I better start going to sleep early!

Today was Craft ladies and after settling everyone's bills for all the things I brought, Iliana and Anita did their best to explain some plans to me. Iliana does speak some English and is a great help to me but we have agreed Spanish only to help me. It doesn't always work and she and Anna D. will help me in English. Anyway, what they were explaining, that I did finally get, was that next Wednesday morning I should be at the Orosi bus stop in Cartago at 7:30am. Now I am definitely not a morning person. I may wake up early but getting going is another thing. And, to be in Cartago at 7:30 means leaving here at 6:45. The reason for the trip is to go to the chemo unit at the hospital again to take more hats. I think I will see if one of the crochet ladies wants to go with me. I think it would be great for them to see ladies wearing their hats and for the cancer ladies to talk with someone who makes the hats. I will see what I can do.

I was also asked today to help 2 of the ladies with hats for young children. Two year olds. Just baby hats, no cancer involved. One lady has yarn. I will bring yarn for the other lady. I will write out a simple pattern. They both know how to crochet, they just need the pattern. Should be fun. I am working on a hat with the yarn from Cartago but it is a challenge getting started. It calls for a smaller hook than I am used to using and I am so clumsy that I have started and torn out several times. Aura showed off the Quilt she just made. The squares are embroidered flowers. It is beautiful. A lot of the statues here have robes or clothes and Johanna showed pictures of embroidered satin robes she had done. Believe me, these are very talented ladies.

Farmer Gayle is back at it. I can't believe I already have things coming up and I just planted Saturday evening. This is great dirt Jose brings me! I think it is the radishes. Tomatoes aren't up and I also planted peas and cucumbers.

Now I have to get busy cutting up banana bread for the senior center tomorrow morning. I have plain, with coconut, with mini chocolate chips and with dates. I figure 2 pieces each and there are about 40 people with staff. Saturday I will make more for Ziomara's and Johanna. At least I saved a lot of bananas from going to waste. I have also been putting them in my bird feeder and they go very fast.

My latest crop.

My ladies are so talented.

Since we started my ladies have made many beautiful items but one of my very favorite is the hat in the upper left. Ligia Sanchez is my most daring and for the most part all I have to do is show her a picture. I crochet and I can turn out pretty nice things but, I need a pattern. Not these ladies. Once Ligia figures it out she teaches the others. She is still the super duper flower maker and makes them for all of us to use. Now also bows and hearts. Not everything works the first time. She is working on a top, and I admit, I suggested the yarn for the bottom half since she ran out of what she used for the top part. She crocheted about 4 inches and showed it to me today and I just didn't like it so she is taking it out and changing to white. Sometimes the mistakes make us laugh a lot. Yesterday in Cartago I bought more of the beautiful yarn and matched up variegated and solid. They were looking for a nice green and there was some in one of the variegated so she was going to cut the skein up and separate the colors? When they saw the panicked look on my face and heard the panic in my voice they all started laughing and she rolled the skein back up. We do have lots of fun. We still haven't figured out when English class will be. We did just a little on the way out today.

I will be busy the next couple days making banana bread for the senior center for Friday. We had plain and with mini chocolate chips today for coffee and they thought it was great. I also want to make some with dates.

Sunday I have been invited to Ziomara's for the afternoon and hamburgers. I even offered to cook a package of bacon and bring it to put on the hamburgers. My last package! I will also bring banana bread. I am bringing some yarn to show her and see if she can get it for her shop.

I learned today I may be having visitors in May. I will tell you more when I know for sure. I am still looking for good fares to Heather's in June for a 3 week trip.

That's it. Got more dirt today and have a big planter with vegetables and one with flowers. I planted my little poinsettias, which are looking pretty bad. We will see how they do. Also planted the new plant I bought at the festival on Saturday. I sure hope my vegetables grow!

A week of events I have to write about.

Since Tuesday was Valentine's Day I decided we needed a few treats. Well, lots of treats. I sent messages to a bunch of peopl

My latest hat

I have flowers in my planter

A few treats.

e saying the door would be open from 2:00 to 4:00 and to please stop in for goodies. I made a gazillon cookies - Almond Joy but with pecans instead of almonds. They also have chocolate chips - 5 cups so you know how big the batch is - and coconut. Then I started concentrating on chocolate dipping. When I was in Cartago last Saturday I went to the market and hand picked a bag of strawberries. I told you about the pickup full of bananas from Gerardo's finca so I had bananas. I made coconut balls and a double batch of filling for peppermint patties. We had goodies! I melted dark, milk and white chocolate. I always do it in a double boiler fashion which was a bit of a challenge. I have a small pan for water and a smallish glass bowl. I have a medium pan for water and a bigger glass bowl. Then all I have are frypans and stock pots. I checked both the apartments but there was nothing to help so I figured I would have to be creative. One of my stock pots has a big insert for straining and a small insert for steaming. I put water in it and the steamer insert and set a bowl that fit tight on top. Worked perfect.
Tuesday was great fun with the crochet ladies and Katherine and the two girls and Johanna. Jose didn't make it until Wednesday morning and I took containers to Ana and Tia and Gerardo. Emilio was in school so he didn't get his share until last night and today. When the ladies were leaving we agreed I would teach them English and they would help with my Spanish and we would do it around cooking. We haven't figured out a time yet but we will. A new adventure. I will have 4 students- Ligia, Ligia, Jeanette and Johanna. Jeanette says I will have a real time with her because all she knows is Good Morning.
Yay, Yay, Yay, the Super reopened on Thursday. I have been hearing trucks for days. I went in on Friday afternoon and saw lots of familiar faces. I went up to one of the previous owners and said I am happy in Spanish and he said me too in English. It isn't fully stocked yet but it is coming along. I am so happy to have it open again
Yesterday Emilio came for lunch and agreed to come back today to help with gardening. There were some big planters stuck together and I wanted to use one of them for vegetables. We managed to get them apart, put rocks and dirt in one and I planted radishes, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes. We also weeded and trimmed everything so it looks so good around my porch.
I have been on a banana bread baking marathon. 7 loaves so far. With all the bananas here, they just go o waste when they get overripe. I didn't want it all to go to waste so I decided to bake and give it away. So far 2 plain, 2 with mini chocolate chips and 3 with coconut. I will do more tomorrow and maybe keep baking for the senior center on Friday.
And, there is a festival going on in Orosi! I went at lunch time to get something for Emilio and I. He had to open the pizza shop. I checked the whole thing out and didn't see anything I couldn't live without till I got to the plant stand. Yup, I bought 3. And then I bought a big tortilla con queso, churros, a caramel apple and chicken tamales. The tortilla and churros were good. The rest Emilio ate along with some of the tortilla and churros. I just don't like tamales except the filling. I have never liked dumpling like things.
So, that is my week. It has been quite exciting. Monday I must go to Cartago to the yarn shop and Saturday I will spend with Ziomaro. By the way, her father is doing well, thank you.
I have to quit and head for the pizza shop with some bananas, banana bread, chocolate and the gray hat I finished for the lady with no hair.

I just didn't feel like writing.

It's  been a while, and lots has happened. I have been to the US and back. I have seen Heather's new house and driven to Minnesota to visit family and friends and sold 5 scarves and crocheted a hat and brought back lots of yarn.  I have been enjoying sunshine and warmth and been to Cartago for chocolate. Those are the generalizations. Now let's see if I can add some details to make it more interesting.

I have so much fun when I travel, enjoying the foods I don't have here. I started in Houston with Wendy's and a baked potato with chili. I was going to have Orange Chichén but I didn't want any of the sides and it was going to be $11.00 and I just couldn't do it. The Wendy's was like $5.00 and that included the Frosty I had with it. There was a lady with a tiny dog sitting near me at the gate while I was eating and he kept getting closer and closer. When I was finished I put a tiny bit of frosty on the spoon and he gobbled it all up. He thought that was really great.

It was about 11:00pm by the time we got to Heather's. Her new house is lovely. I waited until the next morning to really look around. It q so full of light from all the windows and she has plants all over. Usually she moves her plants outside during the summer and then tries to figure out where to keep them or who to give them to during the winter. That won't be the case now. She also has the sunroom which will be great once they have it insulated and heat added. Then they can use it all year. It already has good quality windows. It is the quietest neighborhood. I heard a dog once in a while but no other sounds. There are no big, busy streets so no traffic noises and it is far enough to any businesses you don't hear anything from them. It is funny though on one side the lady is from St. Cloud, Mn. and on the othe side the man taught at the University of North Dakota. I spent a lot of my time going through containers of my things, deciding what to keep and what to send to Goodwill or the trash. I still had a few pieces of baby clothes and I brought them to give to Jose for his people.

Justin, Kent's son, came for the weekend. I had been carting around an old desktop and a laptop that I just wanted the hard drive destroyed before they were thrown away. Justin had fun taking them apart with his set of super duper computer tools. He was amazed at the desktop. It was older than he is and things were much different in it than today's computers. He  was willing to explain things to me but my eyes just glazed over. He is extremely talented and builds computers for himself and his friends. He is off to college next year and that will be his field.

Kent took me to the Enterprise location a couple miles from their house and off I went in a Chrysler 200. Nice little car and the only complaint I had for the agent when I returned was the windshield wipers needed replacing. As before, Heather got a great rate for me. I headed for Little Falls and spent the night with Sandy. The next morning I HAD to stop at the bakery, Pete and Joy's, for some goodies. A box of pastries for the Bursch office in St. Cloud and a loaf of Poppy Seed Bread. I stopped at Home Depot in St. Cloud and picked up a gift certificate for Jess to thank her for helping me at the Social Security office last fall. I had tried to get it from here but it didn't work so I waited. They have just bought a new house so I told her it was for flowers not cows. They have also been buying cows and now have 19.

So I have had baked potato and chili at Wendy's, good Chinese, very good thin crust pizza, barbecued pork and now Five Guys hamburger and fries. I do really like them with bacon, grilled onions and barbecue sauce.  I forgot. When I left the Bursch Travel office I stopped at Great Harvest Bread. You know how much I like bread! I got a couple bars, a loaf of cranberry wild rice bread and a loaf of Snickerdoodle bread. As you can tell, all my gifts were edible. I had brought a few jars of jelly so I gave bread and jelly.
I did a little shopping before I headed for Hutchinson. I now have brown jeans and a new pair of shoes. Roz and DuWayne were waiting for me and really enjoyed the bars from Great Harvest. She hid her jar of jelly and made sure I didn't take it when I packed up the others for my next stop. They have had quite a year last year. Shoulder surgery for her, another to come, basement flooded and had to be remodeled and at Thanksgiving he had heart problems.  Thank heavens her kids were there to give CPR until the paramedics got there because he was over 30 minutes without a pulse. They really saved his life and he is doing great.

Saturday Roz and I drove to Minneapolis to watch her granddaughter play basketball and then had great fish and chips at Poor Richards.

Spent some time with Linda and Red at the theatre - more jelly and bread - and went to church on Sunday before heading to Minneapolis and Kaye. Father Jerry always gets a big grin when he sees me. I keep popping up even though I have left the area.

I had brought with me some of the scarves my ladies crocheted and Kaye decided to buy 5 of them to offer for sale at the Red Door Gallery in Wahpeton. I wrote up a history/explanation to be displayed with the scarves along with a picture of the group. I can't wait to give the ladies their money. I will keep half to purchase more yarn. Like I need more yarn! I filled the better part of 2 suitcases and I still have a tub full at Heather's. But, keeping 4 ladies and myself stocked takes a bit. I am very proud of how committed they have been. I was asked to make a plain hat for a lady in Paraiso who doesn't have cancer but has lost all the hair on her body. She usually wears a wig but it hurts. I did a plain off white and gave it to Rosita last night and now I am working on a gray one.

While in the Cities I was able to spend time with Janice and Jack and their granddaughter - more bread and jelly. Janice told me the last one I brought was all dried out so hopefully this jar is better. They babysit on Monday and she is such a good little one.  They also are having health problems. This getting old is not for the weak.

Back to Heather's for 2 nights and off to Chicago. I had packed a duffle and then actually talked to someone at Avianca. Instead of 2 bags totaling 70 pounds I could have 1 bag 50 pounds and pay $40.00 for a second bag. I had the duffle packed because it was light and I had it leaning up against the buffet. We went out shopping and when we came back it was dark. I walked into my room and tripped over the duffle. It had fallen and I didn't see it. I changed my plans and went with 2 suitcases so I repacked everything. I had hit my knee but everything seemed ok. I knew I had a massage scheduled with Otto the day after I returned. I didn't really have problems till Saturday when I went out to run errands and I twisted wrong crossing the street and pulled something in the same leg. I stayed pretty quiet for a week. It is getting much better and although I wore a knee brace and an ankle brace I managed to walk around Cartago yesterday. But, back to my return.

Bus to Chicago - O'hare this time and check in with Avianca. I had checked in online and printed boarding passes. I was able to change to great aisle seats in the second row for both flights. In fact, the first flight I had 3 seats to myself.  It was the first airline where they weighed my carry on. Everything was in order. They are the first airline in a long time where alcoholic drinks were free and they served a hot meal. You had a choice of chicken or beef pasta. Even on the hour flight from San Salvador to San Jose there was something hot to eat. San Salvador is a lovely airport. Kind of a long walk but tons of shops. The only thing I bought was bottled water and they quoted US. $1.50 which I didn't think was bad for an airport.

Jose was waiting and the crowd outside the airport was crazy. He said some celebrity was coming in and they all wanted their picture taken with him. He couldn't see who it was but my guess is a soccer player. They do love their soccer here. The drive home was easy even with the closed bridge because Jose knows all the shortcuts and back routes.
No, I'm not going to give you a day by day report. The crochet ladies were here and each gave me 3 hats they did while I was gone. Even though they were also taking beach vacations. They were pleased with the money and happy with the yarn for new projects. I counted 26 hats altogether for the cancer ladies so I have them all making scarves or hat and scarf sets. I also have Ligia Sanchez making more flowers and a crochet top. They tease me about making me a crochet bikini but what she is making is for sale. not for me.

I mentioned I crocheted a hat. When I got to Heather's the hat I made for Kathy was back because it was too small. I had started a new one and took that one apart to reuse the yarn. I finished it and sent it off to Kathy but she left on a trip the day it came and hasn't seen it yet. I am just hoping this one isn't too big.

Thursday I went to Craft Ladies for the first time since the Christmas Party in early December. I had lots of goodies for them like crochet thread. fabric, crochet hooks and embroidery needles. Also hate. Anita and I delivered 2 to the guard at the bank for his wife. For coffee I brought Papaya Date Bread. I stopped first at the cheese store and was able to get 2 containers of butter. I was a happy baker.

As I mentioned. I went to Cartago yesterday. First to Mayca for Dark Chocolate to melt, then to the yarn shop where I picked up 8000 colones for things they sold, then to the market for strawberries. On the way back from Mayca I stopped at a lovely bakery/cafe for coffee and a bite to eat. I of course had to buy a couple things to bring home. VERY GOOD. I am happy to have found it. I also wanted to stop at the other yarn shop where I get the cotton yarn. I needed a little more for Janet's project. I had a general idea of the area. Near the cathedral. I looked and looked and went around and then remembered Ziomara had told me they weren't open on Saturday because they are Jewish. I will have to go another day.

A request for all of you. Ziomara's father is going into the hospital today for heart surgery. Prayers, please.

Since Tuesday is Valentine's Day I am going to dip strawberries and bananas and peppermint filling and coconut balls to hand out. At least if the strawberries don't last I have plenty of other things. Gerardo's truck is parked by the party room with the whole back full of bananas from his finca.

I think that is it. Only the most dedicated will have read the whole thing, if there are any of you left. I probably wont be writing as often this year. Life for me really is settling down to a normal life. Since I do have a big birthday coming up I may just have to do something wild and crazy. I will be sure and let you know if I do. For my 65th it was a train trip to Whitefish, Montana. Who knows what I can come up with in Costa Rica!

Sometimes you have to be flexible.

As you know I was scheduled to leave at 4:00am today. And I have mentioned Jose's concern because of road work and road closings and what we might encounter. He called me about 1:00pm to say I really think you should consider going today because the alternate route is also closed at night and doesn't open until 6:00am.
Well, I started scrambling. Thank heavens I was pretty organized. I had moved all the potted plants to where they woul d get rain and I was pretty much packed. Just the last minute things. I was waiting for a gift from Joanna for Heather and the crochet ladies were coming.
I told him I would look for a hotel near the airport and let him know. First I checked the Hampton Inn but their rates were over $200. The Holiday Inn Express was full. I came across the City Express, in the same general area for $69.00. How bad could it be! I let Jose know I would be ready by 6:00pm.
When the ladies arrived I told them I had a problem and about leaving and they got busy picking out yarn for projects for the next couple weeks. I brought out all the perishable food and the containers I used for the Christmas packs and they took care of dividing everything and even cleaning up and doing dishes. I let Ana know I was leaving and let Jose know I would be ready early. Johanna delivered the gift and I got it packed. Hopefully I haven't forgotten anything. I called Jose again about 3:45 to let him know I was ready.
About an hour later he arrived, tried the fudge, and decided he definitely wanted it, and off we went. It usually takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours at the most. It took just over 3 hours, just to avoid a short stretch of bridge. They have been working on it and trying to improve this bridge for like 8 years so this is just another attempt. They could have built a brand new one for what it has cost.
The City Express was a kind of IKEA looking place. Simple but very clean and the front desk people were very nice. Breakfast was included and they offered lots. Gallo Pinto, scrambled eggs, fruit, cereal, breads, juice. Lots to pick from.
The shuttle to the uirport is not free but you can schedule a time and it is operated by their van.
No problems, no complaints. I had two alarms set since I don't usually get up at 5:30am.
I am now ready to board and head for Houston and then on to Chicago, a bit of a wait and then the bus to Madison.

Yeah, the laundry is dry!

or most of it so I can put it away or stick it in my suitcase to bring with me. I don't bring much as I have clothes, especially winter clothes, at Heather's. I told her to bring coat and hat and scarf and gloves and snow pants and boots when they come to get me. I was joking of course. I will wear my big cotton sweater and my rain coat so I should be fine for the little bit of time I am outside. I have to hunt in my drawers. I may even have gloves. My suitcase is full of Heather's Christmas gifts she didn't have room for and some jelly.
The beach has been drained - my porch got a good washing - and plants in pots moved to where they will get rain. I have started cleaning out the refrigerator but the crochet ladies tomorrow may have to settle for leftovers. I will probably have things for them to take home with them.
So far today it is a bright, sunny day. Hopefully it will stick around.
Last night Emilio messaged me that he was craving pancakes so I made up a batch and traded them for a pizza. I had one plain, some chocolate chip, some white chocolate chip, some coconut, some blueberry and some sugared cranberry. I wasn't sure about the cranberry. I knew he loved them and he said they were good. Not sweet like jelly but good.  I also brought butter, peanut butter and dark Karo syrup.  To go with it I cooked some bacon. Yes, I shared my bacon. Remember Heather brought me 2 package along with he ham. He and his parents really enjoyed everything and I came home with a tomato pepperoni pizza.
That's it kids. I may manage to post some pictures of Heather's house once we get things in place.

I promised a report

The fiesta is over and it was a big hit. Even with 10 stockpots full of boiling water, the pool cooled off to fast to make the water comfortable so we just looked at it and listened to the ocean sounds I had on the iPad. It really was quite cool and rainy out. It is taking longer than predicted for nice weather. It was supposed to be Thursday. Although la playa didn't work, the swimsuits were a big hit. I ended up giving one to Ligia Sanchez and one to Janet. The older ones that were too big for me or didn't work because my legs are so skinny. I had to hold on tight to the blue and the black ones or they would have walked out the door too. I had gone from someone who hadn't had a swimsuit from the time they were about 21 to having four of them. Way more than I needed. It turns out Janet is going to the beach in Punteranes on Sunday with her family so she was very excited to have a suit.

Otto was a big hit and he gave each lady a back massage and told tales of Costa Rica. He left about 7:30 and we got down to cooking lessons. They wanted to learn how to make cream puffs so I made a batch and Janet wrote everything down. When they were cooled I added cream and in some I added some guayaba jelly and sprinkled them with powdered sugar. The others I drizzled with either chocolate or salted caramel. We didn't do the cinnamon cream cheese roll ups because they had already tried them at home. I explained how to make the salmon spread but didn't make any.

Next was empanadas. Janet had brought the ingredients for the dough and had me mix it. It is kinda like my mother's French pancake recipe - a little of this, a little more of that. Put the flour in the bowl add a big pinch of salt. Add some water, add more water, add more water.  Make balls and flatten them out on plastic. Put the filling in and use the plastic to fold in half. Seal and fry. We did cheese, chicken, beans, beans with salsa, chicken and cheese and chicken and cheese and salsa. They were very good and crispy, the way I like them.
There was some drinking - they loved the sangria with peach and tangerine and blueberries and lemon and limon dulce slices. Janet brought all the ingredients for rompope and we added some of my mixture of rum and brandy. It was very good and she left me the package mix for another batch.
I had a big tray with chips, tortillas and crispy bread along with refried beans, shredded chicken, shredded cheese, mango salsa, guacamole and salsa that everyone snacked on all evening.
We are old ladies so the party broke up about 10:30, and no, there are no pictures to post. We had a good time but I am sure they will be happy when they say something and there isn't just a questioning look on my face so hey have to try other words till I understand something. I did learn Ligia and Paty each have husbands and 5 sons. If I understood right, Ligia's all live in her house. There are grandchildren so wives also. My goodness, what a houseful.

Now that the party is over I will have to drain the pool, a bucket at a time, and get ready to leave early Wednesday morning. Jose will be here at 4:00am.  Heather has decided I get to sleep in the new house since the furniture is all moved out of the old one and there is no internet. Thank heavens! How would I live without my internet.