Snippets with Snapshots

It's still raining a fair bit. Maeve wrapped herself in her giraffe scarf to protect herself from the elements. I like how it looks like the giraffe is eating her hair. One of the horses did take a bit of her hair at their first lesson this week.

These guys have been in the trees outside the kids' bedroom window each morning this week. Many of you will have read the report released earlier this month announcing that the global wildlife population is down by half since the 1970. I hope that the experience this year of living this close to so much of this fragile, incredible wildlife this will deepen our family's commitment to protecting it.

This shot was taken by Sam at a cafe in Nosara. I'm not sure if her annoyed expression has more to do with the bird trying to eat her sandwich or Sam having just corrected her on what kind of bird it is.

On our way to pick out a hammock (or two!), this guy jumped into the back of the pick-up just ahead of us. What is he carrying on his back? Some sort of spray... Regardless, I was pleased with the primary colours. I'm thinking of doing a photo series called "Through the Windshield" and it would be just that - photos taken of weird/normal/interesting things as seen through the windshield while driving somewhere. Anyone want to join me?

As the kids and Dan jumped in the waves, I walked along the beach. So, so many little bits of riotously coloured beauty.

Any ideas on what this could be? They're about the size of a house fly and squishy and about 20 of them appear through the house each day. Our best guess is a dead insect.We affectionately call them Fungus Butts. But even these are prettier than what we came home to last night. I'd left dinner on a stove, in a pot. When I removed the lid to stir things through, a thousand tiny ants crawled out. AND we left the papier mache turtle out in the sun to dry and the coatis thought it tasted pretty good, taking big chunks out of it.

Then, as we remade dinner, we were chased around by this guy who I think was mocking us.

We grouped and made amazing fresh tortillas. Dan patiently rolled out each one with a wine bottle. Since arriving in Costa Rica, I have been enormously hungry all the time. I suspect I will be making a lot of these.

This was our sunset (before the storm currently shaking the house set in.)

Best of all, the first mangoes of the season have ripened!!

Maeve's dessert of tortillas, cream cheese and mango. And a grin.