Brought to you by.... The SUN!
YAY! Finally, the sun peeked out, and our cold snap (cross your fingers) is over!
Most of today was sunny, with a light breeze.
Temperature inside = 72F
Humidity inside = 64%
Weather Opinion: YAY!
Weather Advice: Go Outside and Play!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Anticipation!
Our first visit to Costa Rica was nearly 5 years ago - oh, how things change! Our original plan was to pack up everything, sell the house, ship all our stuff to Costa Rica, and settle in. We ended up doing things a *lot* differently! We did what I now call a "slow move" - in the first 4 years, we made several trips, living in different towns each time. Each new time, we brought suitcases of things we missed the last time. Some places were furnished, some were not. As we bought and brought the few necessities, subsequent trips back to the states meant we had to find a place to store our Costa Rican things. First we left a few bins with friends, then we rented a small storage area. On the other end, when we finally moved out of our state-side house, we also stored a few items - we used these basics each time we came back. We finally trimmed our state-side stuff down to less than half a storage unit, and... YES! *Shipped* our stuff!
The main reason for shipping via container, instead of continuing our suitcase method was that we finally decided it was worth it to move our mattress here. And, of course, it is too big to ship any other way. You may think "gee, they're awfully attached to a mattress!" - and you would be right :-D. We looked at mattresses here, and found one that was close enough. If we hadn't already owned one with plenty of use left in it (stored in the states), we would have bought the one here - it was a cushy king for $1600, at Artistica. When we checked around on shipping costs, we found that we could get our mattress here for about a third of that. On top of that, we weren't going to use it anymore in the states, and there was no good way to get rid of it - basically, you can't give it away, and you have to pay to take it to the dump!
Once the decision was made (waaaaay back in August!), we found that it was worth it to add in a few more items - there was room in the container (shared with others), and didn't add unreasonably to the cost. We said we could wait for several months until the others were ready to ship. Fortunately we really were flexible on the date, because it moved - first it was going to be late September. Then late October, then mid-November, then late November... Right before Christmas, we heard that the container was in Costa Rica, and would get through customs the next week. Frankly, we were surprised, because most government offices are completely shut down the last half of December and the first week of January (and very slow on either end!). But I guess customs is a different story. Maybe...
Sooooo... NOW Anticipation *strikes!* If all went as planned (snort), we could have our things delivered Monday, or maybe Tuesday. We don't hold our breath, but we do move some furniture around and out of the way. Tuesday comes. And goes. Now Wednesday... Don't start thinking about unpacking. Don't start imagining feasting your eyes on long-stored books. Don't, and I mean *really* don't think about falling into sleep, blissfully tucked between your favorite comforter and your oh-so-perfect-for-you mattress!
The main reason for shipping via container, instead of continuing our suitcase method was that we finally decided it was worth it to move our mattress here. And, of course, it is too big to ship any other way. You may think "gee, they're awfully attached to a mattress!" - and you would be right :-D. We looked at mattresses here, and found one that was close enough. If we hadn't already owned one with plenty of use left in it (stored in the states), we would have bought the one here - it was a cushy king for $1600, at Artistica. When we checked around on shipping costs, we found that we could get our mattress here for about a third of that. On top of that, we weren't going to use it anymore in the states, and there was no good way to get rid of it - basically, you can't give it away, and you have to pay to take it to the dump!
Once the decision was made (waaaaay back in August!), we found that it was worth it to add in a few more items - there was room in the container (shared with others), and didn't add unreasonably to the cost. We said we could wait for several months until the others were ready to ship. Fortunately we really were flexible on the date, because it moved - first it was going to be late September. Then late October, then mid-November, then late November... Right before Christmas, we heard that the container was in Costa Rica, and would get through customs the next week. Frankly, we were surprised, because most government offices are completely shut down the last half of December and the first week of January (and very slow on either end!). But I guess customs is a different story. Maybe...
Sooooo... NOW Anticipation *strikes!* If all went as planned (snort), we could have our things delivered Monday, or maybe Tuesday. We don't hold our breath, but we do move some furniture around and out of the way. Tuesday comes. And goes. Now Wednesday... Don't start thinking about unpacking. Don't start imagining feasting your eyes on long-stored books. Don't, and I mean *really* don't think about falling into sleep, blissfully tucked between your favorite comforter and your oh-so-perfect-for-you mattress!
Monday, December 27, 2010
San Jose Tope
The day after Christmas, San Jose has its big Tope (horse parade)! This year they expected over 6,000 participants, and many many more in the crowd. Check out this short video someone took at this year's tope - click here. Notice how windy and chilly it is...
Here are some pictures from last year - notice the sun :-)
Weather report: overcast, drizzly, 70 km/h wind, 62F outside (normal for December is 72F), 66F inside, 66% humidity
Weather opinion: UGH!
Weather advice: stay inside, bake something, go see the tope next year :-S
Here are some pictures from last year - notice the sun :-)
Weather report: overcast, drizzly, 70 km/h wind, 62F outside (normal for December is 72F), 66F inside, 66% humidity
Weather opinion: UGH!
Weather advice: stay inside, bake something, go see the tope next year :-S
Friday, December 24, 2010
A New One!
Look what I brought home!
I started this in *October!* I finally finished it - now it needs framing. But I think I'll keep it on my wall for a little while before I cart it off again.
PS - this one is acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"
PS - this one is acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Framed!
I've been framed! Well, a couple of my paintings have been, anyway ;-)
My new life now includes painting sessions with my "painting buddy" - I feel I can say that I paint now because I go to friend Linda's place almost every Friday, and we spend the day just painting - it's officially one of those pass-times that get me into "the zone," and nothing else enters my sphere of awareness - how wonderful to have found another of those :-D.
The nice thing is that I have an awful lot of bare walls to fill up, and Rick seems to like what I paint. I looked around a bit for a framing place. I had no idea of what was a reasonable cost, and what could be done with a painting, so it took some looking, asking and comparing. At the high end was an art gallery in San José - they would mat and frame with glass my small painting for c20,000 (about $40). I kept that in mind, and checked in (and tried to check in) at a couple of other places. I finally took my painting to:
Miró Galeria y Enmarcado
San Pedro, Barrio La Garanja,
de Ferreteréa El Mar 100 sur y 25 este
2280-0672 / 2283-8081
They quoted c9,000 ($18) for double-mat, non-glare glass and frame. They even have a discount for artists who are framing their own work! Hmmm - I left my painting there, and picked it up a week later.
I decided to leave my next one too! (The larger one was c15,000, and ready in 2 weeks because of the Xmas season.)
My new life now includes painting sessions with my "painting buddy" - I feel I can say that I paint now because I go to friend Linda's place almost every Friday, and we spend the day just painting - it's officially one of those pass-times that get me into "the zone," and nothing else enters my sphere of awareness - how wonderful to have found another of those :-D.
The nice thing is that I have an awful lot of bare walls to fill up, and Rick seems to like what I paint. I looked around a bit for a framing place. I had no idea of what was a reasonable cost, and what could be done with a painting, so it took some looking, asking and comparing. At the high end was an art gallery in San José - they would mat and frame with glass my small painting for c20,000 (about $40). I kept that in mind, and checked in (and tried to check in) at a couple of other places. I finally took my painting to:
Miró Galeria y Enmarcado
San Pedro, Barrio La Garanja,
de Ferreteréa El Mar 100 sur y 25 este
2280-0672 / 2283-8081
They quoted c9,000 ($18) for double-mat, non-glare glass and frame. They even have a discount for artists who are framing their own work! Hmmm - I left my painting there, and picked it up a week later.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Fruit Pudding - Yummmm!
Fruit Pudding
Cook over low heat, about 5 minutes, till bubbly and fully incorporated:
~~
1 cup water
6 Tablespoons powdered whole milk
2 Tablespoon sugar
6 egg yolks
dash salt
1 cup mashed fruit*
1/4 cup Flor de Caña 7 year old rum
Mix water and milk (I like to put them in a lidded jar, and shake it well). In a heavy pan, scald milk with sugar. Beat egg yolks with salt until very thick. With wire whip, quickly stir a small amount of hot milk mixture into the yolks, then add the yolks slowly to the hot milk mixture, while stirring quickly. Cook on low heat, stirring gently, a minute or two. Strain pudding and return to clean pan.
Add rum and fruit; stirring gently, cook 2-3 minutes until pudding thickens.
Pour into ramekins, over the fruit mixture. Cover and chill.
Makes 4-6 servings.
* Fruit - I used mashed bananas. Other fruit to try: mango, strawberries, papaya, starfruit (seeded), or any other easily-mashable fruit.
Notes:
Cook over low heat, about 5 minutes, till bubbly and fully incorporated:
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup mashed fruit*
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 Tablespoon butter
~~
1 cup water
6 Tablespoons powdered whole milk
2 Tablespoon sugar
6 egg yolks
dash salt
1 cup mashed fruit*
1/4 cup Flor de Caña 7 year old rum
Mix water and milk (I like to put them in a lidded jar, and shake it well). In a heavy pan, scald milk with sugar. Beat egg yolks with salt until very thick. With wire whip, quickly stir a small amount of hot milk mixture into the yolks, then add the yolks slowly to the hot milk mixture, while stirring quickly. Cook on low heat, stirring gently, a minute or two. Strain pudding and return to clean pan.
Add rum and fruit; stirring gently, cook 2-3 minutes until pudding thickens.
Pour into ramekins, over the fruit mixture. Cover and chill.
Makes 4-6 servings.
* Fruit - I used mashed bananas. Other fruit to try: mango, strawberries, papaya, starfruit (seeded), or any other easily-mashable fruit.
Notes:
- The rum could be removed (add 1 Tablespoon vanilla) or changed to go with the fruit (Grand Marnier comes to mind).
- Likewise, you can add any spices that seem to go, like cinnamon with papaya. Or fresh chopped mint with starfruit.
- You can mix fruit as well: try sliced kiwis in the bottom, and mashed strawberries in the pudding. Or pineapple/papaya. Or... :-)
- Normally, whole milk is made using 3 tablespoons of powder to 1 cup water. Doubling the powder like this makes it creamier.
- This can also be served hot.
- I did something similar using Miel de Chiverri (available around Easter in Costa Rica) - it was ok, but needed something (not yet sure what that is).
- You can freeze the egg yolks if you first mix them with the sugar. Then just put them and the salt right in the pan when heating the milk. They can even still be slightly frozen! If you do this, do *not* skip straining the mixture!
Replacing Glassware: the Never-Ending Story
Clink, clink, CRASH! There goes another one!
Tile floors and glassware just do not mix! I love tile floors for so many reasons, but there is just that one thing that I would like to be different. One little bout of fumble-fingers, and your glass is toast. Then you have to wear shoes around the house for a few days while the glass slivers overcome their shyness.
The fortunate thing is that we got over any sentimentality long ago - glasses are just glasses. When we run low, we make a run to the store and stock up again.
And we do run low - I think my record is three broken glasses in two days. One glass made it through a single pouring of wine before it cracked. We still have one glass from our original batch, but I'm thinking of getting a pool going for it's crash date...
Tile floors and glassware just do not mix! I love tile floors for so many reasons, but there is just that one thing that I would like to be different. One little bout of fumble-fingers, and your glass is toast. Then you have to wear shoes around the house for a few days while the glass slivers overcome their shyness.
The fortunate thing is that we got over any sentimentality long ago - glasses are just glasses. When we run low, we make a run to the store and stock up again.
And we do run low - I think my record is three broken glasses in two days. One glass made it through a single pouring of wine before it cracked. We still have one glass from our original batch, but I'm thinking of getting a pool going for it's crash date...
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