too much cuteness to resist!

What else would you get when you put gorgeous little girls together with puppies?

Magaly brought her daughters over the other day to play with the puppies. I quickly took advantage of the photo op!



These puppies desperately NEED to find homes! They are in that "into everything" stage, and I am chasing them out of the garden and feeling like the wicked witch of the west. As I write this, the male is sleeping on the doormat after spending the last half hour chewing it to bits.

the birthday party for Sigifredo and Margoth

My landlord/housemate Sigifredo turned 50 on the 6th of October, and a good friend Margoth turned 44 on the 5th. (She gave me a 50th party at her house last year) I decided to throw a combined party for the two of them to celebrate the occasion.
Shopped, cooked, cleaned, borrowed chairs and coffee maker and somehow over 30 people managed to fit in my house. Sigifredo invited friends, neighbors and family, and some of my friends came as well. At the last minute, he hired a local singer who dressed in Mariachi but sang all kinds of things (ballads, pop songs, ranchera, happy birthday) and everyone seemed to have a good time.
Pictured are Dona Emilse (Sigifredo's mother) Sharon, the singer, and other family members;



Linda and her son Eli;

Nano faking it with the guitar;






Herman in the mariachi hat, with wife Deborah and son Elian;









Dona Luz, Viviana and Fran,













and Sigifredo and Margoth with the cake. We tried to put 94 candles over two cakes, and almost burned the place down - the candles caught really quickly, and as we sang cumpleanos feliz, Margoth is sprinkling the cake with her drink to quench the fire!

more on the trout farm

There are about 6 primitive buildings on the property: two chicken houses, three cabins and a rancho (a kitchen and dining area). There is also a little kitchen area that services the trout farm. A Tico day trip is to go to a trout farm, catch some trout, and cook them there for a family picnic. The yellow building is on the adjacent property. It is the only neighbor you can see.

All of the buildings here have electricity, water to them and concrete floors or foundations. The buildings could be easily updated into cabinas that are welcoming, and beautiful. Some of the materials, like the cana (a type of bamboo) and roofing could be reused. All the buildings have nice views.

There is also a large cleared area close to the front where I would want to build a large guest facility/meeting space with a professional kitchen. I can't wait to go back again, and walk over the entire property, to learn exactly where all the boundaries are, and to start thinking about where I will plant what.

The last orchid and the Cachi finca

Here is the last of the completed paintings. (for now) When last pictured, this one had only a few spots, and lacked some details.

My neighbor Francesco knew about a couple of fincas (farms) for sale in the town he grew up in, Cachi. Located in the Orosi Valley, Cachi is about 15 minutes from Orosi by car, and has the dam where water is stored for use by the electric company. This looks like a big lake on the valley floor.

Cachi is a small town, quiet and slow. The area that skirts off to one side, is the barrio (neighborhood) called Penas Blanca (there should be a tilde over the n). It winds through a narrow canyon, is bordered by two rivers, and has hills surrounding for privacy and a few views across the valley.

I have always liked the tranquility of this area, and have posted photos earlier where my friend Bill has his finca. I went to see this one farm which has its own water, much of which is routed into ponds for farming trout. They are very healthy, swimming around together in their circles. This farm has 7.5 acres, and five primitive buildings which could easily be updated. Electricity and telephone are also there. It is a really beautiful place, with enough space to do everything I would want.

The owner is an older gentleman, who has taken very good care of the place. He also grows orchids, and has an impressive collection. The one pictured here is a late bloomer, as the season has been over since April. The sale includes all the orchids growing on the property. I am not sure, but I think a tractor is also included. The orchids alone on the US market would fetch several thousand.

This property is very fairly priced at $75K, and I am looking for a partner/investor who wants to co-own it and help me with the tourism and re-forestation projects.

update on the painting progress

These are the latest paintings that I am working on.

The ones you have seen before, that are further down, are shown here now completed.

There are now a total of 7 finished, and and three in progress.

I have decided I will do a show of them in the province capital, Cartago, once I get them framed.

Still not sure if I want to sell them, (not ready to let them go yet) and, besides, I would have to charge too much.

another finca in La Flor

La Flor is this really pretty little town up pretty high overlooking Cachi. Past Birrisito on the road to Turrialba (for those of you with maps), it boasts a small, nice community, cool fresh air, and awesome crumbly black volcanic soil.



This property is about 17,000 meters (a little over 4 acres if I did the math right) and is currently planted in tomatoes, which are being harvested. It also has a little funky wood house (translated, this means electric and water already on the property), a couple of orange orchards, and a private road that goes down half the property.



The property is a gentle grade, with a couple of areas further down the mountain that would be good building sites. (thats a little unusual in these parts too, many things are "supervertical"). It is also priced affordably. I am thinking really hard about this one. I could live on premises in the funky house while I build. From the top, the view, looking left, then right, the house and a view of almost the whole finca from the top.

Jessie and the puppies

This is SO wierd, this little white, brown and black terrier dog named Camilla belonging to my landlord had two puppies. Jessie wasn't involved in any way (we suspect the little macho mini doberman down the street!) but here are the babies pictured with her, at about 4 weeks.