Chiggers

The farm would be perfect if it weren't for the dying animals and the m.effen chiggers!  Chiggers are very very small tick like thingers that embed in the skin, salivate and cause your skin to rot.    The chiggers then eat the rotten skin.  They hang on for a couple days then drop off. They itch worse then the worst mosquito bite! I am covered with them.  I look like I have the measles.  They love the hot spots so under my bra and underwear is even worse.  Coco, has been rubbing him self down with diesel to prevent them and he only has a few.  So the other day, after many days of suffering and resisting  the diesel treatment for fear of a chemical burn or illness from diesel absorption, I gave in.  covered my legs and wiped down all the bites and my back.  After 3 days of this the bite had gotten better but my skin is now blistered and itchy!  I am no longer using diesel, and Coco now believes me that it's not good for skin. haha  So I've been soaking my diesel burned skin in the river and using a thing similar to Vics to keep them from getting on me.  I've also been wearing rubber boots and soaks to go out in the yard.  They aren't comfy and they are hot, but I do have less and less bites to scratch. 

Yesterday the farm owner was here and he and Coco plumbed the sink and toilet.  I no longer have to flush the toilet with a bucket of water.  They also fixed the water pressure so the cold shower is not like a waterfall.  I will be ready for swimming in Oregon when I get home.  Cold water's got nothing on me now! haha  Actually, of all the "comforts" of home, hot water is the one thing I miss.  But I just try to shower mid day when I'm hot and then before it gets too cold in the evening.  I'd like to say I'm getting more use to it, but I'm really not sure. 

Cheese!

Yesterday I sort of helped make cheese, well, I watched.  Today after I made jungle fresh banana pancakes, Coco started making the cheese.  It's a nice treat!  Our primary diet has been rice, beans and eggs.  But I'm not complaining.  There is a huge ass mango tree about 30 feet from the house so that has been great.  So much better than the mango in the grocery stores, even the grocery stores here.

I'm just rambling now!  I will attempt to update my back log of hand written blogging sometime soon.

Sunday Phobia

My entire life I've hated Sundays, well, my entire life starting with 1st grade.  Sunday always represents the upcoming dreaded Monday. School or work both bring the dreaded start of the week.  I've been unemployed for 1.5 years now, if you can believe that!?  I can't really believe it but it's true.  And just today, this Sunday May 27th on this lovely farm in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica am I not filled with dread for Monday!  Success!

I have however been doing laundry by hand with a scrub brush to get the mud out for the last 2 hours.  At least the water flows without me having to pull it from a well.  Water is abundant on the farm and is running in the house most of the time. 

Happy Sunday!  I just realized that maybe I'm not filled with dread because I actually realized that tomorrow is Memorial day and there is no work or school!  :)  I hope that's not the case!

In other news, I'm pretty excited to now know how to survive without refrigeration, electricity or gas.  Water is still a necessity though!  

love & bunny kisses,

the many stages of milk on the farm!  in the pitcher is sour cream, in the pot is freshly boiled milk, in the green container the makings of cheese!  and yes, i've eaten all these and have had no issues!

laundry!

The new improved cleaned up kitchen!  Coco and I have been slowly reorganizing and cleaning up many things around the farm!  If i was staying longer I'd redo part of the kitchen roof.  It's too low over the stink and conducts heat like crazy!  

Serena 

Technology Hits the Farm!

 

Today I got my hands on an internet stick.  It's a usb sort of thinger that allows internet from anywhere!  Including the middle of nowhere!  It's slower than I'd like but here are some photos!

Qucikie? Anyone?

I'm only in town for a couple of hours.  There is no internet on the farm. No hot water, spring water from the mountain is piped in.  We cook on a fire, no refrigeration, and no real electricity.  We have 2 solar panels but sometimes that's not enough to charge the phones and use the lights.

Death total:
one rooster - bone disease, could no longer walk.
one dad bunny - we don't know why
one mom bunny - we dont know why, died the day after the dad bunny
Four 1 week old bunnies left behind by mom.  I only had cow milk to feed them.  They were too young!
One baby bunny died of unknown causes
One baby bunny didn't come home after they day outside
One baby bunny due to a snake bite, we think.

I have 3 baby bunnies of 10 left.  I cried a LOT this week.  The bunnies all come to be when I call "here baby bunbuns!"

The last 2 days we've had to chase down the bull 3 times.  Yesterday we got a new mom and baby cow.  We now have 3 mamas, 3 babies and one naughty bull to care for.

More details soon!  I only have limited time in town today for interneting!  xo

Movin' On Up

To a deluxe apartment in the sky...
Well, not exactly.  My vision of success and paradise are much different than most of the people I know, as I've slowly began to realize.  I have almost no desire to "keep up with the Joneses", I say almost because at times I may wish for a car with heated seats or a house with a fireplace. But for the most part my goals, dreams, desires are not typical.  I want simplicity.  I want a farm.  I want to see new things.  I do not want sit in an office.  Living in a van has always been one of my fantasies. Traveling and painting living off the land excite me.  My therapists calls my ideas of the perfect life "an alternate lifestyle", and I'm ok with that. 

So, in a slightly strange turn of events, here I am!  Arrived, if you will, to the perfect lifestyle.  At least for now.  I'm living on a farm, where I don't pay rent or for food.  There are 2 pigs, 2 mamma cows, 2 baby cows, a bull, many chickens or all ages with eggs getting ready to hatch, a rooster, 3 geese, 5 or 6 ducks, one boy dog named Poco Yo, and his puppy daughter Osa! The only thing missing is some kitties!  However, there are Puma near by! 

Just when I was able to sleep past 6 am I'm now waking up between 4 and 5am again!  Time to feed the animals and milk the cow!  Don't worry, I still have a man with a machete to keep me safe!

Entrance

really?  That isn't a fat roll, I have my skirt rolled up to hike! haha

Resting at the top of the water supply hike.

2nd floor aka bedroom

stairs to 1st floor

What I see when I open my eyes!

I love nice cocks!

Poco yo!

"wait, i'm trying not to pose"

The farm

La Casa!

Martina! She's a smart duck!

Osa the puppy!

Stove. look closely under the stove!

Poultry Snack Time

oink!

"hows my hair look?"

Porch dining area

She's nesting under the stove!

Spare Change?

I just changed my flight!  I was scheduled to return on May 15, that's in only 9 days.  too close for comfort and I have yet to see the norther part of CR or Nicaragua.  Soooooo, that is my plan.  Not sure when I'm headed north but it will be soon.  My debit card expires the end of May so I will be unable to get cash in June.  I can't really rely on the postal service tho I could try to have it mailed to my friend at the school.  If it gets lost I'm no worse off!  :)  

Oh! My new ticket is for June 16th.  I'll turn 43 here in CR(if i don't change my mind again) and plan for my continued midlife crisis breakdown to happen in a tropical paradise of sorts. 

Missing you and wishing you were here!
xo!

Change is the Only Constant

Minutes ago I was talking about change with the director of the school. Discussing how most people can or wont change.  That without their current familiar problems to identify themselves they are left lost and unsure of who they are.  Personally I love change, or at least I think I do.  But how does change help me in the confusing situation I am in.  I'm finding myself in this place, emotionally attached to someone I probably shouldn't be for many reasons.  And I'm not blaming him for anything, I'm the only one to blame for how I feel and where I am.  This may not make much sense to you but I needed to write it. 

Yesterday I had made the official decision to stay away until late June or early July, but today I'm rethinking that. What will it do to benefit me?  Will I just continue to spend money I don't have, not paint, not learn enough Spanish and in the process develop a broken heart? Should I just cut my ties now and flee?  I wish I knew.  I also wish I knew what happened to the brick wall that used to surround my heart.  What happened to the protector part of my personality?  Did he go on vacation and decide not to come back too? 

In the mean time, here are some photos from my recent trip to Panama!

The Hostel

My New Casa in Panama

View from the Horse

Panama

On My Horse

My Horse, Colorado

Hot Spring Relaxing!