New readers

Thought since I might be getting some new readers maybe I should recap our story, two years of blog may be daunting.

Back in 2004 friends of ours came to Ecuador on a church missions trip, when they returned and told us how wonderful a country it was, we started researching. In 2006 we sold our house in Idaho, made quite a bit of cash and bought a couple houses in North Carolina. We lived in North Carolina cheaply and more simply than we had when we first married, and discussed moving out of country some day. In 2013 when Obamacare started, our five year plan (exit strategy) became accelerated, as we were for all intents and purposes self employed with no insurance. Being forced to pay for insurance, while "economical" thru Obamacare, our cost of living would dramatically increase, this was not what we wanted...to work MORE, for less? No thanks, so we put both houses for rent, and left. That was almost two years ago, and we've never looked back!

We have whole heartedly fallen in love with Ecuador, while doing my research for 8 years, I found the climate was perfect here on the coast. The water is warm, 74 degrees, and the air fluctuates between 65-85 hovering most days around the 79 mark. Though we are on the coast, it is the Pacific coast, and therefor not humid like the Atlantic or Carribean. Barely any bugs, at least not big scary ones. 

The food and people have turned out to be the BEST, fresh seafood anytime we want, sometimes right over the fence. The fishermen park the boats out front of the house, and give us gifts often, of course we give them gifts too. Cold water, snacks, fruit and plastic bags. At first it was a way to recycle my shopping bags, but now they enjoy the supply so much I buy bags to hand out. (They use them to divy up the haul to the helpers)

Yesterday's surprise, a bag full of crabs! They are a lot of work, but I made quick time of it while watching tv. Enough to share with the neighbor, but he wasn't home, so we will have a nice seafood salad for lunch today. Day before yesterday we also had a wonderful gift...

"Lobster"! Langostinos, is what they are called, and while they aren't a great deal to buy by the pound, free over the fence is awesome!! Out of this huge monster, only the tail has meat, so we got maybe four or five bites from the big one (maybe six), but they sure were yummy! (Muy Rico)

We love the people, they are so friendly and warm. Often downright cuddly, especially when drinking, such good attitudes. We have fit right in, living simply, without hot water or AC, buying all my food in town, not going to the large city for the American style supermarket. Two years in, and we have found our groove, we are beach bum/artisans. Loving our life and our neighbors, trying to help anyway we can. The GoFundMe has brought great relief for some of our townspeople, thank you to all those of you who have donated, and shared the cause.

Time to head into town for fresh hot bread, Stay tuned...the adventure continues!

Around town

After my post yesterday, I went into town to buy stuff for lunch, but also to see if I could give out some more donation money. I walked the "back way" to Ali's and ran across an interesting art piece.

He has damage to both sides of his building, the restaurant part has a down wall, and his home area is completely gone. I will try to track him down again this morning, as he wasn't around yesterday. He was one who organized the food boxes and I'm sure is out helping someone, as his own domicile/business sits in disrepair.

As I was taking pictures of Ali's damage, the neighbors across the street hollered at me, they pointed me upstairs to see their damage. Their wall fell into the next building, and not only do they now have much breeze, but they can see into the disco next door! That'll make for some late nights...

I'll have to go back and get a better picture. After I came down from taking the picture of the down wall, I gave her $50 and told her it was from our friends and family in the States, to help our community, and of course she welled up, and praised me. I gave her a hug, and told her I loved Ecuador, and San Jacinto, we were familia.

So I continued walking, heading over to our friend Jose's house, to see what progress had been made, and I turned the corner to see this!

Jose had said something about a new tarp, this must have been what he meant...

These guys had folding cots in one truck, thin mattresses in another, the orange trash cans and another truck had big boxes. They opened the boxes and started putting what looked like toiletry kits and maybe mosquito nets or sheets into the orange cans. I'm thinking each tent gets an orange can. While I was standing here watching, Father Fishermen came up, said he was now sleeping in one of these. His house is still not being lived in, not because there is damage, but Laureno's house next door is precariously leaning. So, to be safe, they are staying with the sister-in-law, and now sleeping in the tent.

I moved on, as I was standing out in the blazing sun, and found Jose's house had some clean up. Now I need to get our friend Al and Oscar to translate, and find out how we can best help him. Not sure buying a new stove will fix this...also need to find out more about the aid situation, I'm fairly sure President Correa isn't going to let these people be homeless in tents forever.

Back towards town, another building is being brought down. The top floor walls were failing, will just have to watch the progress. Last week it looked like this, 

Stopped at Joffres, he took me inside the downstairs apartment to see the damage.

And from the outside

On a positive note, Marco Delgado is rebuilding his restaurant.

And Pepitos daughter and boyfriend are paying to upgrade his techo. Used to be thatched, now you can see the red roof over his indoor dinner seating.

And the monument is still being worked on...

Tho all this destruction is sad, the consensus is it will all be better in the end. Our townspeople have proven to be top notch, appreciative and keep a positive attitude. Yes, it will be better, so stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Art in many forms

This post is going to be non earthquake related, well, kind of...

Back before the earthquake, I was invited to a baby shower, this is the gift I made. Hang above the crib, or in the babies room, I used nail polish to paint, and some of the flowers have glitter.  I also made little headbands, with the idea of more baby gifts as the little one gets bigger. (I had the idea to make a really cute bib, but do newborns really wear bibs?)

Also the day of the earthquake we bought this table from Vecino, liked his handiwork so well, we commissioned another.

Well it's a good thing we had him build another one, because Mike stole the little one for himself...

This is the new one, twice as big, and he used tongue and groove planks, plus this pretty wallpapered one we asked for. The little one was $15, so I had $40 budgeted for this one, he said "amigos" and asked for $15, we gave him $20 and had to fight him to keep the change. Next we will ask him to make shelf units, he likes to have projects.

Painting a sign for Nexar, will have to remember to take a picture next time I'm buying bread, because I forgot. Shadrach enjoying the ocean breezes. He had a little PTSD this day, and just needed to be close.

Works  in progress...

And a large wall piece I'm working on, now that I've got it hung, it needs to be bigger, so I'll add on. Maybe add some more shells and a starfish, stay tuned...

We were given  the sea fans from the fishermen, boy did they stink! They had to sit outside for weeks, but this one turned out great! Pictures just don't do justice, this is one instance. Another is sunsets...

It's pretty in pictures, but nothing compares to the real thing! Now that North America is moving into summer, we have lost our sun. It now sets behind the house, and to see it hit the horizon we will have to take chairs to the sand, but we will when low tide allows. (New word, Bajamar=low tide, pleamar= high tide, thanks to the newspaper we got during the terremoto)

Sometimes, the best color isn't in front of us. 

Speaking of color, Another set of new pillowcases, thanks to our friend Becky, she's the one I made the Salty kisses sign for. (Don't worry Mom, I'll make you one!)

Well, as I finish writing this there is noise going on next door, the owners came yesterday and started doing some demo. I'm glad they are able to work on it, they enjoy using it so much. Guess that's all for today, hope you enjoyed a "lighter" post. Not a single picture of rubble! Stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Another look

Since we have had power and Internet restored I've been able to see pictures from other parts of Ecuador. The first photos I saw were from the newspaper, so I knew it was really severe in places, here are some doozies. Looks like we're going to need some road work!

One expat wrote a heart breaking post of her experience going into PortoViejo for the first time. I'm sure we will feel the same when we venture over there, luckily there is no pressing need.

Yeah, we will stay put for a good long while. Certainly no need for us to go see this devastation first hand. 

The rubble is being cleaned up here, and some rebuilding has begun. Businesses are open and the Officials have lifted the ban of alcohol sales on Sunday, and extended Bar hours until 4am. (you won't see us at any bar until 4am! Lol)  The reason is to help the Bar and restaurant owners, and maybe they know, after all we've been thru, we need a drink!

Edison's property, they ended up taking down the 3 walled house that was left standing over top the cistern. Still the threat of debris falling from neighboring hotel...This photo was two days ago, so I'm anxious to get back to see what else is new. Stay tuned, the adventure continues!