Note to self – Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff.
This picture was taken about 1996, under the tree in front of Lola’s, (Playa Avellanas, Costa Rica) when Lola’s was still called Freddie’s. I didn’t know at that time, that I was going to sell my home, in Fernandina Bch, Florida, and leave the United States.
It’s been a good journey, so far. i just wanted to remind myself to keep it simple, one day at a time and everything’s gonna be alright!
Granted this is a blurred photo, but I can’t seem to part with it. It’s from one of the most cherished times. I’m sitting on a log, drinking coffee and reading a book in my make-shift kitchen. It’s in the dry season, at Playa Avellanas, Costa Rica. I have everything I need. Notice the wooden box, on the right, in the back of the picture. That’s my stove and cupboard area. I, also, have a phone hanging on the tree.
The waves are plentiful, right out front. To me, Playa Avellanas is one of the most magical beaches in the world.
I have been here on the island, way longer than I ever intended. I look forward to heading south again.
Life in Costa Rica is syrupy slow. It’s conducive to stress free, healthy living.
The speed of life here shows no sign of slowing down. I have begun to compare blogs and the internet as a fast food literary source.
It won’t be long and I’ll be back in the tropics, drinking pipas, riding some waves, reading real books and attempting to communicate in Spanish.
If I end up in a tent~no problem.
PURA VIDA PURA VIDA PURA VIDA PURA VIDA PURA VIDA PURA VIDA
I’m beginning to FEEL it.
I’m dreaming of the Costa Rica sunsets. Everyday, neighbors meander down and watch the sunset It’s ritual.
It’s getting cold here for me. And, I can’t comment that it’s cold in public, because all the people, from up north, that now live here, will take off about cold weather.
~ssshhhhhh~don’t tell anyone~
It’s all relative.
If you travel to Costa Rica, down a red clay road, to the remote, outpost Avellanas, you will find a fine dining restaurant, where this man is one of the waiters. You will be greeted with a luminous smile and a genuine “pura vida“.
Needless to say his family is the same. 
Natalia is another surfing mama.
What a beautiful life. What a beautiful family.
*None of the photos are mine. The restaurant is the famous, Lola’s.
This is set 5 of 10. These are some of my favorite portraits that I am sharing. I have ten more days until I fly out of here, destination, Costa Rica. I have hopes for my life there. I thought I was going to be an ex-pat and live there full-time, but none of that worked out. I still keep allowing my life to unfold; I go where I’m lead. God’s plan always seems to be better than mine.
Let Me Show You
Look closely~see people~beautiful!
I Shoot People Too~is a series of 100 photos that I pulled out of my library. I took them over the past two years, in three different countries, the U.S., Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. This picture was taken in the Oriental Market in Managua; one of the hardest and most dangerous places that I have ever visited. I had to get a picture of this plumbing vendor. She looks innocent enough, but I bet she has a knife hidden in that apron. I look at her and she looks at me, never ending. These accumulated portraits are just another aspect of photography that I love and need.
Recently in WordPress, I stumbled onto a page titled I Shoot People, by a professional photographer. I aspire to, but have no real expectations of achieving that level of skill with my camera. But who knows? He also had some words of inspiration to those that wanted to be photographers and I agree with him. You don’t have to have the best camera, just do it! The results might surprise you.
So, I share with you more of My People
I count my lucky stars~~I see people beautiful.
Rooster and I are back at home; our place in the woods, that we call Camp Tobacco. It’s a homestead, that I share with my family. I’ve tried to create a hui. A hui, is a bond in a family, that benefits its financial interests. I’m side stepping here, but this post is about family. I learned about hui~from my mother. Also, from reading the Michener novel Hawaii. It is the best book I’ve ever read in my life.
On the last leg of our Southeast Roadtrip, we stopped in Canton, GA and visited friends from Costa Rica. They are the owners of the Mono Congo, my favorite place in the country. When I first met Justin and Kym, they must have been all of thirty. They had two beautiful boys. They have always been a special family to be around. I enjoy watching Justin caring for and playing with his boys, which are now four. They are his OATS; Adrian, Oakley, Tristen and Shea. They didn’t plan that~
Sweet!
Two Years Old
Little Boys Are Natural Daredevils
Oakley
Mom
This is Adrian
While waiting on dinner, we got to sit around and chat. Check out the toys.
The next morning we went hiking at the beginning of the Appalachian Trail. I’ve wanted to be in this spot since I was seventeen. I guess that makes it bucket list.
There are 472 steps, climbing to the top of the falls.
Then the hike was over and we had to say good-bye to the Happy Daddy and his beautiful family.
I am so blessed in my life today. On our trip, we visited three very different families and then returned to ours. In my life, I have benefited from my mother’s concept of hui. I don’t take it for granted. I would like to pass that on. Family is important and at its best, can care for one another in a healthy way. I put my best foot forward and place my feet by those that have what I want; like those that I visited, Justin and Kym, Jimmy and Whitney, Connie and the Man.
I want to thank all of my friends for the great trip, and the friends who followed along, you know who you are. And I want to express my thanks, for the help from my family, that made it possible.
Long Live the Happy Daddy~Long Live the Family Hui
Sorry – it was an award winning trip ~ LOL
I opened my eyes this morning in Tennessee. I am visiting my friends Jimmy and Whitney. We met them in the jungle in Costa Rica.
To be correct that was the Upper Eastside of the jungle.
I’m sitting on a porch in Bradenton, in an over 55 community. It’s sunny and peaceful. It’s just too darn cold on the island, right now. I know! I know! It’s whatever degree up North, but I personally could care less how cold it is up north. Everything is relative and I’m a southerner and when it comes to certain things, like the weather, it’s about ME. OK?
I guess it’s the same for age too. When you’re younger, it might be difficult to recognize the intricacies of this trailer park. It’s been here for about fifty years and the trailers are OLD. But they are all kept up and added on too. It’s colorful and artistic. I wish some folks up in NE Florida would take the hint.
Resting on the porch this morning, I have had a chance to upload surf pictures to my Facebook page. I really enjoyed it.
Here are some of the pics:
Looking at these pics, I am impressed. This spot is tricky. The waves jack up and break over shallow water. I wouldn’t want to surf it. People who don’t surf, don’t really understand the difference of beach breaks, point breaks, ground swells and wind swells, wind direction, cold fronts, low pressures, reefs, where the waves originate, what it takes for them to break, peaks, short boards and long boards. And who is Kelly Slater? According to Lance Armstrong, he’s the world’s greatest athlete. I don’t really have the time to explain all of this important information. I don’t really know all that much anyway.
You only have so much time in life to learn what you want to know. And the more you know, the more you know that you don’t know.
None of us have a crystal ball to tell the future, but it’s predictable that if you don’t die, you will get older. And you don’t know what older really is til you get there. So no matter where you are on the continuum of life, be in the now.
Don’t worry and be happy.
Fish Eye Farm 
