Hammer Hammer Tap Tap

I can't contain my enthusiasm.  The roof is going up on the back casita.  The winds are picking up daily and the window of opportunity for safety is narrowing.  Luis and his crew are doing a great job and I think it's going to be done quickly.  Hooray!  Now for house #2.  We are hoping to get the little casita rented by February and it looks like everything is falling into place nicely.  (Whoops!   Better not say falling in the same paragraph as roofing.)  Everything is progressing wonderfully.
Found a spiritual group to hang out with once a week for meditation and study.  I love having new friends here to help fill my need for spiritual community.  This week we are writing our Christmas letters to the Universe.  How cool is that!
We found a great spot to pick oranges just down the road in Palmira, so we've been having fresh juice from the Blendtek every morning.  This morning I made a pineapple, banana, orange juice that was out of this world.  Almost time to make another quick trip to the orange tree.  Mmmm good!
This weekend is full of activity for us.  After all the work on the roof, plus getting the garden in shape (thank you Alfonso) we are going to a 70's, 80's dance this evening.  It's been touch and go as the water went out yesterday in downtown Boquete and several places were closed as a result.  After a brief cancellation notice, the water is back on, and the dance is a go.  Time to put on my dancing shoes.  Tomorrow is a big day helping set up for the Bid4Boquete Christmas Boutique which raises money for several local charities.  I can't wait to see all the goodies and get a chance to channel my inner Martha and set up tables.  Sunday is brunch with a group of friends at the German Restaurant down the road.  My follow up plan is to hike the Cloud Forest Botanical trail on Monday and work off the calories.  I'll let you know how that works out.

washing the family horse

view in Alto Lino

B and B up the road

juicing

misty morning

beautiful gardens

Alfonso whips the yard into shape

putting up xmas decorations

my tree this year

Luis

Jason

roof crew

yard sale find

workers heading home for the day

El Sabroson

What?  No water?

'A GOOD LIFE IS WHEN YOU ASSUME NOTHING, DO MORE, NEED LESS, SMILE OFTEN, DREAM BIG, LAUGH A LOT, AND REALIZE HOW BLESSED YOU ARE.'

The Gospel of Ning

Greetings earthlings,
Just got back from the book and cookie sale at the library and a trip around town to scoop up a few more plants for the yard and patio.  Dennis planted two coconut palms earlier in the week, and we just can't stop.  We did find a lot of books we couldn't live without, so my library is beginning to grow again.  It was very hard to say good good-bye to my books when we moved, so it's nice to start up a new collection.
We decided to check out the Christmas boutique down at the BCP, but didn't find anything that struck my fancy.  Was hoping to find some Christmas hoo hahs to decorate the casita, but all I brought home with me was a string of red beads I found at a patio sale down the road.  This will be a work in progress, and I may have to invest a bit more effort in my search.
We had planned to celebrate my birthday in Costa Rica and had booked a beautiful spot in San Vito called Cascata del Bosco.  This happened to coincide with a change in regulations at the border on the Costa Rica side which called for an exit tax, which we gladly would have paid (a whopping $5.00) but the infrastructure to collect the tax was not set up.  After reading a post on Boquete.ning,  I allowed myself to get a bit paranoid about leaving and not being able to get back into Panama so I cancelled our reservations.  My bad!   Turned out there was no problem and we could have gone.  Big lesson here.  The internet is not gospel,  don't freak out over the small stuff, and go with the flow.  Dennis was nice enough to not give me the "I told you so" look.  Looks like we'll be rescheduling our trip very soon though.
We decided to stay in town and had a nice dinner at Mike's International Grill, my go to place for pad thai and falafal.  While we were there, we met a couple from Boise.  I think I've lost count of how many Idahoans and Washingtonians I have met here.  We followed up with another dinner the next evening with the Newcomer's group at the Oasis.  How I missed this little gem I do not know in all the time we've been here.  It was an absolutely gorgeous setting, with delicious food, great service and the comradery of about 30 people.  Each time we meet someone new and have a never ending circle of interesting people with which to enjoy a meal.  I've posted a pic of new friend Audrey (from Venezuela) and Jere, our neighbor and hiking coordinator.
Dennis and I are really enjoying our Monday hikes with the hiking group.  Last Monday, we celebrated hikers Bill and Dennis ( a different Dennis)  with a birthday lunch at La Jungla.  They have wonderful wall art there as well a small rescue and rehab center.  A few escaped their enclosure, but I was lucky enough to get a picture of them under the rehab sign.
I may have mentioned the mercado in a previous blog.  Can't remember that far back, but due to the new building going up, people have scattered and moved about town finding empty lots and places to set up their vegetable stands.  My personal favorites are Edgar and Marivel, with the freshest selection (in my opinion)  As there were lots of out-of-towners for the big Independence celebrations and parades a week ago, there were lots of interesting sights to take in.  Behold the photo of the python.  The owner generously offered to let me pose with him for $3.00, which I passed on and took a quick photo as I was gathering up my veggies.
I have been a bit of a wuss letting Dennis drive me everywhere and finally got up the courage to drive into David with my friend Lesia.  We had a wonderful day shopping and exploring a few of the stores deep in the center of town.  I have to be truthful here.  I parked on the outskirts in front of Do-it Center and taxied into 'the interior'.  My heart wouldn't take it.  Dennis thrives in driving conditions like that, but me...not so much.  Took a photo of a blind man who had built himself a kind of one man percussion band.  Downtown is bustling with policemen on bicycles, commuters on scooters, a gazillion cars and trucks, school children running through the park, food vendors, florists, and vegetable stands (cheaper than Boquete) on every corner, shoppers, and if you're lucky, a performance artist or two.  We checked out Picadilly, Poderosa, Jackie, and Daisy stores.  There really isn't anything you can't find here...if you are willing to jump in and hunt for it.
***Little side story regarding the banana bunch photo from my last blog entry.  Seems like banana bunches are great little habitats for spiders.  We found about 100 hatchlings of little baby red and black spiders on the wall outside of the house and figured out they most likely came from the bananas.  We promptly decided to offer the bananas to the local bird population and moved them over the fence into a field.  A win win for all.  Sorry I didn't get a picture of the spiders.  Too busy freaking out.
MONDAY IS PANAMANIAN MOTHER'S DAY, SO TO ALL MY FRIENDS THAT ARE MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, AND GREAT GRANDMOTHERS, I SEND YOU WARM WISHES.

Gratitude

Missing my family this week.  I can't remember a time when we weren't together for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Last year, Dennis and I spent Thanksgiving volunteering at the Lake City Senior City serving Thanksgiving dinners to over 500 families.  This year, we'll head to Hotel Ciudad de David for a Thanksgiving meal and the hopes of meeting other families in our new community.  
Holidays always give us a perspective.  Often, it is how we make connections.  Yes, there is a huge meal involved, and for many, a chance to step away from the daily routine of work and be with loved ones, whether they are family, friends, or other fellow human beings.  Those things transcend distance and I know my family and friends know they are in my heart this day and every day and that my love for all of them is not diminished by the miles between us.
Gratitude comes in many sizes.  I am grateful for all the people that have found a place in my life giving me so many rich and wonderful experiences.  I am grateful for all the opportunities I have been given for a comfortable life, an education, opportunities to serve, my health, travel, and a never ending desire for spiritual enrichment.
Each morning I say a blessing which includes opening my heart and letting healing blessings of love flow into my world.  I bless my family and friends, my neighbors and community, the people who have helped me and the ones who have challenged me to open my heart a little more, our leaders both spiritual and political, the young and aged, the sick and impoverished, the unawakened and the awakened, the ones facing hardships and the ones who give unceasingly.  I send blessings to our planet for healing and renewal of our earth, air, and water, and for the healing and protection of all living species. Knowing that we are all connected and dependent upon one another brings joy and gratitude for my bigger family.  To all my friends and family in the US, Canada, and Central America.   HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Fuimos a la playa (We went to the beach)

Just got back from 3 fantastic days at Las Lajas Beach Resort.  We've been there before, but only for the day, so this was a real treat.  Friends Sylvia, Dennis (yes, another Dennis), Jim and Lesia joined us for a little fun in the sun.  Miles of beach to walk and explore, a hammock to rock me to sleep, birds and butterflies galore, a lovely outdoor restaurant and a delicious pool to wile away the hours and great company made for a wonderful time.  Dennis convinced me the sharks were on holiday and the water was safe, so we rented boogie boards and had a blast. I'm a timid chicken when it comes to the ocean, but it was so nice.  I can't wait to do this again.
 We explored the area a bit as well and took in the sights in Remedios, a little fishing village where we chatted with a local family and played with their pet monkey.  The monkey was quite attached to his little owners, but  tolerated us for a bit.  There were fishing nets and boats everywhere as this is the main industry of the area.
We take so much for granted and this little village was a real eye opener.  Most people walk or bike everywhere and only a few homes had cars. A few others had horses for transportation and I saw several folks riding around.   The family we met was very gracious and pleasant, but I am sure we appeared very foreign to them.  They had a small shack for a home with no doors, no floor and very little furniture that I could see.  Most of their living was done outdoors, yet they were all smiling and eager to answer all of our questions about the area.   I think I heard there is a big fishing festival in July here (remember what I said about fiestas) so we may have to return and check it out.
 We  took a side trip to Nancito to a  small archeological site with an interpretive museum and many incredible petroglyphs.  We hit it on a good day as there was no fee.  The fee is usually only $1.00, but free is nice too.  We walked around with a very helpful guide and learned a bit of the history of the area.  Sylvia helped to translate as she is a fluent spanish speaker.  As is often the case, a farmer found the petroglyphs while tilling the land.  Nice that they are being somewhat preserved, although nature is having its way with many of the rocks and they are cracking and are quite weathered.
We then moved on to San Felix to view the church, but it was locked during lunchtime which was when we got there.  It is known for its frescos, so we peered in the windows as best we could and then found a street vendor setting up for....you guessed it....another fiesta.  We had some empanadas and meat on a stick (couldn't say this in spanish if I tried) and said our goodbyes and headed back home, a little sunburned, but very happy.  TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE.