Have I found.....

the most talented ladies in Costa Rica or what? I have a suitcase full of hats and last week Rosa and I went to the hospital in Cartago on Monday. Plans were I would go again on Thursday because I had a quarterly clinic appointment on Tuesday as well as a gathering at Jeannette’s Tuesday afternoon. I need a day to bake or make goodies to take with me so Thursday would work. BUT things haven’t gone as planned.

Monday we met on the hospital steps at 10:15. I had 10 men’s hats and 15 ladies hats and plenty of coco Krispie bars. I always give treats to the guards and they don’t even ask for my permission slip anymore. They know I am bringing hats and let us in.  The majority of people in the chemo room were men, which isn’t usually the case. Rosa helped me hand out treats to everyone and then hats. There were so many smiles it really touched my heart. Once everyone had picked the hat they wanted I asked if I could take pictures to show the other ladies who helped make the hats. Even people who seemed to be very ill willingly agreed and put their hats on.

I said I would be back on Thursday and fully expected to do so. Tuesday morning I woke up with all the symptoms of a bad cold. My clinic appointment was at 9:00 so I got up and off I went. The doctor checked me out and said my throat was red and prescribed some pills which I got before I left the clinic. I decided no Thursday visit to the hospital because I didn’t want to pass my germs to anyone. I decided instead I would go today and again on Thursday.

We have been having tons of rain and lots of flooding and mud slides in the surrounding areas. Last night the bridge on the main road from Orosi to Paraiso developed a crack and was closed until it could be checked out. So many people work in San Jose and so many people take the bus so that is still operating. You take the bus from here to the bridge, get off and walk across the bridge and get on another bus for the rest of the journey. No vehicles are allowed on the bridge. I decided not to go today because of the confusion but I still do plan to go on Thursday. I have no idea how long it will be before the bridge is open again. Cars can take a back route from Paraiso to just past the bridge but that route doesn’t work for trucks or buses. Not sure what is going to be done for truck deliveries and supplies to Orosi.

Now the other part of my ladies talent. I didn’t go to Jeannette’s today but I was sent a picture of the center of the blanket they are all working on. The center section will end up 48 inches square. Then we can attach the 12 inch squares all around it. There are 20 squares and they are all done. After the center part and squares are put together we then have several rows of border to finish it off. That area will include the names of all the ladies involved in the work. Rosa, Adriana, Laura and Marta have each done 3 squares. Ligia has done quality control where necessary on those squares and has done the rest of the squares, except for the 1 I did and is doing the added rows to the center piece that I did. She will also do the sewing together and the border around the whole blanket. Johanna will do the embroidery of the names. Jeannette and Zoila have done the ribbon weaving.  I can’t wait to see the finished product.

The bus from here to the bridge.

Walk across.

See the crack? 

The other bus is waiting

The center of the blanket

See all my lemons! Otto and Jose have picked some and still it is loaded.

She was so happy with her hat. 

He seemed very weak but still put his hat on.

He was very pleased. They said their heads get so cold.

Another happy lady. The scarves allow the hats to be made larger or tightened.