Leaves and Lizards

www.leavesandlizards.com

 December 2007 Newletter

 

Turkeys, Jaguars, and Toucans - OH MY!

 

Holidays at Leaves and Lizards

Thanksgiving was very special for us this year. We celebrated with John and Sandy Owen, Bill and Joann Robinson.  The Owens and Robinsons have purchased large farms in our area and have started their reforestation projects. Christina and Hector Ramiez of www.reforestcostarica.com and www.venadovalley.com are a visionary couple making dreams come true for people passionate about trees and the restoration of forest in Costa Rica. The Owens closed on their 96 acre property in November. The Robinsons have already planted more then 7,000 trees on their 80+ acres of paradise. Both couples plan to make the big move to Costa Rica in the next few years.

 

Turkeys!

Steve brought home a Turkey for the big day, but we didn't eat him. The Owens and Robinsons brought a frozen turkey with them from the US! No problems with customs. They also brought other hard to find Thanksgiving Day fixens-cranberries, pumpkin and Durkee fried onions for green bean casserole.

 

 

 

                                                                                         Jaguars!

 

The Owens' property has about 30% primary forest and they had a jaguar attack a calf on their farm. The calf had a dinner plate sized tear on its side and slashes on its back and other side. Our friend, Dr. Dennis Martin, was visiting us at the time, cleaned the wounds, and stitched him up as best he could. Amazingly the calf survived. Hector named him Milagro (Miracle in Spanish). Due to loss of habitat, large cats are classified as endangered in Costa Rica.

 

 

The Monterrey Calbagata

Debbie and her friend Terri, who was visiting from Florida, rode Titan and Chisa in this fund raising activity in November. About 200 horses with riders participated in the event. It was great fun, riding through forest, pasture, rivers and mud holes. At the halfway mark we stopped for lunch at a community pavilion overlooking the valley and Arenal with vistas of other volcanoes in the distance. There was plenty of food, drink and dancing for the participants and locals that joined in the festivities. At the end of the 17 km (10 mile) ride, back in Monterrey, the party continued with bull riding and another dance. Costa Ricans know how to have a good time!

 

 

 

 

 

Toucans!

 We have noticed so many more birds on our property this year. Not having cattle tramping down the volunteer trees, planting numerous bushes and plants has made a big difference in our bird population and diversity. Toucans and guans (kind of like a wild turkey) are a common sight around the cabins and outside the kitchen windows. We have at least 6 types of hummingbirds, 6 or more types of Tanagers, parrots and parakeets, orioles, mot mots and a variety of birds of prey. A group of birdwatchers from the Audubon Dallas, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is coming at the end of the month. We look forward to their birdwatching enthusiasm!

 

What We Learned This Month

• There is a seemingly endless supply of varieties of fruits and unusual flowers in Costa Rica
• Getting to know our guests is a wonderful perk to being an owner/operator of a B&B
• Networking with other B&B's is a valuable tool 
• Steve can butcher a pig without the help of his Tico friends
• Toucans will guard a papaya until it is perfectly ripe
• If you carry a machete and wear rubber boots you will look like a Tico-but you won't fool anyone until you actually can peel an orange with a machete! 
• A protective mother cow can scare off an attacking jaguar

 

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