Forces of Nature

It never ceases to amaze me - the force of nature.

The power of water, the searing intensity of the sun, the force of the wind, the ability of the jungle to overrun a space in a matter of months.  Nature is determined to have its way.

That was made tangible in the past couple weeks in a small way.

Birds have decided to nest atop the sun drapes at the gazebo.

These flycatchers spend all day flying back and forth gathering stuff and putting it on top of the drapes (which are bunched up and next to the post which provides the perfect support and protection).  This started about two weeks ago.  They are very industrious and active - but they are very noisy and very messy (big purple blobs of poo!).  So, NO!  No nest right where we enter the gazebo.

We pulled down the various bits of grass and palm and coconut husk.  Within hours they had replaced much of what disappeared - and they were very vocal about it.  Took it down again and opened the drapes so the base would not be stable and the movement of the drapes in the wind might keep them away.  That stopped the building, but didn't stop them from arriving with materials and screeching their displeasure!

After a couple days they seemed to have relented, so closed the drapes and assumed all was well.

Two days later - an almost full nest in exactly the same spot.

We have repeated the same process, but they don't seem to be giving up, so this morning I unclipped the end of the drape and moved it all to the other side (which has the same condition of drapes and post but that they don't seem to have any interest in).  Clearly the persistence of nature is modifying my behaviour.  We will see if we can modify theirs.

Another form of the persistence of nature - the sun sets every night - sometimes it is beautiful, like this.

Only in Canada EH! Pity!

The past few days I have been struck by the things that are so Costa Rican - I am sure many of them exist elsewhere in the world, but they are 'unique' to our experience here.

Christmas on the Beach   

 Lunch watching the water crash on the rocks

 Offroading in the jungle

 Sunset over the Pacific Ocean

 Beets the size of softballs

 The weekly market

 Watching a rainstorm over the Pacific Ocean

Watching a 7' Iguana climb the fence while you are sipping your wine

Having morning coffee with your pet hummingbird and pet lizard (did you know hummingbirds chirp?  this one does a lot - we call him squeaky)

 Tropical floral arrangements from your own garden

Interesting birds who just stop by - this is an Oropendula

Summer

The summer solstice passed on Sunday afternoon - this gives us daylight until about 6:30pm - about 13 hours.

Not that we noticed - Sunday was horrific - some of the worst rain in a long time.  Heavy downpour for almost the entire day.  Winds that came in spurts and would drive the rain 12' across the covered terrace and into the house - we had to close the patio doors to keep dry.  Lightning lit the sky and thunder struck with such force the house shuddered and windows rattled.  We didn't lose power for more that a few seconds at a time, but were without internet for several hours.

Monday dawned with clear skies, lots of sun and a renewed calm.  A beautiful way to start summer.  By afternoon, the temperature soared to 45C in the sun.

What better way to welcome summer than a pool - a floating papasan chair - a glass of pinot - Pura Vida!!

Even the end of the day was spectacular - an amazing sunset!

See!

Like I said - rainy days provide beautiful sunsets - - this one from the pool patio at El Castillo!

Another overcast day - can't really see the ocean - but no rain yet!

Silence

It is funny how when the rain stops it is so silent!

The rain is so loud - especially the heavy tropical rain like we just had - and yet suddenly it stops and all is silent - and very still.  The birds aren't chirping, and trees aren't moving, and there is none of the usual breeze.  Bits of cloud hang in the mountain valley barely moving.

Doesn't last long - 5, maybe 10 minutes - then the birds start - a call here and there - soon it is back to the normal chatter.

Today was a rainy one - was over cast when we woke up, started raining around 10 and just let up now - 1:15.  Good heavy rain - Lisle moved the car out of the carport so it could get the dust rinsed off!  Brighter over the ocean now - hopefully a better afternoon!

It has rained almost every night this week - mother nature seems to be fighting off the dry season - the rain isn't a bad thing - keeps everything green - but is keeps the humidity up as well.  The good thing about overnight rain is that the horizon starts to cloud over late in the afternoon - while you don't get to see the sun slip into the ocean, you do get spectacular sunsets.

Segunda Dia Sin Lluevia

Second day without rain!

Beautiful and hot

This morning started with howlers in the distance at 6 am - it was already 24

This afternoon - 36 with the parrots squawking

Now - 27 with the sky orange and pink and clouds on the horizon - toucan calling

Lisle wasn't feeling great today - too much sun yesterday I think - slept most of the morning - then errands and such - - he went to arranging a diving session for December 26 - a late Christmas gift!

I think it is time for a glass of wine!

What a Spectacular Day

The sun is bright and hot (34C by the outdoor thermometer).  While there are some clouds over the mountain top, they are mostly bright, and the rest of the sky is blue streaked with white wisps.  The ocean is glistening in the sunlight and is still.  There is a breeze from the ocean that cools the intensity of the sun.  I have retreated from the patio sofa as the late afternoon sun has reached it and both the heat and the brightness make a continuation of my reading impossible.  A complete change from the mist, clouds and torrential rains for the past 3 days - a day that - except for the mountain clouds - is more like February than August.  The only such day since our arrival 5 weeks ago.

We are dog-sitting for David and Helene, and Deezle has found a cool, shady, breezy place on the patio tiles to sleep.

 This morning we visited our friend Judy.  She has lived here almost 12 years, having bought property across the valley with her partner (now back in the states due to illness).  She has a wonderful if modest house (much more like a Tico home than ours) on 6 acres of hillside with a stunning view of the ocean and the entire village of Ojochal.  She knows how to live with the locals and get things done - a treat to visit with.  We sipped ice tea and gossiped.

Great view of our house from her front patio!

Reading the new J.K. Rowling's mystery - interesting

An hour in the pool chatting as the sun loses its intensity readying to set.

A cocktail listening to the howlers in the distance

Sunset!!

 

Dinner of chicken breast and potatoes with a good glass of wine.

TV, wine, the sound of the frogs and crickets

A great day.

Still no Water

Mañana!!  That seems to be the continuing answer - apparently the capacitor needed to be replaced, and then the pump shaft failed - parts from San Jose - maybe later today.

That leaves me thinking about water from other sources - rain is a big deal here and was keeping the pool full.

Monday was a beautiful day - sunny and hot - high clouds and threatening clouds over the mountains, but no real rain (sometimes get a gentle mist for a few minutes - hardly notice it except for the drops in the pool).  As we went to bed Monday night, there was the strangest mist across the valley - lights glowing in it - almost ethereal!  Laying in bed, I said, is that rain?  Lisle said it isn't raining, but that sounds like it coming.  For 20 minutes we lay there listening - it was really strange because usually when you can hear it coming, the rain moves in very quickly, but not this time.  After almost 30 minutes it was drop, drop on the roof - and then downpour - heavy deafening rain.

That lasted most of the night and Tuesday was grey and wet on and off through the morning.  Then the sky cleared to a beautiful sunny afternoon and a wonderful sunset.  We went for dinner to Villas Gaia - on the way back the sky was clear - the moon shone and the stars were everywhere - a spectacular night sky!

Today has been clear so far - blue sky and puffy white clouds, but the mountains are graying!

The great thing about this time of year is that the sky is seldom clear - and the sky is the most amazing thing about this place - light and clouds on the mountains, or the ocean - and sunsets through the clouds that are unbelievable - - these are from the last few days!

Cloudy with Chance of Meatballs

Seems like an apt headline for today - it has been raining on and off since this morning - very overcast - meanwhile the meatballs are in the fridge and the tomato sauce is simmering on the stove.

This has been a very wet couple of weeks - with the exception of a couple of very nice days, there has been substantial rain every day - early morning, stopping for a couple hours and starting again - overnight with a sunny morning but rain again by 9am (today) - unusually wet.

Yesterday was the rain that was coming down so fast it was slopping over the eaves!  This morning was almost that again, but now is a gentle but steady shower.

With the rain comes the clouds.  Sometimes you are right in them and can't see past the hedge 20' away.  Other times, like today, they are higher up.  Things are misty in the valley and the clouds dance on the tops of the mountains - sending swirls down along the ridges that suddenly disappear - all the while it is clear over the ocean.

Sunset has not been much of an event, but sometimes when the clouds are cooperating you get wonderful sights.

Did You Know ...

We have learned to expect the unexpected - and that the unexpected is always the most interesting.

Did you know that ...

The snake plant - mother-in-law's tongue - flowered??

Moths are the size of luncheon plates?

Lizards like to sit on the sofa too?

Bananas and pineapple can grow in your backyard?

Ginger is beautiful as well as tasty?

Showering outside is the ultimate freedom?

 Someone left these strange spheres all over the Osa Peninsula?

Wet dogs can fly (almost)?

Frogs are sneaky - but not very smart?

Every day ends perfectly with a sunset and a glass of wine? 

and finally - my husband thinks I'm a little crazy?!