No Bread Crumbs

An Unwanted House Guest!

2012-02-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

Not a pleasant post, but one I thought I would share quickly with you - so when your child comes home with LICE and you think you've got it rough....oh my dear friends....think again!

Got the call from the Kinder teacher on Monday afternoon - "found two nits in Michael's head". I said "Ah, great, okay, I'll be right there". After having spent four hours that morning with the mechanic, cleaning the house for visitors on the 10th and planning and officiating a wedding on Sunday, the 12th - this almost pushed me over the edge!

On my way to pick him up, I made a quick stop at Vitosi (the local pharmacy) and purchased three LICE shampoos, arrived at school to gather the boys and exclaimed....."come on boys, we've got a party in the shower and we're all invited". The kids were great about it - I figured I better treat both boys and myself as Michael occasionally heads to our bed some nights when John is sleep talking/laughing. So, you know what that means right....

2 twin mattress pads
2 Aunt Sandy quilts
2 fitted sheets
2 pillow cases
2 flat sheets
2 comforters

1 queen size mattress pad
1 queen fitted and flat
2 pillow cases
1 down comforter

handfuls of towels
basket full of dirty clothes
sofa covers

So you are probably thinking - no big deal, fire up the washer and drier and fry those suckers! Well, this is where the problem comes in - no hot water...ever, in the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks or washing machine. What's a girl to do? I pulled out all the big pots, and the rice cooker and fired up our Easy Bake Oven and started the tedious process of boiling the water. Then, from there, I pulled out an old green Rubbermaid Tub (you know the ones - they double as suitcases, pools for the kids, great hide and seek spots, fort supporters, check previous posts) - so after about 10 pots, I started dunking the laundry in the tub and then to keep it submersed, threw some big rocks from outside on top. After 30 minutes, I gave it a stir (a real witches brew it was) and started pulling the clothes out with a big soup spoon and launching the clothes from the tub into the washing machine. I quickly learned that the big rocks I had put on top had to stay in the mix for the rest of the loads as the water was so scalding hot, I could not retrieve them! From there, the normal washing process ensued! Another thing going against me here is that Monteverde thinks it is December and not February - so it has been cold, rainy and extremely windy - so here I sit at the local bookstore waiting for my clothes to dry in a clothes dryer while I scribe this post.

Mike and I spend close to 40 minutes per boy, in the morning and the evening doing a lice check - oh, do we have it down to a science - I hold the light while he uses a pen to separate the hair and look for the critters! It's a nasty job, but someone has to do it! The boys don't want anything to do with cutting/shaving their heads, so they are quite good little cooperators during this time - while we rummage through their hair - they have a stack of paper and crayons on the desk to keep themselves busy. Actually, some of their most creative artwork is during this time.

So - this is how I have spent my time this week - I think I have boiled over 50 pots of water and probably drastically lowered the level of gas in our tank out back. Gee, I hope I have enough gas to cook dinner tonight!

I continue with this process just to be on the safe side - the house has never been cleaner.

As I type, I feel my head beginning to itch...gotta go!

Peace,
Signed: S

Just the Run of the Mill Saturday Hike!

2012-02-04T12:36:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, we headed out to the Santa Elena Reserve with the boys in hopes of enjoying the sun-drenched day! However, we had a change of heart and instead of taking the turn to the reserve, we decided to head to the Mirador, which is where the MFS annual Walkathon finale is held every year. It was a beautiful, clear day, and I was almost positive that we could get a glimpse of Volcan Arenal. A glimpse....HECK, we got an eye-full!

We pulled up and took refuge on lower land to shield ourselves from the cool wind!

Fabio greeted us and suggested hot cocoa for the kids and I quickly requested a hot cup of java. After our quick snack, we took the road less traveled, suggested by Fabio "you can go down this road about 800 meters in car, and then, you'll have to walk"...sounds good, "you guys game?", I asked. Greeted by three smiles, I knew we were in for a treat.

Our trusty Gallopher had a tough go - "can this really be classified as a ROAD"? I thought to myself. We parked the car and headed out on foot to what was some beautiful vistas! Horses, meadows, clouds, volcano, rolling hills - it was spectacular and the brisk air and wind filled your spirit as well as your lungs!

We had a great time - but now in retrospect, I have a better idea of where that rattling underneath the car originated from :(

Good thing we have an appointment with the mechanic on Monday!

Peace,
Signed: S

Punta Uva - Not to be Confused with Paradise!

2012-02-04T11:54:00.000-08:00

A quick note about Punta Uva - Although we only spent two nights, it was well worth it. The Caribbean coast certainly has a totally different feel from the Pacific Coast! Personally, I loved it! I loved the fact that it was not so over-developed and the streets were full of bike riders on old rented bikes ( you know the ones, with the baskets in front)! The cyclists certainly outnumbered the 4-wheel drive vehicles. We bunked at Selvin's Cabins which was tucked in just off the main road - we had a two bedroom cabin, little kitchenette and a great veranda to play a mean game of cards or just relax in the hammocks after fighting the waves all day. The walk to the beach for short and quiet!

Michael and John spent every minute they could in the waves, body surfing, building sand castles and snorkeling.

Wasn't it Jack Lalane who did his workouts on the beach? Good form Michael! Keep that bottom down now! :)

Lucky ducks - I think I was well into my teens before I snorkled in the ocean. We headed to Cahuita which is a just north of Punta Uva, hired Ernie and his crew and piled into the boat for our first family snorkeling experience. You would have thought the boys were ole pro's - hopped right off the boat and into the ocean! Getting my leg up over the boat and making a graceful plunge into the water was not how I remembered it as a 16 year old - but hey, I managed to fling myself overboard and keep everything intact (if you know what I mean)! After the initial challenge of water continually leaking into John's mask (oh that hair, trying to get it just right so the mask fit okay) was exhausting in and of itself - but we figured it out and we were off on our adventure. It was awesome sharing this experience with the boys, there I was, in all my snorkeling gear, holding onto Michael's hand as we manuevered through the salt water, our guide pointing out Lion fish, tropical fish of all colors, different types of coral and all sorts of sea urchins. Simply, in a word....AWESOME, as the boys were quick to say!

We decided to be dropped off at Cahuita Point and hike the 2 1/2 miles back through the reserve to where we had parked the car! We were pooped by the time we found the Galloper and treated ourselves to a cold ice cream. What a work-out!

It was a super fun time, although short - well worth the six or seven hour drive!

Punta Uva - Put it on your Bucket List!

Signed: S

Worth Waiting For! Hello New Playing Field - we've waited a long time to Greet You!

2012-02-04T11:30:00.001-08:00

Let it be said, that all good things are worth waiting for! And, oh how this community has waited for the grand opening of the new playing field. Perhaps you remember a couple of older posts last year, in the May timeframe, when we were all covered in mud, racing against the clock to get the last piece of sod in before the rains came! The playing field had been closed off since then to let the new sod take root and boy did we celebrate two weeks ago as the yellow tape came down and the frisbees and soccer balls came out.

The day was perfect, hot and sunny and the words by one MFS parent, very poignant, as he thanked everyone for making this dream a reality. It was a lovely way to remember his late wife and the entire community rallied around him to give support and a hefty round of applause as we listened to his words as he tried desperately to keep his emotions in check.

I was so grateful that this particular project was completed and a success at that. Everyone had a great time and the die-hard ultimate frisbee players commented on what a difference a level field made as they no longer had to keep one eye on the field, in hopes of avoiding pot holes and un-even terrain. Ah, relief!

We enjoyed the celebration with Ken and Liz, friends visiting from our church in Chicago. They had a chance to meet some folks and I even gave them them the 2 cent tour of the school!

So, Monteverde, you can look back at this one and say - YEP, change wasn't so bad after all! Lets hope we can carry this enthusiasm and thinking into the future as the school continues to tackle other changes and projects. KUDOS!

Signed: S

Guatemala...Still Counting our Blessings!

2012-01-08T18:33:00.000-08:00

I was quickly reminded of the vastness and beauty of Guatemala as I spied several volcanos from 35,000 feet. As I peered out the window of the plane, I remembered our previous six trips in 2005/2006, each one unique and special in its own way, but somehow, this trip was filled with a different kind of anticipation and excitement. As I looked beside me, there was Michael, now six years old, sitting at my left, gazing out the same window, questions spewing from his mouth almost as rapidly as the vapor spewed out of Volcan Pacaya.

Finally, the day was upon us, the day where the boys would know, not only their birth country, but the wonderful Marquez-Lobo family that cared for them for eight months while we endured the adoption process back in Chicago. Michael and John, if not busy asking questions, were rapt in the "Ben Diez" cartoon which was playing on the new TV screen aback their seat . We enjoyed about a 75 minute flight from San Jose to Guatemala City in a new Taca plane which was only about two weeks old - we enjoyed great service, in-cabin hot snack and beverage service (no extra charge) and all the TV or movies you could ever want. Needless to say, we barely got above the clouds, when we started our descent into the city.

As of the 2002 census, the Guatemala City metropolitan area had a population of 2.3 million. However, it has grown in excessive amounts throughout recent years. Guatemalans have a diversity of origins, with Spanish and Mestizo descent being the most common. Guatemala City also has a sizeable Indigenous population and minority groups such as Germans and other Europeans, Jewish, Asians primarily Chinese and Korean, and many groups of other Latin American origins such as Peruvian, and Colombian amongst others.

Guatemala City's population has experienced drastic growth since the 1970s with the influx of indigenous migrants from the outlying departments as well as a large influx of foreign groups. For this reason along with several others, Guatemala City has experienced some growth problems such as transportation saturation, availability of safe potable water in some areas at certain times as well as increased crime. The infrastructure, although continuing to grow and improve, at times appears to be lagging in relation to the population explosion. In other words, Guatemala City faces problems common to many other rapidly expanding cities. (Wikipedia)

Note re: Water - We drank bottled water during our stay. Most, if not all houses in the city have a water bubbler, with frequent, scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs by your local 'Culligan Man'.

Wow, had the airport changed in five years, totally renovated and state-of-the-art - very impressive and easy to navigate. As we gathered our luggage and made our way around the corner into the pick-up area, we were greeted by scads of people, yet we found Braulio (Anabella and Rodolfo's son) with ease, waving his arms high above his head - ah, a friendly smile and soon we were hugging and kissing and being welcomed to this beautiful country by an old friend. You would have thought Michael and John had known Braulio for years...they ran right into his arms and gave him a huge hug and kiss. It was the first of many hugs and happy times during our visit.

Arriving at Mama Ana and Papa Rudo's was just like we remembered. More hugs and kisses, sweet embraces! Although the boys were a little skeptical at first of Papa Rudo. "Hey, this guy has a beard mom!" "Yep, he sure does", I replied, "he looks a little different in the pictures we have of him", I continued. Papa Rudo quickly remarked about his 'pirate eye-patch' which was perfect as I could see the boys remembering back when they had made their own eye patches out of black construction paper and elastic bands as they re-enacted their best portrayal of Pirates of the Caribbean in our living room. "Okay, matie," and all was good as I am sure they were concocting a mean game of Pirates, starring Papa Rudo! Second day, we arrived at their house, with clean shaven Rodolfo waiting at the gate. "Look guys, no more beard". What a sweet gesture!

Michael and John could not wait to share our scrapbook with them - we quickly huddled around the kitchen table and walked them through a sampling of their past 5 years.

From where I was at the end of the table, I could see how much the book meant to them and of course, the kids were giving them a 'play by play' of each photo...so many details! Perhaps the most endearing of all, was sitting back and listening to them converse in Spanish. "Este es mi casa"..."aqui, nosotros estabamos jugando con tisa", "y este es, y este es...". It was magical and something I will remember for as long as I live. The language and the connection between the boys and family even richer because they had acquired the language living here in Costa Rica and could so eloquently express themselves and participate in building relationships! Papa Rudo broke out his magnifying glass so he could see the photos on account of his poor eyesight but delighted in each and every one of them!

John quickly found Mama Ana's cat and Michael wasted little time walking across the street with Papa Rudo to grab a quick snack! He certainly knows how to work the system!

Their house was just as we had left it in August 2006, with the addition of a bookstore in the front hall/salon which offers everything from wrapping paper, used books, q-tips, etc.

We then headed toward Emilia and Juan's house, just a stones throw away. Emilia (their daughter), Juan (husband) and 2 year old son, Adrian, were gracious hosts and opened their home up to us and welcomed us into their lives for a week. (We especially loved the WELCOME sign which was hung in the living room (decorated no less with bugs)!

They live in a neighborhood which offers security 24/7, an entrance gate and pretty much everything one might need inside its confines (pulperias, panaderias, salon de belleza). I took a walk with Mama Ana the first night to buy fixins for dinner and boy did I have trouble with the conversion to the Guataleman quetzal(heck, I am just now getting the Colones down after almost three years in CR and now I have to figure out yet another country's monetary system YIKES)- Where is my science/mathmetician husband when I need him! It was lovely staying with the family and experiencing the local culture first hand. The boys enjoyed playing Mario games on the tele (their first experience - is there any turning back now?). We just finished making our Thank You Cards to the family and will get them off in the mail this week. Of course the cards to Emilia and family were riddled with mention of "Gracias por Mario, Mario and more Mario".

Juan and Emilia are a busy, working couple so we tried to cook and launder as much as we could during our stay. There was no washing machine at the house, so Emilia gave me a quick tutorial on how to do laundry the 'old fashion' way in the wash sink outside, a bar of laundry soap and a lot of elbow grease. What a work out - my muscles thank you!

New Year's Eve found us heading towards the Capital, to Anabella's sister's house (Gladys). We hopped out of the car and opened the gate to a pile of fire-crackers just begging to be lit. The boys were not shy and stepped right up to fire a few up into the already smoked filled sky. Gladys had set a lovely table and cooked enough to feed an army. Leg of pork and a full turkey....yum! We settled down for the meal around 11 p.m., put the boys down on coaches/chairs, tucked them in, and welcomed in the New Year with hugs and kisses for all. About 2 a.m., we picked up the kids and headed back to Emilia's to sleep the rest of the morning away.

We decided to rent a car while we were there to take advantage of doing some local day trips. Braulio had several days off from work and was gracious enough to chauffer us around to different regions of the country so that we may no more than just the city and its surroundings. We will be forever grateful for these experiences and adventures. So interesting and culturally rich. Braulio is a great guy, very knowledgeable about the country, history, politics, etc. I don't think there was ever an idol moment in conversation between he and Mike - match made in heaven, from a talk-a-matic perspective that is!

We headed to Playa Monterrico on Sunday with Braulio at the wheel, his wife Beatriz, 5 month old son, Esteban and 10 year old boy, Fernando. Ana and Rodolfo too!

The town of Monterrico is situated on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. Known for its volcanic black sand beaches and annual influx of sea turtles, the town also serves as a major weekend beach resort for citizens of Guatemala City. The town is growing more popular with foreign tourists largely because of the local sea turtle conservation efforts as well as the laid-back atmosphere of the area. (Wikipedia)

What fun - the beach had black sand however was filthy, litter everywhere! I convinced myself that the sad shape of the beachfront was due to the all-night partying the night before, New Years Eve! I had to tactfully explain to the boys walking through the town on the way to the beach that the folks they saw laying over the sidewalk and stumbling out of bars was because they had a little too much fun the night before! "Ah, I get it mom, too much beer right?"! "Is nothing sacred anymore"?, I thought to myself.

We found a place to anchor ourselves which had bathrooms, showers and a pool to enjoy if you were not a beach or sand person. Honestly, I had all I could do to hold onto Michael, John and sometimes, Mama Ana too. The wind was fierce and the waves plenty strong as well. We headed to the restaurant for a smoothie and a shower before heading back to Villa Nueva. Thanks to the rough surf, I had mounds of sand in my bathing suit, I felt like I was wearing a dirty diaper most of the day...YUCK!

The sweetest thing about our beach trip occurred on the way home, listening to Mama Ana and John sing Christmas carols together in Spanish - she knew all the songs they had learned in Kinder and it was indeed special listening to them make beautiful music together. I wore a smile the entire ride home.

Monday we headed to Xela by way of the Mayan Ruins of Iximche. Mama Ana warned me to dress warmly and now I know why. BRRR! We took a quick detour through the town where Ana lived as a younger adult with her family. She and Braulio spoke of the war and stories of how they hid from gun fire under their beds at night. Certainly puts things in perspective, as I can't even wrap my mind around that kind of terror.

Oh how the Costa Rica Transit police would be in hog heaven in Guatemala handing out the tickets right and left. I was quick to find out that the preferred mode of transportation for a lot of folks is by way of the back of pick-up trucks. No Gracias - I'm quite cozy in the car with the seat belt tightly around my hips.

Iximche, a pre-Columbian Mayan site in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, is not as well-known as the major archaeological sites of the Classic Period, but remains a popular site to visit because of its easy accessibility and pleasant setting.

Iximche was founded by the Kaqchikel Maya in 1470 after a prolonged conflict with the Kiche Maya forced them to abandon their previous capital Chaviar (present-day Chichicastenango). The new capital did well in its first decades, but was severely damaged by a fire in 1514. In 1519-20 a major epidemic struck Iximche, killing many inhabitants and prompting many others to flee to the countryside.

Thus weakened, the Kaqchikel welcomed the Spanish conquerers under Pedro de Alvarado with open arms when they arrived in April of 1524 and allowed them to found their own capital nearby. However, the relationship with the Spanish, who at first promised to be a valuable ally against their long-time enemies, the Kiche, soon deteriorated.

The conquerers' incessant demands for gold and the inability of the Kaqchikel to provide it in sufficient quantity quickly led to hostilities that culminated in several Spanish attacks on Iximche.

In September of the same year the Kaqchikel abandoned their capital and took to the surrounding mountains, from where they waged a guerrilla war against the Spanish. The conquerers burned Iximche to the ground in 1526 and were able to defend their own capital for a while, but the raids took their toll. In 1527 the Spanish abandoned their first capital and founded a new one in the Almolonga valley (present-day Ciudad Vieja near Antigua Guatemala).

Undisturbed for several centuries and largely buried under lush vegetation, the ruins of Iximche were finally explored and partially excavated by Guatemalan archaeologist Jorge Guillemin from 1960 to 1972. The ruins of Iximche were declared a Guatemalan National Monument in the 1960s.

Iximche's core is bounded on three sides by ravine walls and separated from the main residential area by an artificial creek. The center consists of four large and two small plazas surrounded by temples, palaces and ceremonial platforms.

In 1980, during the Guatemalan Civil War, a meeting took place at the ruins between guerillas and Maya leaders that resulted in the guerillas stating that they would defend indigenous rights. A ritual was carried out at the site in 1989 in order to reestablish the ruins as a sacred place for Maya ceremonies. United States President George W. Bush visited the site in 2007, and in the same year Iximche was the venue for the III Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities of Abya Yala. (Wikipedia)

It was cold, cold, cold! As you can see by my dress, fashion goes out the window! The boys enjoyed helping Ana collect acorns for which she uses in her Christmas decorations. It was humbling to learn about this region and these people - Braulio is a wealth of knowledge on Guatemalan history, so you can imagine the conversations he had with Mike!

Driving out of ruins, we snapped a pic of a family hauling firewood and other wares up the hill on the side of the road. Boys, just a little older than Michael and John, hauling huge loads of firewood and other items on their backs - makes the boy's Saturday chores of cleaning sinks and toilets pale in comparison. It was a great conversation piece and lesson in family contributions as we continued our journey toward Xela/Quetzaltenango!

Quetzaltenango, also commonly known by its indigenous name, Xelajú, or more commonly, Xela, is the second largest city of Guatemala.

It has an estimated population of 224,703. The population is about 61% indigenous or Amerindian, 34% Mestizo or ladino and 5% European. Quetzaltenango is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of 2,330 meters (7,655 ft) above sea level at its lowest part. It may reach above 2,400 meters within the city.

In Pre-Columbian times Quetzaltenango was a city of the Mam Maya people called Xelajú, although by the time of the Spanish Conquest it had become part of the K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj. The name may be derived from "Xe laju' noj" meaning "under ten mountains". The city was said to have already been over 300 years old when the Spanish first arrived. With the help of his allies, Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado defeated and killed the Maya ruler Tecún Umán here. When Alvarado conquered the city for Spain in the 1520s, he called it by the Nahuatl name used by his Central Mexican Indian allies, "Quetzaltenango", generally considered to mean "the place of the quetzal bird" (although see note on etymology below). Quetzaltenango became the city's official name in colonial times. However, many people (especially, but not only, the indigenous population) continue to call the city "Xelajú" (pronounced shay-lah-WHO) or more commonly Xela for short, and some proudly, but unofficially, consider it the "capital of the Mayas".

In the 19th century, coffee was introduced as a major crop in the area and the economy of Xela prospered. Much fine Belle Époque architecture can still be found in the city.(Wikipedia)

We enjoyed walking around the town, the boys tried desperately to catch pigeons in the plaza, to no avail. The village resembles a town you might see in Europe, with its narrow, cobblestone streets, European architecture, beautiful churches, etc. We observed a funeral procession where the women were carrying the casket overhead and the men followed behind. The women wore their local dress - Braulio tells me that each Maya village has its own style of weaving and dress so you can usually tell which village a women is from the style of her dress. Another full day spent exploring the country. We arrived back at Emilia's about 9:30 p.m. with two tired boys and parents too!

Our final day (Tuesday) was spent local in the city. Mike made good on his promise to make a picnic lunch so as he busied himself in the kitchen making chicken salad, I again tried my hand at washing more clothes. The winds were brisk and constant, so clothes dried in no time. We came to find out that the wind was so strong that it overturned the toll-booths we passed through 2 days prior on our way to the beach! And we thought Monteverde was windy!

We headed to Parque Naciones Unidas, just 15 minutes away from Mama Ana and Papa Rudo's house. Another breezy and cool day, but so enjoyable. This park has a lot to offer, several miniature replicas of different regions of the country, (a mini Antigua), (a mini-Tical), trails, playground, picnic area, bike rentals and great views of the Pacaya and Agua volcanoes which tower over Lake Amatitlan. The kids had fun climbing on the ruins and exploring the trails. We had a great lunch so everyone left with full bellies!

We then headed into the city to take a peek at THE MAP! Mike was eager to get a glimpse of it as he was intrigued by what Rodolfo had explained about it upon our arrival.
El Mapa en Relieve de Guatemala, the largest Relief Map in the world, and the only one of its kind. The 2,000-square-meter Relief Map is built to 1:10,000 scale and was created in 1905, well before the invention of Google Earth. It gives you a good idea of the country’s mountain topography and the contrasting flatness of Petén and neighboring Belize, which, of course, is included as part of Guatemala in accord with the long-standing Guatemala-Belize border dispute. The scale of the mountains is somewhat exaggerated, with the volcanoes and peaks looking steep and pointy. There are observation towers from which you can get a better vantage point. The rivers and lakes are sometimes filled with water from built-in taps, making for an even more authentic experience. (Wikipedia).

John told me he wants to come back for months so he can know all the places on the map "Mom, I want to fish, swim, horseback ride, camp in all the parts of the country". Now that's a tall order for a vacation!

We then walked across the boulevard to a playground to have the boys expend their last little bit of energy (yes, they still had some stored up). They quickly showed off their skills on the monkey bars! Braulio commented, "wow, you can tell a city boy from a country boy" as he encouraged his 10 year old to try the monkey bars as J and M made it look easy. We enjoyed hot chocolate at Braulio and Beatriz' house later than evening and had some good belly laughs over different phrases and their meanings in Costa Rica vs. Guatemala.

Braulio's house is very close to the huge sink hole that opened up in the city after torrential rains in May 2010. We found out that "hueco" in Guatemala has a completely different meaning than in Costa Rica. In CR, hueco is a "hole", however,in Guatemala, "hueco" refers to being Gay! Mike had used the word hueco in a previous conversation with Beatriz, so you can imagine what she must have thought of him...great first impression Mike!

Our time drew short and we returned to pack our bags and ready ourselves for our 8 a.m. flight back to Costa Rica. What a memorable trip - I am eager to return to spend more time in this beautiful country. We are blessed to have had this chance to spend time with the family and know that the boys will carry fond memories of the trip with them as they grow old. Hoping that we can return again soon so that they may feel connected to their past as we march forward with our lives, still counting our blessings!

Peace,
Signed: S

Destination: Guatemala!

2011-12-28T21:02:00.001-08:00

A quick note to let you all know that we are headed to San Jose tomorrow on the afternoon bus as we take our first leg of our journey to Guatemala. We fly on Friday morning and 90 minutes later, we'll be in Michael and John's birth country. It has been 5 1/2 years since our last trip and we are filled with anticipation. I have not slept in 4 nights due to an overload of emotions!

Stay tuned for pics and stories of what I hope to be an amazing visit!

Until then,
Peace
Signed: S

Merry Christmas - Working for that Tree!

2011-12-25T07:16:00.000-08:00

So when in need of a Christmas Tree - the boys come to our rescue! Earlier in the week, Michael and John set out into the pasture to find just the perfect tree - they had to work for it of course! Dad provided the tools, shovel, bucket and machete and the boys, the manual labor!

Great teamwork Guys!

Hey Careful Michael where you're swinging that thing!

Michael working hard to secure the tree into the dirt/clay!

Decorating the tree and Voila!

Here are a few pics of us working hard with the boys this week to complete their gifts for the gift exchange later today at the Meeting House!

Michael decorated a piece of cloth that we purchased at the Women's Coop at the bottom of our hill and put his handprints around it to frame up the saying "Peace is People, Hand in Hand". We then collected leaves from around the house and added a special touch with our local foliage! I sure hope the recipient likes it!

John had fun putting the finishing touches on the bulletin board for a 9 year old boy - I was able to buy some remnant yellow fabric at the Coop and purchased the PERFECT shirt at the American Clothing store for 1000 colones (about $2.00) and was able to affix onto the cork board. I think Sequoyah will love his new bulletin board. What do you think?

Making the gifts were great fun and the boys were very curious and interested in participating. After all, the best gifts of all come from the heart and are made with love!

Enjoy this day, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Signed: S

Happy 50th - You Christmas Baby You!

2011-12-24T22:16:00.000-08:00

Here's a huge shout out to our favorite Auntie Beth...

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY! Enjoy your day and remember you are the best sister a girl could have! Enjoy the photo - it's a classic!

Peace, Merry Christmas
Signed: S

Hey Santa – Can You Spare a Few Type A Elves?

2011-12-14T18:35:00.000-08:00

La Feria Navidena fue un evento muy exito! The Christmas Fair was a very successful event!

Not sure why I thought working on the Christmas Fair committee would be any less than work than the annual Walkathon fundraiser – so, just for the record, both parent-led, school fundraisers are equally exhausting and a ton of work! Good news is that we made over $1800 and the hundreds of tamales that were made by parents/students and community members the day before were all consumed.

I was part of the Publicity sub-committee who concentrated their efforts on making banners to hang around town, creating flyers to post up around the zone and handing out ¼ page hand-outs to tourists in hopes of bringing more people to the event. I spent 4 hours in the zone two weeks ago, starting at the Monteverde Reserve and hitting all restaurants and hotels in Monteverde, Cerro Plano and Santa Elena – I had my tape, scissors and variety of brochures for the event (both in English and Spanish) in my trusty satchel ready to whip out at a moments notice. I was well poised to put my most 'charming' foot forward as I approached more than 30 establishments to publicize the event. I was elated to see the support and willingness to help the school from the local businesses in town.

There had been much debate this year as to whether this fundraiser should be moved away from the school and to a more central location (maybe the public school gymnasium in Santa Elena) that hosts a lot of community events. After much discussions and a lot of red tape to reserve the gym, we opted to stay with tradition and hold the event at the school, with a few changes thrown in for good measure. An aggressive publicity campaign, an inflatable jumpy for the kids, free shuttle service to and from Santa Elena (in hopes of enticing tourists to make the 3 mile trek up the road) and a tent in front of the school to house more artisans.

Saturday morning at about 8 a.m., the boys and I were busy hammering signs along the road in Santa Elena directing people “THIS WAY TO THE FAIR”. Strapping the balloons to the signs was our biggest challenge as the December winds are in full-force. I then spent 4 hours in Santa Elena ‘stalking’ tourists and handing out brochures to passer-bys. I filled the shuttle van several times and met some great folks along the way. The ambiance at the school was warm and welcoming – Mr. Sun shone brightly and the wind calmed both its breeze and our nerves as we kept a watchful eye on the flapping tent. The music was eclectic with a mix of guitars, drummers, piano players and singers! The food was amazing and the traditional Christmas feast of tamales was a hit!

I enjoyed roaming around the various booths at the fair checking out the local artist’s crafts and even purchased a few goodies for myself! Edgar, my Spanish tutor, is also a local artisan and makes amazing jewelry from seeds he finds on the coast. He then cleans the seeds and polishes them creating some amazing, natural designs. I bought a couple of key chains and a necklace for myself (after all, I have to show my support for the school...right?) The local craftsman are hitting up against hard times, as a lot of the souvenirs found here are unfortunatey stamped with "made in China". 20% of all the sales went toward the school.

It was an amazing day and the wind and rain held off until the end of the event. This event is one of the four parent run fundraisers that help to raise money to keep the arts and physical education programs at the school. So, yet another opportunity to work with some great parents.

Michael and I enjoyed a 90-minute Christmas card making workshop at the little school down the street earlier this week. Edda, a delightful gal in the community is an expert scrapbooker and pulled out all the stops to make this craft extra fun. Michael and I had a blast, and I’ve never seen such beautiful paper, glitter and stamps to make the most festive greeting cards. Perhaps I am a “closet crafter” after all. There is another class this afternoon and Michael is super excited to work with the ‘magic’ glitter as he calls it!

Auntie Beth – I made you a special Christmas/Happy 50th Birthday Card which I will hand-off to someone heading to the States for the holiday and ask them to mail it for me! It was great fun to make.

We have a full schedule of events upon us, with the Christmas Program at school this Friday, Wassail and Cookie exchange this weekend at the school, Christmas party for the swim team, two birthday parties to attend, a trip to Rio Acapulco to enjoy some R & R with friends and yes, Christmas. Oh, we also need to collect some branches outside to construct our Christmas tree and the boys and I need to make two homemade gifts for the Christmas Exchange at the School Christmas Day. So, John chose a ten-year-old boy who loves biking and skateboarding. So here’s my idea – a bulletin board of some sort with a fabric border in skateboarding or biking pattern. My problem: can I find corkboard and fabric in the zone – I’m guessing not! Perhaps I’ll visit the American clothing store in town to see if I can pick up a shirt with some sports pattern and make that work. If you have other ideas for a ten-year-old boy – something we can whip up (in say 10 days), please comment on the blog – any ideas are welcome. Michael picked a 30 something gal, she is a hairdresser and as her mama says “is a real girly-girl”. Again, comments are welcome!

So Santa - this is where I could really use some extra little hands - I hear those elves of yours really are quite the task-masters - so if you can spare a few for a week or so - I'm sure they'd like to thaw out here in CR!

In my spare time, I am still enjoying my Spanish lessons three times a week and am also trying to plan for our trip to Guatemala on the 30th. So, tis the season~"Enter Edda Again". She gave me a great idea to make a scrapbook for the foster family in Guatemala with recent photos of the boys. I actually found photo quality paper, so I am in business. Edda has a full suitcase of scrap booking 'paraphanalia' to choose from.... so move over MARTHA!

I am enjoying my Friday’s this month as I am participating in a PILOT program sponsored by my awesome Life Coach, Jeannie, who is in the final process of hammering out the kinks in a new offering she will start to market in 2012. I feel honored to have been given this opportunity and to work with 8 other talented women via conference call each week. The timing is perfect as we are starting to share our decision with community members to head north at the conclusion of this school year. Our first two conference calls have centered around Intentions and Boundaries - I'm sure tomorrow's call will be just as thought-provoking and as rich as the previous two.

As I close for tonight, Mike is busy in the kitchen making candied almonds for the boy's teachers tomorrow (last day of school before Christmas break) and for a teacher gift exchange tomorrow afternoon! A full social calendar we have! But, as we bustle around our little community of Monteverde preparing for Christmas and you run here and there attending parties, visiting with family and friends, and doing the same - please let us Remember the Reason for the Season! I do....do you?
Peace,
Signed: S

Animal Sightings

2011-12-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

Of course you’ve read that Tookie, the toucanet, is no longer in our house, but that doesn’t mean that we are short on animal sightings. Attached are a few pictures of some animals that we have encountered in the past weeks.

The boys captured a low hanging bat they had found on a neighbors entrance gate. We were especially careful with this sad little mammal because it had barely enough strength to hang.. It obviously was not healthy and we did not handle it with bare hands. We put water and various types of food in its container, but it did not move. We think it became a raccoon treat as we found the empty container the next morning.

There is a family of beautiful raccoons (mapache) that was visiting. The mother and her two cubs would come to the porch after sunset to dig into a bucket of seashells and to dream about riding a bicycle someday. We have not seen them since Troy, the local Husky, was barking them up a tree during a 1AM encounter.

Troy hangs out here everyday, attempting to become better acquainted with a mother cat and her two kittens. The mother defends her territory quite well. If the dog gets close to the kittens, the cat charges and hisses and chases it away. Knowing Troy, I think he would love to use his powerful jaws to play with the kittens.

Having cats up in our ceiling area will keep mouse populations down, but I don’t think it will affect the spider community as much. We’ve had some real beauties lately. If a spider is on the floor or walls we capture it in a ‘critter cup’ and toss it outside. If it is on an upper wall or ceiling, I usually let it be. Knowing that spiders do have venom, and not knowing the severity of their bites, we don’t take our chances and do not handle spiders with our bare hands.

Like the raccoon, the sloth is another animal that looks as if you could pet it. There is someone here that takes care of orphaned baby sloths and we have petted them before. But they grow, and those strong claws become stronger and could easily cause some damage to human flesh.

On the walk home from school one evening, I heard the cry of a baby sloth that had fallen to the trail below. The mother was up in the trees looking for the most direct way down. I stood still about twenty meters away while the mother slowly climbed down to reclaim her baby. I slowly approached to about a meter away to take these pictures. They both looked relieved and so was I after watching this whole ordeal for 30 minutes. Local dogs have killed sloths, and with the number of dogs that roam the area, this mother and baby are lucky. Warning: sloths are known as the slowest moving mammal, but in defense, it can swipe its bear like claws at an attacker. Also, consider how strong it must be to spends its life hanging upside down from tree limbs, and then think about how dogs have been severely wounded when a sloth gets a chance to wrap its limbs around the dog.

Signed: M

Do we stay or do we Go?

2011-11-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

Working on uploading some videos to this post - so check back later today!

Last Friday night; after the kids went down, we were left with a decision, merely 'to go, or not to go'.... to the swim tournament that is. Not a huge decision, or so we thought! Turns out the decision to make the three-hour trek to Zarcero for the swim tournament was, I imagine, like hitting the JACKPOT. Yes, the odds were slightly stacked against us, me being sick and on antibiotics, having to get up at 4 a.m. and drive 3 hours, the boys just getting over their virus and well, them choosing to spend their last swim practice (shall we say, less than focused) on their coach's instructions.

We chose “GO” and GO we did. We pulled out of Monteverde Saturday morning at about 5:20 a.m. headed down the mountain.

The drive took us through the town of Naranjo, which was settled in 1830, and originally known as “Los Naranjos” (the Orange Groves) due to the abundance of orange trees in the surrounding area. Although the name has been shortened and the amount of orange trees lessened, this city of 35,000 has remained an important agricultural hub for Costa Rica. Set at the base of the Espírito Santo Hills in Costa Rica’s gorgeous Central Valley, the area surrounding the town is stippled with farms growing all kinds of crops– plantains, corn, tapioca, coffee, rice, beans, sugar cane, tobacco, and beef, to name a few. The coffee plantations are perhaps the best represented, and plantation tours are becoming increasingly popular among tourists. This fertile area is drained by the Grande Colorado, Molino, Barranca, and El Espino rivers, and, at an elevation of 3,398 feet (1,036 meters), the temperature is a consistently cool 68° F (20° C).

From there, we ascended onto a ridge as we made our way to Zarcero.
Zarcero lies at an elevation of 1,736 meters above sea level in the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range) of Costa Rica, 50 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital city of Alajuela and 27 kilometers southeast of Ciudad Quesada.
Zarcero, known for its brisk mountain climate, lies in a dairy and agricultural area also noted for the local enterprises that practice organic farming. Distinctive jams, cheese and other dairy products are among the items produced.

Set in the northern hills of San Ramon, this charming town makes a great stop for those travelling to La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano. Surrounded by coffee plantations and lush rolling hills, it is an ideal retreat for those who wish to spend a few days in a lovely place away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

The town has a beautiful cottage style church. Admirers of religious architecture will be delighted by the interior of the church, which is covered with detailed religious paintings and elaborate pastel stencil work. Standing right in front of the San Rafael church is the famed topiary garden of ‘Parque Francisco Alvarado’. Sixteen green arches stand before the church, inviting you to the evergreen paradise around it. Offering a series of vibrant shrubbery, sculptured and clipped into whimsical shapes, the garden is a must-see. Well-manicured shrubs in the park are fashioned as animals, dancers and oxcarts. You will even find a dinosaurs, helicopter, airplane and even Christ carrying a cross.

This highland town is lined with cedar trees and is also home to the Los Ángeles Cloud Forest Reserve. This private park offers amazing trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. The views were spectacular as you looked out both sides of the car. The clouds hung, suspended in the valley and the fields of crops were neatly parceled out below. We arrived in Zarcero three hours later and found the swim arena without too much trouble. The arena was surrounded by pasture, which was hard to see due to the dense fog in the morning. As we walked into the arena, the boys were quick to note the various food tents outside and quickly put in their request for something ‘yummy’. We quickly found the Monteverde team and made our way over to join the group. I gave a quick wave to Beba, their coach, to let her know that the Schaefers were ‘in the house’.

The boys received their swim team shirts and we all chuckled over the spelling of Michael’s name on his sleeve. I just told him “that’s how Michael is spelled in Spanish’ and he bought it. MAICOL – exactly how it sounds, right? Mom even sported her shirt too to show her support for the team.

Again, we should know by now that nothing ever starts ON-TIME, so the 9:00 a.m. first race should have been billed out as a 10 or 10:15 a.m. start…but really, who is keeping track of time anyway.

After a four-hour wait, two hamburgers, Gatorade, banana bread, apples, beans and rice and chips, the boy’s first race was about to begin. They were super excited and followed Josue (assistant coach) into the staging area. Que frio! The staging area was a tent outside; mind you the tent had no side flaps, so you can imagine how cold the little 6 to 8 year olds must have been as they patiently waited for their seat assignments. I opted to stay inside, out of the cold wind, as my sinus infection did not need any help in getting worse. BRRRR! Michael and John quickly reminded me to put on their new swim caps and boy did they look ‘the part’. Mike and I were thrilled to see them step up and be independent as they were separated into different heats in their first race. The first race was with their flutter boards, 25 meters (about 10 meters longer than the hotel pool they practice in each week).

Here’s John getting a last minute pep talk from Josue before he takes the plunge.

Mike was positioned with the camera on one side as I flanked the other side with the rest of the team. And he was off – I had to chuckle as he kept sizing up his competition, looking to his side, rather than focusing on the straight away and the water ahead of him. It was exhilarating to hear all the other Team Monteverde parents encouraging him “VAMOS John”, “FUERTE, FUERTE”! He touched the wall and I jumped and hollered like any other proud parent. He had done it and I could not wait to scoop him up out of the water and into my arms.

Something happened to me at that very moment – it was like “oh my gosh, my little Gusty is growing up”, I felt that pride that all parents must feel when they see their child accomplish something. Perhaps this is a step in the process of ‘growing up and gaining independence’ that I had waited so long for. Believing in my children and letting them spread their wings, experience new challenges, triumphs and defeats!

Michael was next up and leaps into the water and kicks his way to the finish line.

Again, I am a crazy woman, screaming and yelling at the top of my lungs. I thought to myself “Oh, I’ve become one of those crazed sports mothers who make a spectacle of themselves as they cheer their children on’...did that stop me? Not a chance!

We waited for two more hours until the boy’s next race – Free Style, no floatation device, just sheer determination and will to make it the length of the pool. By this time, I found myself yawning and tired, so I could only imagine how Michael and John felt. As the entry forms for the race were being handed out, we discovered that John had been entered into the race as Jostin (Justin). After talking with him – he agreed that he would play the role of Jostin while being staged in the tent. However, he looked up at me and said “mom, can you call me John when I’m in the pool though?”. I laughed silently to myself as I gave him a reassuring pat on the back. By this time, some of the participants were leaving, so they started to consolidate some of the age groups. Besides Fabricio (a 13 year old boy) on our team, John and Michael were the only other kids from Team MONTEVERDE that swam the Freestyle. They again followed Josue up to the top of the pool – John quickly stepped up on the dive platform while Michael was a little apprehensive “What, I’m suppose to dive off this thing?”…with a thumbs up from me, he (in sure Michael fashion) cleared the pool with a huge belly flop and they were off. The other two boys in this race were at least 8 years old but that did not stop their determination to make it to the other side of the pool.

We’ve been talking a lot about perseverance with the boys and they certainly demonstrated the meaning of it on Saturday as they kept pushing the water past them as they did a mix of the front crawl and the doggy paddle. Both Mike and I, along with the other parents and kids, cheered them on – we all high-fived and butted fists during our congratulatory celebration.

We quickly dried the kids off, changed and met the rest of the team out front for a group picture and the medal ceremony. John was in all his glory, all smiles and oh so proud. Michael, who does not like to be in the limelight, graciously accepted his medal and stood quietly in the group, as a quick photo opp emerged.

The fog was rolling in as it was approaching 5:00 p.m. We grabbed a couple of snacks for the trip home and wandered back up the hill to our parking space.

We piled in, the kids exhausted, only to realize that I had left the lights on the entire day. We were going nowhere fast. Thanks to a very friendly family, the man just happened to be a mechanic; we were off toward Monteverde 30 minutes later. The ride home was quiet as the kids zonked out, barley making it out of the town of Zarcero. Mike and I reflected on the day as we headed toward home – we both agreed that the day was a success and that the boys gained so much in just a mere 16 hours! The participant medallion being the tangible ‘thing’, but it is those intangibles that we will remember and revel in for a long time to come.

Peace,
Signed: S

To Answer your Question Uncle John....

2011-11-24T13:17:00.001-08:00

We are ABSOLUTELY not having Toucanet for Thanksgiving Dinner!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We are hunkering down in the house today with blustery, rainy, cold weather outside. We had plans to go to the beach with some friends today, but with the weather as such, we are staying close to home. The kids are still recovering from a bad virus, after spending 4 days at home this past week. I guess you sort of know what my next statement is...YES, I now have the crud and have been in bed for two days. So this is WHEN Michael and John decide to be good sharers! Got it and thank you very much!!! I will venture to the clinic tomorrow if I see no improvement by tomorrow morning.

What we've missed this week:
Swimming Lessons (lots of the extra practices...the tournament is Saturday so I am hopeful we can make tomorrow's final practice and then muster enough energy to get out of bed at 4 a.m. on Saturday, drive the 4 hours there and back and still have energy to compete!

Five days of School - there were 10 kids out for two days straight just in the Kinder class! Teachers were begging parents to keep their kids home if the dreaded virus was lurking.

Christmas Fair Committee Meetings - Hey, I'm working with a competent team, they won't miss me.

Donor Database Training - yep, I volunteered for yet another effort to help automate the school's donor database - transfer data from index cards into an actual application to track donor trends!

Spanish Lessons - UGH -hoping I can make tomorrow's session, pobre Edgar!

Not a one bathroom, floor, door knob or faucet cleaning with clorox and lysol - good bye germs!

We celebrate John's 6th birthday today and as I type, Mike is in the kitchen making his b-day cake of choice "guava cake", what else would you expect?

Signing off for now, but did not want the day to go by without saying how thankful we are to have you all in our lives. We are thankful for so much-health, opportunities to experience life in Costa Rica, our two wonderful six year olds, loving and supportive family and friends..what are you thankful for?

Blessings and Peace,
Signed: S

A Lesson in Love and Letting Go!

2011-11-15T07:40:00.000-08:00

So by now, I imagine Tookie has completed his 48 hours in "quarantine" at Zoo Ave. and that he is slowly adapting to his new environment. No little hands to contend with, the absence of cats, dogs, folks accidently stepping on his tail - oh, he must be in bird heaven! "Yep, I've lived through about 4 or 5 cat attacks and 1 from Troy, the local Huskie and still living to tell about it. Check out my injury, pretty nasty huh?".

We had a great trip to San Jose this past Saturday - leaving at 6:30 a.m. and arriving in San Jose at about 10:30. I was behind the wheel of the trusty Galloper and relied on Carla (a friend of ours here in Monteverde) to navigate and help us decipher the map. She accompanied us down the mountain as she also had things to do in the big city. She was a great help as she had lived here previously and knew more about the towns and roads. Although we missed our turnoff to the 'new' highway, we detoured through some old towns in the lowlands and enjoyed the meandering roads and the quaint little plazas in the center of the towns. Tookie enjoyed the four hour ride in his little plastic travel bin, equipped with papaya, a stick for perching and plenty of newspaper!

Arriving at the Clinica Biblica, I ran into my doctor's appointment and then we headed to the Koenig store to buy them out of garbanzo, tapioca, sweet potato and rice flour. I think we spent close to $80 in different types of flour, flaxseed and nuts, so Mike should be well stocked to create his yummy non-gluten breads. Just about to load up the car with our purchases!

From there, we headed out of the city proper to deliver Tookie to Zoo Ave, or so I thought! After circling around the city (I felt like I was going around and around as you had to be ever so mindful as to the one way streets), we ended up smack dab in the middle of the Central Market (not a place a Gringa driver wants to be stuck mid-day on a Saturday). I grew impatient and picked my words carefully as I negoitated around the many pedestrians, street vendors, vegetable and fruit toting sellers, obnoxious taxi drivers, et. al. What a sight - Mike turned to me and said that this amount of over-stimulation reminded him of his trip to India two decades ago - complete chaos but after 45 minutes, we got through the center of the city and headed onward.

We were all happy to find Zoo Ave. and disembark with Tookie perched upon John's finger. Zoo Ave. was a pleasant surprise, with a very natural feel to it, lots of thought provoking messages posted throughout and large cages for all types of wildlife. We met Carmen, the Veternarian at the entrance, the boys said their last goodbyes as I completed an intake form. The boys were very brave and gently kissed Tookster and handed him over.

Carmen said that Tookie would spend the first 2 days in 'the clinic' where he would be checked for parasites and given the same diet that he was accustomed to, before introducing him to his new, permanent home. With goodbye's said, we followed the trail around the zoo and checked out all sorts of wildlife; birds, pumas, ocelots, monkeys, crocs - it was great time.

The boys were very inquisitive and wanted to know everything about Tookie's new life, as we continued to look for the cage that read "Tocancillos Verdes. "Ah, here it is, I found it", I hollered and indeed there they were - lots of little Tookies hopping around. A perfect place to welcome the 'new kid on the block", I thought to myself.

The sign, translated, reads "hundreds of people have rescued animals, sick, without homes and have donated them to Zoo Ave. for rehabilitation and liberation - Thank you for your support!". Well put indeed.

Michael and John are very eager to return to Zoo Ave. to check on Tookie's progress - who knows, one day he may even be returned to the wild.

A quick hotdog and a cup of coffee for me and we loaded up again for our return up the mountain. About 2 hours into the drive, the sun had set and the roads became pitch black - forget any street lights, or reflectors - for me, it was sheer hazardness - perhaps it comes with age, but my driving glasses weren't cuttin it - so I pulled over and had Mike take over, Really, "would the Transit Police be out this late?" Hope not, as Mike does not have his CR driver's license. Home safely after a full day. Lots of 'I miss Tookie' and "Mom, what do you think Tookie is doing right now?" questions and statements, but all in all, the boys were troopers and learned a lot about loving and letting go! As I read to John that night and said prayers, Tookie was the first on his list - he began to sniff and tear up and I encouraged him to cry and close his eyes and remember all the fun times with his little feathered friend.

So, here it is Tuesday, and I am enjoying again having the doors open in my house and not having to watch where I step - I'll work on de-Tookifying the house this week and ridding the floor and walls of splattered bird droppings.

Our days are extra full these days with lots of activities up through the end of the month. We'll be heading to a swim tournament in Zarcero on 11/26 with about 15 to 20 other kids from the zone. This is a great opportunity that the boy's swim instructor has brought to all the families here and we decided to jump on it. Zarcero is about a three to four hour drive from here so we'll leave at about 4 a.m. that morning in order to arrive around 8 a.m. for the start of the competition. It is all about enjoying and participating in the event, as all the swimmers will come home with a medal and a feeling of accomplishment. I went to a meeting last week in Santa Elena to hear all the particulars about the tournament - I was the only Gringa and most of the other parents I did not know as their children most likely took lessons on another day. It was a great Spanish lesson in and of itself! The discussion focused on ordering swim shirts and swimming trunks, colors, names, sizes! I came home with lots of info to share and the boys were super excited to hear about their swim 'uniforms' and that their sleeve would proudly display their name. I ordered swim caps for both as John looks like a shaggy dog in the pool - it is a wonder he can even see beyond that mop of hair. They'll look like real professionals by the start of the tournament. Swim practice is every M-W-F up until 11/26 so they arrive home fully exhausted at about 4:30 :)

I'll close with a pic of the birthday boy (Michael) proudly displaying one of his gifts - more Bendaroos! Thanks Choppy and Poppy! Six years old - It is hard to think that when we arrived in Monteverde, they were only 3 - big boys indeed! We'll celebrate again in another two weeks with John Gustavo! Michael is truly enjoying these 20 days of being 'the big brother'!

Much more to tell, but that will be for another day!

Peace!
Signed: S

Goodbye Tookie...Goodbye Tookie...Goodbye Tookie...

2011-11-11T18:16:00.001-08:00

We're sad to see you go!

But, all good things must come to an end :)

We head to Zoo Ave in Alajeula tomorrow to deliver Tookie to his new home, to be cared for by a loving and caring staff and to maybe one day, even be reintroduced to the forest!

I'll post again soon to share the story. The boys are prepared and smothered Tookie with kisses this last night! For me, I'll greet Tookie's leaving with mixed emotions. I learned today from my Spanish tutor to say "I'm up to here with bird poop" in Spanish! "Estoy hasta aqui con cuitas". I'll leave you with that!

Stay Tuned!

Peace,
Signed: S

Joys of Rainy Season

2011-11-05T05:11:00.000-07:00

What happens when you get 40 inches of rain in a month? Well, fortunately the land here is generally sloped and the soil very porous, so most of the water flows downhill to the many streams or is channeled to underground aquifers and springs. There was minor flooding along rivers, but this is not unusual during September and October in Costa Rica.

How does it affect our life here in Monteverde?
Put on rubber boots, grab an umbrella and go.
Walk right through the spring gushing at the pasture gate.
Be prepared to get cars out of the mud. A tow rope and another car does the trick.
Watch the mystery sprouts grow inside the car on your ChiaCarpet.
Enjoy a new leaf emerge from a banana plant.
Spend lots of time near the oven creating new meals.

In reality, its not very inconvenient – don’t have to get bundled up, its not dangerously cold or uncomfortably hot, just cloudy and wet! Much of the vegetation around the house was removed recently, giving the house more light and better airflow, so the indoors hasn't felt as damp as previous years. Yea - the sheets don't feel like cold slices of bologna!

A Balancing Act!

2011-10-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

Cabin Fever has set in after 14 days of straight rain - Mike just informed me that he will enlighten you all on the weather systems we've been having, so I will refrain from 'pouring' my thoughts out here regarding the rain! I wouldn't dare steal his thunder (Oh Stop Already Sally)

Thought I would share some quick pics of John's gymastics class at one of Monteverde's new Yoga studios. A friend of ours started it last year - and the kids (and parents) love it. John attends every week on Thursday at 3:30 for an hour and enjoys practicing his cartwheels, front rolls, balancing, etc.

Last week was a make-up class - only a few students participated as the rain and bad weather kept them from attending so Cath decided to focus the class on acrobatics. It was great fun - sorry my pics are so dark - again, I'll blame it on the weather.

Warming up before class!

John on Nicole's shoulders. Nicole is a teacher at the school and helps Cath with the class. It is great that John knows everyone in his class and the instructors.

Cath's turn to boost up John.

Learning PLANK with Nicole - OUCH!

Okay, I need something a little more challenging now! Come on gals - what ya got for me?

I think they call this the BACKWARD ANGEL...

So, you may ask what else we have been doing with our time...
Mike has been cooking non-stop and enjoying the non-gluten flours I picked up in San Jose two weeks ago. Since he is off gluten, we are enjoying his new experiments in the kitchen with tapioca, garbanzo bean and rice flours. The breads and pancakes that he is making are simply delish! The boys are enjoying them as well and I like the fact that they are eating less wheat products. We actually made a family affair out of making wheat free gnocchi with potatoes and rice flour. Not to mention the gluten free pizza crust recipe he found on the internet. We are hoping that the little organic market at the end of the road starts to carry other types of flours as there are many of us in the community that are getting off wheat. I actually think it is helping with my sinus problems. Oh, how I wish!

I finally signed up for some aggressive tutoring with a local tutor - three days a week for 1.5 hours each. It is a private session so I am loving the attention. I am focusing on other tenses and speaking correctly - I'm starting to speak a lot of Spanish at home now, so I figure I better speak correctly as to not be the demise of the boy's Spanish learnings :0

I will start to get very busy with planning for the Christmas Fair this year. I thought I'd try my hand at working on a different parent fundraiser this year, other than the Walkathon, so I (along with others on the committee) are leading the publicity component. We are hoping to secure the Gymnasium in Santa Elena (where the Saturday farmers market is held) - a BIG change from years past as the event is usually held at the school. Local artisens showcase their wares and the parents make tamales and bring other food to sell. Most items for sale are home-made and make great Christmas gifts. We will hope to pull in more tourists this year with the venue being smack dab in the middle of Santa Elena. Feliz Navidad!

Finally, congratulations to some very special people, Josh for completing Basic Training and Turning Blue! Zach, my God son, Happy Birthday and little Charlie, Happy Birthday!

Peace
Signed: S

Soggy in Samara!

2011-10-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

A week's vacation - oh, what shall we do? Let's hit the beach and soak up some sun! Sounds good guys - when do we leave? A grand plan, so we thought! Up until about a week ago, the rainy season has been almost non-existent. Beautiful sunny weather, a 'breeze' to dry clothes outside and only a light rain or thunderstorm in the late afternoon or evening. Out came the map, car gassed up, clothes thrown into a suitcase, a caregiver for Tookie, and we're off!

Playa Samara came highly recommended to us as being a great kid-family friendly beach. Hotel Fenix, another great recommendation from some MFS teachers as a "gotta stay hotel" - plans were coming together and we were off by 10 a.m. Monday morning. We awoke Monday to a constant rain which (little did we know), would be the start of a long, drawn out low pressure system which would linger over Central American for more than a week.

The three hour trip to Samara was uneventful, rain constant and me behind the wheel negotiating the slick roads! We arrived around 1 p.m. at Hotel Fenix and were greeted by Phyllis and Bill, the owners, Seattle transplants! The hotel is right on the beach with six rooms (all equipped with kitchens) that face a small pool and garden. Beyond the pool are palm trees, loungers and hammocks which lead you right to the beach. I can only imagine the place splashed with sunshine - but not this trip!

We stayed the first night in what they call "the Deluxe Room"! It has a TV in the bedroom, air conditioning (which we did not use) and a redone kitchen and bathroom. Very nice, but we actually preferred the other room we had the last night of our stay which was less 'fancy', no air conditioning, but with all the creature comforts of home. All the rooms had a great view of the pool so I could keep my eyes on the boys splashing around while doing the dishes or pouring myself a glass of wine. Guests had access to the hotel's bodega (storage room) to help themselves to the fridge or laundry services - all that was requested was that you be on the honor system and write your room number on a receipt book which hung from a nail "2 beers, Room #5"...how's that for trusting souls!

We would have loved to see the fisherman out on the water reeling in the catch of the day, but the fishing boats remained on shore due to the rocky seas.

We managed to get in about three hours of beach time over the 2 1/2 day stay! The storage room at the hotel had quite a variety of boogie boards to choose from - so the kids made their selection and they were off to conquer the surf! Oh, yes, the surf - well, it was a deep chocolate color, no turquoise/blue waters to be seen on account of Mother Nature. The waves were quite fierce due to the wind and rain, so I was all eyes looking for my two cocoa colored boys in the murky waters. They loved the experience and exhausted themselves - a great match!

COME ON MICHAEL - YOU CAN DO IT!

AND HE'S UP!

ALL SMILES!

John gives a THUMBS UP to Michael for a great ride!

WAY COOL!!!!

Luckily we had loaded the laptop with some Magic Schoolbus movies, so when the heavy rains came, we had some down time and also enjoyed playing some card games. I was able to enjoy an hour's run to Playa Carrillo which was about 3.5 miles down the road. This beach was a classic, lined with palm trees and opening up to a expansive view. We ventured to Carrillo by car as well and got out to explore a bit before we again ran for cover from the rain. You can barely see John as he blended in with the rocks and dark sky with his camo attire. The surfers were coming out of the woodwork as the rains and winds picked up, braving the elements in hopes of catching the perfect wave.

Although the hotel was right on the beach, the rain soothed us to sleep rather than the ocean waves and breeze. Maybe next time!

We headed back up the mountain, it was slow going as the dirt road was covered with new pot-holes and rivulets! The rain continues and has not stopped since Monday (and here it is Friday). I just sent Mike into Santa Elena with our wet laundry to have it dried at the local bookstore (which also rents out their dryer for a small charge). For you Chicagoans, think of this as a winter blizzard (you really want to WANT to go out, make sure you have plenty of food stocked up and break out the card games, crafts and books). We read today online that the heaviest rains are yet to come tomorrow! Where is a wood stove when you need it?

Oh, and the Hermit Crabs - we are making a home for them and Mike is already investigating type of habitat and food they need to survive. I say, 'find a river and dump em'! Yet another saga...

Peace,
Signed: S

Bird Meets Cat!

2011-10-12T05:23:00.000-07:00

Allow me to make the introductions...."Snowball meet Tookie"!

Last week, as we crossed the main road by La Colina on our way home from school, we spied a white fluff ball in the middle of the road. You can probably guess how this story ends - Kitten makes it way to the Schaefer house (the kids will tell you she followed us home), truth be told, she had some help, let's just say by two pair of eager hands! I knew I had a short window of time to find a caring home for our new friend, before my cat allergy kicked into high gear. I made an agreement with the boys that “Snowball” (it was either Snowball or Whitey) could spend one overnight with us before she had to go. I got to work quickly, made some calls and kitty was turned over to a loving family with two little girls, who I am sure, are showering her with an abundance of TLC.

The introduction...

Come on...stop being so stubborn and say hello to eachother!

Eye Contact...making progress!

Hey, What's that White Stuff in your bowl? All I get is Papaya, Avocado, Bananas and Egg? Hello...I'll have what She's Having!

Come on over Tookie - all ya gotta do is lean over and let your beak do the work!

I guess ya can teach a Toucanet New Tricks!

Hop on Kid, take a load off!

Who has the Upper Shoulder?

One Kitten Out the door, a dozen hermit crabs Enter!

Peace,
Signed: S

Kin to a Barn Raising!

2011-10-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

A tree planting party? Now that’s a first! So, when I saw this invitation on my Facebook page, I jumped at the chance to spend the morning in lower San Luis at my friend, Karen’s farm. The invitation read something like this….

Hi everyone,
You are invited to come to our farm next Saturday for a tree planting party! Our farm is within the Bellbird Biological Corridor, and since last year we have been working on reforesting a degraded part of our property with native trees. This year, we are focusing on our lower pasture, which we hope to convert into an agroforestry area which will include organic coffee and fruit trees, as well as native trees.

We have about 100+ more trees to get into the ground before the rains truly dry up, and if you'd like to help us out next Saturday morning, we'd love to have you!!
If you can make it down, please bring:
* Long pants and rain boots (long grass with potential critters)
* A shovel
* Gloves if you have or want them
* Hat, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.
* Items for potluck lunch as well as plates, utensils, etc.

We'll have lemonade and snax flowing to keep the planters full of energy

*** We are also hoping to put in a simple friendship garden near our house, made with cuttings or "hijos" of plants / flowers that our friends have in their gardens at home. If you have cuttings or favorite plants that you'd like to add to our space, we'll find a special place for them

Mike had already committed to a Saturday morning activity with a local conservationist and a group from the Monteverde Institute measuring trees (sounds right up this science teacher’s alley), so I loaded up the boys and headed down the Trocha to the San Luis valley. We gathered our boots, shovels, sunscreen and cold tuna salad (everyone needed to bring something to share for lunch), picked up a friend and her son on the way, and arrived at Karen's quaint bungalow (their little house on the prairie well before the afternoon rains).

The trees were purchased (for a donation, I think) from the University of Georgia’s campus in San Luis. After lathering up with sunscreen, I headed into the pasture with my shovel in one hand, and my trusty camera in the other. The host family welcomed us into their home and provided instruction as to what and where to plant. In some places the grass was so high, one of the guys had to power up the weed-whacker to make room to dig the holes. A mango tree here, an avocado tree there…I sure hope we can sample the fruits of our labor in a few years ☺

All in all, there were about 10 families that participated and boy, did we have fun. The older kids quickly shed their jeans for shorts and tees and headed for the river just down the road. Hours later, they appeared, wet, dirty and exhausted, but still had left over energy to practice their acrobatic skills they are learning in gymnastics class. The younger ones enjoyed the tree swing, getting in on the fun of planting and playing with little Christopher’s toys.

We’d plant a little and chat a lot, plant some more and then retire to their home for some homemade lemonade, snacks, fruit, and homemade muffins to feed the hungry work crew. Their little bungalow was so comfy, with air flowing from the back porch through the house and spilling out onto the front porch. I escaped with just a few Chigger bites and just barely rosy red shoulders.

We planted about 150 trees that morning and enjoyed the fellowship with our neighbors. I reckon this is how things happened years ago, when community members would show up to support and help with whatever was the need for the day.

We loaded up and headed back up the Trocha with several sleepy boys and one tired mom! But, wow, it was worth it.

A quick little update on Tookie –
He is thriving and is enjoying his new outside platform, which hangs from our front tree. Although we still have to keep an eye out for him, he enjoys spreading his wings out in the sunlight. He is spending a few days with a friend as we head to the beach tomorrow for a couple of days of R and R (hopefully).

We are fighting a bad virus, John suffered with a 103-degree fever Thursday when I quickly loaded him into the car and drove him to the clinic. Good news is that the clinic took us right away, bad news is that it took John projectile vomiting on himself, me and all over the waiting room floor in order to get us in promptly! Nice work John! He even scored a hospital smock on the way out, as the nurses could not bare the thought of him putting back on his shirt covered with...well, PUKE. After 2 hours at the clinic, we both enjoyed a nice shower to rid us of the vomit and then to bed. He is feeling much better, however he has shared this with Michael now, who has slept the day away and is fighting his own 102-degree fever. So, our plans to head to Samara beach tomorrow morning may be derailed due to sick kids, but the sand and sun will be there later in the week if we choose to reschedule. John is putting his smock to good use – add the cardboard shoe insert from their new soccer shoes, a rubber band and he is ready to play doctor and check out Michael’s symptoms. John says, “mom, bring on the tea with oregano and mint” – a sure fire way to kick the virus.

Good news - we are here in Samara and LOVE the FENIX hotel, right on the beach with kitchenette and all the amenities. The rain has been coming down in droves since we left Monteverde at 10 a.m. this morning, however the boys frolicked in the ocean and we got in the pool despite the downpour. I can't hear the ocean breeze over the sound of the rain! Praying for sunshine tomorrow!

Peace,
Signed: S

Begging for Bed…Just the Way I like it!

2011-10-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

Monteverde is alive with an abundance of extra curricular activities this year! And, I for one have taken full advantage of all the offerings. This is in contrast to our first year here where anything physical for kids was greatly lacking. Sure there is pottery lessons, violin lessons, art lessons, but come on...if you know my kids - that ain't happening...atleast not at age five! So, I am thrilled to have more sports opportunities for the kids - I'm all for scraped knees and dirty finger nails!

John is loving his gymnastics class Thursday afternoons. It is an hour where he can balance and walk on a “belt like” rope suspended off the ground between wooden beams, practice his cartwheels and backward rolls and pull-ups on suspended bamboo poles positioned conveniently in between doorways. We are grateful to the gal who has opened up her house/yoga studio to offer classes to young kids in the community. It is a fun hour and the instructor runs a tight ship. I enjoy helping out during the station work and am remembering just how uncoordinated and inflexible I am. We are grateful to Cath and Nicole for their patience and passion!

So that’s our Thursday!

Friday we are off to the pool, this time “Poco a Poco” Hotel which is conveniently located in Cerro Plano. We attended a few classes last year at another hotel but had a hard time getting the kids ready and interested in putting even a toe in the water on Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m. Fridays classes are working great as I pick them up from school at 1:30, shove a quick snack at them and head towards town for the 2p.m. start! Both Michael and John love the lessons, which by the way, are mostly made up of kids from their kinder program. Poor teacher! There are about 7 kids ranging from beginniners (who have barely seen a pool let alone jumped in one, to my boys who are positioned to show off their keen cannon ball abilities at any time). It is quite funny to see all us parents trying to keep our kids in line from the poolside. Somehow we muddle through the hour and manage to learn something too! 10,000 colones gets us a month's worth of lessons for one child. $20 dollars multiplied by 2 and there you have it!

Saturday, we are off to Santa Elena bright and early at 8:00 a.m. for soccer (or as they call it here, FUTBOL). I remember while running into Santa Elena last year, huffing it up the hill by the soccer field on my Saturday morning runs and seeing the kids play ball thinking to myself “sure looks like fun, gotta talk to Mike about getting the boys involved”. So, yep, a year later, Mike and I are helping another parent coach the 6 and 7 year olds! It s a hoot! I really don’t have any experience with soccer, probably the only sport I never played as a kid – Mike isn’t much better from an experience perspective, but we thought we could all learn a little about Costa Rica’s favorite sport! So, off we went! I ran the warm-ups the first week – I’m sure some of the local kids thought, “who is this Gringa and why is she making us work so hard?”. John and Michael have come a long way in the last couple of weeks and are now feeling more comfortable with the other local kids and if I bend my ear just right, I can hear Michael squeak out a “passé la” request. (pass the ball to me). Way to go Michael! It’s two hours of fun and lots of running around. I often hear the kids whisper in Spanish how I'm an easy target at goalie - with me as a goal tender, there's sure to be a point won! Thanks kids!

I have to smile at John when he put on the team shirt for the scrimmage (yellow netted shirt), in good ole John fashion, he spent five minutes trying to make sure he was all tucked in and presentable….’that’s my boy’!

Mike is spending time with the boys outside before dinner practicing some of their skills – it is fun for me to listen to their stories over dinner (anything from, “mom, did you see my fancy footwork?” to “yo gane, yo gane” (I won, I won)!

So that is what the end of our week looks like – The first half of the week is filled with play-dates which wears me out too, but is so good for the boys to expand their social network. Half the class has been over this year - so I guess I am preparing myself for the November birthday party I will plan for the boys sixth birthday! One little boy from their classroom talks non-stop about the zip line here and is perfectly matched with Michael and John from an activity and energy perspective. Mike made some make-shift steps up to the tree that holds the tree swing so now the boys can more easily maneuver themselves up to the top (yes, they’ve discovered if they climb halfway up the tree) they get a better chance to imitate Tarzan). So fun, until someone breaks a leg or arm - good thing the clinic is only 10 minutes away!

Any filler time is spent riding their new ‘trick’ bikes as they call them – an early birthday present that I purchased in San Jose last month. They will grow into them for sure – some scrapes, lots of bruises but, oh so worth it!

So, this brings me back to the title of this post – and puts a smile on my face!

Peace,
Signed: S

The Dirty Work....Someone has to Do IT!

2011-09-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day Costa Rica! We were fortunate to participate in our third Independence Day celebration this past Thursday. It was a hot morning, with bright sun beaming down on us before the rains came. A nice farmer's tan I have!

Michael, still coughing, opted to stay home with Dad, so John and I put on our walking shoes and headed toward Santa Elena for the Independence Day Parade. We arrived at 9 a.m., just in time to see the first folks take step out of the MEGA Super parking lot onto the road which would wind through the main street in town, culminating at the gymnasium. I, myself, felt quite proud that I timed our arrival to the tee - finally understanding what is meant by "TICO TIME".

The Friends school was first in line and a hard act to follow, I might add! The 'act' did not come without some give and take! Over the last three years, I recall much discussion during Parent/Teacher meetings about how to best represent the Friends School in the holiday activities. Founded over 60 years ago, the Friends School has grown and now serves not only Quakers but a huge population of local Costa Rican families. I can see both sides of the coin on this one; is there a happy medium where the simplicity of Quakerism can be preserved while recognizing the civic and patriotic traditions of the Costa Ricans? I am delighted that committed parents stepped up this year to make the experience more 'cultural' for the Friends school students. In the past, the 'showing' by the Friends school has been light on Costa Rican tradition and heavy on statements and banners promoting peace and conservation. The national holiday is celebrated by Costa Ricans, of course, and pride in one's country should shine through especially during a holiday such as this. So, thanks to those dedicated teachers and parents for combining tradition and the message of peace into this year's parade presentation. It was lovely and truly a class act!

John and I opted to join the parade and walked along side with other parents and supporters. Lower school girls were decked in traditional Costa Rican dress and danced to typical music blasting out of the back of a oxen cart. Backing up the littlest of dancers were half a dozen older dancers who often perform Saturday morning's at the Farmer's Market. The oxen cart was painted in traditional colors and showcased local produce as it marched through town. Other local schools were kind enough to lend us traditional skirts, so we certainly looked authentic!

This is where John and I come in....we see Manolo (a father of two students) walking behind the oxen cart, with big shovel in hand. Not only is he carrying this shovel, he is trying to manuever this tiny wheelbarrow through the line of dancers so he can clean up the oxen poop before the dancers find it! Showing our support, John and I quickly grabbed a handle and became part of the "Poop Pickin Up" Trio! As we headed onto mainstreet, the streets were packed, folks dangled from outdoor balconies to get a glimpse of the parade. All of a sudden, one of the oxen lets loose, and we're on! We rose to the occasion and got our moment in the spotlight front and center as we carefully balanced the tiny wheelbarrow as it was loaded up with a healthy dose of oxen plop. Hey, we even got a healthy round of applause from the spectators - or were they showing their appreciation for the dancers that followed? Well, one will never know? John gave me a shy smirk as we quickly took our position back on the side of the road, behind Manolo, as we wheeled the pile of poop onward, holding our heads high!

Peace
Signed: S

Too Much Monkeying Around just might get you in Trouble

2011-09-17T05:39:00.000-07:00

We were greeted by this creature one morning as we strolled down our driveway. We debated whether the poor soul was a monkey or a sloth?. What is your guess?

Most likely, it got fried during an electrical storm, so there it hangs over the entrance to Bromelias (the outdoor music theater) beside us. What a welcome!

Finally, after much rain, the creature relinquished its grip on the electrical wire and dropped to the ground to start the decaying process. Perhaps it will be consumed quickly by a hungry dog, cat or coati.

Just another exciting day here in Monteverde.

Peace,
Signed: S

Cats have 9 Lives - Toucanets are Close to Follow!

2011-09-11T16:10:00.001-07:00

How can one little Tookie be so lucky? Just after nursing him back to health, and having the boys spend all morning making a thunderstorm-proof house for Tookie out by the fire pit, another escape from the grasps of death....ermerges SUPER TOOKSTER!

Tookie was enjoying himself quite a bit when Mike mentioned that we should put him up high to keep him safe from the cats! So, up went Tookie onto a pull-up bar underneath our overhang, and off went the boys to Casem to ride their bikes with Dad, while I restrung the clothes lines in the back room. There in lies the problem - WHO WAS WATCHING OUT FOR TOOKIE? I guess him taking the leap of faith and flying down to the patio didn't cross my already cluttered mind :(

All of a sudden, I heard the familiar squeal of Tookie in trouble "WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE COME ON ALREADY!!!" is what I am sure he would scream out in human talk if he could. I then came bounding out of the back room only to see Orange cat trot off into the woods which separate us from our neighbors and YES, Tookie was clearly lodged in the mouth of Orange cat. "UGH" I thought - "how come this always happens when I'm around"? I did not run after Orange cat or pursue, because I wanted to remember Tookie in all his glory (healthy and perky) and not a mound of crushed bones and feathers wafting all over Monteverde.

So, I looked around for the boys and called out, but to no avail. How was I going to break the news to the boys? An overwhelming feeling of sadness came over me as I saw them ride up the driveway with big smiles.

As I explained what happened, Mike shook his head and darted off in our neighbor's direction. Much to my amazement, Mike came across the path with Tookie cupped gingerly in his hands. He had not been lunch for the cats, he was still very much alive! Mike listened for the tweets of Tookie and found him on the neighbor's patio, with the Orange cat sitting proper in front of him. Was this truly a game of CAT AND MOUSE? What, was Orange cat just taunting Tookie or did he really have intent on eating him? Thankfully we don't need to go there!

Tookie, now the MIRACLE bird, in my eyes, was quickly checked over by us -- we administered Neosporin cream as I had donated the other cream I got from the vet a couple of weeks ago to another friend. Hey, Neosporin is a 'cure-all', so I'm sure it will do the trick.

We wrapped Tookie up in a warm blanket, as he is probably very weak, in shock and very tired from his busy day in a cat's mouth! John tucked him into the warm blanket and Michael placed a paper airplane by his side to give him comfort. We've got a heating blanket under him to keep him warm tonight.

It was just a couple of days ago that I told the boys that we would need to get rid of Tookie (in fact, I already received the okay from another family who were waiting in the WINGS to welcome Tookster into their family) as I was tired of being the only one to clean up all the Tookie poop. Well, Michael and John wanted nothing to do with relinquinshing Tookie to another family, so since then, they have cleaned up their fair share of bird poop. We have a full roll of TP readily available on the end of the dining room table just for this very duty.

So, here we are again, back in the same spot we were three weeks ago - I guess I'll spend tomorrow morning with the Vet, acquiring more oral antibiotics. Let's just say this bird has someone wrapped around it's little beak!

Prayers would be appreciated and stay tuned!

Signed: S

Calamity to Chaos to Clarity...almost!

2011-09-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

Chaos: Defined as...
1. A condition or place of great disorder or confusion.
2. A disorderly mass; a jumble:

So, with time comes clarity, perhaps that is what is meant by "Hindsight is 20/20"! I am now able, after three months, to reflect on our most recent trip back to the States this past June. If you read my previous blog, I wasn't kidding when I mentioned 'cranky kids and even crankier adults". I remember, back in April, when Mike and I started to plot out how much time we would need to accomplish all that we had heaped upon our plate for this past summer. If you've ever planned or managed an Estate Sale, well then, thank you for your sympathy in advance! "Six weeks should do it" feeling overly confident and "give us time to attend the family wedding, Josh's graduation party and farewell celebration as he heads to Basic Training, organize an estate sale and spend a week or so in North Carolina with my family! " With that, the tickets were purchased and we flew northward with not even an incling of what was ahead of us.

Sometimes it seems like yesterday when we sold our house and crammed our remaining 'stuff' (that which was not parsed out among family members or neighbors) into a 10X10 storage unit, . Pulling down the 'garage-door like' partition, putting the padlock on our buldging unit and walking out of the newly built and airconditioned "LOCK UP" storage facility in Willowbrook, Ilinois, we felt our 'stuff' would be well taken care of until we decided it was time to deal with it again. That time, was this summer and oh what a time it was. I remember trying to talk Mike out of going through our stuff this summer, 'really, can't we just keep paying the monthly fee for the unit?", I asked. Mike quickly did the math in his head, monthly storage fee multiplied by 12 more months, equals, WELL, YOU GET THE POINT! One has to ask, whether one's stuff is even worth the money being forked out each month to keep it.

Our blessings on this trip were plentiful; our challenges, at times, seemed incredibly overwhelming. Our home church, Community Presbyterian Church, blessed us with the opportunity to use an empty house next to the church for the summer.

We were also fortunate to have family willing to help, be it watching the boys, tagging items for our sale, cooking dinners or coordinating the move of our belongings out of storage and into the church house prior to our arrival (Thanks Chop and Pop)!

Michael and John were happy to discover some of their long-lost toys (hotwheel tracks and cars, animals, both stuffed and plastic and legos). They also enjoyed a bathtub and took full advantage of it, I've never had such an easy time keeping them clean with hardly a fuss!

While the kids busied themselves, winding their never ending orange track down and around the stairs, Mike and I had the dirty work of delving into each box and making the sometimes painful decisions as to how to dispose of each item. Mike and I did most of our work after the kids went down (8 p.m. to midnight)...I must say, after a few glasses of red wine, the criteria for KEEP, SELL, GIVE AWAY got a lot easier for me :)

The process of determinging the fate of our stuff, for me, was no big deal - One quick glance over, and my decision was made... the item ending up in the appropriate pile - for Mike, an entirely different process which was grounded in thoughtfulness and memories.

We lived for two months in a state of chaos, laundry all over the place, dishes piling up in the sink and the four of us in the same bedroom, most nights intertwined on our king size mattress. Is it any wonder, we were cranky?

As I started peeling away the tape, opening the cardboard boxes which had held our possessions for 600 plus days, I too began to feel a little unravelled. With every dish I had to unwrap, my hands became stained and dirty from the newsprint of two years ago - I glanced at the headlines from the summer of 2009 and wondered where the time had gone. No time to remeniss - there was work to be done.

Oh, the Rooster plates I just had to have for the kitchen...the everyday dishes from Bed, Bath and Beyond, were too, carefully unwrapped and placed with the other crystal, glass and ceramic wares. Mike and I commented on our dishes and the fact that we never even used them, thinking they were too nice to use, we opted for the old, scratched plates and bowls that he had used in his Chicago condo for over 20 years.

All the kitchen gadgets, placemats, tablecloths, napkins, holiday linens, pots, pans, toaster, irons, they all went out for display and pricing.

Next came the pricing process - thanks to friends and family members who donated their time and assistance. I remember making signs at midnight before the sale, UPSTAIRS - LINENS AND CLOTHING, DOWNSTAIRS: HOME DECOR, TOYS/GAMES, APPLIANCES, PORCH: SPORTS EQUIPMENT AND GARDEN/TOOL SUPPLIES. Certainly if there was an award for the most organized Estate Sale, we surely would be in the TOP 3! I even marked my wedding dress to sell - but there were no takers. I was grateful to a woman who purchased several bags of my business-casual work clothing. Finally, the day was upon us and we opened our doors at 8:00 a.m. with a strong cup of coffee in hand and somewhat of a forced smile on our faces!

As Mike and I reflect, we cannot believe how much of our stuff was what I call 'nice to have' and not 'must have'. I think the biggest regret Mike had was selling the long, heavy-duty orange extension cord. "How could we have let go of such a functional item?" he remorsed. Pictures, knick-knacks, candles and other home decor items had overtaken our life - and I thought I was fairly practical! So, where does this leave me now? Well, I can say, my next home will be decorated in a minimalistic style - less clutter, wide open space for sure.

What did not sell, and there was a lot, was then walked across the parking lot to our Church to include in their Bazaar sale the next weekend. Twin bunk-beds were given to a niece and other items that actually do hold memories for us (the boy's scrap books from their foster family, family photo albums, keepsakes from our trips to Guatemala) were moved into a 5 X 5 storage unit. So, although we did not off-load all of our belongings, we did scale down from a 10X10 to a more manageable 5X5! Of course, we still have furniture and other items stashed with family members through out Chicagoland, (not to mention our car - thanks Barb and Kevin), but we have lightened the load!

The boys were troopers and great helpers! They lended their muscles carrying boxes back to storage and helped dad assess the best way to pack the unit to the top.

The skateboards from cousin Josh were great gifts and the boys enjoyed their first experience at the local skateboard park.

All said and done, the experience was rich in learnings and gave light to things that are most important to us. As we transition back to Monteverde for our third year - we take our summer experience with us and are grateful for the support and family we have in Chicago.

Two months of our life gone, dealing with stuff - unloading, unpacking, classifying, pricing, repacking, reloading, moving, locking up - so much energy put out just moving STUFF around! Perhaps this is a lesson you really can't learn until you live it. Do I miss my stuff? NOPE - you have it one moment, and then the next, it is gone - easy as that! My mind was in the right place and that perhaps, is the hardest of all!

This year will prove to be as unique and rewarding as the previous two. Stay tuned as we continue to make decisions throughout this year that will enrich not only our current lives here, but our future journey - full speed ahead!

So, I can finally say, that we are enjoying the CALM after the CHAOS and are ready for when the tables turn again and turn they will.

Peace,
Signed: S

The Little Tookie that Could!

2011-09-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

I am a little overwhelmed (to say the least) to think about starting another year here in Monteverde and wondering how the heck to kick off my first POST here on No Breadcrumbs. After talking with a good friend earlier in the week, she gave me some great advice. " Sally, Don't feel as though you need to recap the last three months (two months in Chicago, hectic schedule, estate sale, parasites, medical procedures, road trips, cranky kids, even crankier adults), just focus on one little thing and start composing from there!" So, thank you to Deb for the great advice...here goes!

Allow me to introduce you to the newest member of our family (although not a permananet fixture), he has been with us a month now and has survived a cat bite and let's just say "an abundance of TLC" from Michael and John. Tookie as we call him, came to us by way of a group of students from BankStreet College in the U.S. The story goes something like this....the group of students happened upon Tookie in the forest - they believe he fell out of his nest and was alone/parentless on the forest floor. With the group's eminent departure looming, an announcement (or rather a plea) was made at Meeting for someone to take the baby toucanet and need I say more! Yes, Mike scooped up the opportunity to be caretaker for little Tookie. Need I remind you that he is not the parent at home all day, so the 2-hour feedings and the poop duty falls on yours truly! I have always been weary about touching birds in the past but must admit that this little guy is really pulling on my heart strings! He is a tender, dear little bird! So, his week stay has turned into a month and that leaves me with a house that smells like bird and droppings of Tookie poop all over the floor. We often play a guessing game as to the last meal Tookie consumed. "ORANGE MUSHY" poop, Oh, that would be papaya! "WHITE HARD" poop, compliments of hard-boiled egg and best of all, "GREEN BABY POOP", if you guessed avocado, you get the prize! You can imagine the fun we have! You get the idea...right?

Enter the neighbor's cat! The one time I leave the door open for a minute, in comes orange cat! I am in the bedroom with Rachel (our house guest from Philadelphia) giving her a lesson in how to use the internet when we are interrupted by a screaming bird. I grab Tookie, while Rachel chases off the cat who has a full mouth of feathers as he exits stage right. Tookie, I am sure in shock, clings to me for security, poor little soul.

The next day, Tookie, or Tookster as the boys now call him, is weak, skinny and naked with a good portion of his feathers consumed by Orange Cat. In comes another friend to survey the damage. She quickly dials up the Vet and arranges a 9:30 visit at his office in Santa Elena. As she is on the phone arranging for the consult, I am thinking to myself ("it's a bird for goodness sake - how many colones am I going to have to cough up for this?"). Well, being a good sport, I put Tookster in a plastic bin and we were off. A 10 minute consult, two days of oral antibiotics and cream and he would have a fighting chance. 7000 colones or $14.00 for the treatment. Tookie left the tip, a big blob of poop that landed smack dab on the Vet's shoe! Way to go Tookster. Not two steps out of the Vet's office and Tookie stood up and then fell over! I was sure he had croaked, but I was not so lucky - he revived himself and made it home. We kept a several day vigil, watching and waiting as I shoved the daily pills down his little throat and coated his cat bite with cream. He wasn't eating and I was sure he was a gonner. Oh no, this bird was a stubborn little thing!

So, where does this leave us now - Tookie is stronger than ever, his feathers are back to a brilliant green color and his coos for food and attention are louder than ever. Thanks to Maria and Elan for building a little caged-in play-yard outside for Tookie - this way he can have some fresh air while the cats are kept at bay. What will become of Tookie, one does not know. He needs some open space to learn how to fly before he gets too heavy. So, fly Tookie and be free!

The boys supplement Tookie's meal plan with any insects they can find around the house - the baby lizard they caught provided several day's worth of protein I'm sure! Remember the food chain folks!

Check back for updates on Tookie or if you know someone in Monteverde who is willing to take him on, please pick up that phone!

Peace,
Signed: S, a Tookie lover in-deed!

Thank You For Coming

2011-06-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

A BIG THANK YOU to all who attended our presentation at CPC last night! It was great to reconnect with you and we hope that you walked away with some new insight on life in Costa Rica, the Monteverde Friends School and on making life transitions. There is much more that we could have shared, but the experience of this move is really too big to capture in 90 minutes or through looking at photos.

Some of you inquired about ways to provide support. In future posts, we will provide details. If you have specific thoughts, new ideas or talents that might be of help, please let us know.

We extend an invitation to you to contact us through this blog - you can reply at the bottom of this entry. If you or if you know anyone who might be interested in learning more or participating in anyway, please let us know.

Also, if you know of people that attended and have computer access, you may want to pass along the web addresses.

Below are the web addresses we gave last night including this blog web site.

Schaefer Family Blog – www.nobreadcrumbs.blogspot.com

Monteverde Friends School – www.mfschool.org

Monteverde 60th Anniversary – Tree Canopy Campaign - www.monteverde60th.org

Our Emails:
Mike: mschaefer8of10@msn.com
Sally: gleiber@hotmail.com

Each day is a new experience and we all continue learning.
Thank You for your support,
Mike Schaefer
Sally Schaefer

Summer Vacation Here we Come!

2011-06-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

Down the mountain tomorrow, on the plane Thursday, back in Chicago by midnight! No Breadcrumbs will be on hiatus while we visit with family, attend weddings, graduation parties and goodbyes! Trading the rain for the 90 degree weather in Chicago and North Carolina!

Check back with us in late July as we return for our third year here on the green mountain.

Peace,
Signed: S

A Numbers Game!

2011-06-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

A month in the life - letting the numbers tell the story this time!

Easter Eggs - 10 Colored, 10 Found? Pepito's handwoven baskets made great Easter Egg Baskets - beet juice made for great coloring!

Number of People at the Easter Service at Hugh's - 4

Final Posted Time for the Sol y Arena Race: 59:33

18th of 171 'mature' women racers age 44 to 49 - Sol y Arena

Amount Raised during Monteverde 60th Canopy Campaign for Financial Aid: $40,720
(Thank You for your generous donations from all the kids who will benefit)

659 Hours spent in the Trees between April 19 and May 15th

130 Donations toward the Canopy Campaign

Infinite applause at the end of the year assembly yesterday as the slideshow of the campaign was shown.

Thousands of pieces of Sod laid down on the 'new' field at Monteverde Friends School

15 ant bites on Sally's hands after participating in the above activity OUCH!

100 plus hives on Sally's body during her battle with the mango

2 Skype interviews completed for potential work

1 in person interview scheduled

4 eager family members awaiting an aircraft to take them state-side in 7 days

0 school days remaining this year for the boys

3 more days of faculty meetings for Mike :(

3 haircuts in the Schaefer household

1 trim (John, who is oh so patient as he awaits a pony tail)

1 pava for Michael

1 cut and color for Sally (a girl needs to look presentable for the upcoming wedding of Jessica and Nick)

1 Galloper washed and waxed and ready for rainy season!

1 more 10K for Sally this weekend - are you kidding me?

1 nephew graduating from High school tonight - You rock Josh!

1 nephew embarking on a summer internship - You go Zach!

1 family wedding in 2 weeks - YAY Jess and Nick!

2 horses enjoying all the grass they can eat in our pasutre!

1 satisfied parent for successfully completing a Sunday school lesson solo as Elieth had a commitment out of town :)

1 poisonous LORA snake found at school underneath library, finding its final resting spot under the hood of a teacher's car.

1 tarantula crawling up the outside of the boy's bedroom door.

1 competitive bug race

millions of dead bugs found on our kitchen counter daily!

2 exhausted, over 40 parents, awaiting a date with their pillow :)

and More Sod!

2011-05-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

So, I've never been to a barn raising, but I imagine it would feel something like today! I was unable to accompany the boys to MFS yesterday but made sure I would 'get in on the action' today, and that I did!

Mike was up and out of the house by 6:15 a.m. to meet the sod truck and some other truly dedicated parents and community members. The boys and I followed about 8 a.m. As we neared La Colina Lodge, we were greeted by a huge sod truck and several parents hoisting and transferring the sod off this huge flatbed into individual 4X4's offered up by parents and others. Wow, what an effort just to get the sod up onto the school property. Whew...I'm tired just thinking about it!

Michael and John fetched shovels and rakes from the storage room and helped Mike with drainage. Good little helpers..sigh...they are growing up :)

Michael surely is the QC guy in this pic, critiquing with a watchful eye as John works with the water ('don't even think about it bro!)

The day was perfect, a mix of sun and clouds - thinking to myself how great it would be to have the rain hold off until the last square of sod was neatly tucked into place. Oh, "square" does not really paint an accurate picture - we were lucky to get an actual square of grass - certainly not like the sod you receive at the local nursery back in the states...more like a complicated puzzle; twisting and turning the sod to fill wholes and bare spots left complements of oddly shaped grass. As I write this, it is 8:30 tonight and still no rain, not even a hint of a thunder boomer off in the distance. So, prayers for rain would be great appreciated at this point.

I marveled in the demographics of the event - people from all over pitching in; youngsters no older than 3 up to men and women in their 60's and 70's! Sharing time and company with others, no matter your age, race, religion or political preference. I had great conversation with several folks; a community member who has been here for 20 years, a fellow parent who shared his running stories with me, a long-time Quaker family member and my best friend! All having a very unique story about how they came to call this place home, yet so united in their love and commitment to the school.

We worked until the sod ran out...indeed it did with about 3/4 of the job complete. So, now we wait for the next delivery to complete the job.

Students putting the finishing touches on the day's work.

How it all started!

Let us remember and be truly thankful for the life of Andy Walker as we celebrate her life and passions as we work hand-in-hand, side by side long after the last root finds its new home!

I will fall asleep tonight tired, a little sunburned and greatly satisfied...how about you?

Peace,

Signed:S

Laying the Sod

2011-05-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

The Monteverde Friends School community has been wishing for a smooth and safe soccer field for the past many years. It is finally getting its wish due to the ideas and hard work of many community members. The playing field has gone through major reconstruction in the past months and is receiving its new surface this weekend.

The old playing field was pockmarked with scars from the remnants of a leaf cutter ant colony all on top of a ten degree slope. Fortunately the slope slanted down toward the school to the teachers' benefit as the force of gravity just funneled kids back to their classrooms. Yes, it was a tricky and somewhat hazardous field to play on, and I believe people really honed good balance and falling skills in addition to dribbling and passing. I also believe that many of the falls and injured ankles, ribs or aggravated backs were due to the potholes and gravity induced speed players generated as they ran for the ball or frisbee.

So, driven by the management of one man and his love of inspiring people to play field games and to the generosity of another caring man and his wife's memorial fund, a new field is born. The tractors and dump trucks started digging and moving earth in April. The field was smoothed and leveled to a comfortable one degree slope. A neighboring farmer accepted the extra earth to raise the level of his pasture.

This morning, many people from the community arrived to rake soil, spread fertilizer, unload and lay the sod as the final major step in the process. Many hands make light work and many characters make fun work. Tomorrow morning, we will continue the work. I just heard the second sod flatbed rumble up the road and we are now getting a light rain to keep today's sod damp and the access to the field impassible to the big rigs. It looks like we will again rely on a few smaller vehicles to move the sod from the flatbed on the road to the playing field.

Signed M

Pura Vida, Relax

2011-05-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

Last week, on our trip to and from the running race at the beach, there were two events that I keep thinking about. They are indicative of a specific aspect of the local Tico culture here and very different from how I could have naturally responded, or should I say how I am conditioned to respond due to my socialization in a different culture.

The first event occurred when my family arrived at our main meeting point to discover that a road construction crew had dug a trench in front of the driveway, making vehicle access impossible. We parked our car on the other side of the farm, walked across pastures to the house and hopped in a van loaded with 18 people. We warned various members of our group that the driveway was now impassable. Remember, farms can have very long driveways, so everyone seemed oblivious to the road construction. Well, each response was "no preocupada, tranqilo" or "no worry, relax." We arrived at the construction crew and trench across the driveway and remarkably there was barely a response inside the van. I heard a couple of "ohhhh"s and some light conversation about the workers and equipment. Without a complaint or a 'heh, what the beep are they doin? they didn't tell me about any construction!!! Holy crap, well never get out of here. Oh my gosh, how bleepen long is this gonna take, I've got a race to run! We're stuck! There's no other way out!". Everyone remained calm, no one appeared annoyed and without any verbal communication between our group and the road crew, the backhoe operator pushed around some earth to fill in a section of trench, our driver turned the wheel tightly and hit the gas. With a beep and a wave, we were merrily on our stress-free way.

The second event occurred that evening as we started heading up the mountain. The van jerked, the driver sad "oh no" and the van stopped moving. He explained something about the clutch missing a screw and then got out to look underneath the van. So, we have 18 people crammed in a van sitting on a dark road 2 hours from home. Again, light conversation, joking with the driver, a couple of phone calls to relatives and a solution is on the way. We proceeded in 1st gear to the next town, a scattering of houses along the main road. An in-law of one in our group lived in the town. He met us and scrounged up a screw that the driver must have jimmy-rigged into the hole. The ordeal lasted about an hour. We all hung out along the road, I took one of our boys away from the group so he could poop on the side of the road. No, we did not use leaves, we usually have a roll of TP on hand for such times. Again, no complaints, no muffled conversations about how the driver is a bleep for not taking care of the clutch problem BEFORE the trip, no concern about getting home later than expected, no checking watches, just enjoying the present and watching cows eat their grassy dinner. I did confirm with the driver that the van brakes functioned properly.

I keep thinking about the relaxed nature of the Ticos and the level of stress these events might have caused if they occurred in Illinois. Thankfully, I was with a group of people who were confident that solutions could be found. Did they even think about it as a problem/solution event? They did not appear to let these situations negatively affect their day or the trip. It was a great lesson in "Pura Vida" a common saying in Costa Rica that means 'all is good.'
Signed M

Tree Climbing

2011-05-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pictures from our tree climbing events. Last Sunday after meeting, we invited some people to give the climb a try. The rope is hanging high over a strangler fig tree branch. The climber's harness is attached to the rope with hand devices called jumars. The climber places their feet in straps that hang from the jumars, and in a coordinated motion, uses legs to push up while lunging up with the hands to move the one-way jumars up. It takes a certain amount of strength and coordination. A couple of climbers have a fear of heights, but it appears that the concentration to physically move up the rope overrides the fear.
Signed M

On your Mark...Get Set….GO

2011-05-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

WOW, what an experience! My first race outside the zone and I live to tell about it. A great day, spent with family and friends! So many highlights it is hard to remember them all, heck, I barely remember the race – it was like a blur or was that just the sand in my eyes?

Welcome to the Sol y Arena race in Puntarenas! Celebrating its 25th anniversary with sand, sun, and more than 7000 runners!

We left a sunny and dry day in the mountains and piled into the minivan that we all chipped in for so we could travel in comfort and not have to worry about parking…a great idea. I think (at one point during the day, there were 18 of us in the van). Lots of jokes and stories during our two hour ride down the mountain with 80’s music blaring from the radio. Everyone from Michael Jackson, Men at Work to Flock of Seagulls…some of us sang at the top of lungs while others reviewed our strategy for the race.

We arrived in Puntarenas about noon; I was indeed happy to see the clouds and the waves, sure bet that there was a breeze and the sun would not be a factor. I was thankful for any advantage the weather would bring. The beachfront was packed with vendors selling souvenirs, fruit, sunglasses, hats and of course ice cream and snow cones.

We (Raul, Edward and I) scouted out a restaurant to eat a light lunch before heading up to the start of the race. The streets and the restaurants were filled with racers getting ready. I delighted in watching everyone ‘suit-up’, some rubbing Vaseline on their legs while others applied (what smelled like, BenGay or Vicks Vapor Rub) on their skin. I was just happy to get my mole-skin applied to the blister on my foot that I had been nursing from my rain boots and a cut on my right foot after slipping on the trail as I was coming down from last Wednesday’s tree sit for the Canopy Campaign. Oh, and then, let’s not forget the inflamed right ankle I’ve been dealing with since last Monday night (complements of nasty horse flies that pack a real punch to their bite) They apparently nibbled away my ankle and left it inflamed and red.

I tried to select the healthiest meal on the menu, a piece of baked chicken and a couple of sips of John’s peach smoothie. We said our goodbyes to our ‘cheerleaders’ and haled a taxi to take us back up the beach to the start of the race, 10K away.

Okay, here is how the demographics play out...I'm 46, Raul is 27 and kid brother, Edward at a mere 15 years of age! Three very distinct age groups represented. Not so sure I liked being the eldest in the group, let's just say....the wisest!

It was 2 p.m. and the race did not start for another two hours. "What on earth were we going to do for two hours?", I thought to myself! As we crowded into the taxi, it was then that Raul said, “Oh, I think the race is actually 12K, not 10K”! “Great, thanks for that tidbit of info”, I snapped back jokingly, growing more excited as we neared the start. Racers were milling around, I hung out near the bathrooms, as my bladder was showing signs of nervousness (I’ll spare you the details) ☺

Finally, we found a spot and started to warm up and stretch out. As I was warming up, I found myself sizing up the competition and was amazed at all sizes and shapes of runners; old, young, thin, pleasantly plump – it was a smorgasbord!

Finally at 3:10 p.m., we took our spot at the start line, Raul wanted to get out in the first pack, so we were all at the front of the line – frankly I just wanted to keep upright and was feeling uneasy about being at the beginning of the pack with 7000 racers behind me. 45 minutes of being crunched in a pack waiting for the start of the race – I was becoming nauseous as all the smells started to come together – sweat, body odor, BenGay! Finally, with the two-minute warning, I got a glimpse of the TV cameras overhead and the helicopters circling the beach. The start came with some pushing and jockeying for position; I quickly ran to the side and let the competitors wiz by, not wanting to be the cause of a major pile-up. Low tide had left the beach sand nice and firm – I found my stride and just kept my eyes focused down the beach. I was thankful for the water stations and other kind runners who handed me bags of water along the way. I felt great and plugged along at a good pace. 50 minutes into the race, I saw the end and could not believe that I was approaching the finish line already. As we approached, we ran under a pier and were thankful for the spectators manned with hoses, spraying full blast…so refreshing and so thankful for a quick shower. With a few 100 meters to go, a gal who had been at my side the final three kilometers, grabbed my hand and we crossed the finish line together. The last minute or so was grueling as we headed into the dryer, heavier sand. I was oblivious to all the hollering and screaming and did not even hear the boys yelling from the sidelines! Talk about a novice racer – I forgot to stop my watch and it wasn’t until I asked Carla (the gal I finished with) how we did. She smiled and said, “56 minutos”! The best I’ve done here on the mountain is 1 hour 1 minute for a 10K, so I was happy with my placement. I quickly found the food/water station at the end and hydrated myself as I scanned the crowd for family and friends. I was completely soaked and covered in sand – so happy! I was greeted by Raul who had finished the race in 42 minutes and was ecstatic as he shared his experience with me, saying that he kept sight of the leaders the entire time. Edward crossed the finish line in about 1 hour 2 minutes, as he suffered from cramps at the midway mark and had to walk a while to work through his pain.

I finally found the boys and Mike who had spent two hours playing in the sand and surf – I think Mike was relieved to see me breathing and upright as he knew my training had been interrupted by (what I refer to as...) ‘the massacre of the mango’.

After an hour or so, we piled back into the van and headed for home. The boys were out in about 15 minutes and all was well until we hit Gaucimal where the clutch on Alex’s (our driver’s) van went haywire as we lost a screw that kept things working. Luckily, Raul’s brother-in-law contacted a friend of a friend who lived on the main road we were travelling and met us out on the road with an assortment of screws to try. Everyone piled out of the van; (some headed for the bullfight in the town stadium), which was just 100 yards down the road to get a cold one, while others relaxed on the road side, listenening to the cows serenade. No stress or panic; by anyone – just part of travelling here in Costa Rica. Tranquila! One of the screws fit the bill and onward we went. We were all tired when we arrived back in San Luis, but with big smiles on our faces as we recalled the day’s festivities.

My fondest memory of the day was not centered around my personal satisfaction of finishing or even seeing Raul and Edward finish, rather it was the sharing of the experience with my family and friends and seeing how proud Raul and Edward were as they pinned a picture, with a dedication of the race to their father, on the backs of their shirts. Their father had died unexpectedly 10 years ago in an accident. It was one of the most poignant moments as I spied Raul taking the laminated sheets out of his backpack and sharing with me that his father would be watching them race from above. Amen to that!

I barely remember my run; it seemed to happen in a blink of an eye. I’m wondering if that is normal – one minute, I am at the start line and the next, I am holding a stranger’s hand running toward the finish.

Peace,
Signed: S

Climbing Class In Costa Rica

2011-05-07T06:38:00.000-07:00

I first learned about Monteverde twelve years ago when I showed a video in my Chicago classroom about a woman scientist who examined the variety of life high up in trees. The scientist was Nalini Nadkarni and she was conducting research in Monteverde, Costa Rica. She taught the show host, a young girl named Carla, how to ascend a rope high into the cloud forest canopy. Nalini found a perfectly camouflaged walking stick living amongst the epiphytes that hang on to this massive and predacious strangler fig tree and introduced us to the hooting growl of howler monkeys. I was very intrigued and learned about a Spanish language school in Monteverde from my friend Sharmilla, so I signed up for a Spanish class here. In the Cloud Forest Reserve, I met a tree scientist, Bob Laughton, who gave me Nalini’s email off the top of his head. The next month I joined Nalini in Washington state for a climb into a pacific coast tree canopy.

Over the years, I have vividly recalled the exhilaration of ascending the rope, the macabre life of the strangler fig, the crazy variety of insects and the thick green growth up on the ‘green mountain.’ I have also thought much about Monteverde’s integrated community, the Quaker story here and the simple way of life.

Well, as life often circles, I now find myself cheering on my 7/8 grade students as they ascend a rope high into a strangler fig tree. It is a moment to be cherished as they experience the exhilaration of the climb, the lush green of the canopy, the sheer wonderment of standing on a epiphyte laden tree limb 20 meters above the cloud forest floor, and the satisfaction of doing something exciting. Their CCVs (climbing curriculum vitaes) ranged from some experience to none. I am impressed by their maturity and confidence to attempt and tackle this physical and mental challenge with nary a word of fear. I am impressed by the flexibility and efforts of former MFS students and local residents that make this adventure possible.

I hope something about this experience will vividly remain in the minds of the kids. I wonder how calm Huayra would remain if a column of army ants marched up her leg as she was attaching a repelling device to her harness. Would Eric respond in like kind if a troop of territorial howlers threw their scat at him? In the unlikely encounter with a snake, would Ale casually escort it down with a flick of her rope? How loud would Esteisy laugh if we had a sudden afternoon downpour?

I think about the opportunities children here have to live with a high degree of interdependence and adventure. The outdoor hands-on lifestyle builds practical life skills and a keen awareness of the systems and cycles that make human living possible. I think about the welcoming and supportive community here and almost any gathering, like this one, involves all ages.
I now spend much of my time teaching science at the Monteverde Friends School. Two years ago my wife and I moved from Chicago with our two young boys because we desired to experience a more simple, natural and different way of living. Like many families here, we walk to school, climb trees together, and are continually thankful for life’s beauty.

Signed M

Mango...I have a bone to pick with you!

2011-05-06T16:08:00.001-07:00

In Season: Mango, big ones, small ones, juicy ones, orange ones, green ones!

Not in Season: Allergic reaction, complete with hives all over body, arms, legs, stomach, neck, back, itchy palms, itchy eyes and allergic sinus infection!

Culprit: My favorite fruit...Mango!

I have not run for three weeks due to horrible allergies that just about stopped me COLD in my running tracks. About a month ago, I started to eat upwards of three to four mangos a day. Okay, here comes the clincher, not only was I eating the mango, but I was also devouring the peel (either eating it or putting the peel in a fruit/veggie smoothie I would blend up/gulp down after a 10K training run). All this time, not a clue that this was a huge contributing factor to how awful I was feeling. I am sure the dusty gravel/dirt roads I was running on weren't helping, especially with the never ending tour vans and buses whizzing by me stirring up clouds of thick, white, chalky dust!

Easter Sunday, after church, I decided to visit the clinic and was treated for an allergy related infection; received a five day dose of steroids (which I was oh so familiar with) and a steroid injection in my rump! (Thank you very much and OUCCCHHH). Surely I would feel better in a few days and be off running again. After all, the Sol y Arena (Sun and Sand) race at the beach in Puntarenas is on May 14th, fast approaching and I really want to participate. Several days later, feeling no better, I visited the private doctor in Cerro Plano and had my blood tested to rule out a bacterial sinus infection. Nothing doing - all normal, so I dropped my drawers again for yet another shot in my rump and went on with my day, feeling draggy and miserable.

Two days after I finished the steroids, I was preoccupied with itchy palms and a rash under my underarm extending down my side. Hmm - I know I'm a little worked up about not having run in a few weeks, but could this rash be brought on by running withdrawal or anxiety? I knew I was stressed about the race and not being well enough to train, but would that be causing all this itching? The following night, the rash was creeping all over my body, hives, urticaria!

A couple of days later, while shopping at the little market at the bottom of our hill, two gals commented on my rash and asked if I had been eating a lot of mango! I replied, "a ton...why do you ask?" One of them remarked "Can't even touch them - I break out in a rash", the other saying, "well, at least your not eating the peel"! HOUSTON...WE HAVE A PROBLEM! "Of course I am eating the peel, why not?". Well, our exchange continued and I learned that the skin of the mango is toxic. How I wished I had only touched the peel, nothin doing...oh no, I go all out...not only was I touching the peel, I was digesting the dang skin! I ran home popped open the top of my laptop and put Google.com to work to find this...

Mango peel contains urushiol, the chemical in poison ivy and poison sumac that can cause urushiol-induced contact dermatitis. JACKPOT - mystery solved!

I travelled to San Jose on the bus Wednesday to meet with my Naturalpath and to have some blood work done. And, yes, those little eosinophils in my white blood cells were going crazy - confirmation that I am one allergic gal! I apologized profusely to my doctor as I itched and scratched myself through our 30 minute appointment. Off to the pharmacy to purchase Allegra before heading back up the mountain. The hives and itching have subsided and Mike has been relegated to chief mango smoothie maker in our household.

I am having serious mango withdrawal, and well, although I enjoy pineapple, bananas, papaya, melon, etc., nothing is going to replace the love affair I had with mango!

Finally today I ran for the first time in three weeks. Twenty-five minutes only, but I did it. Will I be ready for the race Saturday? Time will tell. I am super excited as this will be my first race outside the zone. I hear HOT does not even begin to explain the feel of the sun beating down on you as you run for over an hour, no less, on the beach. The race begins at 4 p.m., so here's hoping the suns intensity is a little forgiving! They expect 6,000 competitors, hoping I won't be the last!

Life here continues to surprise me...This week I can certainly say I learned something! Did you?

Peace,
Signed: S

Captured in the Canopy

2011-04-27T18:18:00.001-07:00

April 27th 6:00 to 11:00 a.m. – Tree Sit at Vandusen/Joyce Platform - Here's a copy of the reflection I wrote during my 5-hour tree sit this morning. It should be posted on www.monteverde60th.org tomorrow.

As I stuffed my laptop into my backpack, downed my last swig of coffee, filled my water bottle, gathered my keys and kissed the three men in my life goodbye this morning at 5:45 a.m., I thought to myself, what a difference 22 months makes as I headed down through our pasture, to the rickety gate and crossed over the principal road here in Monteverde.

Since leaving Chicago almost two years ago, my life and my family’s lives have changed exponentially. Rewind to April 2009, my morning ritual: a mile walk from my house in the western suburbs of Chicago to the commuter train station at 5:30 a.m., crossing the train tracks, dodging cars, horns honking and train whistles ferociously blowing, fighting the crowds and jockeying for position to grab one of the remaining available seats, opening my laptop and watching the villages along the tracks wiz by out the window of the train as we express toward Chicago’s Union Station.

In sheer contrast, today, I walk a 10-minute ramble to a tree platform after having navigated through several hundred meters of narrow path balanced on a rather steep knife ridge. An extension ladder waits, which was my ‘stairway to heaven’ or almost! A wooden platform greets me high within the green canopy, my ears already filled with the steady hum of the gentle river underneath me. I am warmed by the sun, which is just now coming over the ridge. I am thankful for the little bit of rain last night and the refreshing morning dew!

Indeed, I am privileged to be perched a high this platform today and am thankful for the opportunity to be involved and integrated within this Monteverde community.

Greetings from above! My name is Sally Schaefer and I have the 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. tree-sit shift this morning, Wednesday, April 27th. Who am I? 46 year-old mother of two, very active, five year old boys, wife to an MFS teacher, active school volunteer and a still, recovering type A, business person from Chicago!

We came to Monteverde almost two years ago with our then, two, three year old boys – my husband had just secured a teaching job at MFS and we were eager to start our new adventure here in the cloud forest. Why such a move and why to Monteverde? I wanted desperately to exit corporate America after 20 years in technology project management and Mike, my husband, wanted to get back into the classroom after being a stay-at-home dad for several years. Monteverde seemed like a logical choice for us, Mike had done previous research and study here and we had honeymooned here seven years ago. As you may imagine, our first year here was filled with many challenges; new language, new house, new school, new parent at home as primary care-giver – the list goes on and on. In retrospect, the challenges faced were to be expected as our lives were reeling from several significant changes. It is this awesome community that helped us meet these challenges and to find peace and hope for a happy and fulfilling life here on the mountain. This place is just not a community, it is a family – if you are sick, chicken soup arrives at your doorstep, if you need a ride to the clinic because your child just gashed his head open after rough-housing and crashing into the concrete floor, someone is there to drive you to the clinic and settle you back into your home. What ever your need is – you can be sure the folks here will come a running.

From the school perspective, I have been blessed to be involved with MFS in a variety of ways, a member of the Fundraising Committee, helping to coordinate the annual Walkathon fundraiser, writing articles for the Gallo Pinto school newsletter, participating in parent/teacher and school committee meetings, conducting mini-courses, and assisting with a capital campaign for school facility renovations. There is never a shortage of activities to get involved with here at the school.

My husband, a science teacher, is, well, in heaven here as all he really needs to do is step outside the house where a science lesson practically invents itself. In turn, he passes his curiosity onto our, now, two five year olds boys.

I can see first hand, the truly magical things that are happening here at the school through the eyes and inquisitiveness of my boys. They are thriving in the Kinder program at school, which is based on the Montessori teaching methodology. Their classmates are a mix of local children and international students who may be here for a temporary stay of anywhere from a semester to several years. The kids here get hugged and loved on each day, not only by other teachers, but also by other students. It is not uncommon to see children three to four years of age being pushed on a swing or being helped up the slide on the playground by an older Colegio student. It is this mix and interaction of ages and their collaboration among themselves that makes MFS so special. My boys are learning the importance of respect and peaceful conflict resolution – this is evident by the “peace table” that sits atop the loft in the kid’s classroom. The education here is integral, whole and provides a solid foundation for whatever a student may choose to do later in life.

Personally, when I hear friends say, how great it is that you are giving your boys a ‘better life’, all I know, is that the life we are providing them is ‘different’ – better or worse…who knows? All I know for now is that I am content, present and enjoying life. This community has helped me to live in the moment and to be truly present in the lives of all I love.

I am having a great time assisting with the coordination of this Tree Canopy Campaign; helping to raise funds for financial aid and am completely, over the top, inspired by it. Recent graduates of MFS and Colegio students have taken on hefty leadership roles to not only get this event off the ground but also keep it running with timely updates and photos on the blog. The creation of the website, complements of a high school student, fabulous photos, complements of a high school student, scheduling and communication, complements of a recent graduate, tree climbing support and orientation, complements of a recent graduate…need I say more? How delightful it is to see young adults taking ownership of this very important program.

One of the things that set the Monteverde Friends School apart is its diversity and ability to offer a quality education to some children that may not otherwise have an opportunity to gain such an education. It is the school’s financial aid program (which is comprised of a scholarship and sponsorship program) that enables some of these kids to attend MFS.

The great thing about this campaign is that it aligns perfectly with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Monteverde. So let us strive to reach our $60,000 goal with spending no less than 600 hours in the trees. Lets keep offering education to our children in the zone – is there really any greater gift to give a child?

While gathered in the Meeting room two nights ago, after school, huddled with other Campaign Planning Committee members, one of the parents said something that has stuck with me; I continue to replay it in my mind…she remarked, as we reach out to potential donors for their support, ask folks to simply “love the kids we love”. So, I ask…will you?

www.monteverde60th.org - I challenge each follower of my blog to donate $5 or $10 to this campaign. Follow this link to donate via Network for Good or be sending a check to: Monteverde Friends US, c/o Clara Rowe, PO Box 993, Amherst MA 01004

Peace,
Signed: S

Monteverde Friends School GOES VERTICAL!

2011-04-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Can you guess where I'll be tomorrow morning from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.? Bet ya can't! I'll be perched a high a platform in the tree canopy of Bajo del Tigre, balancing myself on a little more than a wooden platform raft, if you will, tethered to trees with rope and tires! I climbed up to the platform two weeks ago to check it out as we were just starting to mold the idea of a Tree Canopy Campaign. In three weeks, we (the fundraising committee, along with other parents and community volunteers) have brought this idea through concept and planning and now we are in true execution mode! SORRY FOR THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT LINGO HERE!

So, here's the scoop - Raising funds for financial aid (scholarships and sponsorships) so children from kinder to 12th grade can continue to attend this amazing school. The financial aid also helps students pursuing university studies abroad and in country. Here's some pics from the platform taken when we scouted this location. The kids got into the fun and loved the view from above. Hold on tight! Jude, clerk of the Fundraising committee, takes a peek as well before her tree sit the following week. Way to go Jude.

Check out www.monteverde60th.org for more information and to see how you can help us reach our goal. Also, our amazing Facebook page at Monteverde 60th: Friends in the Canopy. Any amount is welcome - even the kinder kids are donating spare colones in a jar in the classroom. We are positioned to spend 600 hours up in the trees and won't come down til we've reached our goal!

Here are some shots of Naomi Guindon (the daughter of Melody, the kid's teacher) using ascenders/hand held devices to reach the top of another tree sitting site (a gigantic fig tree on school property). She kicked off the campaign on April 19th Monteverde Day and spent 4 hours perched a high.

I'll post something in the next day or so to recap my time in the trees!
Peace,
Signed: S

Monteverde Day

2011-04-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

Today, April 19 is Monteverde Day here in Monteverde. It marks the sixtieth anniversary of the arrival of the scouting group of three Quaker men who were to report back to a larger group of their findings. They were looking for cheap land suitable for farming and to set roots in a country that welcomed their peaceful values.

At a special picnic today, one of the original fifty or so pioneers that settled in Monteverde in the early 1950’s exclaimed that they decided to leave the United States due to its increasingly “militaristic and materialistic culture.” He, including several others had received international attention for serving prison sentences due to their refusal to register for a peacetime military draft after WWII. One of the core ‘testimonies’ of Quakerism is to practice peace in all ways, and thus denying support for war, militarism, and violence in any way.

The members of this first Monteverde group were true pioneers that had risked almost everything to save that which was most important. They desired to raise their children in a place where war was not institutionalized and where battle was not aggrandized. Even better, they wanted to move to Costa Rica because it had just abolished its military in 1948. The Quakers could support and participate in this new national experiment. The president himself received the Quaker group with open arms. Many areas of Costa Rica had not been developed and the government was encouraging farmers to tame the tropical landscape and produce goods for human consumption. A match was made.

These pioneers slept in tents for the first years until they had built their houses from trees they had cut. They soon discovered the trials associated with a rainy season that was incredibly rainy, a windy season that was incredibly windy, a dry season that was incredibly dry. They had traveled down with very little and learned to live with even less. They learned and shared medical knowledge, communicated with the locals in a different tongue, opened a cheese factory, and prepared locally grown food. Their stories and those of their children are numerous. The community of Monteverde has a rich history considering it has existed for only sixty years.

To find out more about Quakers, visit http://www.quakerinfo.org/index.html

Signed M

Feeling Inspired!

2011-04-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

First things first! Thanks to all who sponsored and supported me on this year’s Walkathon for the school. The day started out slow but ended on a high-note. Why is it that every time when you absolutely need a solid 8 hours of sleep, you never get it. It never fails, right? Something happens during the night that just blows that theory out of the water. Welcome to my Friday night. After spending 8 hours at school Friday, setting up for the Walkathon, all I wanted at 8:00 that night was a decent night’s sleep. After the first whine from John, and the initial glimpse of his face and neck, I knew it ain’t happening. Hives on his neck and face and itching, itching, itching. After the tenth time up and the 2nd teaspoon of Benadryl, we finally fell asleep about 3 a.m. My mind was spinning as knew I had to be at school early to coordinate the influx of eager runners and walkers and that the sun would rise in less than 3 hours.

I rose to the occasion and bounded out of bed and off to school I went to meet all the folks that would be in charge of manning a refreshment station. All went off without a hitch and I left the school about 9:30, running at a slow pace, as I knew after the first kilometer, it was all up-hill.

God blessed us with a beautiful day, sunny and warm and I was assured a view of the Volcano at the end of the route. I struggled up the hill by the Cloud Forest School, but was encouraged by tiny voices “go Mom, you can do it”, as I made it to the top, I saw Mike and the boys handing out cookies/brownies and water from our trusty Gallopher. A site for sore eyes (and legs)! I was happy to see that the kids had not yet eaten the entire trunk full of homemade cookies and brownies and that there were indeed some to handout to hungry and tired walkers. How the Schaefer boys ended up with cookies at their station, I’ll never know – why couldn’t they have the station with the pineapple or melon? Next year for sure!

The run was spectacular, I felt energized and had forgotten about how tired I was as I climbed every hill, Raul’s words echoing in my mind (quick, short strides on the uphill)…thanks buddy!

About 10 kilometers in, this awesome vista opened up and there was Volcan Arenal in all her glory – it was something else. I arrived at the Mirador in 1 hour, 25 minutes only 10 minutes behind a group of five high-school boys, so I felt like I put in a good showing for all our 'over-forty' gals. One of the boys asked if I was a marathon runner, and I quickly said NO, but that it was on my ‘bucket list’. The day was filled with laughter, photos of each runner in front of the volcano and eating the left over treats from all the stations.

I am eager to find out how much the school raised – so if you are still inclined to sponsor, please do, as you have until May 15th and it is for such a great cause! I can’t wait until next year’s race.

I awoke Sunday without a muscle pain but decided to take the day off from running and focus on puzzles with the boys as the weather turned cold and rainy - winter is just around the corner and they say the rain will come early this year.

Last week, for the first time since we’ve had the boys home with us, I Skyped with the Foster Family in Guatemala. Anabella (or mama Anna) as we call her, sounded like she was just across the pasture from us. The connection was clear and crisp and my ability to communicate with her in Spanish was not at issue this time – I remember my broken Spanish years ago and hoped that she noticed the difference ☺. We chatted for about 45 minutes and caught up on everything. Next time, we’ll chat during the day so she can talk with the boys. What a blessing and a gift to continue to have this family in our lives. I told her that we include her and Papa Rudo and their entire family in our prayers with the boys each night – I could hear the smile in her voice as she thanked me for that.

Mike left early this morning for the 7/8th grade school trip to Rincon de la Vieja. Two days ago, Mike approached me, “Sally, how would you like to take one of my Thursday classes while I’m away?” I responded….”UGH, oh, oh, OKAY, please tell me you’ll be showing a video?” Big sigh, yes, he had planned a video and all I had to do was a warm-up exercise with the kids and then turn on the movie….Simple enough…right, Please Bill Nye the Science Guy...do not dissapoint! Check back to see how I fared.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of sharing about 90 minutes with other women in the community in prayer, song and fellowship When I picked my kids up from Elieth’s last Sunday after their Sunday School lesson, Elieth and I got to talking. Wouldn’t it be great for women in the zone to have a place to gather and share. YES, this would be perfect….”Are you ready, Sally”, Elieth asked…”You bet”, I responded in my best Spanish and we were off to the races. Six of us gathered yesterday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 5:30 in a shed just up from her house on her property. Her teenage son had helped her clean up the shed last week and it is now the perfect place for Sunday school and our Wednesday afternoon bible study group. It is simple and there is absolutely nothing fancy about it – the walls were insulated with cardboard and there was one lone, naked light bulb hanging from the ceiling. Her husband had made a makeshift bench out of trunks of wood and an old wood plank, a couple of pillows and blankets on the floor and we were set. The time together was great and Elieth did a fantastic job of leading the group. We opened with prayer, sang a couple songs and read several passages from the bible. We focused on a passage from Mark 12 V. 41, the story of the widow who gave everything she had (which was like two coins) to the temple and we asked ourselves, what could we offer God? It was a very special time – we finished in prayer and then adjourned to her kitchen table where we sipped coffee and snacked on the pineapple bread I had hastily baked earlier that day. We chatted about ideas for the program and how everyone could contribute in some way. Looking forward to next Wednesday.

Tomorrow, I meet with Hugh, he is the leader of the other prayer and share I attend in Santa Elena Thursday evenings. He and his wife are hoping to offer an Easter sunrise service at their home. I agreed to meet with him tomorrow to help outline the program. Exciting stuff and there is such a need here in the community.

Today, the boys had fun with a classmate who came to play for several hours after school. All went well and we hope he'll return.

Well, I will close this post for now as it is all mom tomorrow morning - breakfast, brush teeth, make snack, shuttle two boys to Kinder, 8:15 meeting to talk Fundraising and then off to meet Hugh for Easter Service planning - and oh, ya - would like to get a run in too!

Peace,
Signed: S

Dangerous Batteries?

2011-03-25T05:20:00.000-07:00

Summary: I think I burned a hole through my skin from leaky AA alkaline batteries. Details follow:

In the picture, you can see three colors on the pH paper. The light green at the top indicates that baking soda has slightly basic pH 8 of. The light orange is the color of the paper itself, and the dark brown indicates that the moisture in the battery compartment had a very strong alkali pH of 13 to 14.

Batteries, batteries . . they are everywhere! I need to write about my second hazardous battery instance in as many months. The first incident occurred when I was recharging AA batteries in a charger recently purchased from Radioshack. Fortunately, I was only a few feet away from it, when I smelled the melting plastic and was able to unplug the overheated beast. The charger and batteries were permanently denied access to any electrical connections in the house.

The second incident occurred Tuesday night as I was futzing with the Rayovac batteries from the boys’ Sharper Image LED lanterns we received as a gift from grandma and use for nighttime stories. I saw moisture inside the battery compartment and thought that with curious children, somehow water had made its way inside. Well, I wiped some of the liquid with toilet paper and started feeling a burning sensation on my finger – same feeling when you get lemon juice or salt in an open wound. So I quickly washed the area and felt a sliminess - you know, the same sliminess when you are using bleach and it gets on your hands. I think that has something to do with dissolving skin cells, but I am not sure. I suspiciously went back to the battery compartment, held it exactly as I had before, and in seconds, ssstiiiingggghhh. Off to the sink again, washing, trying to respond to Sally’s “what happened?” without going into detail or getting the kids engaged into something besides bedtime stories.

I looked closely at my finger to find a red spot, yes an open wound, very small, but also very new. Could these AA batteries be leaking acid strong enough to burn through skin? No, impossible! Well improbable, I thought, but I had some evidence. If it is battery acid, then the liquid should fizz if I put a base on it. This is the same type of reaction my students gets when they combine vinegar and baking soda. So, I applied some baking soda to a wet spot in the battery compartment, and observed no reaction. Hmmm. Maybe not an acid . . . wait! Of course, this is an “Alkaline” battery, just the opposite of an “Acid” battery. It should react with an acid, such as vinegar. Then I remembered that I had some pH paper. I applied the end of a pH strip to the liquid and the paper changed to a deep brown color. I compared it to the pH scale and matched it to a pH of 13 or 14, a very strong base. Yes, strong enough to warrant caution and apparently to burn through skin. I received the same readings from two more wet spots and tested the wet baking soda at a pH level of 8. So, the liquid in the battery compartment was a much stronger chemical than the baking soda.

I discovered that alkaline batteries contain potassium hydroxide, a chemical also known as lye or caustic potash. It is used to make paint remover and is the primary active ingredient in liquid drain cleaner. I’m sure you’ve read the warnings before using drain cleaners. They unclog drains by dissolving the gunk, including human skin cells, stuck in the pipes. The potassium hydroxide concentration for liquid drain cleaner is 25-30% and from 5-9% in Rayovac alkaline batteries. Since many things can cause battery leakage, we will now have to continually check these flashlights and this brand for wetness or corrosion.
I’ve felt the shock of 9 volt batteries and the heat generated from 4th graders making short circuits with D batteries, but this is the first suspected burn I have received in decades of working with batteries.

Our children enjoy working with batteries and lightbulbs, so we will need to keep a careful eye on things. Right now, the suspicious batteries are stored in a glass jar, and I will have another science teacher test them with a different batch of pH paper to compare results. I do not know the likelihood of this happening again. Maybe this was a random combination of manufacturer, user and tester error. So, in the meantime, my children will not be breaking open batteries like I did when I was a child!

If you have any similar experiences with burns from household batteries, specific problems with Rayovac or Sharper Image products, please let me know.
Signed M

Peace & Prayers

2011-03-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

The boys had a great Sunday School lesson last weekend. They were excited to spend time with their teacher and I enjoyed the hour to myself. When I picked them up, they came bounding out of the house with a paper cut-out (brightly colored) of a fish with a piece of yarn trailing behind. On one side, a verse from Matthew 4:19 and on the other, a little Spanish song about Pescadores de Hombres! John quickly taught me the tune and we practiced it the entire walk home. What a blessing to have this hour filled with teachings, prayer and activity! Can't wait for this Sunday's lesson.

I also had a chance to share in worship and fellowship this past week. I attended a 30-minute Prayer and Share at a couple's home in Santa Elena. I had talked with the couple earlier in the year as we were hoping to start a small group (much like what I am working on with the other family I spoke about in my previous post). One day I opened my email and saw an invitation to join in a community opportunity to share in meditation, prayer, bible readings and song. I was IN and made sure Mike was home by 5 p.m. that night so I could attend. The setting was beautiful, an intimate circle of chairs on their front porch overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya as the sun was setting. I was encouraged by the ten or so folks that attended and each of us shared how excited we were to have this opportunity for worship. We agreed to meet every two weeks! I am hopefull that we can pool our resources and work together to form a cohesive group and plan for a more structured and permanent worship program. Time will tell, but exciting none the less! I just got off the phone with a mom from the States that will accompany me this coming Thursday along with her two high-schoolers!

We had another busy weekend and spent most of it down in San Luis. We enjoyed Saturday at Gaudy's farm, Mike and Raul continued working on the greenhouse, while I helped Gaudy with her laundry and the boys gathered raspberries in the nearby mountains in hopes of making a yummy and refreshing Fresco!

You can see by these pics that Raul is handling the heavy-duty machinery and is an expert at tree-cutting - I'm sure Mike's time will come! The plot of land for the greenhouse is sectioned off, holes dug and corners squared! The cutting of lumber was quite the task. What a blessing it is to harvest wood from your own farm - a huge $ savings!

Late in the afternoon, we headed to a soccer field 10 minutes away with Raul, Gaudy and Laundry as Raul was eager to get Mike involved in a 'friendly' pick-up game of soccer! Friendly, well, that's debatable... boy some of those guys were pretty competitive, but I was proud of Mike for getting out there and showing his stuff! He even had a couple of bounces of the head and looked like a real pro. The younger boys enjoyed kicking around a ball on the sidelines, while I just kept my fingers crossed that Mike would survive with all his bones intact :) Survived he did, but several sore muscles and joints the next morning!

Sunday we headed to Lower San Luis to support a community fundraiser focused on raising funds for repairing the local cemetary. We arrived just in time to watch the Horse races...well sort of! Real cowboy country. Lots of cowboy hats, horses and 'yee haws'. It wasn't so much a race, but a practice of patience and precision as the cowboys were to try and thread a small stick through a clothespin (with a small loop on the end of it) strung up high above, across the road - all this, while riding a horse at full speed. YIKES. How anyone could hit a bullseye, I'll never know! The kids had fun and enjoyed refreshments and frolicking in the open fields in the late afternoon sun.

We had a lovely dinner this week with a couple from the Chicago area who found us through our blog. He is with the Peace Corps now and is stationed here in Monteverde for two years. His wife came into visit and we shared a really nice evening with the both of them. They were so thoughtful and brought puzzles and granola bars for the boys - perfect gifts if you know my boys! The kids were perfect hosts and so engaging...perhaps they are indeed growing up. We love to open up our house and share a meal, conversation and laughter. Please come visit!

We are excited to have harvested our first bunch of root vegetables from our garden (and I even cooked it up in a hearty soup/stew). I am enjoying cooking more and experimenting with all the local veggies.

I think this little creature speaks for itself. Don't even want to know where the boys found this one but Raul tells me some folks here in Costa Rica pay big bucks for the horns...just Gross!

Mike has been obsessed with catching the family of mice that have made themselves at home in our third bathroom. Once my head hits the pillow, I am out, but the scratching and running through the wood panel walls seems to keep Mike awake for hours. We are using some live-traps and have successfully captured four of the little critters this week. The boys have delighted in helping dad deposit them at the edge of the pasture to continue their life. Okay, they're sort of cute!

Mike is busy planning a school trip in the coming weeks and I am heads-down coordinating the April 2nd Walkathon!

Thanks to all who have sponsored me so far, I a may run the 13K after all as I've been running with Raul every day this week. He is kicking my butt and really pushing me and I continually have to remind him that he is 20 years my junior :)
We hope to run a race together before the end of the school year.

Peace,
Signed: S

Weekend Warriors!

2011-03-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

Truly, we are squeezing every second out of these weekends! How do you spell busy?....BUSY! Come Sunday night, the kids fall into bed, no time for 'Sunday night Movie', or Sunday night shower for that matter, just get me to my bed!

We are blessed to have wonderful weather right now, 'real summer', with crisp blue sky and a gentle wind. My wet clothes THANK YOU and doing laundry is a breeze (no pun intended).

Our last two weekends have clearly been focused on fostering friendships and deepening our relationships with some very dear Tico families. For the first time in 40 something years, I look forward to visiting, sipping afternoon coffee, nibbling on a tortilla hot off the stove and listening to our friends tell stories of their youth. Very inspiring stories indeed. Never in a million years did I think that I could gear myself down into a slower speed to enjoy these types of activities; here it is all about visiting, spending time with family and friends and opening up your lives.

We spent a full Saturday two weeks ago with a family (a classmate of the boys) who have a coffee plantation and sell their coffee to local hotels, restaurants and at the Saturday Farmers Market. We visited them when the gals came to visit. We were curious to check out their farm, and Shirley was eager to practice her English, so we piled into the Gallopher and 'galloped' up to Santa Elena. The kids played while Mike and I chatted with Shirley and her husband about what they like about living here in Costa Rica and what they want (their dreams) for their children. Shirley made an authentic Costa Rican meal "Olla de Carne" which I guess would translate into "Pot of Meat", but oh was it good. Tons of locally grown veggies and of course, beef! After our tummies were full and we savored a cup of their coffee, we headed to their farm in Los Tornos (about 15 minutes away by car). Not a single inch of soil was wasted or went un-used. Trees, plants, fruit, coffee as far as the eye could see. Hard to believe that 15 years ago, the land was pure pasture. Shirley and Eulogio gave us an extensive tour, quickly pointing out the different types of trees, which trees are fast growers and how they planted the trees in strategic spots to provide natural wind-breaks. Their greenhouse was full of coffee beans drying out and in various stages of 'readiness'. What an Art farming is and such hard work! Eulogio showed us the pond that he had made in the river that marked the end of their property and said that they used the pond last Sunday for baptisms at their church. I'm sure that was quite a celebration! We ended our day at Eulogio's mom's house - she quickly invited us in to share again, another cup of coffee, as she whipped up some corn tortillas and brought out the homemade cheese from the fridge. I loved the fact that she had an-outdoor kitchen that was very rustic, all wood, table, benches, outside sink and a wood stove. A rickety ladder led upstairs to a loft should she have an unexpected overnight guest. Just into the house and around the corner, we were in another kitchen, big by Costa Rican standards. You could tell she enjoys cooking. She had corn soaking in a big plastic bin which she would later put through the grinder and use for tortillas. My spirit was full and alive when we headed back to Monteverde as the late afternoon sun began to cast shadows over the hills and meadows. Choppy, she insisted you must return to teach her English!

The next day, Sunday, we headed to Gaudy's house to celebrate (a week late) Mike's birthday. We celebrated with a delicious cake made by her sister-in-law and happy to say, that not even a crumb was left for a hungry mouse.

Raul and Mike scoped out the location for a green-house on their property as they are eager to have a place to start seedlings and grow crops and plants. This is their latest project - stay tuned for further posts as we are hoping to chronicle the construction. Before our afternoon coffee, Raul asked if anyone was up for a hike up their mountain to a waterfall where their drinking water originates. Mike and I quickly jumped at the chance. With borrowed rain boots, we headed straight up. I can say that this was quite a challenging hike as we followed the river. Raul led the way with machete in hand to cut down overgrowth that was impeding our progress. He raced up the river with us 'gringos' hobbling behind at a steady pace. Although he hikes this often, you would never know it by the richness and thickness of the forest. The moss on the trees and boulders were a thick coat of emerald velvet that comforted by hand-holds as I tried to stay vertical. After several falls (have you ever tried to hike in rain boots that are three sizes too big?), Raul handed me a walking stick just my size. We reached the waterfall and I was glad to know that we would not continue to ascend to the top, as it would be another 90 minutes and besides, I was pooped. Raul explained that everyone on the family farm received their water from this waterfall (or where it orignates at the top of the mountain). It is pure, pure, pure! We had to negotiate around all the 'mangeras' or hoses which were strung and laid throughout the forest, with each one having a starting point that was securely placed deep into water to ensure a constant H2O supply. Raul was a great guide and shared many stories of how he would find peace in the forest and would come often, sometimes packing a hammock to string between two trees for a cat-nap. A peaceful place and I could see why he liked it so much.

This past Saturday we enjoyed a school fundraiser "Sports Day". The day was sunny and warm and the turn-out from the parents and community, impressive. Mike manned the bbq, cooking up beef and chicken while I waited in line with the boys as they patiently anticipated the taste of a cool snow cone!

Sunday, we were headed down the Trocha again to San Luis. I wanted to check on Raul's mom as she is recovering from pnemonia. Raul and Mike worked all day digging holes for the wood supports for the green-house. The comradery between the two is very special. Twenty years apart - they get along famously. Lots of joking and laughter - but boy is Mike getting in a lot of Spanish! Lunch time came and we had some belly-laughs as we all tried our hand at making tortillas. Gaudy had taught me two weeks prior, so I was feeling pretty confident in my ability to present the roundest and most perfectly shaped of all. Mike agreed that he needed a lesson from Gaudy but all in all, a corn tortilla....is a corn tortilla!

Here is a sample of the very first tortillas I made - not bad huh?

The kids enjoyed feeding the pigs and collecting eggs from the chickens. Raul will spend this week looking for fallen trees in the mountain and hauling them out to the work site to make the posts! Mike's schedule only allows him to help on the weekends, so we'll likely be in the valley this Saturday.

Last Friday, I accompanied Raul and his mom to Puntarenus for a doctor's appointment. I was happy to offer our car for a more comfortable ride instead of the overcrowded bus. Raul drove as I took in the sights along the way. Puntarenus is a port town and oh so hot. We drove by the main strip of beach and one could imagine it filled with tourists and locals, with every vendor you can imagine selling their wares on the sidewalk. I was happy that I could lend my support as we went from clinic to clinic with chest xray in hand and then to see the doctor at a private practice. We arrived back in San Luis about 4 p.m. and I made sure she was comfortable and wrote down the daily regimen of medicines the doctor had given her to make sure the family understood at what time she needed to take what medicine. Finally, I am happy to hear that mom is recovering and feeling a little stronger. The family gave me many hugs and kisses and were truly grateful for the small bit of assistance I had provided. I felt priviledged to help out such a dear family friend.

I am really excited to continue working with one of the boy's Kinder teachers - we are hoping to start a church or small group here in the community. She and her family are working with a pastor of a Baptist church near San Jose and hoping that their 'mother' church in Arkansas will give him 'approval' to come to Monteverde at some frequency to give sermons and help to establish a congregation in the zone. For those of us in the community who are not Catholic or Quaker, the opportunities for traditional worship are quite limited. I love this idea as I know of some folks that would definitely embrace another alternative for worship. I had a lovely afternoon meeting with the teacher and her family two weeks ago one afternoon after school. After coffee and some chit-chat, they related to me their visit with the pastor from Cartago. We await an answer from Arkansas and trust that if this does not work out, another door will open through our continued prayers. We've also talked about starting a small group even if we can't get a commitment from a pastor to minister here. We are both excited to see where this takes us. She has graciously invited John and Michael to her home on Sunday's for a Sunday School lesson, starting small, perhaps just 30 minutes, but what an opportunity. I jumped at the chance, and after having talked to Mike, we are all for it. The boys are excited and I have great confidence in her as she is an experienced Sunday School teacher. She gave us the Spanish children's bible she read to her kids when they were young so we are enjoying these readings! Appreciate your prayers as we see where this journey takes us.

Michael and John continue to amaze me; John is fixated on his ever-growing hair and is eager to have it long enough to wear in a pony-tail. He is interested in my hair product as well; I tell him "a little goes a long way", but I continue to see little paw prints in the jar every morning! Watch out girls! I am delighted to see the interest John has taken in puzzles - it is almost like someone said "okay, I'm ready and focused on puzzles now, so bring em on". It is really something, as 6 months ago, you could not get him to sit still for five minutes, let alone focus on a puzzle for close to an hour. The wonders of natural medicine! He has been sleeping through the night now for over a month and what a difference a few zzzzz's make! After updating his doctor in San Jose, she has asked me to write a testimonial about our experience with natural medicine...I gladly accepted. Looking back, I'm not sure how we were functioning as parents, husband, wife, teacher, community member and household! Onward!

Michael is certainly the hula-hoop hero in the community. It is the first thing he picks up when he reaches the house after school. He swaggers around the entire house with this thing circling his hips. He not only is a pro at hip movement, but can now hula on his neck and his knees. Auntie Beth, he is really digging the Magic Tree House book series you brought down last month. If he had his way, we'd read an entire book of the series each night, so I need to get an agreement before the first page is read..."okay, only two chapters...agreed?" Their minds are developing at rapid speed.

We finally affixed the world map we purchased in the States onto the open wall in the boy's bedroom. Mike spends a great deal of time with them after we eat dinner (sort of a calming activity, that's our hope :) talking about far off places, asking them to point to India or Greenland. It is an awesome teaching tool (and mom is learning a thing or two about the world as well). Note the stocking on John's head - did I mention he wants to grow his hair?

Smile Pepito! (He is one of the local farmers that hikes up the Trocha from San Luis several times a week) to sell his veggies and eggs. After having heard a friend speak about some baskets he had made her, I ordered two myself. A week later, he showed up on my doorstep with hand-made baskets, good for fruit, veggies, hot-wheels - or whatever!

I continue to spend my mornings job hunting and have over 20 applications out to Hewlett Packard in San Jose. We'll see if I get any bites. I am confident something will break and that I can contribute my talents to an organization that will appreciate them. Hears Hoping! Say a Prayer!

Thanks all who sent Christmas Cards - we still have them displayed on our fridge and every time I open the fridge to pull out a cold one, I see smiling faces of friends and family!

My next project - the yearly Walkathon Fundraiser at the school - April 2nd. I'll likely manage the 13 stations again, ensuring that we have someone placed each kilometer among the 13K route to hand out refreshments, etc. Yes, you also know, that you'll probably be receiving an email from me asking you to sponsor me in the walk. I can assure you it goes to a good cause!

I am running again and am enjoying laying down my feet upon every stride on freshly grated gravel - yes, it is that time again....road repair time in Monteverde - the windows on the house shake as the tractors and steamrollers move by! Exciting place here in Monteverde!

Rosann, we received your postcard - thanks for remembering us and following our journey!

The boys working with Dad to clear some trees from the driveway - John has his game face on as he concentrates - that machete is sharp you know! Michael helps to saw down a tree....Timber!!!!!!

One final comment - check this out, Michael, John and Laundry collecting garbage in the driveway and down our private road - totally unsolicited by me! Now if I can only get them to pick up their toys :)

Peace,
Signed: S

2011-03-05T18:23:00.000-08:00

Top some of the past week:
1. Visiting a schoolmates farm and seeing how they have turned a cow pasture into a 'food forest' over the past fifteen years
They produce bananas, yuca, beans, tomatoes, chamol and the best coffee in MV. We were sent home with a 'racimo' of platanos.

2. Preparing land to build a greenhouse: We are working with a friend to clear a piece of pasture, cut timber, and create a refuge from rain and wind for seedlings and vegetables.

3. Helping 5th and 6th graders use their English skills to explain and model earth/sun relationships.

4. Helping 3rd and 4th graders learn how to build electrical circuits

5. Helping 7th and 8th graders understand atoms, molecules and the conservation of mass - nothing is created nor destroyed.

6. Leading 1st through 12th graders in our Frisbee minicourse each thursday afternoon. We start with a friendly game of frisbee golf, then practice our skills, then play a more intense game of ultimate!

7. Barbecuing the meat at dia de deportivas (Sportsday) and trying to make a bow drill fire. The kids were very interested, but it does require a ton of patience and concentration. That's why 99.999999 percent of the world use easier methods to start fires.

8. Receiving a guided tour of the cloud forest by a school parent. The tour group never showed, so "looks like just you and I."
We found five quetzals under his ask and you shall receive policy. He laughed as he commented that people travel thousands of miles to see these birds. They are spectacular.

9. Calling local electrical generating plants to set up a class trip - fine method to practice Spanish.

10. Playing with the boys - soccer, zipline, hula hoops, whacking away with the machete,

Ant update: Those smart little buggers have been moving the cabbage off to the side of the trail so their pathways are clear for hauling higher valued booty such as squash and banana leaf bits. So, they turned their antennas up at our cabbage concoction, and we have learned more.

Leaf Cutters Ant Colony Development

2011-02-27T04:33:00.000-08:00

Brain Development and Ants- We grow through our experiences. It could be a matter of depth or width, as in experience some about many, or experience much about one. Usually we live with a balance of both, and the brain continues to make new connections while reinforcing older ones and some connections are lost. So, if you want a healthy brain, don't do drugs, children.
Really, decent nutrition, physical exercise and learning new things are a good start.

So, what about the ants? We have learned much. At the moment, we are starting a new study titled:
Does a cabbage bait infused with an organic mystery solution affect leaf cutter colony size or behavior?
Purpose: To find possible methods of reducing foliar damage caused by leaf cutter ants.
Background: When we moved into this house in July 2009, a leaf cutter ant colony existed in the pasture. At that point, their mound was about the size and shape of an upside down salad bowl, while underground tunnels likely traveled a few meters and colony size consisted of several thousand ants. Today, the primary mound covers an area the size of a two car garage, there are several smaller mounds and entry holes throughout the pasture and our yard, tunnels and chambers, well, if someone wants to have fun with the math, let me know, colony size is likely in the several millions.
Leaf cutter ants make a living by cutting pieces of leaves and using them to grow a fungus in their underground chambers. The fungus is then harvested and eaten by the colony's members.
The leafcutters, are very interesting to observe, however they do cause a considerable amount of damage to foliage and can colonize new areas through reproduction. Gardens and reforestation projects are susceptible to considerable damage and their earth moving can affect building foundations. Currently, we do not know of natural mechanisms, such as predators or weather events, for controlling their populations at this site. Common local methods for their eradication is the burning of diesel fuel in their tunnels (really fun for humans) or use of a fungicide that targets their food source (not as exciting as the former).
We have tried the fungicide, and the ants initially show curiosity by taking a few pellets, then after a few applications, they move the pellets off to the side of their trail.
Our Test: We have received an organic cabbage bait that is designed to kill the ants, thus reducing the size or even eliminating a colony. Each morning this week, I spread spoonfuls of the cabbage substance on several trails. On most mornings, within ten minutes they hauled a few pieces toward their tunnels. When I returned home in the late afternoons, 90% of the cabbage was gone. So, are they bringing all of the cabbage to their nests? (Bias, says yes, absolutely) Are other animals eating the cabbage? (bias, says, no, absolutely not) But ethical and true science is objective, biases removed. It has been difficult to assess because I have other responsibilities - like making my own living. So, without continual observation, I really don't know what is happening to all of the cabbage. Have I noticed any change in behavior or numbers of ants? No.

More research, and thus brain development in the future! Time to apply more of the cabbage.

Signed M

2011-02-26T02:41:00.000-08:00

Maybe my enjoyment here has something to do with brain development! Obviously, many things here in CR are new or at least different, thus forcing the mind to store the new and reinterpret the old. Lets take ants for example. In Chicago, we could identify a few types of ants around the yard. You might be familiar with the masses of ants that occasionally swarm on the driveway or over a crack on the sidewalk. Looks like mom spilled the ground coffee as she was getting out of the car and now they're dancing type of thing. I would often tell the boys that is was an ant party, until we closely observed one time to discover, to take words from David Bowie, "this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around" but an all out war. The ants were engaged in a fierce battle, attacking with jaws and ripping apart opponents. We figured that two colonies had gotten a little close to each other on nature's dance floor, someone bumped, then a bottle flew and all you no what broke loose. Further observations that summer supported our ants at war theory.

Those earlier stop and smell the coffee discoveries may have helped us developed a greater awareness ants ( Class: Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae). Our fascination has grown further here due to the manners in which they become part of our lives.
We navigate around or trip over the leafcutter mounds walking up the pasture
We devise ways to keep ants from the baked goods that cool on the kitchen counter.
We wait patiently for the next invasion of marauding army ants to clean the house and respectfully walk over their columns on the trails.
We admired the way one type would enter our front door at sunset, quickly locate fallen dinner scraps, and then quietly carry their booty out without disturbing a soul.

I think we have found about ten species around the home, some more conspicuous or mildly irritating than others. I say only 'mildly irritating' because we have never had an experience when they have attacked our food in mass numbers or caused fear of losing life or limb, yet they initially have caused some mental discomfort upon first encounters. Once you get to know the types and their patterns, they are quite predictable. Heck, I even found Sally struck with awe as she patiently watched the patterns and trail of some ants in the kitchen.

OK< john wants me to look at a toucanet.

M

Brain Development

2011-02-25T03:18:00.000-08:00

As I sit here, trying to sort out the hundreds of ideas in my head, I cannot focus on any one event. I favor an objective writing style that and would rather write about a specific topic than give a journal of my daily activities. My better half possesses much more freedom with the pen and can write a detailed, colorful diary of a weeks events. Hmm, I wonder if there is any connection to our different successes in learning the Spanish language. She is almost fluent while the Ticos either give me blank stares, tilt their heads or gasp and giggle when I speak. Even back in elementary school, my worst grades were always in language arts, I think that had something to do with reading and writing, while my best grades were consistently in math, science and the geography part of social studies. I try not to label things as one might become what he thinks, but the evidence over the years is consistent.

I observe our little boys, and note their differing intellectual, physical, emotional strengths and find it interesting that over the past four plus years, some of the same patterns have persisted. At the same time, I need to be careful about the labels and ensure that they are encouraged to experiment and to experience development in a variety of areas. The development of neuronal connections in each brain varies. It starts as a genetic message coded in our DNA passed to us from our biological parents. Brain development is then influenced by our environment, fetal and post-birth. Diet, exercise and social bonding are big factors in brain development.

More food for thought. I recently read about research that indicated a 70 year old can pursue some type of intellectual challenge for one year, and reduce the effective brain age by 40 years. Yes, this is vague, but in summary: Exercise your brain, it can't hurt.

OK, the sun is up and the Mot Mots are hoot hooting. Should be another beautiful summer day. Signed M.

A Dose of Family

2011-02-15T11:31:00.000-08:00

Another week is upon us and my family has already come and gone! Time travels so quickly when you are having fun. It was a little touch and go right up to the day they flew out (Beth coming in from Chicago and Mom and Amy coming in from Miami). Beth was a real trooper getting up at 2 a.m. to endure a 2 hour taxi ride to the Milwaukee airport as all the flights were cancelled out of O’Hare due to a massive winter storm. Thanks a lot OLE MAN WINTER!

I was grinning ear to ear when I collected my family at the airport last Thursday. They knew they had another four hours of travel ahead of them, so we all looked forward to a glass of vino when we reached Monteverde. “Where is that corkscrew?”, nowhere to be found, so we improvised, and kudos to Amy for her talents using a screw and pliers! SUCCESS!

The boys were spoiled with treats and little gifts from their aunts and grandparents.

Thanks Amy and John for the new swim trunks (proudly shown below), rocket shooters, puzzles, and super hero unders!

Beth, the boys love Candy Land and take great pride in reminding me of the rules and beating the pants off me! Choppy, the Fishy Crackers are all gone and they are working themselves through the remaining peanut butter granola bars!

We enjoyed hula hooping in the yard and even got Choppy engaged! SHAKE THOSE HIPS! Fun times with all – the boys were happy to know they are not yet too big for an airplane ride from Auntie Beth!

We spent Saturday in Arenal hoping to get a glimpse of the volcano. We left Monteverde Saturday morning with nearly a cloud in the sky. We poured ourselves into a tour van and headed off for a 90-minute ride through the mountains to this side of Lake Arenal. Forty-five minutes into our ride, the clouds thickened, the sky took on a sheen of deep gray and the mist started to cloud the vision of our driver so we approached the Lake with uncertainty and caution. It is quite the tour business they have at the Lake, a myriad of tour boats, ready and waiting for trusting vacationers to board. We dumped our luggage at the front of the boat and took our seats – HOLD ON. Surprisingly, the ride was smooth and we made it to the other side of the lake in about 40 minutes. Again, we were met by a tour van that whisked us away to the Observatory Lodge where we would spend the night. The lodge was beautiful, with expansive gardens, trails and a huge variety of birds and wildlife…I can only imagine it on a clear day. The rooms were spacious and each had a great view of the Volcano (which we had yet to see)!

The rain toyed with us all day and each time we thought we had a chance to get a quick hike in, the heavens opened up! Being the dry season here in Costa Rica and not as much as a drop of rain here in Monteverde, we were ill prepared for the rain – ponchos (at home), boots (at home), umbrellas (at home), so we sprang for some rather thin, cheap ponchos at the reception desk and in our determined state, started off to find the trailhead to the waterfall hike. We howled in laughter as we commented on each other’s grand style, sporting the lovely ponchos. Five minutes into the hike, we opted to turn around and head for the covered hot tub. We enjoyed warming up after being soaked by the cool rain.

Late afternoon was upon us as we trundled back to the hotel room. We spied the girls out on the porch snapping pictures of the volcano. We turned around and saw this expansive mountain – the clouds were parting, blue sky was breaking through and the late afternoon sun was bearing down on it! A gorgeous site indeed. We must have taken 100 pictures in a span of an hour – it was worth it!

Sunday was a beautiful day, with blue sky and lots of sunshine – we enjoyed a morning guided hike, complements of the hotel and watching the birds snack on the papaya and watermelon peels just outside of the restaurant/deck – the birds were incredible, so many species and colors, not to mention melodic sounds!

We had a great time and the boys were super little travelers! Our departing shot from the boat - a much better view than just a mere 24 hours prior!

Mike and I enjoyed our break from kitchen duty thanks to Amy, Choppy and Beth – Dunkie, you better hold onto Amy; she’s a super cook! Poor Mike, will have to get reacquainted with the "Suppers by Sally"☹

The weather in Monteverde was spectacular, very dry, a nice breeze and all sunshine. We took every advantage of the weather especially when we headed to San Luis one day after school to hike the Waterfall. I sure did not remember the hike as being so treacherous, having to negotiate big boulders and shimmy over narrow plank bridges. Had I, perhaps I would have suggested that Choppy spend the afternoon reading at home. However, for any of you that know my mother, NOTHING DOING – she had her game face on and was determined to make the climb with us. She did great and came out on top. The waterfall is quite something – a hike I would recommend for anyone visiting this area. We drove our new (to us) Gallopher down the Trocha (which is a very, very steep hill that spills you out at San Luis Alto). We stopped at the overlook and Mike looked for rocks to butt up against the tires (a little extra insurance to help shore up the emergency brake).

A pic of the waterfall as you drive down the Trocha - "What, we're ascending that waterfall"?

While the kids were in school, us girls enjoyed walking around town and visiting the variety of shops that Cerro Plano and Santa Elena have to offer. Of course, we also enjoyed the ice cream, complements of the Cheese Factory.

We headed to Playa Blanca on Wednesday. Mike was able to rearrange his classes, so it was a family affair. It was low tide when we arrived, but that did not stop us from having fun. We rescued a Jelly Fish that had come ashore during low tide and worked feverishly to revive it and get it out into deeper waters. The boys were engrossed in the rescue effort and encouraged Mike and Amy as they used sticks and a piece of styrofoam to maneuver the little fellow out to deeper waters. We are unsure of his fate, but hope he survived.

We decided to stop at Rio Acapulco on our way back up the mountain for a little fresh water river fun! Think of it as a natural water-slide – the kids had a great time and the water was so refreshing after the thick mud beach and salt water. Boy were we tired when we arrived back home!

We enjoyed hiking in Bajo Del Tigre (across the street from our pasture) but were disappointed we did not see any white faced monkeys. They had come and gone the day before. We did however find two monkeys (of the human kind)! Amy was a real trooper as the boys were in a camera-happy mood and wanted their pic taken at ever turn in the trail.

Thursday we visited with friends that live toward the Santa Elena Reserve, who sell coffee to hotels and restaurants in the area as well as the Saturday famer’s market. They are such a kind family and invited us in for a flavorful cup of coffee and some toast with homemade jam. They have an impressive coffee roaster in their out-building and we learned a lot about the roasting process. Choppy, Amy and Beth went home with some robust, truly Costa Rican coffee!

A quick lunch at Dónde Henry (a place I would recommend in Santa Elena) for anyone travelling and then off to the Monteverde Reserve to check out the hummingbirds!

Thursday night, we dined with Veronica and gave the foosball table a work out – there was some fierce competition.

Us girls even managed to sneak out for a night-cap one night! Beth, Amy and Choppy snuck out after dish duty and while I was reading to the boys. A half hour later, I met them in my long-johns, a cozy sweater at Tramonti for a wine. That's the beauty of living here...grab a flashlight, walk to the bottom of the hill and jammies and all, you'll fit right in! We had a lot of giggles and shared some Dunkie stories with Amy (his new bride) :)

And of course, the story would not be complete without a pic of Choppy in action - you can't keep her idle for long! The car was thankful for the wash as it had been up and down the mountain a couple of times that week!

We’ll have fond memories of our time with family and hope that more family and friends can visit and get to know our new home, Monteverde!

Peace
Signed: S

Oh Faithful Blog Followers!

2011-02-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Just got my mom, sister and sister-in-law on the 6:30 a.m. bus down the mountain, heading to airport to catch afternoon flights back home to the States! Vacationing is hard work but boy did we have fun.

Don't give up on me - I've got lots to share and pics to post about our week's adventures and travels so stay tuned.

Peace,
Signed: S

Sleep....It's Happened....Twice!

2011-01-28T19:42:00.000-08:00

Life is worth celebrating and boy does the Schaefer household have something to celebrate! Ice cream for all yesterday as we relished in our collective good fortune...8 hours of uninterrupted sleep! So this is how it feels when you awake and you are not squished, squeezed, contorted or bothered by a numb or aching arm/shoulder after a night of tossing and turning and sharing your full-size bed with a five year old.

So, to our amazement, it (sleep) happened again last night...how long do I have to wait before I call this a 'win-win'?

Go John Go, thank you for 'loving' your own bed!

Just wanted to share our news and ask for restful prayers! Here's hoping this 'phase' is long-lasting.

Peace
Signed: S