Christmas In Monteverde

A long time resident of Monteverde once told me that Christmas here is special and there are plenty of holiday activities. For many reasons it has been a very different Christmas season this year – the lack of snow, television commercials and especially gathering with the larger family. We have enjoyed a variety of music, gift giving, santa, plenty of creatures stirring, the manger scene and a beautiful tiny Christmas tree.

Stage events included saturday’s Christmas program at the meeting house, tuesday night’s family violin concert at the Monteverde Institute and last night’s performance by Seattle rock band Massy Ferguson at Bromilias. The boys appreciate the live performances and learning about the instruments and musicians.

Food events included cookie sharing feast after Saturdays program, a pig roast and BBQ Wednesday night, a pot luck at our house Christmas eve, and a community pot luck at the meeting house on Christmas day. Gatherings are attended by all ages, Ticos and gringos, long time residents and new comers, and families and individuals.

At the BBQ, Michael and I roasted hotdogs, steak and marshmallows while sipping on hot chocolate shared by Mary N. Our potluck Christmas eve expanded from a few people to about twenty five people. People brought a variety of dishes, the children played on the tree swings and hide and go seek in the dark while the adults shared conversation by candlelight on our patio. The highlight of the evening occurred when about forty carolers marched up the pasture to our house and sang a few songs. The crowd certainly brought glad tidings and cheer to all. We invited the group inside for food and hellos and smiles filled up the place. The group then continued on their eight hour journey from farm through forest to field. The boys concluded the evening by decorating a tree (branch) that Elizabeth, Johnny and Andy gave us and setting out cookies and a carrot for santa and his crew.

Christmas morning arrived and the boys were as excited as ever to find gifts under the tree. Unwrapping pads of construction paper, colored pencils, glue stick, legos and stuffed animals made their day. We ventured on to the Christmas feast and all ages grab bag gift exchange. The criteria for the gift – must be hand made. Talents abound in Monteverde and crafting with hands is a skill that many have. Gifts passed out by a Ms Santa and her helper, Wolf, included paintings, wood carvings, ceramics, stained glass, knitted vests, pillows, music, stilts, book shelves, treasure boxes, and a wooden wheelbarrow. Our boys passed on tie died shirts and in exchange received knight masks made from cereal boxes and paper.

The weather has been absolutely cooperative – 70s and clear and we are all now enjoying a little quiet time. Signed M.

MOOSH-GOOSH!

Oh my aching bones! Truly I still think I am 25; but then I look in the mirror and see the wrinkles and the gray hair and feel the soreness in my body after yet another busy weekend which was capped off by a totally awesome hike in the (what the Schaefer family refers to as) MOOSH GOOSH!

Saturday we made it all the way into Santa Elena to the Farmers Market on our two legs! YES, no 'mooch a ride this weekend!" The boys ended up on our shoulders a couple of times, but for the most part, they walked the 3 Km...a milestone indeed. We loaded up on our weekly fruits and veggies and also popped into the pharmacy to get some additional photos of the boys for Mike's work visa. George (a Texan transplant) gave us a lift home - a full 4 hours of activity, ending just this side of "crankiness" :)

Saturday late afternoon we headed to Bromelias which is just a stones-throw away (we share the same driveway) for a night of music and art. Bromelias is an awesome venue for concerts - surrounded by beautiful, lush gardens! The music was delightful, everything from drums to violins, guitar, sax, and singing, oh the singing - I have so much respect for musicians! The kids frolicked with the other youngsters and Mike and I visited with others in the community. We arrived home around 5 p.m. to about 1/2 dozen kids who had taken over our front yard. Boys lined up to have a turn on the tree swing. Yikes - one mom against six 5-7 year olds all vying for a turn on the swing - I survived...barely and no severe accidents to report! We then proceeded to christen our fire-pit and actually, due to Mike's persistence, had success. We had rain earlier in the afternoon so we were not very optimistic but happy to report we enjoyed some sausage on an old, worn skillet by the end of the evening. Several neighbors popped in to chat fireside as they cut through our pasture on their way home. The boys enjoyed chatting with 7 year-old Sequoia who coveted a little lizard we found roaming about. I love the smell of a fire despite the smoke getting in my eyes.

Today I started with a run while the boys whipped up yet another yummie batch of pancakes. Kath (who lives across the road (just through the pasture) returned our flashlight which we had lent her the night before. Kath and Mike made tentative plans to get the kids together for an outing later today. The rain came, the heavens opened up. I think this was the loudest and most rain in a short amount of time that we've gotten since we've been here. By noon, we were in Kath's truck (along with her 4 and 6 year old (and Kyle came along too) off for an adventure - and adventure it was.

Our mission, to pick Marias (which I would equate to small blueberries). We parked and off we went - the dirt road turned into a trail (if you can call it that) think of it as a river-bed and imagine it after the hard rain we had in the morning. Total MOOSH GOOSH - it was delightful. I understand that this trail can take you all the way to San Luis which is 7 Km from MV. We picked Marias along the way and bickered about who had the muddiest shoes. Kath proceeded to carry her crocks and walk the entire way in her bare-feet - a braver soul than I. The vistas were spectacular - we could see the Bay of Nicoya. The clouds had cleared and we had sunshine for the entire 2 1/2 hour hike. We were all filthy by the time we all piled back into Kath's car. We shared bread, pancakes and berries and had a lot of good laughs and some almost injuries too along the way. No snake sightings although I kept thinking we would see one after the rain; perhaps one lounging on a rock sunning itself - but no such luck. Michael and John were real troopers as it was all down hill, negotiating inches of mud and rocks, and then uphill on the return. No carrying or shoulder rides this time. On our way home we put our patience to task as we had a herd of cattle in front of us...with very full utters to boot! OUCH - doesn't that hurt?

We returned to meet Ginna walking past the house, after a couple of moments of chit-chat, we invited her up to the house. We had fun getting to know her better and the boys enjoyed showing off their tree swinging abilities. We spent the majority of time watching a squirrel that I am convinced either had rabies, was bitten by something or was drunk as it sat under a tree for an hour while we looked on and the boys tried to torment it (okay, torment is too strong of a word). Finally, the poor thing got itself back up the tree (for now). An interesting shot of the squirrel checking out to see how it matches up against Limper the dog.

Mike made a batch of soup which was perfect after a long hike and a warm shower. The Sunday night movie "The snow leopard" on Planet Earth.

Still no firm verdict on Strider the dog!

Now, it is time for sleep!
Signed: S