Keeping busy

To be honost I have been having some depression lately, and keeping busy is what gets me thru the day without too many tears...my Ecuador dream life isnt quite turning out like I had envisioned, but everyday is a chance to add beauty to my surroundings, and so I will.

Chairs I have been working on for the past several weeks, thought I had them sold, but the sale fell thru. So I listed them on my Facebook Furniture page, and will enjoy them in the mean time.

They do His and Her chairs here, and one is slightly larger than the other. Custom cushions I made, and a side table I painted to go with the set. I hope to get $300.

Also this week, as I had the making cushions thing down pat, I finally got a cover made for my banquette seating. My friend in the jungle Cynthia had given me this fabric years ago, and Perry forced the need...

I had to move, before he tore up the cushion, funny dog. While I was at it, I decided the chairs that live here could use a makeover. Not mine, but the landlord has to admit they look better.

And finished product...mucho mejor! (Much better)

New chapters can be scary and overwhelming, sometimes we all just need a new coat of paint...

So stay tuned, the adventure continues!

House Fires and Furniture

What a week, and it's only Wednesday...on Sunday while some of us were at The Cottages for a couple eight year olds birthday pool party, one of the neighbors in El Norte had a house fire. Something sparked at the post, and his little bamboo house went up quickly. It spread to a vacant lot across the street, but the tienda next door was saved thanks to the Volunteer firemen and neighbors quick action.

We learned later in the evening, the house belonged to one of our surfer friends. He lost his school books and laptop, not to mention all his personal items. The Cottages by the Sea quickly sprang into action going thru their extra/lost and found pile and put a plea on Facebook for household items. We were able to give Gabriel a used laptop/notebook, mattress including sheets and towels and more...now just to rebuild. I saw him going to class this morning, as I waited for the breadman, and even tho he didnt have books or a backpack, he was happy for the diversion.

I Got the paint and varnish done on three of the four chairs, and cushions made for one today. The set with a medium sized end table will sell for $400. A new hair cut client who came the other day was in love with them, so I know if I get more I can sell them.

A beautiful sunset walk the other night coming home from the pool. And San Clemente's new sign, San Jacinto is getting their area ready, so they will have their new sign soon.

Much still to do, more cushions to sew, and another chair to paint and varnish, not to mention get my salon area finished. So...stay tuned, the adventure continues.

Cake, Car accidents and Corn Princesses

Even before I moved here, I was looking forward to buying things from the truck vendors...one problem I couldnt understand what they were selling! Now, almost four years in, I know ALOT more spanish, and only every once in awhile can I not understand the man on the speaker. Well, last night the cake truck came thru, she yells " torte, torte, torte, chocolate torte" when the truck pulled up they had a large glass display case in the pickup bed and they were asking $1.50, I bought two, because extra cake is always nice...and this is what I got!

Two full cakes! Very moist and delicious with just the right amount of the marshmallow chantilly frosting. I posted on the Facebook residents page, and got a comment from a neighbor, they have Vanilla too! Well, next time.

Had quite an exciting afternoon the other day. It came to my attention, that some of our local surfers had been in a bad car accident. Patricia who has a truck, and is always helping aided in getting the boys to the clinic, and after we found out everyone was alive and well, went to get the car off the beach. Tide was coming in, and they didnt want it left, even though, Im sure it is totaled. I found it parked by my house later...7 young men, driving too fast on the beach, rolled and thank God it wasnt worse.

Tetanus shots and some bandages, Im so surprised there were no broken bones or stitches. Too much excitment...

I found this on Facebook, some very pretty costumes from the Charapoto festival parade. Charapoto is our farm community, and so harvest is always a big theme for the festival.

And some dancers in a parade in Bahia this past weekend.

So, while California is fighting wild fires, and the east is bracing for another hurricane, life in sunny little Ecuador goes on. Celebrating the bounties and praying our young stay safe. One day at a time, so stay tuned...the adventure continues!

Life in the new neighborhood

As I expected, putting the plea on Facebook to the residents page, did indeed get me plants. Some were delivered, and many more invites to come and pilfer.

I also had my first house warming gift...

And since my landlord has been in town, he has been sharing lunch with me. He told me yesterday he would only be here three more days, then I would have to cook for myself, and I told him I would be sad. He made sure I told his wife that, and she said he was usually gruff, except for when he was cooking.

This turned out to be crab, and the mashed yucca...wow! So buttery, muy rico! Another day he served shrimp viche, with rice and yesterday noodles and pork (of course also served with rice). I will take them a Que Dios te Bendiga painted plaque when I return the dishes today.

Perry too is fitting in with the neighborhood. We had a little lady in heat, who decided the neighbors balcony would serve as a nice love shack, but after a couple nights of suiters seranading, I put a stop to it.

Neighborhood dog Shadow comes to play almost every morning, and Perry still loves to sunbathe...

There is a little black dog who has learned to come in the doggie door, and has stolen my bread off the counter a couple times. (I now keep it in the hanging vegetable basket) She apparently belongs to the fishermen, but is always starved, we have tried to share, but theft...we dont care for.

Last nights sunset, we have had rain the last four nights, yikes! It is waaay to early for the rainy season to start. Please lets wait til December...but it has been dusty and dry and now everything is showered and pretty. Will work on my sign for out front and Facebook ad today, need to go to Charapoto this week for fabric and cushions to finish Kimberly's new chairs. So, stay tuned, the adventure continues!