Day 4

i still had Wednesday and Thursday to do my hospital visits and since they were closed last week for Holy Week I decided Thursday this week and Wednesday next week. I needed to get more men’s hats before I could go because there are so many men and they want hats too. Part of the problem is their heads get so cold.

I went to Paraiso yesterday and the 5 ladies were there with lots of hats for men and women. This morning I headed for Cartago and stopped to have a bite and a coffee before going to the hospital. A really nice place with great food, a couple blocks from the hospital. It was so funny because I spoke Spanish and the man translated everything into English. I think he was German.

I must say the staff in the chemo room are so great and helpful, especially when I come alone. This time it was a female. I don’t know if she is a nurse or doctor but she passed out all the cookies for me. I would wrap them in parchment paper and she would give them out. When I start going around with the hats, the staff are right nearby commenting on the hats and how the people look in the ones they pick. There were lots of patients today, the room was very busy.

Today it was cocoa Krispie bars again. Everyone got one and some got two. I mentioned I would come back on Wednesday but I was told it is a holiday and they aren’t open. Now things get a little complicated. Next Thursday I have surgery so it will have to wait a couple weeks for my Wednesday visit.

Next week will be busy. Monday is lab work and eye tests for the surgery. Stock up on food and pay my rent. Thursday is surgery and Friday is back to the doctor. Hopefully everything goes great.

I gave this to Johanna yesterday. Look close at all the stitching she has done already. There will also be big butterflies on each end.

This one was one I made.

The young ones break my heart.

He was happy with his choice 

This is very near me. Look at all the buds.  

Trip number 3

We made plans for Naty to come with me and to meet on the hospital steps at 10:15. I usually arrive in Cartago early and stop for coffee as I don’t have any before I leave home. I got a message from Naty while I was having coffee that there was a complication and she wouldn’t be able to come. No problem. I know I can manage alone. What I can’t do is talk at length with the patients and understand what they are telling me.

Packed with hats and Cocoa Krispie Bars I headed for the hospital. First stop is the guard inside the door. Same one as yesterday so it was an easy stop. Just hand him a treat. On to the next guard desk. Two this time and again they knew what I was there for so just more treats. Sometimes there are patients waiting in the hallway and I offer them a hat, but not today.

I went in the door, washed my hands, and went into the chemo room. The staff saw me and greeted me and I explained I was alone today. That was all it took. There was always someone helping me. Handing out treats once I put parchment paper around them. Yesterday we used napkins but I was afraid these bars would stick to the napkins. Holding the bag of hats so I could pull out the ones for men or women and let them pick what they wanted. Explaining to the patients about the hats and my group and even commenting on how the person looked. There was joking and it wasn’t as sad and serious a day as yesterday.

One man said you pick one for me. I sized him up like an artist would and picked the red and white one. He smiled and said this is the one I wanted. One lady picked a blue hat and put it on. I took her picture but before I moved on I showed her another multicolored one. She changed her mind and decided she wanted that one. The next lady took the blue one.

I asked the staff if there was a special day for kids but they said no. I did ask if I could leave extra men’s hats for the Friday men that I missed last week. They said yes.  I told them I would be back after Easter on Wednesday and Thursday. I must get more men’s hats before I go back.

There were bars left so I asked if anyone would like another one. I left with none. They really liked them. I stopped at the Super when I got to Orosi and now have marshmallows for a couple more batches. I have the cocoa krispies and the other ingredients. They are easy to make and people love them.

Tomorrow is massage day - the table is still on the deck and I will then spend the rest of Semana Santa crocheting. I am making flowers to decorate the hats that are done and then will do more hats. Happy Easter to all of you.

Jeannette contacted me yesterday afternoon asking if she could come to my house at 5:30 to bring plants. My first thought is she is bringing me palms from Palm Sunday. I had to laugh when they got here and unloaded the car. I completely forgot about ordering these. Wait till you see them.

This is what I ordered. Delivered with dirt and plants.

The other one.

Jeannette’s granddaughter put the red pottery items in for me.

Many hats went right on today.

I like the blue one too. 

I like the blue one

No I like this one better

Visit number 2

Today I made my second trip to the hospital with 15 hats and a container of chocolate chip cookies. Naty and I agreed to meet on the hospital steps at 10:15am. In case you don’t remember, Naty is Ziomara’s husband’s daughter. She is 22 and entering her final year of studies as a social worker. Unless she goes on to get her masters.

Naty feels this experience at the hospital is very good for her. She is quite shy and her first visit she gave out cookies but didn’t really speak with the people. Afterward she said I could see they wanted to talk and if you will take me with you again I will talk with them. I did and she has. Today was a new experience. Our first child.

He was about 10 and my first  thought was I don’t have any hats great for kids. Her thought was what do I say to him.  She greeted him and offered him cookies and I let him pick a hat and got his permission to take his picture.

We finished and went for coffee and she was holding back tears. That isn’t how kids should be spending their time. I was very touched also.

The staff know me and what I am there for and besides loving the cookies they help to explain to the patients about the hats and that there is no charge.

We are going again tomorrow, Naty and I. I have made Cocoa Krispie bars like I made for the senior center and we will again meet on the hospital steps at 10:15am. It only takes 30-45 minutes once we go in. It will be the last day until next week and then I will go Wednesday and Thursday. I don’t know yet who will go with me but I do know I will need more men’s hats. Rosa said she has finished 2 already.

Today’s supply of hats

She picked one I made.

One of the men. 

Our young boy.

The two latest hats. 

Right away she put it on 

It has been a whileI

since I made a visit to the hospital. The ladies have been crocheting like mad. I now have 2 in Orosi, 3 in Paraiso and 2 in Cervantes. If I understood correctly- and you know I make things up - one of the ladies, Rosa, has cancer in her family. Her son and her mother. I met her and Jasmine and Patty on Wednesday when I went to Paraiso to pick up hats. They are friends of Johanna and Laura. See, I am doing better, I got all the names.

I ended up in a terrible downpour between the bus stop and the house. I was bringing yarn and thank heavens I had it inside a plastic bag, inside, my green bag. I definitely should have brought the bigger umbrella as I was soggy after a few blocks.

Ladies here know how to crochet but most of what they do is with thread and tiny hooks. When you switch to yarn, the tiny hooks don’t work as well so I brought along bamboo hooks in larger sizes. Rosa was very happy to see the yarns that will work good for Men’s hats as she will concentrate on those. Also some for children. My bins don’t have a lot left in them but they will be replenished in May when Kent and Heather come. I found out on Wednesday that Patty and Laura are going thru chemo for arthritis. Heather will bring some craft gloves intended to help when you have arthritis and we will see if it does help them.

So, today I got on the bus about 9:00am stocked with chocolate chip cookies and hats and headed to Cartago. While I was sitting at the bus stop, Jose went by and stopped to say hello. Then Luis, the taxi driver, stopped to see if I was going to Orosi and wanted a ride. I said, no thank you I am going to Cartago.

Rosa met me on the hospital steps and we went in, handing out cookies to all the guards. Some people grease the wheels with money, I do it with cookies.  In the chemo room I first gave cookies to all the staff and then Rosa did the cookies and napkins while I did the hats. When she was available we worked together. I had a few men’s hats but there were more men there than hats so I told them I would bring more another day. I am going back on Monday. I don’t know yet if anyone is going with me but if not I can manage alone. Usually someone speaks some English if I get stuck.

Next week is Semana Santa - Holy Week - so I am not sure how many days I will go. I asked today and I believe they said Monday - Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are really big days here. Even more than Sunday.

Heather had a bit of a complication and cancelled her April trip but she and Kent will come in May. My problem is the more time they give me the more things I think of for her to bring. Wild Rice and seam rippers and fish oil and craft gloves and tons of yarn and lots more but I forget what. It will be a surprise when I open the suitcases.

Maybe a few of you remember the first time Kaye came to visit me we had an attack of flying bugs kinda like small cockroaches. When it got dark and we turned the lights on we had to hide in the bedroom or get attacked. When I told Gerardo he laughed and said every year, this time of year. I don’t remember them last year but they are definitely back! And, it doesn’t help to hide in the bedroom. Even with all my new netting they are all over. And the cats don’t seem to be very interested in hunting them. Not like the birds they catch and leave under my bed. Thank heavens this doesn’t last but a few weeks.

Did I tell you May 2nd is my next eye surgery? April 29 I have lab work done in Cartago in the morning and eye tests in San Pedro in the afternoon. I think I am going to try this excursion on my own. The surgery is in San Pedro too and Jose will take me and then take me to Cartago the next day for my checkup.

I have found a new use for my big deck. Since my big table was out there, I took one of my twin size mattress toppers and set it up for my massage. Otto says it works great so I think I will leave the table out there and bring the smaller one in the house. The sounds of nature and flowing water are great.

Wednesday’s supply of hats.

This time it was chocolate chip. I have had trouble but I used the high altitude recipe with much better success.

A few of the people today. 

Look at my beautiful little orchids.

The Senior Citizen group here in Orosi.

My massage table. 

Cleaning day is a big deal at my house

Not because I clean. Oh no I leave that to the Ticas. They do such a great job. And not because I do gardening or repair work. I leave that to Ticos. But, I get to cook and this time I started a couple days early. The ladies arrived at 9:00am and I was expecting Jose and his helper about 10:30. Their first job was to replace the mosquito netting along one side of the house. To avoid a mess after they started cleaning I asked Ligia if she could use a stool and tear down the netting. Jeannette followed behind and cleaned the whole uncovered area so it was all ready when Jose came. Before he could get started it was time for coffee. That included Morning Glory muffins and French muffins. They are quite plain and when they come out of the oven you dip them in melted butter and cinnamon sugar. I had honey butter and guayaba jelly, bananas and containers of coconut yogurt. The table was on the deck and everyone loved the goodies.

I made a change in the mosquito netting. This time I used sheer curtains cut down the center into 2 pieces. I also changed to dark colors. I have had the kitchen area done in dark colors and it seems to work really well. But first they took down the light covers so they could be cleaned. I really wish I had taken a picture. It was a regular straight ladder and the helper stood behind it and held it while Jose climbed it. It was quite a scene.

As everything is going on I worked on lunch. I had already made the rice dish which was white rice from here and Minnesota Wild Rice and vegetables which I reheated in the oven. I made deviled eggs, dished up the pickles I made Saturday, sliced up avocados and put lemon juice on them. Yesterday I made taco meat from beef and chorizo sausage so I just needed to heat that. Chopped lettuce and tomatoes and heated refreíd beans and got the sour cream out. Now the assembly. Put a  large tortilla on a plate and put the meat and retried beans in the center. Put a small crispy tortilla on top and add sour cream, tomatoes, lettuce and cheese. Top with a small soft tortilla. Fold the extra from the big tortilla over the top and put in a frypan with the folds down. Brown and then turn and brown the other side. There was lots of food and everyone seemed to enjoy it. At the end I said this is the only chocolate I have and handed each person a handful of chocolate chips.

José and his helper

Jeannette 

K

Ligia

My new kitchen unit

The other new unit. I love my kitchen now.

The house is clean as can be, the new bug stopper is up, my bougainvillea is planted, the top half of a tree is cut off, the dead stuff on the rocks in front is cleared away and the yard is raked. All is good at La Cabana.