Nightime Visitor

The night before last, some large-ish creature paid a nocturnal visit to my back yard while I slept. I had cut down three stalks of bananas which were still green on the trees. The procedure is then to hang them in a shaded spot and let them ripen. This I did with one bunch and left the other two on the floor of the patio. While I was eating the hanging bunch, some of the others had begun to ripen on their own and every morning there was evidence that some small critter was munching in the night. I didn't care. I have lots - too many really.

But this was different. The big guy (or girl) ate one entire bunch and ate half bananas right off the stalk - totally green!! The remnants are still too green to remove. It or they left three critter flappers about the size of a side-plate but oblong and rippled - for effect, I guess. It or they also destroyed some of my plants where I toss my compost material and, oddly, one of many plants in the front yard.........hmmmm. My lone laying hen (who doesn't lay, at least not in the laying box or any other place I can find, only eats, roosts in the front. Maybe they were partying?

I have no idea what kind of animal it was. I know there are raccoons around but I don't think their scat would look like what I have described above. Monkeys don't tend to be nocturnal forragers from what I understand. Sure wish I knew a scatologist!! Maybe I should google Costa Rican Critter Scat?

Hunka hunka fat-burning love

I started my weight reduction program today. I know, I know....but this is different and sensible. The basic idea is to exercise 3 times a week with high intensity to build or rebuild muscle mass that requires calories to burn while at the same time adjusting and controlling a diet low in fat but high in nutrients, so the fat calories will be the ones burned to sustain the new muscle. The diet involves eating 5 or 6 times a day to keep the body fueled. It is an approach that makes sense to me although I must admit I have difficulty eating so frequently.

I quit smoking 18 months ago and I have gained some weight. I want it gone so I will give this program my utmost. The relatively short exercise program appeals especially because I don't have time to go to a gym. These exercises can be done at home although a gym would be preferable....we'll see how it goes.

Had a wonderful day yesterday cooking and cleaning. I made a pot of curried lentil soup.....awesome.

A Christmas Miracle

What a score!! The neighbourhood convenience store was open and I managed to score ice cream, cottage cheese, watermellon, pineapple, apples, bananas (although I have a huge supply from the back yard that are not quite ripe) and strawberries and limes. There will be an awesome fruit plate under construction later on today......yeaaaaaaa!

Christmas Day

It's Christmas Day in the rainforest. I was invited to a Christmas Breakfast this morning but I totally forgot to go....ah well....maybe next year. It's' a beautiful day here at 82 F, sunny with some cloud. I am irrigating the plants using my nifty newly-manufactured sprinkler holders. I have the type of sprinkler that is on top of a long spike and as the irrigation continues the ground softens and it wants to fall over so a second visit is required to straighten and re-anchor the sprinkler. And the next time irrigation is called for, one can never find the hole from the previous time. I thought there had to be a better way. So I cut a few sections of half-inch pvc pipe, roasted one end over the stove, and jammed the spike in until the pvc conformed to the square shaft. These I pounded into the soil in the strategic locations to house the sprinkler. Works like a charm..woohoo!!

I have been invited to join my sister and brother-in-law for Christmas Dinner at some friends' place. I learned this morning that I have to try to scrounge some dessert somewhere but I doubt any of the stores are open. I may have to get creative with a fruit plate. Yeah, that will work. Regardless, it will be a good time. Time to move the sprinkler.

Scanner Swap

Can you believe it? I had two scanners - a flatbed and a three-in-one printer/scanner/copier. They BOTH crapped out at the same time. The flatbed power supply is dead and it appears the USB port on the combo is gone. I can't live without a scanner for document storage. After days of fruitless troubleshooting I remembered that years ago I had been gifted with a scanner by some friends who were leaving the community for Panama. I have often been labeled as a pack rat but, beleive me , it has served me well over the years. So I climbed up into one of the storage areas and retrieved the still-in-the-box scanner. In doing so, I managed to shave some skin off the back of my upper arm on a piece of metal strapping - a small price to pay if the scanner would just install on my system. We are talking about a ten year old item here. The registration wanted to know if I was using Windows 95!! In any case, installation was seamless and I can scan again. Happy camper in the rainforest.

It is a beautiful day in Surfside....88 degrees with clear skies and bright sunshine. I just finished cleaning the pool...well, until I have to do it again. It's never finished. This is the time of year when a combination of the Papagayo winds and the Cenicero trees shedding their tiny leaves creates a steady shower that rains down on the pool and needs to be skimmed, filtered and vacuumed out. It's a good thing I have some time on my hands.

My housekeeper is also here today so I will have a nice, clean domicile for another week. It always smells so good when she leaves.

And there is pork to be pulled in the crock pot adding it's own fragrance to the mix. I haven't tried this recipe before so it's kind of exciting and I'm looking forward to tasting it later.

Today is Farmer's Market day and maybe I'll finally get to go. Every time I plan to go something comes up in the office that stops me. I hear wonderful things about it....so maybe this time......

I know, it's been a while since I last posted. I have been busy with my continuing adjustment to my change in lifestyle. That said, it is going well. Things are picking up here in Surfside. The snowbirds are returning and everyone is preparing for Christmas. I must admit, coming from the far north, that it is some strange to celebrate Christmas without snow, or at least cold. But it isn't that hard to get used to after a while. Every year, Perla hosts a Christmas party for the local children. She always has a good crowd, cons someone into playing Santa and has gift bags, cake and ice cream for all the youngsters under twelve. On Christmas Day, she hosts a traditional dinner with all the trimmings. And of course there are Christmas lights and decorations and, naturally, parties.

We are back to irrigating now, so I have another chore added to my duties. Several years ago, I installed pop-up sprinklers to take care of this task. However, my gardener chopped them off cutting the grass with his machete so they have been decommissioned and I have to manually place and replace sprinklers and hoses. This works, of course, and it's not like I don't have the time. So the foliage is happy and beautiful.