have made. They have branched out a lot since they started and the cutest things are the small coin purses and purses from the nylon yarn. That also makes them more durable.

Today the Director of the  Asociación Artesanos Del Valle de Orosi came to Jeanette’s during our meeting and visited with us. Jeanette had asked me to bring some of the things they have made and the lady was very impressed. We have been invited to join the group and participate with them at ferias. The next one will be the last weekend in August and the first weekend in September. It is in Paraiso, both Saturday and Sunday. We will do one of the weekends.

If I understood right, we don’t pay to belong to the association and there is no charge for the feria. It
is supported by the municipality. To belong you have to be invited. They only have one lady who crochets but she doesn’t do much and ours is so different. I think they do 4-6 ferias a year and we  would be with other people with a variety of artists items. Could be just what we need. From what I understood they go to Paraiso, Cartago, Cachi and Orosi. I will still continue to bring things to the US too. Jeanette made some of the coin purses and has buyers for 3 already and, they don’t take long to make so they are great.

I asked if we had to be there at 5:00am and Ligia said no, 4:00am. But they assured me they would come at 4:00am and I could come at 9:00am. They tease me about not liking early morning. We did
ask if I could do cookies but she has to check. She thinks jelly is Ok and I plan to have pickles, if  allowed. Today I brought cinnamon roll pizza and they loved it.

I do hope this works. We will make some things in Costa Rican colors for Independence Day in September and then concentrate on Christmas things. I may have to get my eyes fixed soon so I can get busy with handwork. I am off to Cartago after my massage tomorrow to pickup more nylon yarn.

Lexi loves looking at the pictures on my iPad. I showed  her the phone booth ap and this is the result. They had quite a time with it.  

Jeanette’s 

Ligia’s 

I do not understand....

why someone who lives in Paradise needs a vacation. And maybe I didn’t need one, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Last minute and only a few days but definitely worth the trouble. Find a place to stay, find a cat sitter, arrange transportation. It is Sunday and we are leaving early Wednesday morning.

I found the cutest house, a 2 minute walk from the beach and just a little farther to a resort with a restaurant. The house has indoor and outdoor eating areas, jungle gardens, fully walled in and what proved to be so enjoyable - a plunge pool.


We went by bus, well most of the way. Jose took me to Paraiso, then the bus to San Jose, then taxi to the other bus and off to Puerto Viejo. It takes about 4 hours from San Jose but there was road construction so it was slower and coming back the bus was 45 minutes late and bumper to bumper traffic so it took 6 hours to San Jose.

I have been to Puerto Viejo before. This was my 4th. time. There is something about it I really like.  Many of the people are of Jamaican descent so the feel is more Caribbean island than Latin   American. Will you get asked if you want pot? Maybe. I haven’t but Heather and Courtney were. Thursday I was walking in town and I told a local I really liked her dress. She offered to trade with me cuz she liked mine. Then she went on to say something about no underwear. I laughed and said no thank you but your dress is very pretty.  The shops there have much different things than around here. The pretty painted Costa Rican coffee makers, bright bed coverings and wall hangings. I have some of all of them now. My two red bags were really, really full coming back.

Our first stop was the grocery store to get what we needed for a few meals, then a taxi to meet the        property manager and go to the house. We cooked beef, chicken, made guacamole, pico de Gallo and    cleaned spinach. I brought retried beans and chunky salsa and we turned it all into chalupas. We ended up making burritos with all the leftovers for the trip back. We had mango and watermelon and French toast and scrambled eggs for our breakfasts. I love having a house with a kitchen. It was pretty well equipped except no oven but that is common. Very shaded. No air conditioning but 3 fans. Very interesting flowers in the gardens including one that looked like a miniature pineapple growing on a stalk, not out of the ground. Really cute. All of the windows are screens which was very nice. No real bug problems.

I messaged Otto about cat sitting but he was going to the Pacific coast the same dates so I messaged    Brandon. He said yes. Otto told me when I went to the US I didn’t explain enough to Dally about  what I was doing and that is why he was really wild and naughty. This time I told them again and again and they seemed to be better. They weren’t mad at me when I got home. I gave them treats and
they weren’t too wild. Guess telling them must work. They were very happy to be able to go  outside
again. There is one mystery though. How did two cats, locked in the house for 3 days, end up with a  little dead bird on the living room floor.  There are feathers on my floor that they knock off the dream catchers and play with and that is what I thought this was. Nope!

My new dress. I added a white tee shirt under it for traveling and it was great. 

My new bed cover. 

The beach 2 minutes away. Black Sand Beach. 

Working really hard.

Chalupas 

The kitchen

The bathroom sink. So neat.

The sitting area by the pool. 

The path to the front door.