A laid-back kinda Sunday

At about 6:00 this morning, Dan got up and opened the curtains and windows in our bedroom. We just laid in bed for a while and enjoyed the cool breeze and the radiant sunshine. Yes, sunshine!! It was so wonderful to see everything so fresh and green and light. Our spirits were lifted by the (albeit short-lived) disappearance of the storm clouds; such a beautiful start to the day.

After church we went out to lunch with some friends of ours to an Italian place in Escazú called La Fabbrica. The kids sat at one table, and we shared a second table with two other couples. The conversation was lively and the food was fantastic. (The girls each ordered thin crust, wood-fired margherita pizzas and both ate the whole thing—all 12 slices!) Dan and I are looking forward to trying out the tomato, mozzarella, and basil salad when we return for another meal.

After lunch (around 3pm—restaurant meals are generally long affairs here) we came home, and just outside our house we saw three great kiskadees sitting on some little trees. A great kiskadee is a fairly common bird in our area, about the size of a pigeon with a brilliant yellow breast and belly, and a white band blazing around his jet black head.

I haven’t yet purchased a Costa Rica birds field guide yet (though I plan to soon), but I’m fortunate enough to be in an online group with Henry Kantrowitz, a naturalist and cofounder of the Birding Club of Costa Rica. I described the birds to him, and he knew immediately what I was talking about. Above you can see the great kiskadee in a photo I got from Wikipedia.

To continue with weather updates: It’s been raining again this afternoon and tonight, but it’s softer rain and so we have the windows open and the lower temperature is very pleasant. Good weather for watching football on my couch and finishing my book. And best of all, tomorrow is a national holiday here—no school, no work, no worries.

¡Pura Vida!