Mike the Artist

Have you ever known someone who is just good at everything? Dont you hate those people? Well, my husband Mike is one of those, he started painting, and quickly surpassed me! His talent is amazing! (He does remind me that he took art classes all thru highschool, but geez...does he have to be so good?!)

He did these circles for a long time, then I prompted him to try something else. And wouldnt you know he successfully painted more.

So, after he mastered circles, suns, and waves...he started in on flowers. Here are the beautiful roses he painted that hang in our bedroom.

THEN...he decided to try his hand at sealife. Wouldnt you know, he nailed it! I am so jealous! He just has the gift (thankfully he shares it with me.)

He also made a table with scrap wood, a coat of varnish and everything looks pretty. Many ideas floating in his brain after making this, just need tools.

He also started puttering with me outside on the patio and helped make it into more of an outdoor room. Gave a potted bougainvillea and morning glory a place to climb, and made us a corner seating area. Mi gusta!

So there you have it, my husband the artist! He's painting sticks now, going to show me up AGAIN! As always, stay tuned, the adventure continues...

Around Ecuador

We keep saying that during the hot season we will go somewhere to visit where it is cooler. We just never seem to go anywhere. What can we say? We like the beach. Thankfully Facebook is full of wonderful photos for me to share with you, more and more since my news feed is almost purely espanol, hope you enjoy.

It is mosquito season, we heard them spraying again last night, its smelly, but a good thing.

Speaking of wildlife, Iguanas are everywhere, they even have special parks. This one is in Guayaquil.

Another thing Ecuador is known for is its flowers, how we are enjoying living farther from the ocean, our plants are doing sooooo well. Here are some flower covered parade floats during Carnival. One of these days we will get to this neck of the woods.

One reason Ecuador has so many wonderful flowers is the rain...another beautiful thing from rain, rainbows. What a beautiful photo overlooking the rice fields.

Another beautiful sight...new houses. These are apartments for those people who did not own land at the time of the earthquake, but lost their homes none the less. 74 families are moving into these dwellings.

One thing about Facebook photos, is sometimes I save something and then forget what it was, I think this is Crucita, I know they have a lot of hang gliding there. What gorgeous water and sky. Gracias Dios!

If any of this interests you, or you want to see more for yourself, here is a great value...

Cute little beach bungalow for sale here in San Jacinto Ecuador. $58,000 USD 2 bedroom, 1bath furnished with ocean views. All it needs is a little shade and a hammock and you! Hope you enjoyed the post from around Ecuador. Stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Julexy's Quinceanera

Saturday was the long awaited quinceanera of the daughter of our friend and neighbor Nexar the bread man. He couldnt tell me exactly what time to be ready, but we knew the party started at 7pm and he would be in trouble if he was much later than that. The sun was just setting as we climbed in the back of his moto and headed to Charapoto.

Because we arrived before the appointed time, we were early...waaay early. We got to see the way one hangs a paper lantern when you dont have a ladder. And watch as the guests trickled in. Maria said sixty were invited.

Nexar had finished the work on the house since we had been there last. He has made the house into three apartments for the kids. He and Maria and Julexy sleep in the one with the kitchen, nextdoor is where Yaritza the other daughter sleeps with her boyfriend Ronny and their son Dayan. Next door to that is where their son Pablo and his wife and daughter live, they probably have their own kitchen. 

They have their living room window bars removable, so when its time for a party they can open up the space. What a great idea! The youngsters dancing appreciated what breeze came in thru the large opening, and those of us sitting on the porch still felt part of the party.

We recognized several family members from the last party we were at, and also made new friends. One of the neighbors really wanted everyone to dance, so we all had some time on the dance floor, thank goodness for those "ice breaker" types. Every party needs them.

Snacks and food came out slowly over the course of the night. (Maria had hired a helper to man the kitchen out back, so she could enjoy the party, Im so glad) Beers and cane liquor flowed to those who wanted, and the teenagers played on their phones! Not wanting to be hungover the next day we slowed our drinking and waited for the appropriate time to ask for a taxi. That turned out to be just after 12 when the food was served! Maria's mom and some relatives decided it was time to go, so we asked for a taxi too. We ate yummy pork and macaroni tuna salad as we waited and took our cake home. 

It was later than I had expected to stay,  almost 1am, but since they arent crazy drinkers, it was a nice time. Nexar was sure tired the next day, he said the music went til about 5 when he was getting ready to head back to the bakery. Here is a photo posted on Facebook, taken by one of Julexy's friends after most of the guests left. A wonderful party for a wonderful young lady and her family, que dios te bendiga!

So thankful we were invited to attend and happy to know we are considered family. Yesterday was a wonderful day of puttering out on the patio, so many things to show off, so...stay tuned, the adventure continues!

More fun

With Carnival ending on Tuesday, and the weekend right around the corner many people stayed in town. More selfies on the boat, (good shot of the new "sails") more restaurant eating and more beach days.

One thing about Carnival that really isnt my thing is the foam and water fights, here are some pictures. The little kids have a lot of fun with soapy foam, and the bigger kids like this powder dye stuff they throw at each other, especially with the rain nobody stays "dirty" for long.

Perry had a great time at Carnival, he had a nice dry bed and porch to come home to, and someone even gave him an afternoon snack! I'd forgotten how much he likes a blanket, this day he'd gone out and was caught in a downpour, came home soaking wet, doesnt look like he minds.

Another day we beach walked, and finally had the camera for pictures of what comes out of the river. As you can see most of it not trash, but natural debris, coconut, banana stalks, water hyacinth, bamboo along with the good stuff, old boards and cool stumps.

Today is a beautiful breezy morning, we have painting projects to work on, and a special night planned. We are going to our first quincenera! Nexar and Maria's youngest daughter Julexy's party is today. Nexar will take us after he finishes his afternoon work. So...stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Carnival 2017

Carnival has come and gone. Definitely less people than last year, but less rain too. In talking amongst ourselves about the weather, we realized the Ecuadorean have lived their entire lives with Carnival being in Rainy February, they are not fazed by it, they have fun anyway! And with it not being cold rain, one may not realize it really isnt that bad...THAT being said, the concert did get rained out the other night. We gave up and went to bed.

People and vendors started coming Thursday eve, towns people cleaned and painted the curbs, and put up new flags. Friday night it rained, and into the morning saturday. My heart sank as I remembered last year, and all the rain. But by noon Saturday the sun was shining, and the streets were drying. Sunday was also beautiful with blue skies all day. Monday was another beautiful day, until late afternoon when some ominous clouds came thru. The rain held off until about 8pm, then some scattered sprinkles until...downpour right when the band was to start. At least an hour of downpour with wet vacationing people huddled in our doorway. As it let up, we waited to see what would happen with the stage, but decided we were done,  It was closing in on midnight, time for bed. I woke up at 1:15 and heard the band playing, good for them. (Sat and sun stage was set up farther down the street)

We enjoyed people watching from our "porch". Visiting with Nexar family over ceviche and beers one day and visiting with our Romero family at their pop up restaurant another day. Selfies with Zadkiel and a morning beach walk, Carnival was a good time.

 Today the town would be back to normal, and its...yep, raining! Oh well. No leaks in the closet, and nothing on the agenda. Stay tuned, the adventure continues!