Mainly Animals

Window survivor

Thirsty Charko

 Well its been a quiet couple of days. Koda only killed one chicken but it was ours so thats OK. My mom and dad have arrived after their trip to Ecuador, which sounds pretty nice! You can check out their photos at:

www.flickr.com/photos/4u2lookat

We've been keeping busy around the farm doing this and that. On Monday we went out to Miguel and Suzanne's for my dads birthday. They made us a delicious dinner and we had Torta Chillena for dessert. Soooo goood!

Dogs crossing the river

Poppy

 Every now and then a bird smashes into our windows because they see the reflection of outside in them. We've tried numerous things to deter them (hanging random things in front of them, putting the curtains in the middle of the window, stickers on the glass) but they still hit them sometimes. So far we've had the little guy in the photo above, a humming bird and as i am writing this one just hit! So far they have all flown away all right, but they are pretty dazed for about 25 minutes. I usually put a basket over them so the dogs don't eat'em and them plunk them into a tree so they can recover in peace. They don't mind having their picture taken there so out of it!!!
                                                           Pura Vida                 Isaac

Birds nest behind our house

Our backyard

Chicken Eater

We’ve had an eventful couple of days, that’s for sure! And we’re sending our love, too!

bug petroglyph at Los Cusingos

Mom and Dad’s last day was spent wandering through Los Cusingos, Alexander Skutch’s bird sanctuary that is about 5 mins down the road. We followed a treasure map through the jungle all the way to some amazing petroglyphs. I’ve never seen so many in one place!

Aaaaand, well…we have a bit of a chicken killer on our hands. Not one of our chickens, (that might have been less terrible), but a chicken that was happily living down the road.

spiky jungle trunk

Yesterday Isaac and I went out for a walk with the dogs. We talked about whether or not Koda should be on leash, and how WEIRD that seems to Costa Ricans. According to Isaac, Ticos don’t “walk” their dogs; their dogs follow them wherever they go. They would never go for a walk with the purpose of exercising their dogs. Anyways, we had almost made the whole loop when we lost Koda to the next yard.  There was barking, and squawking, and flapping, and the next thing we saw was Koda pass by with a cute little grey chicken in his mouth. We’d been calling him, and he was not listening so off we both went trying to catch the beast. Fun, a game!!! Of course, he continued to dodge us until he ran up into a little wooded area, and returned, sans chicken. He knew he was in trouble, and if he didn’t, the tackle from Isaac made it clear.

walking the jungle path

We didn’t know whether or not he had killed the poor chicken, and no one was home at the house. Soooo, today on our way home from town, we stopped by.  Isaac had to deal with it, because I’m next to useless as far as explanations and apologies in Spanish go. It ended up being the house of a girl who went to school in Quizarra with Isaac, and remembered him and his brothers. She hadn’t even noticed a chicken missing, so her and Isaac took a little walk. They found the chicken, and yes it was dead. We apologized x 10, and offered money but she refused to take anything. She was really, really good about the whole thing and said she understood. It was sad though, because she had bigger hens for laying, and then about three little, docile chickens that were basically her pets and who came into her house, and followed her around. Of course, he had to eat one of the sweet ones!

alacran in the sleeping cabin

Oh, and to top that off, the day before yesterday Koda nipped a little boy, who was coming up to visit the horses with Rocio, on the bum! All I could hear was crying, and screaming in Spanish. I decided selfishly to let Isaac deal with that one. Of course, because we ARE NOT in Canada, the mom was tearing a strip off her little boy, and didn’t say one thing about the dog. Apparently she had told him to stay next to her, and not run off as they were walking up the driveway. He didn’t listen, and came flying past Koda, and turned around and went flying past him in the other direction. Koda gets excited about small moving things (chickens, niños…etc.) Costa Rica forgive us!

First Beach Trip!!

Playa Ventanas

On Thursday we all loaded into the truck and drove for an hour down to the pacific coast. We went to on of our favorite beaches Playa Ventanas. Its a pretty sweet little bay with these caves that the water comes ripping through at high tide. Spent the day there in the sun boogie boarding, chillen in the hammock and eating fruit. Naomi and I managed to only partially scorch the skin off our bodies!

Lookin badass

Leslie havin a read

 We took Koda with us, and although he thought the temperature in the truck on the way there and in the sun at the beach was a bit much, he had a great time romping around chasing lizards. On the way back through San Isidro we stopped in town to get some pizza from this great little pizza place and for some reason they served us beer in mugs. Not like beer mugs...coffee mugs, beats me! We also had to run around and find some aloe gel for our burns!

Lincoln enjoying the sun

Chickens!!

Turns out you just chuck 'em in a sack to get 'em home!

From left to right: Kurt Browning, James Brown,
 and Bill and Maion (the chickens sponsor parents from Canada)

Yesterday we ran over to Rocio's relative's place to grab us some chickens. They gots about 60 of them liven in a coop together, and were kind enough to sell us 4. Cost us bout 10 bucks a bird, I reckon, and they just shoved all 4 in one sack!  Toss the ol' sack of birds in the back of the truck and we were on our way!!

The First Egg

When we got home we set them little devils loose in our coop that Naomi and I fixed up and watched them check out their new digs. Di'nt take two shakes of a stick for them to settle in and the next morning, Boom ....an egg. Just like that!! Then I ate it.... it was tasty.

   Yeeee Haaaww!!!

                                        isack

Takin a look around

Rocio making tortillas

Tortillas y queso, Tico style!

I've made cheese! Well, Rocio made cheese and mom and I helped. My morning milking is getting better. I still only fill up one cup, but I feel like I'm improving. Even more, I have now witnessed that very milk get turned into cheese! Here are the details:

We started with skimming off all the fat from two big pots, which Rocio turns into natilla, a yummy sweet-sour creamy treat. We warmed up two huge stock pots of milk over the woodstove, then added a tiny bit of bacteria culture to each pot, gave it a good stir and let it sit for about 20 mins. After sitting, the milk gets really thick (like yogurt), so you stir it up and mix it a bunch which makes it look like cottage cheese. This sat for about 3 hours, while the curds and whey separated. We poured off the whey (which Rocio gives to the animals), and mixed salt in with the curds.

Now for the most ingenious part. We took a big piece of PVC piping that had a bunch of holes drilled into it, and draped an old T-shirt in the middle and over the sides. The curds were dumped in, filling it almost to the top. Next Rocio took a round piece of wood, that was cut to fit just inside the tube, and set that on top. On top of that went a big block of wood, that could fit inside the tube as the curds are compressed. On top of that goes a long piece of wood to act as a lever, one end jammed into the mesh of the window, and the other end, with a little gauge cut out, is used to hang the enormous bag of rocks from. And so it goes, slowly squeezing all the moisture from those curds! So smart!! The next morning, we unwrapped it and QUESO! Deliciously delicious!

Rocio also taught us all how to make fresh tortialls (without cheating with a tortilla press), and we cooked them over the wood stove. YUM!

Yesterday, we spent the morning in town at the feria, loading up on amazing fruit and vegetables (the pinneapples are 500 colones (about $1 each) so you can imagine how many we leave with!)

We saw another snake today, in the bushes on the side of the road (thankfully)! It froze, and squidged it's body up all wavy to look like a vine. It was the one time Isaac forgot him camera, but we're pretty sure it was a Bird Eating snake, and they are harmless.

I'm feeling so lucky these days, and have been enjoying this time with my mom and dad. No school, no planning, no stress - it's been amazing.

"Pura vida" as Pancho says every time he greets me, sending my love!

Naomi

Aventura!

Fill 'er up!

Yesterday we all went with Pancho up into the mountains to a town called Cedral. We were going to check out where they are building the new filtration system for the water that supplies the surrounding towns (and we did) but it also turned into a bit of an errand run for Pancho (it always does).After a beautiful walk up the valley, we got caught in an aguasero (rain storm) and got drenched to the bone. We camped out at someone's house under their eaves while we waited for the rain to let up, and tried to dry off a bit. When the rain finally let up Pancho was in no rush to get home and decided he wanted to bring home a kilo of trout (which you fish yourself from this guy's little pond).  So we watched Pancho fish, with some fishing line and some dog food - before long he had 5 truchas.

 

We hopped in the truck and were finally on our way! Half way home he pulls over this time to check out a "biogestor" or in other words "pig shit methane collection tank" The methane collected goes straight into his house and powers his stove!! Very cool, pretty stinky. Then Pancho disappeared into their house, and left us shivering outside, wondering what he was up to. 10 mins later, he strolled out, he was looking for some soccer ball...apparently. 

So, off we go again, still wet and cold, narrowly escaping the tractor beam of the local bar that seems to always pull Pancho in. Finally we made it home, but only after stopping quickly to pick up some cilantro starters fo his garden!

Pancho 

BANANA HUNT!!!

When we got home from our farm visiting trip, Naomi and I took off into the wilderness on a hunt for the elusive savage beast......the banana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We hacked our way through the overgrown coffee, fighting off mosquitos and terrifyingly spiky underbrush! Soon through the dense growth we spotted our prey! We approached cautiously as they spook easily, and with one swipe of the machete hacked the banana tree to death!!! (a banana tree only fruits once so this is actually quite a humane way of doing it, and baby banana trees sprout up all around the adult) We also brought down a bunch of Plantains!
Victory is ours!!!!!! We trudged back home with the fruits of our labour on our shoulders and heads held high!!

The spoils of our victory!!!

Paseo!

Huge bamboo

Wow, its been a busy couple of days! We went out to visit some old family friends on the other side of town in Pedregoso. First we stopped by Eds farm, he's one of the first gringos in the area and has a beautiful farm with tonnes of huge bamboo and some gardens.

 

Ed's cabina for students

He gives courses in natural medicine and gardening and always has a steady flow of gringo students flowing through....there was even a girl there from Vancouver.

Suzanne's garden

Next we popped over to visit his neighbors Miguel and Suzanne who have been there for about 20 years! 

Giant bamboo and Lincoln

Miguel had just left when we got there but we had a nice visit with Suzanne and she fed us the best Papaya we've ever had (turns out the flavour is locked in the shape of the papaya and the pear shaped ones are better than the blimp shaped ones! FLAVOUR SHAPES!!)

We did a quick walk around their farm, checked out the garden, the chickens and the river. They also have a bunch of students staying there and working for room and board.On our way home we stopped and got some groceries and ate some ceviche! mmmmmmmmmmm.......ceviche.

 

The river at our house

               Pura Vida!
                                       Isaac

                                                                                      
                                                                                                

Snake Food

Not that impressive

We've had our first (and hopefully last) snake bite of the trip! And when I say we, I mean Isaac. Yesterday, on our way up from the river, we ran into what we think was a Road Gaurder snake in the middle of the path. It was one of the few times when the dogs were behind us, and now we will send them first (not to be mean, but you know...). Isaac was first, and the next thing I knew I was staring at this huge (it was at least 1 inch in diameter, and maybe a meter long - think rattlesnake size) brown snake swirling at Isaac's feet. Of course, I started screaming, Isaac realized what was happening, and he did a little snake dance.

Koda and his new friend

 Koda walked right into the snake next, before it scooted off into the woods. I had a mini melt down, and Isaac managed to stay calm, bless his heart. We checked his feet, and sure enough on the back of his heel we found two little bleeding marks where the snake had bit him. We flipped through the snake book to see if we could figure out what type, and talked to Rocio. She said that if it was a Road Guarder, not to worry, and the fact that Isaac clearly wasn't feeling poisoned was a good sign! We both wore our gum boots to the river today.

Milking the cow with Rocio

My mom and dad arrived yesterday! It's so nice to have them here. They'll stay with us for 2 weeks, before heading home. Koda has made friends with the stray, Fierra. I guess they have stuff to talk about! More cow milking has us up nice and early, and Isaac has started his plans for the mini skate ramp behind the shed. So much fun!

                    
                                                             Love Naomi

The river

Aside from "The Pig"

At the waterfall

Well, it has been a very eventful couple of days for us! Yesterday, we hiked up the river to the waterfall with Sarah, Kyle, and the four dogs. The two big dogs did great, and the two little ones (after a few times of carrying across/”gently throwing” across the river) managed really well. We woke up to sun, so got on our way early before the rain came in the afternoon. It takes us about an hour to walk up the river to the waterfall, with lots of rock jumping and river wading. The pool has changed a lot since Isaac and I were here last, and even more since Isaac was little. Him and his brothers used to be able to jump off the top of the waterfall, into the pool. Now, when you stand directly at the base, you can pretty much touch the bottom. The hike up was beautiful, and the water is so lovely to swim in. We arrived home happy and tired, and the dogs were out for the rest of the day.

One pooped pup

This morning, I was up bright at early at 6:30 to go with Rocio to milk the cow. I thought this was going to feel very early, but I soon realized that the rest of Quizarrá has already started their day by 6:30. Pancho, for example, was out sharpening his knives, and getting ready for the pig (whom I met in the back of the truck) to be slaughtered. I'm giving Isaac the pleasure of explaining that adventure, because he took all the pictures while I peeked out from behind him! But back to milking the cow, it was so cool! It was tricky for sure, but I was able to fill a small cup up, and Rocio told me I was doing well for my first time! Now, Rocio on the other hand is basically a professional. She has been milking cows since she was 6, and in the time I filled up my small cup, she had filled 3 jugs! I plan to continue this early morning ritual, and she is happy to have my company!

By 10 o'clock, we had milked a cow, hid while the pig was being killed, and then witnessed the whole butchering process from start to finish. I felt so productive!

All our fruits and veggies

We headed into town, because the farmer's market in San Isidro happens every Thursday and Friday. We loaded up on delicious fruits and veggies, and a few tamales (yum!) We also ran into Isaac's very good friend, Miguel, and his mom Linda. Isaac and Miguel went to school together for Grade 4-6 in San Isidro, and were best friends during those years that Isaac and his family lived on the farm.

Papayas

We've been putting Koda in his kennel when we go into town (so far only twice), because we just aren't sure that he won't go off looking for us. I know eventually it won't be a problem, and he'll stay here with the other dogs, but he willingly goes in his kennel (which is amazing after his flight down), and this way we can be certain that he won't go on his own little adventure. The rest of the time, he is as free as when we met him, and sleeps right outside the screen door, so he can stare at us when he wants to. He follows us at the hip the minute we step outside, and seems to be playing more and more with the other dogs. We actually have a pack of 5 dogs - there is a stray called Fierra who decided that the galerón (a shed type building where the truck gets parked) is her new home. She won't come up to the house, but she spends her day lying on the driveway, and magically appears for every meal time. She is very sweet, and very scared, but we're hoping she will come around.

Well, after Isaac's shocker of a post, this might seem dull and boring, Isaac is currently making fun of "all my words," but I think it's exciting! Oh, one last note, we bought some chicken wire today, and will be buying 3 or 4 chickens from Rocio's brother who has a bunch!

Buenas noches,

Love Naomi

The Pig!

 Today we got to watch Pancho butcher a pig. We didnt watch as he took the pigs life, cut off his head and put it in a bucket of water, and strung him up to bleed out. Nope....didnt watch that. We did watch him skillfully butcher it though! WARNING: May contain graphic content unsuitable for some viewers (vegans).

Starting to peel of the skin (the skin is deep fried into a local delicacy "Chicharrones")

Peeling off that good ol' leg skin!

Popping out the guts!(They dropped them into a sack!)

Looks like some liver.

Trusty hacksaw!

 The spine

After the spine was hacksawed off.

Cuttin up the ribs.

Yup, cut up a whole pig with a knife and a hacksaw. Some neighbors took away the head and a whole pitcher full off blood, god knows what they will do with that! Feed their vampire bat colony?!?!

We also went into town and blah blah blah , who cares !!!! We saw the inside of a pig fall out!!!!!

Isaac