Day 13

Animal chores again this morning.  We're getting faster each time, and have developed a division of labor we're comfortable with.

Heading to the animal chores

Francisco's Shop

A carved bald eagle

Carved egret, bendy snake and rolling turtle

The road we walked along

After breakfast, we walked to Francisco's store and bought some souvenirs.  You can see them to the right.  The white bird is an egret carved out of coffee wood.  Francisco makes these himself.  We gave him the rest of our roll of leopard print duct tape.  He had never heard of duct tape and they definitely don't sell leopard print in Costa Rica!  He was delighted.  He also gifted us some beautiful seeds from a local tree.  We will learn how to string them to make jewelry.  Although he gets some business from tourists during the High season,  Francisco may not be able to stay here much longer.  His wife has some odd jobs to help pay taxes, but they might have to move back to the town they both originally come from, Cartago.

Seeds from  Ormosia monosperma

On our walk home, we passed some of the typical livestock: Brahman cattle. Jera thought they were beautiful and wanted to take pictures of them for a friend who adores cows.

Brahman cattle

Jera with cattle!

Another appreciated me

Lunch was greatly appreciated, as you can see.  Fresh pineapple, and string beans with garlic.  Four kids, four forks, two bowls, all gone!  Rose claims that everything tastes better here.  She wonders if it's the Costa Rican air.  Things DO taste better here.  For me it is partly the knowledge that nearly everything we are eating comes from within a 0-10 mile radius.  Also, my days here allow me to sit and eat.  While at Finca Ipe, there is nothing to rush to.


It's chilly tonight.  The rains are hard and the air is cooler than it has been.  It is winter here at the equator.  I'm glad that we are experiencing this Green season.  The High season, or summer, is rather predictable:  hot all day and short days.  No time for siesta at the hottest point.  Not enough daylight to take a break when there are garden and animal chores.  During this rainy season the locals use umbrellas.  We brought raincoats because we like to have our hands free.