The beach life....

To the south of our beach.....we have the Rio Chame.....this river feeds fresh water into the sea..it is beautiful..lots of surfing just past the mouth of the river..It is about an hour walk from our beach..collecting lots of shells, seeing the birds fly overhead..seeing this weird jellyfish...just seeing...taking it all in...today we're headed to Portobelo on the Caribbean side of Panama..it is a World Unesco Heritage site..really looking forward to seeing this town.

My new Panamanian Hat

La Pintada is a typical Panamanian style town that is based around a central church Plaza. The locals have a great sense of pride and like most towns in Panama's interior the towns people are very friendly, honest, and hardworking! La Pintada is located within the province of Cocle. Cocle is known for its bright colorful festivals and hand made local crafts which include the well known Typical Panamanian hats and other folkloric items. This small town is where we drove today..I met the lady that wove my hat..when you love hand made things as I do...meeting the maker of my hat was a thrill..she didn't speak a word of English...and I only a few words of Spanish..but it was a wonderful moment when she went back into her shop..got a hat, put it on and posed with me! What do you think..didn't she weave a great hat?

Sun and sand......

most of the days when we are here at the beach..we are well covered up with 20/50/60 SPF.....or under the shade palapa.....Jim had a great ride on a very rough and tumble wave...trying to keep his swim trunks on..I wish I had a video for YouTube..it would of gone viral...so much sand everywhere...even the boats came close to shore to fish today....it was such a good day!

Flowers and trees

There are many flowers and trees blooming here this time of the year...there will be upcoming festivals in small towns celebrating the different varieties...some I recognize, like these orchids but others look so different..I am off to buy a book that will help me identify some of them...the air is really fragrant around some of these flowers..makes going outside such a joy!

El Valle, Panama

El Valle is one of the most special destinations in Panama. Only two hours away from Panama City, it is also a perfect weekend escape from Panama's lowland heat! El Valle is a fertile volcanic valley filled with bright flowers, square trees and golden frogs. Looking into El Valle it looks like a huge broccoli field – most of the houses are surrounded by trees that make for a green and unspoiled impression. The temperatures are moderate throughout the year and it cools down at night. This is part of the valley @3,000'


It has a very Tuscan feel about the buildings.


It is known for it's hand craft and farmers market..15 hours of hand work to sew this all together...amazing!


Love these sweet bananas....


fresh veggies..I will take more photos of the fruits and veggies I don't recognize next time and find out what they are and how to cook with them!

In the morning...

Up early to enjoy the sunrise...take my coffee to the beach...take some photos..walk with Fiona and Quigley {gentle Irish Wolfhound giants}..listen and watch the waves roll in..add another few rows to my knitting..read for a while, catch up on emails......listen to some music..bliss. ❤

Panamanian color

Shopping has been a really interesting and colorful experience..there are many brands we recognize..but none more colorful as some of the few I found here on the shelves...many people speak English here and there seem to be a lot of people from BC here...so asking where or what something has not been a problem yet..





These were a few of the colorful things on the beach...the coconut is for my dear BIL Larry who is always kidding me when I call and he tells me the monkeys are throwing coconuts at him...( in the wintertime in Bull River BC, no less)...the beaches quite empty except for weekends when the locals come out from the city. We are looking forward to everyday with great joy and anticipation..such is what this adventure represents to me....hoping you are finding joy in your day!

beach walk today..

Here are a few of the beach walk photos..happy little Panamaian kids..rescued pup..fishing boats...our beach....warm weather, ocean sounds..it was a good day!

Black Sand beach

This incredible fine black sand comes right up to the shade palapa and where the waves roll in to the edge of the beach..the sand is pale white in color..such a lovely contrast..lots of shells and sea glass {collecting some for you Cindy}...today when we walk on the beach we will take a plastic bag and pick up some litter...the beach is really quite clean but if all the tourists pick up a bit...then it will be cleaner...there is what I found yesterday and filled Jim's pockets with..nice aren't they?

morning view....Gorgona, Panama

No time yet to start checking out the area we are staying in..but the first view this morning was lovely..it is already very warm {78}.....sunglasses, a hat and shorts day for sure...heading into the little town for groceries...it should be interesting day...I love the sound of the waves as they roll into the sandy beach just below our deck.

Books to travel with...

Happy New Year

It was my good fortune to find out that my local library back in BC has ebooks in their lending library..

you can browse their selection, choose a book, download it and enjoy it for 21 days..

how sweet is that?..

.no need to carry those books when you can read them at your leisure...

does your local library have this ebook lending service?

Short Row Scarf....

I finished the scarf just in time..ready to mail off to my dear friend Shannon...

It was a joy to knit knowing she will love the soft drape of 

this scarf.

Moments in December

Some sweet moments in December..

wishing you a happy New Years Eve..

Panama

When you travel...I feel you must always be aware that you are

 a guest in a different country

 and as a guest

you must show respect for their people and their cultures..

being respectful of how you dress, speak and take photos..

being polite, courteous, and respectful is all part of what

 I believe you must have in your personal internal carry on...

it will bring you much happiness and unexpected joy!

Happy 1st Birthday, Claire❤

What a pair..she has her Mom, Julie's beautiful big brown eyes, Jeremy's infectious smile but she is all her own little person...we are so unbelievably glad you are in our lives, Claire!

Travelling to Panama

We are heading to Panama for the month of January 2012 ...we have rented a condo on the beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean..we will have a car and plan to explore the country in the month that we are there...it has always been one of the countries we had hoped to visit...

Both Jim and I we are really excited about this new adventure.

I am planning on continuing to blog and take lots of photos..

I am sure I will constantly be amazed by the country and its people.

Panama is the southernmost of the Central American nations, Panama is south of Costa Rica and north of Colombia. The Panama Canal bisects the isthmus at its narrowest and lowest point, allowing passage from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Panama is slightly smaller than South Carolina. It is marked by a chain of mountains in the west, moderate hills in the interior, and a low range on the east coast. There are extensive forests in the fertile Caribbean area.

taking stock....

A couple of colored pencils...an old ledger...a bit of bling just because...the start of a new journal...another year coming to a close...taking stock of what a wonderful year it is and was.....I hope you found joy in your life this year....

Such sweetness....

Our little granddaughter, Claire, her first Christmas..She will be one on Thursday.
I love the look of amazement! I wonder if she is thinking " do you think these might all be for me?"

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas Eve.....

Oh happy day,

Christmas Eve

is

finally here!

joyfullness!

Around the house, little spaces of joy and happiness..even more so this year as we are so grateful for Harry's

continued recovery.

mollie makes

{you can buy it on-line today)

here