Ticos

The word tico is the name for people born in Costa Rica.  It is an affectionate term that comes from the way Costa Ricans add "..ito/a" to the end of words to make a more endearing form.  for example, 

Pobre= poor      pobrecito/a= poor little thing.

Perro=dog    perrito/a= little doggie

un poco=a little amount    un poquito, =a little amount (spoken by a Costa Rican).

Brandon

One of our neighbors likes to play with scorpions, after cutting off the stinger.  Brandon's grandfather is Don Juan.  He owns the coffee farm that his sons run.  Brandon speaks excellent english so he has recently been hired as a tour guide.  Brandon learned english at the Creativa school, when he was in first and second grade with Jean (see earlier post: My Jeanie).  Brandon is now 17, and is learning to play the flute.  He walks by our house on the way home from work and frequently stops by for tea and to play with Kiera ("My little monkey") and Val.  He is the epitome of the gentle and modest tico.

Sledding at 78 degrees fahrenheit.

Some of our cuter neighbors in their free time.

Springtime for Chickens

These chickens belong to Don Juan, who owns a coffee farm near our house.  The kids hike through the woods on his property and past his house to get to the school bus stop 20 minutes away.  His grandson Brandon introduced us to him and Don Juan gave us permission to trespass on his property each day.  He later gave us spinach, celantro and a mint plant from his farm.

Double Rainbow

I would like to take a moment to recommend to my dear readers that you take a look at the lecture series on ted.com --if you haven't already.  Please view what interests you and then tell me what your favorites are.  Some of mine include "How Our Education System is Killing Creativity", and the one about the neurologist who had a stroke (I think it's called "A Stroke of Genius"), and Amy Tan, and Elizabeth Gilbert- both on where creativity comes from.

Valerie just pointed out to me that all my "favorites" are the only ones I actually watched.  

I stand corrected.

Artist's Hands

This year Val made Hand Art (on her own hands) as a birthday gift to me.  When she was three or four years old she would entertain herself by "drawing bones" on my hands, in ink, while I slept.  She also drew on the Women's Resource Center office wall once in permanent marker.  Who needs paper when the world is your canvas?

Susan Turns 48

I celebrated my birthday in January with a girl's ride courtesy of Sabine's Smiling Horse Stable.  Kiera is riding Pitufa, whose name means "Smurf" in Spanish.  Our guides were Maria from England who was visiting as a volunteer with the stable for three weeks, and Alvero, who is a Tico from the Monteverde area.  I nick-named him Senior Guapo because of his amazing smile and warm disposition.

Dude Hike up the Rio Guacimal

Jim hiked in January with other ex-pat dudes at one of the many rivers on the mountain.

Swimmin Buds

Hot Springs

This is a shot of a pool in Las Juntas, about 2 hours down the mountain road from Monteverde.  Three pools are filled with water heated by the thermal hot springs.  

The roads have been steadily improved, making such trips shorter and rides smoother than in the past.  It can be unfortunate for iguanas, though.  Their favorite sunbathing spots are often in the middle of a freshly paved road heated in the mid-day sun.  Unused to the swiftly moving cars, they can end up as road kill.  Sad for the iguanas, but also for the locals, who say iguanas are delicious...

Mmmmm, Iguana

Some of Kiera's classmates

Fashion Hound

Tommy in the latest from the barrio.

Extended Family

Our neighbors started raising chickens, of various exotic breeds.  The hens have since laid many eggs and hatched some chicks.  Eggs don't get much fresher.  

Tommy is our adopted pup.  He lives with his birth-family, but we visit him often.  His favorite activity is chasing death defying motor vehicles up and down the dirt road with his fellow pooches from the hood.  The make quite a racket.

This is a better photo of the punk rocker chicken dude.

My Jeanie

Our across the street neighbors have some uniquely plumed chickens.  We suggested they be named Sid Vicious or Iggy Pop to go with their mohawk hairdos.  These birds are convinced they are family members and would eat at the kitchen table if one let them.  

Jean is a teacher at the school the girls attend and a good friend.

Christmas in the USA

Hangin out in South Carolina...Or, taking a vacation from our vacation.

Traditions from Christmases Past

 Making rolls helps us remember and honor those who have gone before us.  Pa and Miss Effie would be proud.