You do what you can

We accomplished our one thing yesterday, and then actually got some more stuff done, bonus! We say that if we accomplish at least one thing, then we've done our job, and we can play...our one thing yesterday was our tarp project. Our first week here we took a trip into Charapoto, bought a couple plastic chairs, and misc. things, one of those being a large tarp in the hopes we could block off the bars in our fence for privacy. After some thought, we decided the tarp wasn't the best fix, and we came up with another idea, but after several weeks of being exposed and with money being tight, we decided the tarp would work til we could purchase the bamboo blinds we really want. Here's the finished product.

Not only can I take a shower in the outdoor shower without being on display (even tho we had a shower curtain, it was so breezy, it would blow open) the tarp is providing a much needed wind/salt break for the new plants. Because we weaved the tarp in between the bars, it's really quite tight and doesn't catch the wind, so it just may work for a while. We have a door bell on the ledge, so our vendors can let us know they're out there, and the tarp can be lifted a bit if Angel needs to put our groceries thru it, I still like the delivery box idea, I could make it decorative, like a bird house in the flower bed, and I'm sure nobody would mess with it. You can see Mike's trash tree to the left, and on the corner behind the street light is where we'll build the trash platform.

As we were getting started on the project, our shrimp guy came, (need to ask his name again) couldn't pass these babies up! 6 to a pound, $1 each. We paid $5 for a pound last time, that may have been a newcomers discount, but $6 isn't bad! We have a ripe avocado, and stuff to make pico de gallo, will try to pan fry with garlic and some butter for lunch. Yum!

So while Mike was working on the tarp project, I was putting together a soap/shampoo caddy for the shower, and cleaning up a utensil holder I found.

The other night we went into San Jacinto to the ATM, and tried a new place for dinner. All the tables outside were taken, so we sat inside, cute place, dirt floor and all walls and ceiling made of bamboo and palm fronds. There is a bar area, with some kind of warming station, we watched her scoop coals from the grill outside to use to keep the huge pot of rice warm. There was no menu, choices of carne, pollo, or chuleta. We chose carne, for something different, and I had to look up chuleta in the translator, says it's t-bone...hmmm. Rice and lentils came with, and it was very tasty, and when the bill came, it was $7 for both! Our hostess spoke some English, and we will go back, try something different, and see how much we can communicate. 

Beautiful things in Ecuador, our first flower and another spectacular sunset...

I think we've decided to take the bus into Bahia today, go to the Tia grocery store for some things we haven't found here in town, and have an adventure. So, as always...stay tuned! Bonita vida! (Beautiful life)