March 2014 updates

On Saturday March 15, 2014 Serenity Gardens Eco Village had their first community party. Serenity currently only has 6 residents but as a “Thank You” to Serenity's crew who make this a beautiful place we invited the workers and their families for an afternoon barbecue. We had around 50 people, good food and lots of smiles. Even with a language barrier we all had a wonderful time.

Serenity Gardens' first community party.  Look carefully in the background, many heads back there!

Of course the weather was good, it is the dry season after all!

Man! Can those guys cook chicken!!! They built a wood fire, put a very large kettle over the fire, added oil to the pot and when good and hot in went the chicken and spices. Wow! Us Norte Americanos were shocked! Now that is chicken!

Our Tico Chicken Cooks, they will be invited back!

Aldemar, Juan and Steve built a walkway across some rocks to easily get to the falls. There is a nice swimming hole at the bottom of the falls. I must admit it is a bit chilly. We like the hot springs more! I heard there are some hot springs somewhere around the southern zone but haven't been there yet. Northern CR has many hot springs, but then they also have many volcanoes!

 These falls are right next to our rental house.  Walkway built this week to make access easier.

Diane standing in the river, yes really in the river...

getting ready to dive!

Aldemar and his crew spent the week beautifying things around here in honor of our guests. They polished up the river trail to the jungle gazebo, adding gravel to the walking trail.

Our house is coming along. Basement is almost finished except for the sand plaster inside and stucco on the outside. First floor concrete is poured and steel beaming has started to be erected. I was shocked when I saw how tall the architect made the walls and ceilings; seems too tall to me but then warm air rises...

Our builders, some of them live nearby and are excited to have work.  Others come from San Isidro and live on site Monday thru Friday.  No cement trucks here, all cement mixed on site. 

 Back breaking work!

View of basement and new steel going up on top of first floor.

Update since I wrote about the party:

We have been getting return visits and receiving food gifts from the Ticos that attended the party. This is really neat! We have gotten plantain, a pineapple, lunch from Aldemar's mom, and a dessert when we stopped by to thank a family for the pineapple. Now that was interesting! We don't speak much Spanish and they don't speak English at all. Here we are sitting at their table trying to converse with the little Spanish we know. I loved it! I had wanted an adventure and we are getting it.

 

Aldemar has really added color and fullness to our lives by introducing us to many of his family. With family up and down this mountain road, we have been meeting so many of our neighbors through Aldemar. I don't think I have ever met such a happy family. They are always smiling! His mom and dad always talk away in Spanish when we pick up our milk twice a week; doesn't matter to them that we are often totally confused, smiling but shrugging our shoulders. They are just happy to see us and want to tell us stuff. And to be honest, we are happy to see them too!

Last night we were invited to a birthday party at one of Aldemar's brother's house. So interesting! We had a most delicious fish dinner, a special toast to the two who had birthdays with an unusual drink (can't even begin to remember what we were told it is called) and chocolate birthday cake. The cake was similar to what we would have in the US but the rest of the food and drink was typical Tico style.

We are enjoying being included in Tico events and making new friends.  Aldemar told us that for years this area has been depressed without jobs and now that Serenity is getting built "they are excited and happy that the Americans and Canadians are coming."  And once the village is built there will still be jobs with all the residents here wanting all types of work to be done.  I have been asked numerous times if I need a housekeeper.  Maybe when I am in my "grande" house.

Today Aldemar took us to his boyhood swimming spot. Nice waterfalls, rocks, and a huge swimming hole at the bottom of the main falls. Even John went swimming. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to take family and friends there! I will get pictures another time, we didn't take the camera.

Welcome Gina and Norm!!

Some friends we met through our farm came to visit this past week and pick out their own lot in Serenity Gardens. Mostly they stayed at OSA (the sister community) but did spend a night here so we could take them to San Isidro's Farmers Market and show them around. They love Serenity and didn't want to leave. So very excited! Gina and Norm are younger than us so they aren't ready to retire but this gives them a good goal to aim and plan for; they are hoping to build in 3 years. Since they know (much sooner than we did) that moving to Costa Rica is in their future they can plan and wisely move ahead.

Paradise Lost...Briefly

 

Toucans!

The front porch is where we eat all our meals and drink coffee so we get to see wildlife as it goes by. After having monkeys checked off my “must see at Serenity” list, next was toucans. I never knew what to listen for (to signal me they were near) until I got to see one while sitting on the porch. The best I can describe is they sound like a big squeaky rusty hinge or a child's squeaky swing although not irritating, actually a pleasant sound. We have seen them twice now from the porch and both times in pairs, calling to each other. I really like their sound, very tropical and different, it always reminds me of the first time we stayed in OSA. They are huge, colorful and very exciting to see. Check!!

Now Bring On The Sloths!

Paradise Lost

Briefly...

For family and friends left behind in the brutal winter North America has been experiencing, especially all of you in Michigan, (our home state) you might get smug on this one and go “ha-ha!” I understand the human spirit and many of you have endured one of the worst winters on record while I keep posting pictures of our perpetual summer vacation.  So here is your opportunity to be smug.

Two weeks ago I found a tick on my leg. At the time I figured I found it in time, not swollen with my blood or its head not too far into my skin, it was rather easy to remove with a bit of a tug. The area just showed a red spot similar to a mosquito bite and didn't itch or bother me for 2 weeks. But on Wednesday last week I noticed the little red bite was showing signs of infection, angry red swollen and traveling. I also wasn't feeling good and spent most of the day in bed. One eye the previous day started to show signs of a reaction to something, red and swollen. I managed to sit up long enough to research the internet (have minimal service at the rental house now, very minimal) and discovered many of my symptoms on tick bite sites; horrible body aches, fever, swollen red eye, loss of appetite and a very angry looking bite.

By the next morning it became obvious I needed medical help, I had to lay down and couldn't keep my head up. I haven't hurt that much with body aches since my 20s! Aldemar to the rescue, as always! What a blessing he is to have here! He escorted us to town to find a Farmacia to take care of me. We needed him to translate and find the best Farmacia for us. Step back into time, further back than the 60s, and you will get an idea of the place. (I could have gone to the hospital but really hated the idea and was grateful Aldemar said the Farmacia would take care of me.) Lots of wooden display cabinets with glass fronts and a back room examination room. I was seen by Dr. Victor and given a very powerful injection of antibiotic and pills to take home, all for $42.00. By that evening I was sitting up a bit on the couch, took a quick shower, asked for something to eat and slept peacefully that night. The next morning I was pretty good and by afternoon feeling excellent, no signs remaining except the leg wound; which is clearing up. Wow! Amazing care one can get at a Farmacia!

Hey, I know a new Spanish word: garrapata (tick!)

Basement

Our basement is coming along pretty good. Especially when you consider everything is done by hand. No cement trucks here, all mixing of concrete is done on site! They will be mixing and pouring that whole floor by hand and both main floor and top floor get concrete also.

John just called me out to the deck to try out my back machine.  I have compressed discs and keep my back healthy by exercising my lower back and neck.  Years ago he made me a machine based on the one I used in physical therapy to strengthen by muscles to keep the discs separated.  I have been without it since just before we loaded the container, just a little less than 3 months ago.  He finally got it back in operation on the front porch as it took some special engineering to set it up without the support we had in our basement in Davisburg.  Yea, my back is back exercising!