I have a story to tell.

And it is a story I am very proud to be part of. It began in June of this year. Roz, my friend in Hutchinson, and I were exchanging pictures of blankets with the idea I would see if my ladies could make it. The ladies here are very talented but they are also very traditional. And there is the language problem. I speak so little of their language that I would not be able to teach or explain and although I could  possibly come up with some patterns in Spanish it wouldn’t help. The explanations and stitches were different than what they were used to. So why should that stop me!

I saw a blanket I loved and showed it to Roz and she loved it too. The colors gave us an idea to follow so I talked to Ligia and she agreed and was willing. I started having the patterns printed in color so even though they couldn’t read them, they would have the colored pictures to look at and follow. Ligia and I started. She is so much better than me and so much faster. I need a pattern to follow and although I started many, the stitching got too complicated and I would try another one. With rows of hidden stitches I figured how would they ever follow and duplicate just by looking at the pictures or a sample.

The beginning of August Ligia and I went to Paraiso to show the ladies the squares and see who wanted to participate. Ligia turned into la profesora. Laura, Rosa, Marta, Adriana, Johanna Jeannette, Zoila, Ligia and I ended up participating. Johanna did the embroidery. Jeannette and Zoila did some of the white edging on the squares and ribbon weaving.  Around each square is woven navy or brown ribbon. Now keep in mind we have 9 people crocheting and we expect it to all fit together. Everyone crochets different. Ligia was throughout the entire project my quality control. If it didn’t seem quite right she would take stitches or rows out and redo them.

Once we had all the squares done I started the middle. I was concerned because of the pattern it would be hard to figure out so I did it until it turned into a square. Then Ligia took over. It had to end up 48 inches square. For the 12 inch squares I had supplied pieces of heavy fabric marked to where the color square would end and the size including the white border. With the big center square we just measured.  Then the smaller squares had to be crocheted together and attached to the center square. Next came the outside border which includes panels with our names in hearts and a greeting to Roz and the year.

Today I received the finished blanket from Ligia and it is spectacular. Very large  since Roz has a king size bed. I was teased a lot and called Chica Mala because when I would give pieces - like the center piece to Ligia I had not tucked in all my ends from the color changes. Well I  want you to know the finished product is as perfect on the back as it is on the front.  We also have several extra squares to make into pillow shams but that will be later. The blanket will go back with Heather on the 9th. to be mailed to Roz.

Today when Ligia came we called Roz so she could see it at the same time I did. I think she was thrilled. Heather will bring gifts from Roz for the ladies and next week we will deliver them and show off the Pura Vida blanket.

This is the one that started it all.

Ligia coming to deliver the finished blanket.

The name panels. Three of these and one that says Chicas Buenas, Pura Vida, a heart with 2019 in it and con mucho amor (with much love)

 The outside border

 

The back is as good as the front.

I can’t do it justice as my bed is a double and the blanket is a king.

Besides finishing the blanket, and the holidays Ligia  found time, or made time, to make these for Roz.

It has been a difficult year for Ligia with four members of her immediate family dying. She credits this project with helping her tremendously. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all who read this.

It has been a busy few weeks getting ready for the Holidays and for Heather and Kent who arrive on January 1st. I had started baking and putting things in the freezer and refrigerator. Spritz cookies, cocoa Krispie bars, Mounds bars, Fudge with raisins and almonds, Snickerdoodle cookies, Chocolate Crinkle cookies, marshmallows dipped in caramel and Krispies, Corn Flake Wreaths, white and milk chocolate dipped pretzels, Chocolate Chip sticks (like biscotti) and my failure Cranberry white chocolate cookies. Because of the altitude things bake up different here. Most of the recipes are adjusted for high altitude but that one wasn’t. They turned out flat and fell apart after a day. A shame. They tasted good. Everything else turned out good.

My intention was to bake to give out goodies at the pizza shop Christmas Eve and then to my neighbors Christmas Day. I have done the pizza shop before and it was lots of fun. People were very surprised and it added to the happiness of the evening. Then an added event turned up. A local group planned to bring gifts to 4 low income families last Sunday. They posted on Wednesday or Thursday that they only had enough for 2 families. I offered to help and I am sure others did too and they reached their goal. 21 people altogether in the families. José picked me and what I had to give up on Saturday so we could deliver everything to the home of the man in charge. He was then combining and packaging and dividing everything evenly among the families.

Tuesday evening José picked me up again and took me and all my goodies to the pizza shop. I was set up at a table in front. Close enough to Emilio for him to translate for me if necessary but they were quite busy. Mainly with take out. I would ask how many people and would give them one or two containers of assorted treats. Ligia came and spent most of the evening with me and that worked great. She knew lots of the people and would explain who I was and about what our Chicas Buenas group does. And what good things I make. It was a fun time. Her son came and got us and brought me home. She also told me she is on the last few rows of the blanket and she will bring it to me on Monday. She told Emilio a story that he translated to me. The blanket is so big and heavy that she has to lay it out on her bed to work on it. Then when she wants to go to bed she has to fold it up and share her bed with it. Remember it is for a king size bed. It is like when I made a quilt for my friend Judi. Their bed was a California king and she wanted it to hang down the sides so she only needed a dust ruffle. It was enormous and so heavy and there weren’t many places big enough to lay it out and work on it. Thank heavens I had the conference center at The Grotto. Heather will take the blanket back with her and mail it to Roz. I can’t wait to see it. We will also make pillow covers to match but that will be later.

Yesterday afternoon I packed up a big bag of plastic containers and headed out for a walk. There were some neighbors outside and I was able to give them treats and wish them Feliz Navidad. The people across the road who have given me rides to Orosi. The basket weaver where I have bought several baskets. A couple driving by stopped and asked me for directions. ME! In Spanish! A little spanish and sign language is great. I gave them cookies too and wished them Feliz Navidad. Hopefully they found Orosi.

Today I went out again to my next door neighbor as they weren’t home yesterday. He was working on a car and he showed me his absolutely black hands and then showed me a safe spot to put the containers.

I have almost no goodies left, which is good because I like them. I will have to do some baking to get ready for Heather. She called me when I was at the pizza shop because she was making another batch of toffee. I told her I couldn’t stay on the phone the whole time so this time she did it alone. Turned out perfect.

I bought this at the market Tuesday evening. 1500 colones. Maybe 2.75. Such a deal.

They are working on the second house but it isn’t ready yet. Heather and Kent will stay in the house in Orosi they stayed in last time.

Pretzels

The items for the needy families 

Spritz

Party two done!

The rain hasn’t been quite as bad but I did suggest to everyone they not wear fancy shoes just in case. I had Jose and Victor come and move the stepping stones to create a path down the hill to the front door. Adrian brought me 12 extra chairs and I spent the week cooking and cleaning. I did a bit of decorating in the house and the deck was all ready from when I thought the seniors were coming.

On Sunday Jeannette let me know the seniors were having a big party at La Quinta Gerardo on Friday and she might have too much to do to get ready on Thursday and might not be able to come. Turned out she and Zoila who also works at the senior center didn’t make it.

On Wednesday Jose called to say Ligia’s brother in law had just died. Poor Ligia. That is the 4th family member since April. I wasn’t sure she would make it either. She did come, early, and was a great help. She seems to understand the best what I am trying to say and she takes over in Spanish. She also led a prayer before we got settled into eating and drinking.

The group ended up being Johanna, her mother Laura, Patricia and a friend, Rosa, her two daughters, her son (Jazmin’s husband), Jazmin, their son, Ligia, Otto, Dayana, Cledy, Adriana
One problem. The music man didn’t come. I don’t know why. Mine was a short, small deal so maybe something bigger came along. I used the iPad which at least gave some background music.
Otto was here and he was great about stepping in and telling historical stories that he has memorized. He is one of the few people in the country that does this type of presentation.

Once everyone was settled we started the little game I had planned. Each woman got a number. When I called a number they got to come up and put their arm in a big garbage bag with tons of items. No looking. Then the second time they came up they got to pick between the bag and a jar of jelly. I gave away 6 jars. The third time we put everything on the table and they could pick an item. It turned out to be lots of fun.

I also handed the ladies who worked on the blanket a bag with their payment. There are still little gifts coming from Roz that Heather will bring. We also video called Roz and she was able to speak to the ladies. With me as the translator!

We had Sangria and then coffee and several kinds of cold drinks. Rosa, whose birthday we were celebrating, brought chips and a tuna carrot dip so we started with that. I made mini cream  puffs and filled them with chicken salad and egg salad. I also stuffed French bread with a spinach artichoke cheese mixture and baked it. We served the cream puffs and the stuffed bread and mini cinnamon rolls for coffee. Then the desserts. A plain pound cake, an eggnog pound cake, frosted chocolate peppermint cupcakes or cake slices and chocolate vanilla ice cream. I also put out containers for people to take home the things they couldn’t eat.

Last but not least the piñata. They had brought so much candy that each person got a bag full besides what the were able to grab when the piñata was broken. There was quite a scramble.

It turned out Jazmin brought me tons of hats. One a day she said. Cledy brought several and Rosa’s daughter brought 3 as a donation. It was her own yarn, not mine. I explained to Otto about doing prayer shawls with yarn that is being donated to us and he was able to explain it to the ladies for me. We will give them to the hospital for everyone to use while having chemo. Everyone agreed.

It turned out to be a very busy week. I had to go to the clinic to order meds, go back the next day and pick them up. Wednesday morning I had to take the 6:30am bus to Paraiso to get lab work done. I did
 have a strange thing happen that morning. After the clinic I stopped in the grocery store. I picked up a couple things and saw a bottle of non alcoholic Sangria. I thought it might be good to have it on hand. When I went to pay for it the clerk did his best to explain he couldn’t sell it until 8:00am. It was about 7:30. I never heard of such a thing especially since it was basically fruit juice.

The next couple weeks will be crocheting and Christmas cookie baking and before you know it  Heather and Kent will be here. We have been invited to Jazmin’s house in Cervantes and Ziomara is making Casado.  Hopefully by then the rain will be less. And hopefully the raccoon will be gone!

Start with dessert, right?

I told Johanna I rarely take a good picture but I like this one.

 

See all the hats!

Jazmin has done children’s hats. We always attach a heart so she crocheted hearts to add to their hats.

 

Patricia, Laura and Johanna

Rosa taking a turn at the bag. 

Rosa being sung to and blowing out her candle.

Some of the things from the bag ...and jelly

Rosa trying the piñata.

Her grandson trying too. 

Another wonderful Thanksgiving.....a day late.

Last year I didn’t do anything for Thanksgiving because I was recovering from eye surgery and on limited activity. This year Jeannette picked November 29, the day after Thanksgiving, for the seniors to come have a party at my house. Hopefully the rainy season would be letting up and they could enjoy their day in the country. I should still have fruit on the trees and they could look over the construction going on to change the bodega into a house.

I can’t have a party at Thanksgiving time without turkey so I bought two at WalMart and started picking up ingredients a couple weeks ahead of time. I cooked the turkeys and took the meat off the bone and froze it and then cooked the carcas with vegetables to make a turkey broth for the dressing and to put with the turkey when I reheated it to keep it moist.

I decided to do turkey and dressing, camote (sweet potatoes) a mixed salad with lots of stuff and cranberry sauce. I had to make a trip to Mayca for a bag of frozen cranberries. As an appetizer I did Ritz crackers with egg salad and Honey crackers with peanut butter and guayaba/strawberry jam. Dessert was Cocoa Krispie bars and a banana bar that is very much like budín or bread pudding.

Tuesday Ligia and Jeannette and Emilio came to decorate the deck. It looks quite wonderful. Thursday Jose was coming to put the tent canopy up by the deck. Adrian was having the yard cut and was bringing me all his extra chairs.  All of a sudden things changed.

Ligia’s brother died from a heart attack on Wednesday so I had to work in a funeral on Thursday. And, it has been raining so much my yard is full of puddles and soggy. I messaged Jeannette saying I was concerned about having the party here and could we have it at the Senior Center. She said yes so Jose came Thursday afternoon and we moved everything except the hot food. We picked up Jeannette and took everything to the Center. She and her granddaughter stayed and decorated and I came home to cook the camote. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do as they don’t have an oven at the Center, just burners. What I decided to do was put the dressing, which was cooked and I  might say very good, back in the crockpot so I could keep it plugged in to heat up. The camote I put in a stockpot and put it on a very low heat at the Center. The turkey I put in a turkey pan, put the broth on it and covered it with tinfoil. I put it in the oven for about an hour and when Jose came I wrapped it up good in heavy fabric. I ended up reheating it a bit on low on a burner but there was lots of liquid so it didn’t dry out.  A little more inconvenient than expected but it all worked out.

AND it was all a tremendous hit. Of the 28 people there, 15 had never had turkey before. They loved the dressing which had dried bread cubes I made from loaves of French bread, rice, chicken, chorizo, onions, carrots, celery, apples and the homemade turkey broth. They couldn’t get over the camote because it is different than the way they fix it. Even the salad was different. Lettuce, tomatoes, palmetto, cheese and my pickled cucumbers, carrots, onions and sweet peppers.  I even was asked for recipes. It could not have been a better compliment. Beverages were a guayaba refresco and Sangria. To make the refresco easy I had cooked and blended and strained the guayaba. It got thinned a bit more and sugar added for a good fruit drink. I didn’t try the sangria but they said it was really good.

Let’s see, what else. I brought fruit from my trees and I filled 6 Christmas stockings with little gifts to use for bingo prizes. The flower decorations they did for the deck are now on the tables at the Center. I was prayed over and given wonderful gifts. I was called family and felt like it.

Next party will be here December 12th with all the Chicas Buenas. Hopefully the rain will stop by
 then.

My gifts. The sun and moon and a chicken and egg and a chicken towel.

In a cramped area but this will give you an idea how the blanket is coming along.

The Senior Center 

The stocking winners

  

  

Oh what a week it has been

So last Thursday was Rain’s surgery. I planned to stay home for several days to get her over the worst part and apply her meds and salves which were all day long. She was driving me crazy wanting to go out and finally made a break for it on Thursday. Unfortunately that was also the day she quit eating and started acting different. I was very concerned so on Friday I stopped at the vet and we agreed I would bring her in today.

When I got back Friday from my trip to Orosi things seemed to have changed. She ate twice before bed, she ran around and chased bugs. She slept good and didn’t meow all the time to go out. This morning she ate twice and the doctor checked her out and cleared her for no more meds or creams and no cone and she can go outside. Turns out some cats have a problem with their stomach and the meds and I was putting it in her food to get her to take it. Once she quit eating it got out of her system.

My doors and shutters can now be open and I can concentrate on making jelly instead of her. Except the back door because the raccoon comes in. I have guayaba and strawberries and pineapple and peaches and mango and ginger and lemons. There should be some interesting combinations and I have so much I am sure I will use up every jar in the house. Heather!

The neighbor’s must think that silly gringa if they watch me getting guayaba. Since the long hook has a hook on the end and not a little basket to catch the fruit, I catch a branch with the hook and shake like mad to see what falls.  Or I hook a branch and pull it to me if it is low enough. Then I can just pick the fruit off the tree. I had a big bag full this morning. I have given 2 bags full to the neighbor and one to Luis. Some to Jose and  Otto. And I have what I cooked up and a full tub. AND the trees still have tons. Ticos mainly use them for refresco, cold drinks. I am not from an area of a lot of fruit trees so the idea of letting it go to waste just doesn’t sit well with me. There is a lot of that here though since there are so many fruit trees.

I know a lot of you are having very cold weather. Here it is sprinkling on and off all day and it has been cool enough for long sleeves. Kinda like Oregon kind of rain.

When I stopped at the fruit and vegetable market yesterday the nice young lady asked me to bring some jelly and she would buy it. I had given her a jar before. I bet I could sell it there if I wanted to work that hard.

I guess sometimes all you have to do is ask.

I belong to a crochet and crochet pattern group on Facebook. I have posted about my group and what we do. I have gotten very positive responses.  When I posted about the cancer patient we gave a hat to who now wants to help make hats I got over 900 likes.

So, I decided to try something. As you know I supply all the yarn and the ladies use their time and talent to make the hats. Now that we have 12 ladies crocheting it takes a lot of yarn. I posted in the crochet group if anyone was planning to stop crocheting and was interested in getting rid of their cotton yarn they could send it to Heather and she would bring it in January.

AND, I now have 4 boxes of yarn coming! Can you believe it. 3 are going to Heather, coming from New York and Texas and Nebraska. One is a Tica and her husband works for DHL and that one is coming here. The generosity of people is so wonderful and this extra yarn will help so much. Thank heavens I also have Heather. Between us we watch for bargains and coupons and buy the yarn as reasonably as possible. JoAnn’s 60% off coupons are great. I do buy some very nice cotton yarn here - all the yarn for the blanket - but it is much more expensive so we don’t make many hats from it.  

It’s guayaba season and my trees are loaded. José and his helper were here yesterday and picked me a big tub full. I asked Adrian if he had a picker I could borrow. At first they thought I wanted someone to come pick but when I explained I would do it they brought me a long bamboo pole with a hook attached to the end. Today I washed and cleaned and cut up 2 stockpots full. You cover with water and boil about a half hour. Cool and put in the blender, then strain. You end up with the fruit pulp for the jelly. Wait till you see how much I have! I usually do a cup of pulp and 1/2 cup or a little more sugar. Maybe lemon juice. I have mora in the freezer. I may try adding some of that too since I have so much guayaba. I may also try freezing the pulp. I have frozen the fruit and that works.

Tomorrow or Friday I must make a trip to Cartago for macrame cord and cat food. My 3 cats, two strays and the raccoon are eating me out of house and home. I haven’t seen the raccoon in a while or one of the strays. I am in a stand off with the other stray, Pretty Kitty. I open the door and she hisses at me. Now why should I feed a cat that hisses at me?

It’s been pretty boring around here since I have been staying home with Rain. Sometimes she drives me crazy. She wants to go out so bad so she meows and meows and meows. This morning I let Domingo out at 3:30 and Rain started in meowing. I never did get back to sleep. I think it will be an early night tonight.

Few guayaba!

Fruit pulp 

Rain and Domingo. She needs the bigger basket because of the cone

My outside light was out. Works great now.

I have never seen it like this.

You know I have fruit trees. It isn’t like it is an orchard that is taken care of all the time. Just a fruit tree here and there. Some are old and covered with moss and barely have any fruit. Others have quite a few now and then. Nothing like now. It is a super duper harvest for the guayaba. Definitely means jelly time and a bag in the freezer.

José and his helper are coming to do some work tomorrow or Wednesday and I asked him to bring a long handled fruit picker so we can actually pick it and not have to wait for it to fall or an animal to knock it down. So much goes to waste because there is a bite out of it or it cracks when it falls. Or falls in an area I can’t get to it to pick it up. The fruit picker and the machete that is.

 José and his helper are coming to put guide lines up under the front overhang of the roof for my lantern tree to grow along. It has gotten so big it is taller than the house. I also have some things I want done to start getting ready for the seniors party on the 29th. Some tree trimming, moving fallen down banana plants, weeding, stuff like that. I want to start thinking about what should be planted along the little road for when the back house is finished and I can block my view a bit. It is an area 12-15 feet and I want something that will grow up but not spread out too much and need to be cut back often.

Rain (the cat) is doing pretty good but her regiment takes most of my day. Pill in her food every 12 hours. Spray to clean her incision 3 times a day. Wait an hour and put gel on the incision 3 times a day. Wait a half hour and put cream on the incision 3 times a day. She has adjusted to the cone and I take it off while she eats to make things easier. She hates being locked inside and if she isn’t sleeping she is meowing to go out. Domingo doesn’t seem to recognize her with the cone on and hisses at her when she gets close. This will be a long week.

Heather and Kent set their dates and will be here Jan 1-9. What fun. Ziomara has invited us for a Casado meal, the traditional Costa Rican dinner. We all love it in the sodas or small restaurants and this time it will be homemade.

The hospital visits are done until March or I get a call. Most of the ladies are done with their part of the blanket and are back to making hats. Ligia and I and Johanna still have work. I am hoping Johana will help with the embroidery. I found a design I really like and the names will be embroidered in the hearts. It will be worked into the outer border in 2 corners. There may be a few extra words too like Chicas Buenas and Pura Vida.

See all the fruit

The branch is so full it is hanging way down.

Not just the guayaba tree has tons of fruit. Even the little orange tree is loaded.

Another shot of all the fruit.

Rain wanted so bad to go outside so I put her in her carrier and put her on the table on the deck. Definitely not to her liking.

These are the hearts I like. 

New and interesting experiences

Today was day number 5 and Ligia and I headed for the hospital in Cartago. Yesterday I went to pick up more hats in Paraiso and take them more yarn for the next batch. I told them that after today I would plan my next visits for March. October 14 was the birthday of my brother who died of cancer and in March is my birthday.

As we were walking along the hospital I said there aren’t many people today. There was almost no one on the steps and the doors were closed. A guard directed us to the single door at the top of the ramp and Ligia explained why we were there and where we wanted to go. Even without getting my permission slip out we were allowed in. Coco Krispie bars for both guards but no crowds or lines of people. Ligia explained it was a free day and most departments were closed. Chemo was open so we headed for the second guard station and more bars. Two more happy guards.

Chemo was open but not as busy as other days. There was a lady and her helper/daughter leaving so I asked Ligia to explain what we have and they returned. Ligia handed out bars to the patients and I covered the staff. I had put a message in my translate program and handed my phone to a staff person I recognized. It said I would be back in March but if they need more before that here is my name and number. They took it down and thanked me and gave me back my phone.

As I have mentioned, there are lots of men. Not today. There was only 1 when we got there and 2 more came before we left. We went down the stairs and out the back so I could give those guards bars. Next stop was the usual restaurant for coffee and a bite to eat. I am probably the only person in Costa Rica that goes to a restaurant and hands out food. While we were sitting there a family came in. An older couple and the man was helping their adult son to walk. The son looked quite weak, with little hair, and when he sat down he fell off the chair onto the floor. Once they were settled Ligia went over and explained about the hats and the restaurant owner and waiter helped to explain and we gave away another hat. I was told his problem was diabetes but it doesn’t matter. It was someone who was very happy with his new hat.

Big day for Rain tomorrow. I take her to the vet in the late afternoon and she will stay there overnight. It is too hard to try and keep her from eating with two other cats. Thursday morning she will be spayed and I will pick her up Thursday afternoon. It will then be a quiet few days for her and stay home time for me.

Nothing much planned for the next month except a trip for Ligia and I to Ziomara’s on Nov 9 and the Seniors party here Nov 29. Turkey and dressing and pickles and Sangria for me and Jeannette will bring the vegetable rice. Probably have to bake something. Music and dancing. Fun for everyone.

The hats from Paraiso. Except the top left. I made that.

Rain