I decided to write letters to the precious moments of my life-the people, places and hopes both known and as yet unrealized. Have a look at where todays’s thoughts took me….Here
Tag: Costa Rica
Recollections
I have a new post up on Dreaming Existence
We are all challenged during this uncertain time in our history. I decided to share some of the beauty I have seen in the world over the years I have been rather addicted to photography. Check my posts out when you have time.
Meanwhile, be safe, pay attention, don’t judge and trust your true instincts. There is merit in most information but the delivery is not always accurate. Be kind to all humans. God does not love based on any of our human conditions. Age, race, sex, ideals, nationalities….the soul is all that is visible to the One who created it all.
Love and Light,
Cheryl
PS This fellow was a regular guest at our home in Costa Rica. I named him Gary. He loved bread crumbs. Oh, and do check out the new space. There is a different image there! A two-fer!
Whose Line Is It, Anyway? #1LinerWed Badge Contest
“Hey, whose line is it anyway?”
While many things brought me great pleasure in our months of living in Costa Rica, I have to admit that none could elicit a joyful thrill in my soul as much as my little Monotiti buddies showing up. In our little ‘jungle house’ they passed through every morning and every afternoon on their way to the beaches in search of food, fun and fooling around before the trek back to refuge of the jungle.
I have taken dozens and dozens of photos of these beautifully rambunctious and loving animals, mesmerized by their keen attention, their habitual nature and sharp memeory, and their very strong sense of community and affection.
I have enjoyed sharing one of our monkey pals with everyone over the past year as part of the #OneLinerWed prompt from dear Linda Hill. I decided to join the badge contest again and turned once more to my little friends in paradise, who always seemed to be ‘hanging on the line’ for one reason or another. The image at the top is my submission this year. If you aren’t weary of cuteness, then please vote for my pals. Just scurry over to the link above for Linda’s poll on Monday June 10th to vote! (Pssst…that’s tomorrow) You’ll see a lot of great entries too.
They would love the attention!
Pura Vida!
Bits of Paradise/#1LinerWeds
The weather forecast for San Isidro el General de Perez Zeledon….
Sunny. With a chance of hot. In the “Winter” of Costa Rica. Our cold months here are their most pleasant. Of course, in San Isidro most nights in the mountains are very cool to chilly. But the days are hot, so it was best to be prepared when visiting…the ticas know how to stay cool.
Find a nice spot (La Reyna), order some beers ( yes, that IS ice) and maybe some food….
Simole and delish. Then watch the world roll by from the balcony. Oh! And you musn’t forget the entertainment.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. We spent at least one Thanksgiving in the land of Pura Vida. No, it is not easy to find a turkey there. But, frankly, it was the last thing on our minds…
Visit Linda Hill’s page for more great #1Liner Weds posts.
A World of Life in One Country/Costa Rica
Imagine a land of bio diversity, a relatively small country that has an enormous variety of wildlife due to its neotropical climate and varying habitats. This peaceful, ecologically responsible land is home to more than 500,000 species, respresenting nearly 4% of the total species estimated worldwide. It is one of the 20 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. Of these species, a little more than 300,000 are insects.
The fact that, along with Panama Costa Rica formed a bridge between North and South America around three to five million years ago allowed the very different flora and fauna of the two continents to mix.
From the magic of washed up trees on a beach in Domincal, Nature’s gallery of artistic perfection-random and beautiful-to the most minute eco system warriors that might go unnoticed if not for my viewing life through the zoom lens of a Nikon camera-my constant companion when we lived there.
We discovered hundreds of leaf cutter ants right next to the beach, which extends from the jungle that borders the volcanic mountains of Costa Rica. Just look at the bio diversity in that last sentence!
From the rich colors of dozens of birds we saw every day..
To my friends, the iguanas and lizards that graced our doorstep with their presence daily, waiting for a few bread crumbs and a chance to be immortalized on digital memory!
Every day was filled with such diversity, often without leaving my front porch. I loved hanging out with the fun, freaky, fantastic family of nature in the land of Pura Vida.
Nature is constant. So must we nurture it, accept its presence and necessity in our lives and embrace all that the world has to offer. We were blessed to have known even a brief adventure in this paradise.
Stay tuned….
Once Upon a Time in Paradise
It’s sad to think it has been nearly four years now since we made the move back from Costa Rica. Since that time we have planned and been unable to revisit our second home on two separate occasions, both due to natural disasters.
In the past few days I have been going through photo files and reminiscing about our very special experiences there. I loved the photography opportunities almost as much as the people and all the unique places we were able to visit.
As I explore more files I will share more of our time there since many of my new friends here didn’t know me back in 2012 when I first began this blog as a way to share our lives in the beautiful country of Pura Vida!
Once upon a time in Costa Rica, we visited a spice farm named Villa Vanilla Spice Farm. As it happens, this tour was one of the first we took on our original journey to Costa Rica, long before we made the move. Once we lived there I had the opportunity to revisit the farm with my best friend when she came to visit us.
The farm grows orchids, which include the vanilla plant, which is actually an orchid. They also grow various bromiliads, cacao trees, carambola (star fruit), peppercorn plants and ceylon cinnamon trees. Ceylon Cinnamon is known as true cinnamon and is the variety you need for real cinnamon health benefits for blood pressure and blood sugar control. The best part of the tour is learning how the owners and workers grow, harvest and prepare these natural plants for consumption. Tasting was fun too. Near the end of the tour, there is a treehouse with a magnificent view where the tour ends with chocoalate and cinnamon specialty coffees, vanilla cookies and a very special mandarin lime cheesecake. Heaven!
Take a walk with me and I’ll share a few photos with you.
Sally and me
Brand new cacao blooms and pods
These are growing but not ready yet
When ready the cacao is yellow outside and has a pure white yummy flesh
Vanilla beans
There were so many gorgeous bromiliads
See the water collected on every petal?
And at the end, with the heat finally taking hold, we climb to the patio of the “treehouse” for a cool breeze, tasty treats and a breathtaking view. If you make it to the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area, this tour is one of the traditional ones but well worth the time and sweating.
I could sit there all day……and you can when you live there. 😉💕
Moments/#SoCS
Life is merely a string of now moments, some larger than life….
While others are magnificently subtle, creeping over you like the brilliance of a sunset and pulling you into their perfection…
One of my all time favorite moments-the completely unexpected! 🙊😂
Moments make a life. We need to remember that all moments which are savored are holy moments and try to savor every one for whatever it is bringing into our consciousness at the time.
Happy #Free48. That’s 2,880 moments…172,800 seconds’ worth of opportunity..waste not, want not.
This post brought to you via Linda Hill and her #SoCS prompt “start your post with a noun. “
Let Go…
Of my mango!
Once upon a time in Costa Rica…
I was fortunate to spend the better part of an hour taking photos and sharing the shade with this beautiful fellow on a hot, humid day in Quepos, Costa Rica. These iguanas are common there and can pop up anywhere at any time, and every time was a treasure to me.
“Be sure to capture the essence of my beard, Camera Lady.”
This post was brought to you by my faithful Nikon, our Pura Vida life while in Costa Rica, and the presence of some of Nature’s most magnificent inhabitants.
Happy #Free48!
Yes, We Have No Bananas! #1 Liner Wednesday
“Hey, Camera Lady! I heard you have bananas.”
“I saw you bring them inside, you know in that plastic bag.”
“Please, oh paleeease gimme one. Yes? Wait, I’ll be right back!”
“I hope you don’t mind that I brought a few friends. Now it’s a partyyyy!”
These beautiful squirrel monkeys, or ‘monotitis’, visited our little home during our first ‘life in Costa Rica’ most every morning and afternoon on their way to and from the beaches. This was my porch. It is really heartwarming when you learn to recognize each one by their distinguishing marks. I really miss these guys.
I am so proud to be sharing their images with you. In honor of the new badge, I wanted to share some more of my photos with you guys for Linda Hill’s #1 Liner Wednesday weekly event. Visit her blog for more great posts.
Sorry for being early but tomorrow promises to be a busy one! Happy Wednesday.
Blue is Half-Green/#SoCS
Well, today’s #SoCS prompt from Linda Hill is green.
But I was feeling more ‘blue’ this morning…
Yummmm!!!
But, in the spirit of compliance I will post a bit o’ green…in keeping with the spirit o’ the day, if ya’ be gettin’ me meanin’…..
Zen in green and violet
The Resplendent Quetzal, CR. One of my favorite moments.
Morning dewdrops
Come on, come on, turn yellow!
My night Cerrus plant. I miss you. 😔
Lunch time fun time with squirrels, FL
Fields in Nebraska
Hummingbirds at Savegre Mountain Lodge, CR
Shedding the old…
These are a few of my favorite greens….
What’s a green day without, well, Green Day….
Happy St Patty’s Day!
Dreaming Reality 
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