Chicho's home

I hesitate to show these photos.  When I go to Chicho's with his supplies, he always greets me with a big loud "Mickey".  In spanish, Mike, is pronounced Mickey.  I always want to know how he is doing and I always get a "regular" out of him.  It doesn't show very well but it's a dirt floor. 

 

And another special day

For those who don't know my step-dad, Chicho, this is him.  I deliver food to Chicho twice a month.  He lives up in the mountains, up a step, rocky trail then levels out to a nice meadow.  Anyway, Chicho hasn't been home the last 2 trips I've made.  So today I was going to drive up to his house again to check on him.  As I'm driving up the Volcancito road, there, standing in a driveway was Chicho.  What a great relief.  It turned out to be where his daughter lives.  Typical Panamanian ways, I was invited into their humble home to sit down and meet the family.  It really makes you feel good to be invited in. So I offered to take him home but only if I could bring him to our farm for a cup of coffee and a little tour.  At times like this I really wish I was more fluent in Spanish.  But somehow we communicate.  So this was my special day.

We had a nice visit today

Today we had a nice visit from our good friends Jim & Cindy and their good friends from Missoula, MT., Bob & Connie.  They wanted to get a look at Annie's Orchids.  She's getting a reputation now.  This is a sample of what they saw.  Enjoy!!

A home in El Banco

A couple of days ago a small group of Rotary members, spouses and friends, went to visit a home that had a grandmother (83) the mother and her disabled daughter living together in their home. It was a 2 fold trip.  The most important was to assess the needs of the family.  The daughter has to be carried down a fairly step pathway to the outhouse.  Also, there are no areas that the daughter can get outside and use her modest wheelchair. The ground is years of rutted clay.  There are no men living with the family.  Not great conditions.  It was decided to cement walkways and a patio so that she can become a little more mobile.  The second purpose was to show some of our new members what we do for projects and assistance.  

The photo above is their washing machine.  Notice the spigot at the top of the pole

They do cook with propane but this ??? is the preferred way.

This is the grandmother and the daughter.

 

This is one of Rotarys wheelchairs.  

Getting ready

These are exciting times.  Our daughter Jess & our 2 grandchildren, Effie & Fischer are coming back with me to Panama.  Sooo, it's work time to neaten up our finca.   

Holy Cow

WOW!!!  Look at the size of this Hibiscus bloom.  And they are all over the farm.

A day with the kids

Today was another special day.  Annie and I and a couple of fellow Rotarians spent time at Casa Esperanza which is a school for children of the farm workers.  Games, balloons and soccer along with lunch was provided.   

Our new trailer

Niko, on the tractor, asked for a trailer to haul the coffee up the hill.  This is the result.

This is what he got.

2 for 1

Today you get 2 thoughts.  1st is this beautiful rainbow that I just took from our porch.

2nd is this photo of our wonderful Christmas tree that was decorated and presented to us just before the holidays.

Coffee Harvest

Here's part of our staff.  Sylvia, the Jefe, is on the right.

This is a photo of how we measure the quantity so we can pay the workers.  One tank full earns them $1.75.

Another day for the birds

We are having absolutely beautiful weather now.   We have no workers for 4 days.  What a holiday. 

The view looking towards the Pacific on a spectacular day.

A sequence of how a hummingbird gets its food.  If you follow the photos, the 2nd one shows a little of its tongue as it goes back into its beak.