I'm Still Here!

Nothing much, just wanted to let you all know I'm still here!

We haven't had much going on at the construction site because we had some time without donations. While NPH is a wonderfully well supported organization in general, we are relying completely on donations for this construction project and so have some bumps along the way in timing.

In the last month, however, we have had some additional funds come in and we are currently in negotiations to build another house! We are making some changes, though, so it's not a straightforward, 'See this house? Build us one just like it' kind of thing.

New leaves budding. This tree lost all it's leaves in two days last week and now has almost completely regrown all new ones. Fall and winter sure go by quickly in this climate!

In the meantime, I haven't gone on any trips, cooked anything grand (a few delicious things, but they were all ugly), or had any strange experiences (chalk that up to getting used to life here, not life as you would probably expect it). I'm just enjoying the house that Germans built (the house I'm renting) and weekends of free time.

"Wildlife'' abounds around the house, as in spiders, butterflies, etc. I've had two hummingbirds fly into the house in the last week. While they're cute, it's a bit of a chore to get them back outside.

This weekend Roberto decided to cut down some coconuts for the water inside and I just wandered around the garden and worked on photography.

Chopping down coconuts with a machete. He got two from this tree and then eight from another tree where the coconuts were growing at eye level.

You especially have to be careful doing anything in the garden when it contains trees such as this one!

Chopping open the coconut with the machete (yes I did it and it wasn't too difficult, definitely easier than wood chopping with a heavy ax!)

Sweet water from inside. Honestly, I don't like it, but it is REALLY healthy for you! (Yeah, not enough to actually make me drink it!)

In the evening, after a rainshower and as the light was fading fast, Volcano Concepcion erupted a little and send a plume of ash towards Potosi, just north of us in San Jorge.

Rainshowers on Ometepe Island

You know, just your standard weekend!

Eruption of Volcano Concepcion August 3rd, 2008