Wild and Untamed

What a week...Mike and I have both been sad about Ariel/Dulce, we still haven't seen her and fear the worst. We remember the good times, our many walks together, and how she liked to "love nibble" our feet as she layed in front of us on the cesped (Astro turf). One morning she was inside the front door, laying on the tile floor and the coffee pot was on, she didn't know what that noise was and started growling, she was trying to protect us. Her almost constant presence is certainly missed, there's a hole in our hearts, I still pray she is recouperating  with a loving neighbor. She was a joy to have around, and  we love her a lot.

That being said, it reminds us that Ecuador is wild, an untamed place. Things are done differently here, and we have to adapt. Or at least watch where we're going, check out the visitor our friends down the way had.

This guy was seen in the street between the beach and Ramadas and this row of Coachme houses. Like I said Ecuador is wild. (Coachme is the local "credit union" or Coopertiva)

Frigates! They are sitting here waiting to see what the fishermen throw back. On some of them you can see the red neck pouch, they inflate it to attract a mate. One day on a walk with Ariel a frigate was bugging her, and she went to chase him, he flew up on these rocks to get away, and she scampered up after him, like a billy goat. The frigate was not expecting that, she went up some more rocks, barking at him and he flew away mad. She was such a character, so much personality. Untamed, Ecuador is untamed...

I finally finished my regalo (gift) for Fernando Father Fishermen and his family. Found out his oldest boy's name is Robinson, the boat is named after him. I took the gift to their house, found Fernando and Robinson in the shade doing some work to the nets, and his wife came out to greet me. I tried to tell them that I made it for them, for their generosity and kindness, I'm sure it came across.

Their house is blue, so I used blue and green like the ocean as a theme. The bulk of the windchime is a plastic Sprite bottle, I cut into squares then held them over a candle to soften, curl and melt the edges. Bits of blue plastic bottle and some green stone beads from a necklace I took apart finish it, with the shells added to make a little sound in the breeze. I'm sure they liked it.

We were walking to La Boca to visit friends for Happy hour on Saturday and were invited to a party.  At first I thought he was asking us to join them for Mothers Day, but then he said birthday, 15 anos (years), so it was going to be a big deal! On our way home that night, the music had started and Anderson and His sister Patricia (the birthday girl) tried to get us to come in the courtyard, the music was blaring but no one was there yet, it was still too early (only 8pm or so). We excused ourselves, said maybe later and went home to eat. We heard the music from that party til DAWN!! Since we didn't sleep well, we should have gotten up and went to join them! I probably would have been fine if I'd had earplugs, it wasn't that loud against the sound of the Ocean, but it wasn't constant, so after a lull, when the music would start up again, is when we would be awakened. Oh well, like I said Ecuador is wild! I've been thinking about what I can make for Patricia, something girlie, we really should party with the locals more, but they stay up so darn late! We are more "up with the sun, down with the sun" kinda people usually. 

Some of our "treasures" from walks last week, not sure what they will end up looking like, but it was a score. And one that didn't make it home with us, too big. Would have made a cool table top tho.

The Ocean does what it wants, the street dogs do what they want, the frigates, the iguanas and the locals party til dawn. It's a wild and untamed place, but we've signed up for it, so stay tuned, the Adventure continues!

I guess it's Thursday

I don't have set schedules anymore, I have things I should do, but nothing is usually sooo important that it can't wait. Today I woke bright and early, made coffee and took it back to bed to read emails and catch up on Pinterest (like most mornings). Around 8am I got the laundry stuff gathered up, several loads and a broken fingernail later and it's all hung on the line.

Even dog toys and dog beds got washed, poor little Shadrach is sad watching his beloved Chicken hanging on the line. 

The fishermen are in full force outside the gate, Fernando Father Fishermen and his three boys are in front working on mending nets, and I can hear Raphael and Alexander (who I used to call Giggles before I asked his name) laughing and having a fun conversation as they work their nets. Ramon and his son are there as well as some new boats parked in front with unfamiliar crews. As they work their nets, they find sea life, and set them aside, when they are done they take the sea life to the waters edge and feed the frigates, this is what that looks like.

And sometimes, this happens

When a frigate drops his breakfast. Shoot! Just when I was getting that Geranium to sprout back to life. The fishermen said to bury the fish and the geranium would do great, I'm sure they are right, but I'll pass.

Gifts from Fernando Father fishermen last week, we tried our very best to cut this flounder, but just made a mess of it, next time they try to give whole fish I'll let him know we can't filet it, and he should keep it. If he insists, we will give it to another neighbor as not to waste it. Now, the shrimp on the other hand! Yes please!  I usually buy shrimp in town from a man I call yellow shoes, (because I can't remember his name and he always wears the same yellow shoes) he charges $5 a pound, but who can snub their nose at free? I figure Fernando Father fishermen saved me $15 last month with his gifts of free shrimp!

Some of these pictures will be repeats, if we are friends on Facebook, but I know many many of you aren't. This is homemade fresh salsa thanks to the wonderful Charapoto market and my husband Mike. It was Muy Rico! (Very yummy)

We've had our smoothies, and now it's about time for me to start thinking about lunch. I've got some projects I may work on this afternoon, but I may read my book and take a nap, who knows. I sure don't miss set schedules, I don't really ever get bored, plenty of stuff to work on, or just loose time staring at the ocean.

I saw a sign that said "wasted time enjoyed, isn't wasted" I think that fits right in with our new slower life here on the Ecuadorean coast. So, as usual, stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Flying Pirates

We have been house sitting since the day afterThanksgiving, it's been really nice to have the magnificent views and change of scenery. Not to mention the luxurious accomidations, that our San Alejo house doesn't offer, hot water, laundry facilities, pool...

The way the house is situated at the Boca (mouth of the river) and the Ocean, not to mention the mangroves behind is a haven for birds, they play on the wind currents and really look like they enjoy life. One came to watch us drink our coffee the other morning, and prompted the research for this post.

Veronica was very interested in our visitor, she is our "bird dog" always chasing the robins back in the States, and looking to chase the sea birds here. (Funny thing, this Frigate is probably twice her size.)

The frigatebirds (also known as Fregatidae) are a family of seabirds. They have long wings, tails, and bills and the males have a red gular pouch that is inflated during the breeding season to attract a mate. Their plumage is predominantly black. There are five species, all in a single genus Fregata, found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. They are absent from polar regions.

Frigatebirds are pelagic piscivores that obtain most of their food on the wing. A small amount of their diet is obtained by robbing other seabirds and by snatching seabird chicks. Frigatebirds are seasonally monogamous and nest in colonies. A rough nest is constructed in low trees or on the ground on remote islands. A single egg is laid each breeding season. The duration of parental care in frigatebirds is among the longest for birds.

I also read the reason they steal food, is they don't have the oil that makes their feathers waterproof, so they do not dive as other sea birds do, the stealing food and their large ominous black bodies make them known as the Pirates of the seabird world.

The word frigatebird derives from the French mariners' name for the bird La Frégate - a frigate or fast warship. The etymology was mentioned by French naturalist Jean-Baptiste du Tertre when describing the bird in 1667. In the Caribbean frigatebirds were called Man-of-War birds by English mariners. This name was used by the English explorer William Dampierin his book An Account of a New Voyage Around the World published in 1697:

The Man-of-War (as it is called by the English) is about the bigness of a Kite, and in shape like it, but black; and the neck is red. It lives on Fish yet never lights on the water, but soars aloft like a Kite, and when it sees its prey, it flys down head foremost to the Waters edge, very swiftly takes its prey out of the Sea with his Bill, and immediately mounts again as swiftly; never touching the Water with his Bill. His Wings are very long; his feet are like other Land-fowl, and he builds on Trees, where he finds any; but where they are wanting on the ground.

Frigatebirds are large, with iridescent black feathers (the females have a white underbelly), with long wings (male wingspan can reach 2.3 metres (7.5 ft)) and deeply forked tails. 

Frigatebirds are found over tropical oceans and ride warm updrafts. Therefore, they can often be spotted riding weather fronts and can signal changing weather patterns.

These birds do not swim and cannot walk well, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week, landing only to roost or breed on trees or cliffs.

Hope you enjoyed my post on the Pirates of the air, we really love watching them soar. I will do a post on the Boca house and guest suites next time, also going somewhere with Joffrey, the Ecuadorean hardware store owner and friend, today at noon, we think we are taking a boat to a ceviche festival in Rocafuerte. Should be an adventure! Stay tuned!!