Pipa verde

So the sun went up and went down and we have now been at our home for an official two weeks. Yeah, it has only been a short time but it feels like we have been here much longer. That isn’t a bad thing at all--- I think it is partly that we settled in real quickly here and were able to get to work. This is really an answer to prayer--- I suppose we could quote Nacho Libre on this one--- “My life is good, really gooood.” As you can see we get to enjoy amazing sunsets each day until the rainy season--- but I am sure every now and then we may catch a sunset--- until then we have plenty of sun to soak in. We have gotten a lot done in the last couple of weeks and hopefully we are going to start moving dirt on the project this coming week. Things seem to be working out well with the contractor who we were able to get in touch with. So be praying that all will come through with that, as well sometime within the next week we are supposed to be getting all the permits needed from the architect and lawyer. So really continue to pray that God is going to give us favor with these men.

I have continued to document the different insects and animals I have seen. I recently found this wild eyed looking oversized grasshopper. I think his eyes look crazy. So I have really enjoyed that. I also saw a howler-monkey yesterday while I was up on the project taking some pictures of the property. That was a pretty cool thing--- it is amazing how loud they can get. I also forgot to blog about this--- a week and a half ago I went up to the project to check it out for the first time. I was by myself and didn’t think anything of it. While I was walking down the road (because there is a tree in the road right now) I heard something roar extremely loud…. It was pretty eerie. I am not sure what it was but I was talking to my neighbor Girardo (he seems to know everything about the jungle and living off the land) and he told me there are a type of lion that live in the jungle. They don’t have a main like the ones in Africa but they look similar. So I don’t know what exactly it was, but it was a pretty amazing noise.

Some evenings we don’t have much to do (Though I did meet a lady yesterday who told me she has like 100 DVDs and that we could borrow some when we would like!). But I found a new hobby—coconuts. Yes, there are coconuts everywhere here. The picture you see is not how coconuts grow. I never knew this until last year, but the coconuts you buy in the store have been processed and have a large husk removed from them first. I got bored the other night and shucked 10 of them. I have gotten better at it, so I think I could do more. You don’t have to shuck them though. Another thing you can do is just take a large drill bit and an electric drill and just drill a hole in it and stick a straw in it and your good to go. I just shucked them to see what they looked like and because I had nothing else to do. They are pretty good--- I think I am going to make some type of long stick with a machete attached on the end of it so I can get the good ones (pipas verdes) from the beach. They are a little sweeter than the one in our yard--- though ours are good too. So if you come down to visit us--- remind me and I will make sure I get some coconuts and have them iced down to be nice and cold upon your arrival. Johnny thought they were good and I am sure you will too.