So it is a little difficult.....

To have a lot of exciting things to write about when you are self isolating at home. Or, under house arrest as I said last time. Except now many more people are doing the same thing.

I started on my birthday, 10 days ago. Since then I have only been out a very few times. And when I do go out I am very careful. Monday when I went to the clinic to pick up prescriptions I had people pointing and laughing at me. Long pants, long sleeve denim shirt, big scarf to put in front of my mouth if needed, big floppy hat and sunglasses. Ok so I did look a little odd  but when I went to the ATM it was all of that and rubber gloves.

It has taken Ticos quite a while to take this seriously and set aside their natural socializing. School is out, it is vacation. Let’s go visiting or have friends over or go to the beach. I think it is starting to sink in because yesterday there were still people out and about but they kept their distance. No cheek kissing, looked down when they met someone, not many out and about.

So far the cats and I are doing just fine. I was concerned about running out of cat litter so I went to the vet/pet store yesterday. I  bought some and they said if I need more let them know and they will get it to me. I set up a WhatsApp page with a bunch of my friends and I check in morning and night. That way they don’t need to wonder or worry or come check on me. I told them I would ask if I need anything. Emilio stopped at the butter store for me but someone had just bought the last 9 containers. I told him not to worry. I was fine till they restock on Tuesday..

So till I get out of the house I will entertain you with my garden. I have so much beauty I don’t need to leave. My ayote (pumpkin) is growing like mad and my herbs are too. I have seeds saved for canary melon and squash and will plant them soon. I also have 2 mango seeds sprouting.

Stay safe and well my friends and family. Yes it could happen to you but even worse you could give it to someone who can’t fight it off. Wash your hands, stay home if you can. If you can’t, act as if everything is contaminated and act accordingly. When I have gone out, I leave my shoes outside the door, I strip at the door, turn the clothes inside out and put them right in the washer. I take a shower including washing my hair. Because, I want to be around a while longer to tease and harass all of you.

They don’t seem worried about what is going on.

My squash with homemade applesauce on it. The applesauce is dark because I made it with brown sugar. Very good.

Jeannette planted my herb seeds a week ago Tuesday. They are doing good.

One of my ayote

The other one 

Roses

Roses and orchids

More orchids

In front of the house, bougainvillea 

Now I know this doesn’t look too beautiful but I am excited. Look close. All the new red leaves. Ziomara gave me this at Thanksgiving two years ago and I brought it with me.

Some of my geraniums.

Crown of thorns.

Another geranium 

Now that I am under house arrest......

I have plenty of time to update you on what has been going on.

Yup, you heard me right. This senior citizen is under house arrest. But it isn’t the law that is making me stay in the house. It is Heather. I had a choice to either pack up the cats and fly to Wisconsin and stay where she could lock me in the house or promise to self quarantine myself until we see how things go here.

Quarantine was a little difficult since I had a big party planned for last Sunday to celebrate my new house. We had a great time with music and lots of food and wonderful gifts. There were about 32 of us altogether. Not as many as I hoped but those who came seemed to have a good time. Rosa helped me a lot in the kitchen and Emilio was in charge of beverages. I used my massage table and set it up in the back garden, on the sidewalk. There are concrete walkways around both sides of the house. The girls from Ziomara’s family were a great help when it came to serving food. For the chalupas we operated an assembly line. Emilio did refried beans on the tortilla, one of the girls did chicken or beef, then came lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, guacamole and sour cream. They had also asked people what they didn’t want and we did special orders.

I had done as much as i could in advance to make it easier Sunday. The chicken and a taco meat mixture of ground beef and chorizo were cooked and put in crockpots to heat up. The spinach artichoke cheese dip was made and waiting to be put in the oven to heat. Rosa cut up the lettuce and tomatoes and made the guacamole. The cookies and bars were all made and Rosa cut the bars up for me.

When people arrived they got a drink. Next was a plate of chips and chunky salsa, then a plate of chips and hot spinach dip, then coffee and bread and then chalupas and desserts. Later, when some people had left and the rest were sitting around I realized I hadn’t served the pickles I made so they all got pickles to eat. I know, a strange ending food.

Everyone went away with something to eat. At one point I went to the kids and said are you a child or an adult. They caught on pretty fast and said they were a child. I gave them a chocolate bar. Turns out Jazmin and Ligia are still children so they got chocolate bars too. The adults got bags of cookies and bars.

They were absolutely wonderful about helping with cleanup. I had garbage bags all over and they were collected and put in the container for Monday morning pickup. The rented chairs were stacked and all the furniture was put back where it belonged. Dishes had been done as we went along so I was only left with the serving containers to do.

It’s a small world here and everyone is related. The music man is Emilio’s uncle. The man who delivered the rental chairs is the brother of my main taxi driver, Luis. Speaking of chairs, I paid 5,000 colones to have 30 chairs delivered Sunday morning and picked up Monday morning. That converts to $8.78. There isn’t a lot of tipping here but I had to. That is so little.

So, my gifts. A bottle of wine, an apron, a wonderful heavy wood tortilla maker, roses, a potted plant, a planter of succulents, a little succulent, a hanging that is like the front of a cabin, two beautiful decorated glass containers, two large ceramic owls, a macrame owl in a cloth bag decorated for Easter, an angel, some corn cookies, and two beautiful dreamcatchers that the daughter of Rosita from Cervantes made. I also got a large leaf shaped tray from the lady next door who gave me all the concrete blocks. I think that is it. Lovely gifts.

Yesterday, which was my birthday, was my prep day for lockdown. I went to the market for boxed milk so I would have plenty on hand, the bakery for bread for today and the little cafe and got a casado to go. I promise Heather that was it. Well, except the hardware store but that was really it. I am well stocked with food and drink and leftovers from the party. Otto came at 7:00pm for a massage and today the 3 Orosi Chicas Buenas came with a birthday cake. We spent as much time working in my garden as we did crocheting. Everyone has been great about the hand washing I

My birthday cake

Corn cookies and a rose from Otto

Some of my gifts

Roses from Ziomara 

The dream catchers

More gifts

A 125 cookies

Pretty much a houseful. This is a great house for parties with many areas for small groups also.

Zoila, Rosita and Jazmin’s husband (Rosita’s son)

Sure we had dancing

ask them to do when they arrive.

Now I have nothing planned except a quick trip to the clinic pharmacy on Thursday for refills. The fiesta at church is cancelled for this weekend as are most large events. Sports events are being played but with closed doors. Our Chicas Buenas for next week is on hold till we see how things are going. I will be sticking close to home - I only mean the garden Heather and I hope all of you are able to avoid the virus also.