The Winter Solstice past last night and we awake to WINTER!
A glorious sunny day with blue sky.
Almost as if it were waiting for winter, the dry season began Thursday last week - like someone flipped a switch. The 4 weeks previous had been very rainy - making up for a relatively dry October. Then on Thursday, the air was different. While dark clouds gathered over the mountains, they were brightened by the sun over the ocean. A gentle rain each of Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening - Sunday beautiful and dry - even overnight!
In celebration Sunday was spent lounging in the pool reading Gone Girl! Welcome Winter!!!
Monday, December 22, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Montezuma Oropendola
Yesterday morning there was the strangest noise outside and movement in the trees. The cluster of palms just behind the herb garden was full of birds. Black, short bright coloured beak, yellow fan-tail, about the size if a football. They were having a party. In and out of the palms to the trees behind, constantly moving and sounding off. There were about 20 of them.
As I had never seen them before I went straight to my friend Google - bird black yellow fan tail Costa Rica. The first image it returned was that of the partiers. (don't ya love technology!)
The Montezuma oropendola is a fascinating bird. This large bright yellow tailed bird (18-20 inches) builds pendulous nests, which cluster in colonies of sometimes 140 or more. The most bizarre feature is Montezuma's unforgettable song, of wheezing, gurgling and popping sounds. The male will execute a complete somersault around a branch while simultaneously singing this medley of sounds.
We saw their nests by the hundreds when we visited Tortuguero several years ago, but never saw the birds.
Turns out they are more chestnut than black but my friend Google allows for those sorts of details.
As I had never seen them before I went straight to my friend Google - bird black yellow fan tail Costa Rica. The first image it returned was that of the partiers. (don't ya love technology!)
The Montezuma oropendola is a fascinating bird. This large bright yellow tailed bird (18-20 inches) builds pendulous nests, which cluster in colonies of sometimes 140 or more. The most bizarre feature is Montezuma's unforgettable song, of wheezing, gurgling and popping sounds. The male will execute a complete somersault around a branch while simultaneously singing this medley of sounds.
We saw their nests by the hundreds when we visited Tortuguero several years ago, but never saw the birds.
Turns out they are more chestnut than black but my friend Google allows for those sorts of details.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Back in Ojochal
Day 1 coming to a close - sun is setting and dinner needs to start soon
A busy day - unpacking and sorting - Lisle has been here 2 weeks so he has settled in and I am disrupting his organized chaos. Oh well, think everything is away.
The travel was uneventful - first time on Air Canada Rouge - albeit premium service - no complaints - really friendly, good food, very attentive staff, arrived safe and early!
Usually I dread travelling alone as the person next to you wants to chat - sure enough before we were even away from the gate the conversation started. Fortunately this guy was really interesting - serial entrepreneur - connected to Google and android phones - who is challenging the world to be a better place - kids learning through independent education - asking big questions and figuring out the answers by themselves - search Andrew Greig and Kids Got SOLE (www.kidsgotsole.com). The most fascinating 5 hours I have spent in a very long time.
Today has been rainy for the most part - clouds in the lowland towards the ocean - stopped about 4 - and now the power is out - and it is getting dark fast (good thing the Surface has a long battery life - too bad the internet isnt on the battery backup!)
In the dark for 90 minutes - back to life and posting - candles and iPhone flashlight - our saviours!
A busy day - unpacking and sorting - Lisle has been here 2 weeks so he has settled in and I am disrupting his organized chaos. Oh well, think everything is away.
The travel was uneventful - first time on Air Canada Rouge - albeit premium service - no complaints - really friendly, good food, very attentive staff, arrived safe and early!
Usually I dread travelling alone as the person next to you wants to chat - sure enough before we were even away from the gate the conversation started. Fortunately this guy was really interesting - serial entrepreneur - connected to Google and android phones - who is challenging the world to be a better place - kids learning through independent education - asking big questions and figuring out the answers by themselves - search Andrew Greig and Kids Got SOLE (www.kidsgotsole.com). The most fascinating 5 hours I have spent in a very long time.
Today has been rainy for the most part - clouds in the lowland towards the ocean - stopped about 4 - and now the power is out - and it is getting dark fast (good thing the Surface has a long battery life - too bad the internet isnt on the battery backup!)
In the dark for 90 minutes - back to life and posting - candles and iPhone flashlight - our saviours!
Monday, September 8, 2014
Ties That Bind
We all have those things that tie us to places.
We have been working to deal with the many complications of our lives - retirement - sale of the house - getting rid of the clutter.
The only real ties are family. Both my parents are gone, and my son is very self-sufficient. Lisle's mom died about 20 years ago. Sadly, his dad passed away early Friday September 5, 2014.
He would have been 95 next month. We had seen him dwindle over the past few months, and it seems he was waiting for us to return from Costa Rica. Lisle got to spend time with him on Tuesday and Wednesday as he was alert from time to time.
Today, Monday September 8, 2014, Lisle came home after a day of funeral planning and stuff to find one of our cats had died during the day. Artemis was 13 and had been overweight - thyroid issues - hip issues - a loving pet. It was clear on Saturday that she was unwell, so no real surprise - but a shock for him to find her on the living room floor.
Two departures in a few days - a sad time in our house.
We have been working to deal with the many complications of our lives - retirement - sale of the house - getting rid of the clutter.
The only real ties are family. Both my parents are gone, and my son is very self-sufficient. Lisle's mom died about 20 years ago. Sadly, his dad passed away early Friday September 5, 2014.
Today, Monday September 8, 2014, Lisle came home after a day of funeral planning and stuff to find one of our cats had died during the day. Artemis was 13 and had been overweight - thyroid issues - hip issues - a loving pet. It was clear on Saturday that she was unwell, so no real surprise - but a shock for him to find her on the living room floor.
Two departures in a few days - a sad time in our house.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Scream Like a Girl!
Yes, I do ... not often, but when it is called for.
Just finished a nice hour in the pool - Lisle and I floating and chatting - time to get out. He grabs a towel off the chair dries and heads inside. I pull the float out and lean it against the BBQ.
I grab the towel draped over the patio tub chair from yesterday. As I draw it to my chest to start drying - PLOP!
This falls out of the towel and lands between my feet - hence the scream! It is very peeved at being disturbed and just sits there.
Having recovered, it is time to send him back home - a nudge with the pool skimmer usually does it - and it does, except it appears home is under the chair which is where he goes in one long leap and a little scurry.
I pick up the chair - no frog! Not seriously!! Lisle can you come look inside the chair? Sure enough, he had climbed all the way up inside - a few knocks got him down and out. So he immediately jumped in the pool. No escape there - I am VERY handy with the skimmer - one swoop and one fling and he was back in the jungle!
A little too close to getting intimate with a frog!!
Just finished a nice hour in the pool - Lisle and I floating and chatting - time to get out. He grabs a towel off the chair dries and heads inside. I pull the float out and lean it against the BBQ.
I grab the towel draped over the patio tub chair from yesterday. As I draw it to my chest to start drying - PLOP!
This falls out of the towel and lands between my feet - hence the scream! It is very peeved at being disturbed and just sits there.
Having recovered, it is time to send him back home - a nudge with the pool skimmer usually does it - and it does, except it appears home is under the chair which is where he goes in one long leap and a little scurry.
I pick up the chair - no frog! Not seriously!! Lisle can you come look inside the chair? Sure enough, he had climbed all the way up inside - a few knocks got him down and out. So he immediately jumped in the pool. No escape there - I am VERY handy with the skimmer - one swoop and one fling and he was back in the jungle!
A little too close to getting intimate with a frog!!
Saturday, August 16, 2014
A Masterpiece ....
So, in exactly 5 days, they painted the exterior of the house! Just like they said.
2 guys - 10 - 11 hours a day - and today was Mothers' Day!
Painted the house really means -
- power-washed the whole exterior
- killed the bees and removed the nest
- scrubbed the bugs off the trim around the windows
- cleaned the eaves out
- cleaned all the exterior ceiling fans
- repainted the black metal exterior light fixtures (having removed and cleaned them first)
- scrubbed all the exterior wood surfaces (no more mold and grit)
- taped all the edges and put plastic over windows and things
- spray painted most of the wall - did roller or brush for the finicky bit around the roof-line
- painted the window trim
- painted the pool pump house and the water monuments
- painted the metal stair and railing at the back
- scrapped every surface (floors, window trim etc) to get any speck of paint splatter off
- swept and washed the floor
- put the remaining paint in cans for us to keep
- cleaned up every night
- walked the whole of the house with us to make certain any little deficiency was corrected - even found and fixed ones we didn't see
- left saying if you notice any issue just call
Absolutely amazing job - nice guys - really professional
And the end product speaks for itself
I know ... I know ... it is still yellow and white - but it is now yellow instead of some extremely sun bleached concept of yellow - and with the new paint, hopefully will resist the sun a bit better.
In case you hadn't got the message - we are thrilled with the whole process and outcome!
2 guys - 10 - 11 hours a day - and today was Mothers' Day!
Painted the house really means -
- power-washed the whole exterior
- killed the bees and removed the nest
- scrubbed the bugs off the trim around the windows
- cleaned the eaves out
- cleaned all the exterior ceiling fans
- repainted the black metal exterior light fixtures (having removed and cleaned them first)
- scrubbed all the exterior wood surfaces (no more mold and grit)
- taped all the edges and put plastic over windows and things
- spray painted most of the wall - did roller or brush for the finicky bit around the roof-line
- painted the window trim
- painted the pool pump house and the water monuments
- painted the metal stair and railing at the back
- scrapped every surface (floors, window trim etc) to get any speck of paint splatter off
- swept and washed the floor
- put the remaining paint in cans for us to keep
- cleaned up every night
- walked the whole of the house with us to make certain any little deficiency was corrected - even found and fixed ones we didn't see
- left saying if you notice any issue just call
Absolutely amazing job - nice guys - really professional
And the end product speaks for itself
In case you hadn't got the message - we are thrilled with the whole process and outcome!
Friday, August 15, 2014
San Vito
Yesterday we went to visit San Vito, with our friends Doug and Samira.
San Vito is a splendid relaxed town in the mountains near the Panama border.
The drive is spectacular on the Interamerican Highway as it hugs the Terraba River inland. Then you cross it and head up the mountain, driving along the ridge for about 50 km with breathtaking views of mountains and valleys on both sides.
It boasts one of the most complete tropical gardens on the planet—Las Cruces Biological Station and the real attraction, the park within, the Wilson Botanical Gardens. Overseen by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), the very well kept park has many inhabitants including 330 documented species of birds and a wide variety of mammals including sloths, monkeys, deer and anteaters.
The Wilson Botanical Gardens (JardÃn Botánico Wilson) are home to around 1,000 species of tropical plants from Costa Rica and beyond. The grounds feature endangered species from Costa Rica, as well as from other parts of the globe, many of which appear quite strange and unusual—definitely worth a stop! Interested visitors can stroll through the well marked, well-maintained 6 miles (10 km) of trails in this 25 acre (10 ha) assortment of gardens. Throughout the grounds, strategic overlooks allow passers-by to take-in this amazing assortment of biology which includes lily beds, heliconia groves, ferns, gingers, bromeliads, marantas and a mammoth collection of palms. - photos from the garden below.
Spent about an hour walking the path (probably takes 2 - 3 hours in total) when the skies opened. Fortunately we were not far from shelter and headed there until it subsided. We all decided we were hungry, so lets pause on the plants and have lunch.
Founded in the 1800's by Italian farmers, the community reportedly has the largest Italian population in Latin America. In the town many people are obviously of Italian heritage - so no surprise you can find good Italian food!
Pizzeria Liliana is wonderful - mama is in the kitchen putting pizza and pasta in the oven. A yummy way to pass the middle of the day! Samira spotted the dozens of Prosciutto hanging in the kitchen - I asked (in Spanish) if they were for sale - "yes - C28000 /kg for a whole one and they are not imported - I make them right here" (again all in Spanish - sorry I am being proud of myself) - Samira went and picked the one she wanted, he took it down and explained he needed 15 minutes to clean it - came back with it all wrapped and ready to go - Costa Rican Proscuitto made by Guido! Yes that was really his name - he gave us his card.
We walked about the town to digest - very civilized place - obviously a centre for agriculture and ranching as the boots and hats were everywhere, but also relatively affluent - little coffee shops and bistros, and all the amenities you could want.
A great way to spend the day!!
San Vito is a splendid relaxed town in the mountains near the Panama border.
The drive is spectacular on the Interamerican Highway as it hugs the Terraba River inland. Then you cross it and head up the mountain, driving along the ridge for about 50 km with breathtaking views of mountains and valleys on both sides.
It boasts one of the most complete tropical gardens on the planet—Las Cruces Biological Station and the real attraction, the park within, the Wilson Botanical Gardens. Overseen by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), the very well kept park has many inhabitants including 330 documented species of birds and a wide variety of mammals including sloths, monkeys, deer and anteaters.
The Wilson Botanical Gardens (JardÃn Botánico Wilson) are home to around 1,000 species of tropical plants from Costa Rica and beyond. The grounds feature endangered species from Costa Rica, as well as from other parts of the globe, many of which appear quite strange and unusual—definitely worth a stop! Interested visitors can stroll through the well marked, well-maintained 6 miles (10 km) of trails in this 25 acre (10 ha) assortment of gardens. Throughout the grounds, strategic overlooks allow passers-by to take-in this amazing assortment of biology which includes lily beds, heliconia groves, ferns, gingers, bromeliads, marantas and a mammoth collection of palms. - photos from the garden below.
Spent about an hour walking the path (probably takes 2 - 3 hours in total) when the skies opened. Fortunately we were not far from shelter and headed there until it subsided. We all decided we were hungry, so lets pause on the plants and have lunch.
Founded in the 1800's by Italian farmers, the community reportedly has the largest Italian population in Latin America. In the town many people are obviously of Italian heritage - so no surprise you can find good Italian food!
Pizzeria Liliana is wonderful - mama is in the kitchen putting pizza and pasta in the oven. A yummy way to pass the middle of the day! Samira spotted the dozens of Prosciutto hanging in the kitchen - I asked (in Spanish) if they were for sale - "yes - C28000 /kg for a whole one and they are not imported - I make them right here" (again all in Spanish - sorry I am being proud of myself) - Samira went and picked the one she wanted, he took it down and explained he needed 15 minutes to clean it - came back with it all wrapped and ready to go - Costa Rican Proscuitto made by Guido! Yes that was really his name - he gave us his card.
We walked about the town to digest - very civilized place - obviously a centre for agriculture and ranching as the boots and hats were everywhere, but also relatively affluent - little coffee shops and bistros, and all the amenities you could want.
A great way to spend the day!!
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