A New Life In Costa Rica

Creatures of the night

I filled our hummingbird feeders late in the afternoon one day last week, something I don't normally do. What can I say it's just the way the day worked out. The feeders were near empty at dinner time and I like watching the hummers while I eat so I went out and filled all the feeders. Imagine my surprise when I woke the next morning and discovered them ALL empty! Bill tried to convince me the hummers drank it all. NOT!! How could they drain three feeders in only an hour of daylight. As far as I know my hummers don't drink after dark. Or at least they had not done so up to now to my knowledge.

The dilemma led me to Google the possibility of bats drinking our nectar. It turns out that bats will indeed eat the hummingbird juice. There are probably many out there who already knew this but we didn't. Our books on Costa Rican birds, butterflies or mammals didn't mention bats getting juiced up. Let me tell you some of our neighborhood bats were certainly buzzing that night!

Funny how it was only this one night they decided to hit the bottle. They've not done it before or since. Perhaps they liked the really fresh go-go juice? Maybe it was because I was out of bananas? Whatever the reason I'm now making sure I only partially fill the feeders in the morning.

Finca Luna Nueva

We decided to take a road trip the other day and ended up here, Finca Luna Nueva Lodge. When we left the house we had an idea we'd go there but one never knows what will happen on the roads of Costa Rica so we didn't exactly plan to go. By that I mean we didn't call ahead and let them know to expect us. One really should call ahead.

Originally, we learned about the and I quote "...eco tourism destination and rain forest lodge in Costa Rica dedicated to sustainable living in a tropical rain forest environment." from an article by Patricia Spinelli in The Mountain Howler. The article peaked our interest. Then this broad I know, a fellow blogger made a trip from the city to check out the farm adding to my curiosity.

Like I mentioned earlier, we didn't call ahead and warn, I mean let them know we were coming so we only got to meet owner, Steve Farrell for a moment as he had things to do and places to go. That was okay with us as we really just wanted to see the place and not pick his brain. Steve arranged for one of the guides to spend a little time showing me the sacred seed garden while Callista and Bill relaxed on the porch and explored the look out tower.

   
I finally got to see a vanilla plant. Well the orchid that produces vanilla after much coaxing. I was encouraged to try growing my own. One never knows what will grow in these micro-climates. As they say, it's all in God's hands. I don't know if I'll ever try it as it's labor intensive but if there is one thing I've learned living here it's never say never.

   

 This is annatto. The seeds are turned into what locals call achiote and use to color arroz con pollo. They feel like crayons, seriously, all waxy. I colored on my hands with them. Kinda cool.
 

  

We were informed that a recent group of retreat attendees were jones-ing for sodas, you know Coke or Pepsi so the finca decided to create fresh ginger ale for their guests. We weren't able to sample it the day we were there but they did have bottles of the ginger juice for sale. A little juice and carbonated water are all you need.

The three of us spent a couple of hours at the farm, much of it in the gift shop. I purchased a few books and other goodies like fresh vanilla beans, pure organic ceylon cinnamon and organic chocolate nibs. I've yet to use the goodies I purchased as I'm waiting for the perfect recipe.

We'll be calling ahead and going back to the farm before rainy season starts so I can get a few more plants to add to my medicinal and culinary gardens. Perhaps I'll even talk Bill into spending a romantic evening there with me? I'd love a chance to spend some time checking out the birds in the area as well.  Ho hummm, I want to go now! 
   
 
 

  
 
 
 

Residency renewal

Being legal and remaining legal in a foreign country can be a hassle. In Costa Rica it is almost always a hassle or it has been for us and many we've spoken to. Bill has a different renewal date than do Callista and I.  He's good for another year. On our last attempt to renew our cedulas at immigration in November we were told we could no longer go through the process at their office. The rules had changed since we renewed Bills the previous month. You'd think someone would've told us then the process was changing but that's not the way things work here.

Renewals are now handled at Banco de Costa Rica and can not be done at immigration. Strange, but true. At least when we went. Things are constantly changing so know that this is our experience and if you do everything exactly the same you'll probably have a different outcome.

To renew at BCR you first have to make an appointment. This can only be done by calling a 900 number. No one tells you that most home phones can not make 900 number calls. You have to have your phone enabled by ICE, the local telephone monopoly.

After figuring out the 900 phone call issue, I made the call and set appointments for Callista and I for mid-January. We were stunned when the bank actually called to remind us of the appointments a few days before. Good thing they did as I was thinking it was the following day. Would of really hated to miss our appointment.

So, we arrive for our appointment 10 minutes early with every single piece of documentation I can find in the house. Yes, everything...birth certificates, original letter from immigration saying our status was granted, even the little purple sticky note officially signed and stamped from the consulate in Los Angeles when we originally applied for residency. When visiting a new immigration office for the first time, anywhere other than San Jose where the applications are eventually sent, you must bring the documents for the file in the satellite office. I didn't know what to expect at the bank so I brought everything except a pint of blood and a urine sample. Seriously, the bag 'o documents was so heavy Bill had to carry it.

The woman at the desk eyed me curiously (and my bag o crap) while she attended the people with appointments ahead of mine. When it was my turn she looked at me & smiled as I started to lay out my documentation (expired cedulas, passports, banking receipts, etc.) and asked if I'd seen our friends baby yet. WHAT? I must've looked stunned because she then reminded me we'd attended a baby shower together. Then it all came back. I did remember her as well. She told me the only document she needed to see was the old cedula. In a matter of 15 minutes both Callista & I had our cedulas renewed. WHEW, what I expected to be a hassle was actually the easiest immigration experience we have ever encountered.

Next month we pick up our new cards at the local post office. It doesn't get any easier than that.

Busy, busy, busy

So, I've been trying new things lately. New year, new decade, new me! Time for a change. I'm doing things I've wanted to do and put off for way to long. I'm retired now and my days are mine. Time to do something productive with them. 

I don't know how productive needlework is but it's something I've always wanted to do. I love crafting, all kinds of crafting but have never really learned embroidery. Funny how the universe brings you the things you want in your life. I wanted to learn embroidery and the universe brought me a friend who happens to give classes. Last week I had my first lesson.

Like I said, the world of needlecraft is a whole new world to me. I'm starting with Hardanger. Don't ask me to explain. I had to Google it myself. Here's what my first project looks like so far.

 

It was overwhelming looking at the sample of work my instructor has done. It was overwhelming looking at this pattern as well. BUT... I'm taking it one stitch at a time and so far enjoying what I'm creating. I forgot to mention that during my first lesson I realized I MUST get glasses. Needlework will make one go blind!

After I took the above photo I realized I'd made a mistake and had to un-do most of what I'd already done. Three days later I've sewn the darn thing three times and still haven't completed the assigned work for my next class. At least the instructor won't be the one telling me to take out stitches as I've corrected everything already. Or at least I hope I have.

Poor pup

Callista loves our litle dog so much that she just can't leave her alone. Cal was worried about Mara getting too much sun the other day and made her wear a bonnet.

Mara looks pleased with this development, doesn't she?

She looks like the wolf in Little Red Riding hood in this shot.