Preparations

Well, in one week we will be in Costa Rica. I'm excited, and nervous. I hope we have everything we need, and that the meager Spanish I've managed to pick up in a year is enough to get by. I know a lot of people in the tourism industry there speak English, but I hate being one of those people who go to a foreign country and expect everyone to acquiesce and make them feel at home. It's not your home, that's the whole point!

I recently read through my travel journal from Italy and noticed that several times I mentioned obnoxious Americans whining and complaining about insignificant details of Italian life ("I can't believe they screwed up our tickets so we're not all sitting together, how rude! And this train is dirty!") or forcing everyone else to stop and help them out (a couple with 5 massive suitcases to shove on the bus who didn't even understand basic traveler's phrases in Italian). I know it's appreciated when you at least make an effort to speak the language and fit in to the culture instead of demanding everything be your way. How can we insist that visitors to the US speak English and be independent AND that people in countries we visit learn our language and take care of us? Oh right, we're hypocritical, I forgot. And also, MANIFEST DESTINY!

I just hope I don't get bitten by one of the 9 deadly snakes in the jungle. But if I survived 3 weeks in Australia, I'll survive 3 weeks in Central America, right? I'm also nervous about the hike we're doing through Corcovado- not only am I out of condition, but apparently you have to cross a few rivers that contain crocs and even sharks! (Though apparently the sharks only come up at high tide, and you'd have to be stupid to try to ford then.) We took our first malaria pill last night, and now I understand why the youngest daughter in The Poisonwood Bible sticks hers to the wall behind her bed, ugh! Better a bitter pill than a nasty disease though.

I have too much to do the next 4 days!

Getting things done

We worked outside today, this being one of those gorgeous, warm early-spring days. I was putting in some plantings around the garage, so between the digging and direct sun was pretty hot, even wearing a tank top. It is nice to be able to be out in the sun all afternoon and not have to worry about a sunburn. I certainly won't have that luxury in a few weeks, I'll have to put on sunblock every 30 minutes or risk going 3-for-3 with vacations to tropical climes & lobster-red sunburns, ouch. I honestly don't know how we will do in the high heat and humidity though.

I am torn over whether I should start the seeds for our veggies now, or wait until we get back. It seems too risky to start now and hope they survive, but waiting until April seems too late. It is interesting how different plants give different results each year- our first year all of our squash-family plants died of leaf mildew before they even bloomed; last summer was a zucchini bumper crop. I wish we had already started at least the tomatoes so they would be small-plants by now, we have a beautiful, warm, dry summer that lasts until the end of September, but the nights start to get too cool, and the tomatoes split and rot on the vine. Maybe I can figure out a cold frame big enough to go around them? Wall-o-waters help the plant itself tremendously, but not the fruit.

I made an exciting discovery last week- reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle inspired me to check for a CSA in our area. There are several small family farms, but none of them are a CSA- you have to be able to drive out to the farm or catch them at the (poorly timed) farmer's market. Lo and behold, an organic, bio-dynamic farm between here and Eugene is making their produce boxes available to coastal residents for the first time this year! I want to join, though it is a bit expensive (they do have to travel nearly 2 hours to get here), but my hubby thinks that as long as we have a garden, we should have all the produce we need (regardless of the fact that we simply cannot grow things like corn and melons- while we think the climate is pretty darn close to perfect, those heat-loving plants disagree). He thinks we would have a surplus of veg, whereas I see it as a way to improve our diet, support a (somewhat) local farm, and learn to preserve (more than just making pickles).
Incidentally, everyone should read Kingsolver's book; it was not much new info for me, but I'm into sustainability, buying locally, growing your own food, and all that "hippie" jazz. Many of her points do make you sit back and think about how screwed up our culture is regarding our basic bodily sustenance, though (I have seen examples of the disconnect children of today have with their food & drink, though I grew up knowing very well that the cute calves on grandpa's farm were the same things as the hamburger in our spaghetti, and that cherries come from the tree with the swing in the back yard, not a plastic bag). It's one of those books I think everyone needs to read.

Must go finish making Thai mango sticky rice- I think I've finally found a recipe that will work and taste spectacular! Now there's a tasty gluten-free dessert for ya. A friend from work came over to help the hubby on the garage yesterday, and I threw together a gluten-and-dairy free lunch for him --Ensalada Russa, mmmm!-- so now I've got it on the mind. Honestly, I probably have similar issues with food, but am afraid to find out. How can I give up the boy's award-winning homebrew, and crusty French bread? Although I guess I could always make the bread with non-wheat flour, couldn't I? Homemade stuff is always superior anyway, like the tasty, thick tortillas we made last night for steak quesadillas, yum! Oh food, I love you!