#notmypuppies

Well, here we go again! Perry, Mia and I were still in bed catching up on emails, Facebook and having a cup of coffee and I hear drinking...hmmm, I get up thinking it is Toby, but no.

WHAT? PUPPIES!  We let them drink their fill, then when they saw us watching, they took off. I went out front and saw they had made a nest under the fence, thye were afraid of me, but not Perry. I let them rest, put some food out and left them alone. Later we checked on them, still there, full bellies and resting in the sun.

Later in the afternoon they played and slept, stayed all day. I purposely did not feed them again, hoping they would venture off. 

In the morning, they were not in the yard, but later they did show up. I filled the water supplies outside, and saw them hanging out next door too. There is a group of neighborhood dogs I call "the mommas and the poppas" who hang out next door when it is empty, and the pups must belong to them.

Perry being nice, but not really wanting them inside his house again, lol the pups seem to understand. 

I will let them come visit and play in the yard, and make sure there is fresh water, but other than that...they are on their own. #notmypuppies !!

Stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Gifts from the ocean

Growing up in southern California I saw my share of sea lions and walrus, when doing research for this Pacific coast I was surprised there werent more sea lions here in Manabi. This week changed that, between Crucita (south of me) and the Punta to the north, there have been THREE sea lions pictures. None have appeared injured or malnourished.  

Look at his smile. He was there on this rock from late afternoon thru the next day. Waiting for the sun to shine and posing for the many cameras.  Video shows him up and moving around the rocks, appearing to be very healthy, and the pictures show he is of healthy weight.

Late in the morning authorities put tape around, to keep people from possibly touching him.

This guy is a juvenile,  but the others pictured have been larger and older. Who knows what happened, but here they are. Glad to be able to see them, and glad they seem healthy. The reason they do not live here, I think is they like colder water. Maybe I should google it.

And our fishermen have been having great luck in the catch lately. Good thing, we all need some good news. 

Look at all those fish in that net! 

Hope all is well in your part of the world. Take care and stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Little by little

Ecuador has adopted the traffic light theme for our pandemic restrictions.  We recently changed from red to yellow...the beaches were to open tomorrow with green light, but they have decided to hold off until August 15th.

Restaurants have strict rules to comply with, and therefor the beach cabanas can not open. One thing is they need a thermometer that costs around $200, and the fine is probably just as high, not the kind of cash these folks have lying around.

Saw the other day that our local church is open for it's first mass in many months. 

Life goes on...the Ecuadorean are resilient and we will continue to live our best lives in paradise. More news to come...so stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Go home 2020

What in the heck is going on? Numbers keep rising, restrictions get less...and now snow!

Up in the Sierras near Quito. Not the first time, wont the the last,  but what a strange year it has been. Hope all is well in your part of the world.  I will try to blog, but there is just not much to report. Stay tuned, the adventure continues. 

What day is it?

I know it is Wednesday,  because I am going to see a friend, but other than that...quarantine day 1000?

I stopped looking at the numbers posted, one day they more than doubled, saying a bunch of test results had come in. Then the numbers went down...but they still climb, so who knows? We think the reporting and testing is so sporadic it is hard to believe anything.

This list was posted on the 8th of May. There were reports of cases in San alejo and San jacinto,  but have never had any confirmation.  

This one was posted 16th of May...yesterday it said Sucre had 56...what a mess!

The ATM here in town has been out of cash for at least a couple weeks, the bank is a cooperative and kinda low man on the totem pole is what Ive been told, when asked when the cash will get replenished.  The inside bank has reopened, and is conducting business almost as usual.

We still have red light restrictions,  curfew and weekend driving restrictions, tho it is not as enforced here as in the larger cities. Moto taxis and others are adhering to the restrictions so as not to get fined, so getting around is tricky at times. I know they did that for a reason...grrr.

In other news, the weather is cooling down. The winds have picked up, puttering in the garden and around the house, getting projects done. Something good has to come from this! So..as always, stay home, and stay tuned, the adventure continues. 

Mia and Perry

Lets take a break from the virus and the growing numbers for a minute.  My little kitten, going on 8 months old! Wow is becoming quite the little hunter. She slays tiny dragons...

And the occasional bird. Doves are my least favorite. As soon as she brings them in the house there are feathers everywhere! And they are darn difficult to sweep up. Perry will usually come and gently take it from her, and thankfully take the bird outside. (Where they have shared the spoils)

This little baby is some different bird, its feathers didnt fall off. Here Perry investigates if he needs to take it outside or not...he decided no, morning nap was more important. 

And just when I was wondering if she was going to catch mice...ta da! Our first little mouse the other night.

So proud of her, she also alerted me to a snake the other day. She was very intently looking at something, so I got up to check. Luckily he did not hang out long after he was discovered.  (And then I had the weeds fumigated)

Just another way to stay entertained during quarantine.  Stay home, stay safe and stay tuned, the adventure continues. 

CoVid continued

Another couple weeks have past, and the numbers are still rising. I dont even look at the stats from Guayas anymore, as Manabi is growing steadily. Still only 2 close by in Charapoto and 3 or 4 in Rocafuerte. None listed in Bahia, which people think is shady...and 1 reported across the Bahia Bay bridge in san Vicente. Portoviejo and Manta...uff!

And the country wide numbers

Saw a post outlining burial costs, no wonder people aren't cremating, it costs almost $500 where to bury is just a casket and some bricks to block up the tomb. A casket manufacturer is making very cheap models for the poorest families, maybe even giving for free.

Neighbors are helping each other as well. San Clemente has been doing food drives for their poorest, and fisherman are sharing their catches. Over 600 fish and 400 lbs of shrimp divided and given out over the past couple days. 

Because no one is sick in our little villages, some dont see the risk, but as cases rise, and Ecuador becomes number one in cases in South America, maybe people will listen. There are no cars allowed on the roads Saturday or Sunday, the past two weekends and the special permits for drivers after 2 pm curfew had to be recently changed, as people were not adhering to the essential items only rule. Guayas province, and Guayaquil are still a total mess, not sure what the military is doing there, but its not enough!

Hope you and yours all are safe, I happened to see several comments left the other day, thank you for your well wishes. Stay home, and stay tuned, the adventure continues. 

Government help, rescue or hindrance?

The government finally came up with some money for the poor...unfortunately it meant they had to leave their homes, and stand in line...

This was in Guayaquil,  but Charapoto had the same thing happen. One man said he got there at 730 am stood in line til noon, and THEN  was told he had to come back another day. They are only giving $60 at this time. I did read that some families would get a full monthly salary of $400...but my "go to guy" said it would be many hoops to jump thru, and not likely to happen soon.

In Portoviejo the military has come in, as they were not staying home. Ecuadors driving restrictions have increased (mainly larger cities) and NO ONE is out in their cars on Sunday. Taxis are allowed to work ONE DAY A WEEK (depending on the number of their taxi permit) And people are only allowed driving privilege one day a week.

Total country is mandated to wear masks in public, most were already doing it here in our small villages. Heard the brothels in Cuenca were asking to be labeled "essential", promised masks and gloves would be worn, but they deemed them NOT to be essential. 

Have also been seeing more of this,  and art classes online. Unfortunately not all have access to internet. We are all just doing our best to stay well.  Stay tuned, the adventure continues. 

Quarentine day ???

Looks like this little country of Ecuador has made some news, I have a Facebook friend who lives in Colombia  and she asked if I was ok. We are indeed burning bodies in the streets down in Guayas province.  A couple things, one it is not the actual cremation that is a problem,  there are at least 4 crematoriums in the country but the pick up of the deceased is the problem. Also, people are trying to get their deceased loved ones to other provinces for burial, and the authorities are not allowing that,  so they are burning them in the streets. No one seems to be sure about the contagion after death...

Here in Manabi,  they are taking every precaution they can think of...even here washing the parking lot and outdoor area of the local hospital. 200,000 gallons of disinfectant if I remember correctly. 

The numbers continue to climb, not by standards of other countries,  but it is not over. All we can do is stay home, and pray. 

Take care loved ones,  stay tuned...the adventure continues. 

Quarantine projects

I have been trying to keep busy while bannished to the house and yard for the past 16 or so days...my first project was painting a wall in the kitchen. Then the floor, which meant moving my shelving unit, which meant taking everything off and washing it all. It also meant finally getting the black hole that is under my sink organized. Awww, much better!

The next day I decided to do the other wall, and am very happy with the results.

I only had two rollers,  and were using them for the floor, so I had to use a brush, but I  like the textured look it gave. Keeps in the rustic-ness of the house. The window valance is what inspired the color scheme, and take note the valance was a skirt my mom brought one year. If the hardware stores werent closed, I would continue on, and finish the floor in the liv room, but hardware is non essential...

I brought in a table from outdoors, and had planned on sewing projects,  but havent got there yet. I hear there is time...how many more weeks of quarantine?

Yesterday I needed to change the sheets, which meant a good cleaning of the bedroom. Changed curtains, thinking paint, duh...and had to fix the window screen because the cat is using it to climb in and out. I had some tree trunks in the yard, from when the fence was built, brought one in the house, wrapped some burlap around it...and voile! A tree ramp for Mia

It takes her to the top where the ceiling and walls dont quite meet, and she can get in and out as she pleases. She also is using it to sharpen her nails. When the hardware stores open again, I will buy some rope and wind it around in some places for more traction. But for now, it works! Always something more to come, so stay tuned...the adventure continues. 

New curfew

As of a couple days ago, our mandatory curfew was changed from 7pm to 2pm! Now for the whole country. They have again changed the driving rules, depending on your license plate number, one is only allowed out and driving 2 days per week. No one without mask or gloves allowed in supermarkets, banking still done by outside windows only. With the new curfew,  stores, banks and restaurants have had to change their hours, so even now if we order dinner, it arrives before 2pm.

Ecuador's numbers have been climbing very slowly, thanks to the measures being taken early. I also believe that the spread in Guayas has really opened peoples eyes and they are taking quarantine seriously now. (I read an article this morning about the living condition in much of Guayas,  and brought to light how unbearable being cooped up would be, no wonder they didnt stay home. 6 or more adults in a house 10x10, hot, near 100F with kitchen in the middle, no breeze, no internet)

There have been issues of locals running out of money and supplies, no work means no money. Some of the politicians/assemblymen are donating their salaries to help the poor in their communites. Have also seen and heard of farmers bringing their crops to town center, as there is no market to sell them, at least people can take what they can use.

Also saw today that our canton (county) of Sucre bought a disinfecting mobile.  Said they are driving around after curfew, disinfecting with hypochlorite.  I had to look this up, and essentially it is similar to bleach,  so not too sure if it helps or not. (But the guy driving it is probably having fun)

Guess thats all for today. Stay inside, stay well and stay tuned, the adventure continues.