The Oxen have been busy!

The Oxen have been busy!
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

This morning I was called to the scene of a workparty ripping lumber for a house being constructed down in the river bottom. These oxen were one of two sets on the scene who had the really hard job of pulling the felled trees to the saw.

Saturday morning

Ancho and I had our first houseguest last night. My friend Ceclila showed up in Bajo Calvo and decided to stay the night. We all huddled around the computer and listened to the UK game online while I tried to explain what was going on in the game.... What a great game! My only lament is that I could not see it on t.v. It sounded like Randolph Morris really came through for us just when we needed it. Que bonito! Anyhow, it was fun to have a houseguest (especially one who did not yet know the pleasures of the game and art of basketball) and Cecilia and I hung out a little this morning and chatted over coffee and tea. Then I drove her to Bajo Jorco to catch the bus.

Yesterday Ancho and I did a very difficult walk up and then down down down to the river. It was about 5 or 6 miles, but felt like more because of the steepness of the terrain. It was very hot too. We traveled on the road the leads to a little pueblo called Toledo, from Toledo the road drops down into the river basin and tons of farmland. Basically from Toledo to the river you are more likely to encounter a cow than a human. It was very peaceful. Anyway, it was a good haul and when we returned is when I ran into Cecilia, so it was a very nice Saturday.

Ancho and I are thinking about climbing to the tallest peak here in Costa Rica called Chirripo. It is very doable and does not require special gear. It's about 11 or 12,000 feet tall and on clear days you are supposed to be able to see the Pacific and the Caribbean. Sounds groovey!

My studies are going pretty well. I have begun a household livelihood census for the community where I live and also conducted some interviews. I am writing fieldnotes every night/or morning also. They are amassing quickly.

Today, Ancho and I are going to a futbol game in Bajo Jorco, a community about 2 km from here. Later, I am taking my neighbors to another community about 5 km away called Bajo Vargas to play bingo. I believe the Bingo will offer excellent participant observation opportunities.

All here is fine this morning. It is pretty cool and overcast, which is nice for a change. We do our laundry bu hand so having a cool morning to work is always welcome.

The little calf that lives in the yard below us got free and ran around the yard several times kicking up its back hooves. Ancho is sitting on the front porch reading and drinking his coffee.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a big deal here as one might imagine. The students are off from school all next week and there are many processions and activities associated with Easter and Good Friday. I am probably going into San Ignacio Sunday evening to see the procession there. I have been told that there are flowers everywhere and the street to the church is paved with petals, at least I think this is what I was told.

Well, I just wanted to write a little something about what was happening down this way. I hope all is well with everyone up North and that Spring soon finds you all warmer and with lower heating bills.

Much love,
Ancho

El Dragon

El Dragon, Pigs, et. al 012
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

Ancho's photo really captures our steep hike on El Dragon, one of the bigger mountains near by. A family from the community we live in went with us and we had a great day, except when Lefty (I) freaked out on the side of a rock and began hyperventilating because I had vertigo. Luckily, good old calm Ancho guided me to safety and sanity, as usual. It was a beautiful day.

Fiesta in our community

Fiesta in our community
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

A particularly good horseman. He deserved his own photo.

More caballos!

More caballos!
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

Today was the last day of the fiesta here. (It ran the past two weekends.) So these are folks on horseback getting ready to do about a two hour ride through the countryside.

Sweet hands

Sweet hands
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

I love this photo even more than the giant cauldron of liquid sugar cane! It is perhaps one of the best photos I have ever taken, in my opinion and I owe it all to my sister who gave me a camera for Christmas, otherwise what would I have done? The hands are the hands of my neighbor, who has lived in this area his entire life. We buy eggs from him and his wife and we also share a telephone line that permits me to upload these photos in the first place! They also give us bananas all the time. (This area is ripe with banana trees...ha ha). We baked them a banana bread for being so nice.

Taken long ago on a beach far, far away

Taken long ago on a beach far, far away
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

This is from Playa Naranja when we first arrived in Costa Rica in February. I am not that clever to have caught this little dude... I think he was recently dead when I found him.

Sweet hands

Dulce (Cana Molida) 019
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

I love this photo even more than the giant cauldron of liquid sugar cane! It is perhaps one of the best photos I have ever taken, in my opinion and I owe it all to my sister who gave me a camera for Christmas, otherwise what would I have done? The hands are the hands of my neighbor, who has lived in this area his entire life. We buy eggs from him and his wife and we also share a telephone line that permits me to upload these photos in the first place! They also give us bananas all the time. (This area is ripe with banana trees...ha ha). We baked them a banana bread for being so nice.

Dulce

Dulce (Cana Molida) 004
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

This cauldron looks like it is full of lava, but it is actually liquid sugar cane being boiled in a trapiche set up behind where we live. I love this photo, it is one of my most favorite. I use it on my screensaver. I know it is trying to tell me some secret about Costa Rican Campesino culture that I have yet to comprehend!

We are not held hostage

Not that anyone actually hears any news from Latin America up there, but just in case CNN, Reuteurs, BBC, Knight-Ridder, or any other news agency FINALLY picks up the story that a hostage stand off at a bank in Monteverde has left several people dead, we are not among the dead. Anyhow, it's been on tv here for 24 hours now, so it is sort of hard to believe that it is not as relevant as the lead that CNN offers on its Latin American online coverage= their lead is about the arrest of a donkey. Go freaking figure. I guess the federales here worked out a deal with the international media to keep the story hush hush. Monteverde is only one of the top tourist attractions in Costa Rica. Oh yes, Melissa, should you read this, the hostages were taken at the Banco Nacional in Santa Elena, where we once upon a time accesses some cash.
We hope everyone is well in Gringoland. -Ancho and Lefty

More photos

Here are some more photos from our life here down on the farm. Sorry to see the cats lose today. Boo hoo. Good news from our homefront. We are sharing a phone line with the neighbors and can now access the internet from our house! We can buy internet cards in the city that allow us a certain number of hours. So, please let us know what is going on in your world when you have a moment. Ancho is reading and I am revelling in the ability to connect, if only quite slowly, to the internet.

Aguas Termales

Aguas Termales
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

La Playa

La Playa
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

Dead Steer

Dead Steer
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

Dulce

Dulce
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

Saturday Hair Cut

Saturday Hair Cut
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

Saturday Hair Cut

Saturday Hair Cut
Originally uploaded by ancho and lefty.

Hot water at last

We wanted to write in that we achieved hot water with the help of Doña Flor and Fabian. IT only took a little time to get it all set up and we have not electrocuted ourselves, yet. We are happy to hear of UK´s victory over Alabama and are plotting ways to follow the tourneys (sec and ncaa). What else? We have been getting quite settled in and Lefty here is on the verge of beginning data collection by conducting a household census of the community where she lives. Ancho just purchased an electric oven and is getting excited about the possibilities of baking. Can someone email us the OLD, not new version of the JOY of Cooking Pancake Recipe. We forgot to bring it. We would like the old edition because the new edition´s version comes out more like crepes than like pancakes. That´s all for now folks. Much love, Ancho and Lefty.