The Last Hurrah: Blog

Mini-Vacation at the Beach

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:03:21 -0500

Beth and I took a mini-vacation on Sept. 8th, 9th, and 10th. We left Paso Ancho around noon on Sept. 8th and drove to our first destination, Las Olas Resort. Beautiful place near David, Chiriqui. A little over an hour's drive from us. Since this is the low season, the rates were good. But we were not prepared to be two of just a handful of people staying there. It reminded us of the Lookout Hotel in The Shining! We kept waiting for Jack Nicholson to jump out at us.

Las Olas (The Waves) is 18 km of beachfront on the Pacific Ocean. Black sand. It is a large development and they are also building condos there. We had the beach to ourselves. It is weird looking at such a huge expanse of beach and not seeing another single person. The grounds are beautifully planted with exotic flowers. Birds of Paradise, hibiscus and others which I didn't recognize. We had dinner there and breakfast the next morning and then drove on to our next destination, Puerto Armuelles.

Puerto Armuelles seemed to be a poor little town. It used to boom until Chiquita Banana (United Fruit) decided to pull up stakes and leave. Now one of the petroleum companies has built a huge pipeline and refinery near the town.

We drove along the waterfront and found a restaurant (Restaurante y Pizzeria-Don Carlos) for fish and seafood. Fresh and delicious. I had popcorn shrimp and Beth had some kind of fried fish. The owner, Alberto, was very nice. We asked him about a place to stay the night there in P.A. Unfortunately, there are apparently not too many of those.

However, he knew of another place, Hooked On Panama, a few miles down the coast so we drove there. Another beautiful place on the ocean. Their specialty is fishing expeditions. You can find them at hookedonpanama.com. Not many people there either. It is the rainy season here. We had a very gracious host at H.O.P. They served a great dinner at the clubhouse and then fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, toast and jelly for breakfast next morning.

We left there around mid-morning on the 10th and drove to Paso Canoas located on the Costa Rica-Panama border for a bit of shopping. There's a Duty Free Zone there where some prices are much cheaper.

We arrived home around 1:00 P.M. It was good to get back on the mountain. The temperature down near sea level was 95�F. We were melting! When we got back home, it was a pleasant 75�F.

See photo album "Mini-Vacation at the Beach" for pics of our journey.

The ocean's a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there!

Remodeling the Little Casa - Phase II

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:55:15 -0500

Life here has become so hectic it is unreal! The house has been a shambles for almost two months now with construction going on. There is so much to do. We are making headway but sometimes it doesn't seem like it. It throws me into a fit of depression from time to time but, fortunately, I've been able to climb out of it each time. Nevertheless, it is all very tiring and stressful.

I've put up a new album (Remodeling the Little Casa - Phase II) with some representative pictures of our efforts here.

We blocked in that front porch and incorporated it into the living room by removing the existing front wall. Windows have plywood over them right now but we're supposed to get some windows today (June 20th). They're being made. The now-enclosed back porch has been incorporated into the back bedroom with an archway knocked out to join the two.

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am with the new kitchen. The man who built these cabinets is also making a dining room table for us which will be situated, mounted on the wall on the living room side just beneath the pass-thru from the kitchen. It will be resting on metal cariolles mounted to the wall with no table legs to get in the way. He is also building open shelves for up above the kitchen counters for dishes. And a six-foot, 14" deep wall unit/pantry for the wall opposite the kitchen cabinets. And he is building chests and shelves for both downstairs bedrooms.

Originally, the bodega was our kitchen and the current kitchen was the dining room.

The bodega will now house the washer, dryer, laundry tub, water pressure pump, and an on-demand propane hot water heater mounted on the wall. There is also an inside stairway in there giving access to the upstairs so we were able to take down the old spiral staircase which we had at the front of the house.

Everything is in various stages of completion so it's still very chaotic around here. Concrete dust and grime all over the place. It makes it difficult to maintain some order in the activities of daily living.

If I owe you an e-mail or some other communication (which I probably do!), I apologize. Under the circumstances, I'm doing the best that I can. Eventually, we will finally have this project completed and I will be able to get back into my old routine. I hope....

Until later....

Remodeling the Little Casa

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:44:00 -0600

Well, I have not been here for awhile but I find that when one is busy living life, there's little time available for writing about it.

In addition to that, life is made up of small inconsequential events, which most would find uninteresting. However, I thought perhaps some might be interested in our most recent major endeavor: Doing some remodeling on this little house. This is only the first phase of it.

We have increased the size of the upstairs which makes a nice loft area. Wherever we can, we're replacing the old dark varnished wood which makes the place seem brighter.

We are also replacing the sheet metal roof. Most houses in Panama have this kind of roof or else clay tile. Composition roofs are almost unheard of. The climate just doesn't warrant it. This roofing material we are using is galvanized zinc which is the material that we, in the U.S., used on our barns when I was growing up. It actually goes on rather quickly but is a bit more difficult to apply on an A-frame pitch!

I will go now and put some pictures up so you can follow our progress. These pics are from Jan. 26th until today, Feb. 7th. We now have half the roof on. Saturday, Feb. 9th, we will begin to remove and replace the roof on the other side of the house.

Lucy On The Loose

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:17:19 -0500

Sunday morning, August 12th, my son, Tom, took the extra rough pine boards we had for temporary shelving and closed in the gap under the front gate. It's the only place where Lucy can get out of the yard. Now she has the run of the house AND the yard. And she can come an go whenever she wants to. Happy, happy puppy.

Sunday afternoon, we had an appointment for her to be spayed at the SpayPanama clinic in Volcan. Vets come from Panama City, Costa Rica and the vet in Volcan about every three months for this clinic. There is a huge problem with unwanted cats and dogs in Panama and they usually just become strays. Tom has been in several Latin American countries and it is like that everywhere. In addition to the unwanted kittens and puppies, there is a rather vicious venereal disease which produces large painful tumors and eventually death among these animals. Kudos to Harry and Dottie, gringos in Volcan, who were instrumental in this effort to bring the spay clinic to Volcan. They shoulder much of the debt incurred in doing this. They request a $20 donation from Panamanians (for dogs), $10 for cats. Or whatever they can afford to pay. No one is ever turned away for lack of funds. Gringos are requested to pay $40 per dog. A very worthwhile cause. Except for the vets, it's pretty much a volunteer effort. Dottie told me this was the largest turnout they've ever had here. Lucy was #71 and the last one of the day. Their assembly line setup would make old Henry Ford proud. Three stages, three different rooms. Room #1 is an intake room for checking vital signs, weighing, shaving, Betadyne-the-belly, and anesthetize. Room #2 is surgery. Room #3 is Recovery. It goes like clockwork with lots of people pitching in. Great group.

We followed the instructions for post op care for Lucy as well as we could but when they were written, the authors didn't know "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" (aka Lucy). She bounced right back within about twelve hours after surgery and she hasn't stopped bouncing! She has a new lease on life!! A whole big yard to explore AND she can't get pregnant now. Life is good.

I've posted some pics in the photo album "Lucy On The Loose."

Of course, with every "plus" there's a "minus." With this new-found freedom, she has managed to rustle up some bones in the yard. I saw them when she "up-chucked" them on the foot of my bed during nap time yesterday. They looked like pork neck bones but I don't remember throwing any out there. I don't even remember cooking any. This morning I saw her carrying something around. It turned out to be a bird or chicken claw. Maybe she is going to start practicing Santeria. She'd better hope they continue sacrificing chickens and not little sassy black dogs!

Today I also found a critter head skeleton she'd brought into the back yard! Have no idea what kind of critter is is/was but with those teeth (see pics), Lucy had better hope she doesn't meet up with one of his kinfolks who is still animated and in the flesh. This thing does not look like he would ever be in the mood for "making nice."

I'll just be glad when she gets the yard all cleaned up and stops bringing these little "trash- sures" up to the house.

Misc Stuff (21 July 2007)

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 11:14:42 -0500

This is just a sort of log of events taking place in our lives over the month of July.

Early in the month, we purchased a car. Finally! It's a copper colored '98 Chevy Blazer, 2WD, 4D. Depending on walking, buses, and taxis has made getting around not so easy. Especially since we live up the mountain about 10 km from the nearest town of any size.

I also bought a Yamaha electronic keyboard and I'm enjoying that a lot.

At mid month, my son, Tom and his Significant Other, Kate visited her family's finca (farm) which is near Rio Sereno on the Costa Rican border. The day they went was "hog killing day" and they came back with chorizzo (sausages) and a ham which we cut up and put into the freezer. They brought back fruits and vegetables. Corn, green plantains, oranges, lemons and limes. Her family raises coffee too and I can hardly wait to sample that! The coffee from that area is supposed to be excellent.

Our little Lucy dog is growing by leaps and bounds. I've included a few pictures of her taken yesterday, 20 July. I only wish I had even half her energy! We were playing in the yard and she runs circles around me. With her leash and tether rope in hot pursuit. Currently she is on a course of worm medicine and is taking a vitamin-mineral formula. If she gets any more energtic, I'll have to take her off that!! She is wearing me to a frazzle. LOL

I've put this crop of pics in an album named "Misc Stuff."

Lunch at Paul's place - Volcan

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:10:29 -0500

Lunch at Paul's Place

Yesterday (July 10th) we spent a leisurely afternoon at Paul Votava's restaurant in Volcan. Paul is an American expatriate who, along with his lovely wife, owns and operates the restaurant. Sorry I've forgotten the name of it. I should have taken a pic of the Welcome sign out front.(It's hard to get good help!)

It has only been open a few months but I'm sure it is destined to become a favorite eating place in this area. He is a chef who specializes in Thai cooking. (However, he will serve you up a hamburger if that's what you want! But who would?!) We met Paul through mutual friends, John and Carmen who also live here in Paso Ancho.

The food was delicious and the ambiance was supreme. Paul specializes in growing and tending orchids and carnivorous plants and that's the decor in the restaurant. The phrase "dining in paradise" comes to mind. I do not remember the names of the dishes as they are unfamiliar to me but most were chicken or beef based. He also serves dishes with tofu for vegetarians. I should have taken pictures of the food but I forgot about it as I was too busy eating! Next time.

Our little luncheon party consisted of me, Tom, Kate, Kate's mother, Masiel and John and Carmen.

I've posted some pictures taken yesterday and here are some websites of pictures taken by John (an excellent photographer) where you can get your fill of looking at exquisite wild orchids and carnivorous plants. Que bella!!

Jhaan's Orchids and Carniverous Plants on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhaandoh/sets/72157594340353246/
Jhaan's Sets http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhaandoh/sets/
See Votavaland http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhaandoh/sets/72157600280698364/
If you have time, check out: http://www.fincadracula.com
(I notice this morning that several of the links there do not work. Hopefully they will get them fixed before long.)

New Baby Girl - New Furniture

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:05:12 -0500

Tom and I have adopted a tiny little waif of a dog. Our neighbor had found her, just wandering around alone and did not want to keep her. Two days ago when we first saw her she was very weak and hungry. It's amazing what a little food and TLC will do. She has perked right up and totally feels at home now. I don't believe she is more than five or six weeks old, if that. Tough time to be weaned from your Mama. However, she has arrived at the right place. Anyway, we are loving having her here with us.

There are pictures in an album entitled "New Baby Girl - New Furniture".

The new furniture is some we bought in David at the end of May. It is wonderful, after over a month of looking at a bare living room, to have something colorful to sit on in there. It definitely brightens the place up. There are a few more pieces (lamps and another end table) I want to get for that room and then I think it will be complete.

We also now have a gas clothes dryer hooked up to its own large propane tank. Too wonderful for words! AND, a dehumidifier in the house. Also a wonderful addition. With all the rain we get here, it's amazing that we "survived" so long without them. :)

Rainy Day Events When...

Sat, 26 May 2007 13:30:20 -0500

...you have no internet connection!

Yesterday, May 25th, dawned like so many in recent weeks. Gray and cloudy and rainy.

Our next door neighbor, Cesar, stopped by with a pan full of frijoles and potatoes for us. He stayed and had coffee and a chat. He came back later and brought some toys he had made for the grandkids out of just pieces of scrap. I was very impressed. The toys reminded me of my long ago childhood when fathers, mothers and grandparents did this sort of thing because there was little money to buy toys. We were thrilled with the things they made for us. We children also had great imaginations and could think up games to play and things to do and make on our own. Thank Providence, Playstations and Gameboys and the like had not yet come along. I think children today are robbed of so much personal satisfaction and feelings of accomplishment. And gosh, it took such a little to make us happy back then.

I started a pot of beef stew in the slow cooker early, EARLY, that morning. Later I added Cesar's "frijoles and papas." The beans were small and hard to shell so I finally gave up on those. I already had fresh potatoes, fresh carrots, onions and a sprig of cilantro to put in it. It all sat there in the cooker with the flavors "marrying" as the French say.

Late in the afternoon, Cesar's daughter-in-law came over and brought us a beautiful firm head of red cabbage which will make some fine coleslaw. Cesar Jr., her husband, works on one of the farms up in Cerro Punta driving a tractor and brings home much fresh produce. She said next time she'll bring us over some broccoli. Mmmmm...love it!

By the time Mari came over with the cabbage, the stew was done and I dipped some of it up in a saucepan for her to take home for her family.

It's very pleasant to be part of a community.

[See the photo album of Rain Day Events]

New photo album - 17 May 2007

Thu, 17 May 2007 14:26:54 -0500

I put up a new album today. I goofed and entered them in reverse order. So that they make more sense, please click on the last thumbnail and when the window opens up, use the arrow keys to move in reverse order. I could click and drag the thumbnails around but with this many pictures it is difficult to do. I'll try to enter them correctly next time. I hope that you enjoy the pictures.

April 16 - 21 El Valle de Anton, Cochle Province, Panama

Thu, 10 May 2007 13:31:13 -0500

I arrived in Panama City on April 16th. My son met me at Tocumen Airport and we drove a rental car to El Valle de Anton. We stayed for several days with my son's friend, Mark and his wife Carolina and baby Amanda. We had a great time and I snapped some pictures of their place. All of these pics were taken on Mark's property.

Enjoy!