A New Life In Costa Rica

So much to do

This time of year there seems to be something going on every weekend. One just has to decide what direction to go or how far they want to drive.

For example, today is the 5th Annual Atenas Charity Chili Cook-off. We attended both the first and second events but haven't been back since. The event has really taken off with around 600 in attendance last year and 14 entries.

The folks over at the Botanical Orchid Gardens wrote me a very nice note thanking me for the post I did on last years Guaria Morada Festival and asked if I'd let people know this years event will be February 17, 18 and 19.

Another orchid event we like to attend is the National Orchid Exhibition put on by the Asociación Costarricense de Orquideología A.C.O. at the Old Aduana in San Jose. An orchid event we've not been to in the past and may consider attending is the ASACO National Orchid Exhibition in Desamparados Feb 18, 19th and 20th.

Festivals are going on all over the country. The Perla del Pacifico is running now through the 20th in Puntareanas. The other day we saw a sign for the festival and tope in the nearby town of Piedades Sur.

In addition to the festivals and orchid shows there are art exhibits in the San Jose area as well some, like the 2012 International Arts Festival even have well know musicians playing. Alan Parsons is expected on March 25th to close the festival.

All of this is just a glimpse of the possibilities. What to do? What to do?

Summer clean-up

Yep, it's that time of year again. The winds have subsided, well not quite but there are days when we have less than others. Perfect for working in the yards. Each summer we do a clean up of all the weeds, vines and brush that grows during the rainy season in preparation for the next years crop.

Here's one part of the yard before Bill took the weed whacker to it. In previous years we hand picked the weeds and used the machete. Not any more.  We're slow learners and kept thinking if you got something out by the root it wouldn't come back. That may be true in Arizona but not in Costa Rica!

After.

Bill hates vines so he does get on hands and knees to pull those out by the root.

 

The work is taking much less time with the weed eater this year. I've agreed to let him whack away whatever gets in his way to make it easier. My flowers will grow back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly, the papaya tree he'd been nurturing accidently got whacked. He was so sad! The root is still in the ground so maybe it'll come back with the rains too. If not, I've got another baby tree in a different part of the yard he can transplant where this one was.

 

 

 

 

Be careful what you take

One of the benefits of living in Costa Rica is you can walk into a pharmacy, tell them your symptoms and purchase a pill. No need for a box of twenty when a single pill will do the trick, get you through the day.

Instead of going to the clinic recently to refill a prescription at their pharmacy, I walked into a corner drug store while in town and asked for a few of my pills to hold me over until I could get back into the clinic which is only open specific days. The pharmacy was out of the type of pill I usually take so I asked if they had anything similar. The pharmacist gave me what he said was a really good pill. Hmmm.

Really good for some maybe but not for one with high blood pressure.  I took the pill in the evening and went to bed. The problems started when I woke up. The bed was spinning. When I got up the world continued to spin. It was the strangest thing.

Thinking I could shake it off or rather walk it off, Bill and I started out on our daily walk. After one lap we both realized it wasn't a good idea. While he walked I went online to look up info on the pill I took. It wasn't meant for someone with high blood pressure.

The rest of that day was spent pretty much in bed waiting for the world to stop spinning. Later in the day I colored mandalas in an attempt to regain my focus. It helped. The following day I felt better but still not quite myself. It seems our yin yoga class two days later helped get the last of the pill out of my system. I won't be taking those again!

Bill, on the other hand has no blood pressure issues. The pills I'd bought were anti-inflamatory, pain relievers. After a day working with the weedeater cutting uphill he was hurting. Callista and I suggested he try one of the pills and see how he responded to them. For him, it was a miracle pill. Several days later he was still telling us how awesome it was to be pain free. He hadn't realized how many aches and pains he'd been experiencing. One pill and he was feeling no pain for a week.

Neither of us like taking pills. We do however realize in some cases it's necessary. For instance, I have to regulate my blood pressure with pills at this time. The bottom line is to be careful what you take. From this experience we learned it's best for me to stick to what my doctor prescribes. If I do purchase something different I'll look it up online before swallowing it. Hubby learned he doesn't have to endure the pain. Sometimes it's okay to take something to get relief.

 

Little green eating machine

This guy really is an eating machine. We've seen them take naps on the banana racks to make sure no one else gets any.

• 
• 
• 

An emerald toucanette has come to visit a couple of times in the past week. It seems this guy/gal is without a mate. We usually see these beautiful birds in either pairs or family groups.

  

The toucanettes are not regulars around the yard this year. Each visit is special. We make sure to take time to enjoy our moments with them.

Color my world

I was watering the yard late yesterday afternoon when my daughter yelled out the window for me to look up. This is what I saw when I did.

Knowing there had been rain off and on all day in the mountains in front of our house I suspected there'd be a rainbow there as well.

 

 It didn't take long for one to emerge.

 

 

 

My question, when you live where the rainbow ends do you see the colors? Hubby doesn't think so.

Bill came outside to join us in time to see the first rainbow fade but the second come to light.

 I'm thankful my family can take the time to enjoy a simple pleasure together.