Sure enough Ania and Frank were at our door at 9:30am yesterday. We drove north to a house that Frank built while Ania was in Poland with her mother past summer. Stopped in Coscomatepec, the small town where they previously owned the townhouse where we stayed two nights on our last visit. That house sold shortly thereafter, and the funds built the one we were visiting today. In town we bought fresh papaya, apples, and tiny bananas which we ate shortly after arriving. The house here, on a rural hillside north of town, surrounded by avocado trees, with two rooms and a bath only, has a dome-shaped roof over the living room. Frank made this from an old satellite dish, now covered in stucco. No electricity here, so power comes from four solar panels on the roof.
After the fruit the fellows went to visit the pine tree farm and hexagon cabin on top of a hill west of town to check things and see what the local hired caretaker accomplished that week. The guys were gone a couple hours during which we gals did weeding and plantings.While weeding, Carmen saw something move, she poked the area with a stick and a toad or frog hopped away and squirted drops of ? on her arm. Washed it off immediately, just in case there would be a bad reaction, which did not happen. The toad was the same color as the bark shavings we were weeding in. On the way back the guys picked up a broasted chicken from town and which we had for the afternoon meal. It came with warm corn tortillas and tiny roasted potatoes. Spicing on all was most flavorful. The solar electricity worked well enough that at mealtime the freezer in the refrig had made ice cubes for Carmen's glass of water.
Saw about a dozen eagles flying overhead. Lots of dancing little white butterflies. Green, green hillsides in the distance all around. The peak of Orizaba was obscured by a few high puffy clouds. Picked up a few ripe avocados. Brought home some oranges and giant California lemons from their property. After we got home, we napped, then went for our daily walk, looking for houses for sale or rent. Very few houses in those categories here.While walking, shortly before we returned home, Carmen fell. Just was gazing about and my shoe twisted. It was loose. Down I went and my head luckily missed the cement wall. Got a skinned knee and this morn my shoulder is complaining a bit. Certainly nothing serious. In my embarassment I gave Dan my hand and told him to lift me up. However, my feet were not under me and I nearly pulled him down with me. Only three people saw us. A few days ago Dan got a bit or something on his arm. No pain he says, just itching like a mosquito bite, but it really swelled up. The swelling is down now, but the center is puffed and hard. We are finally going to stop by a farmacia and ask for their advice. They may tell us what action to take or suggest a local doctor.
We can hear children at the playground in a school a block away. Frank will pour the footings at his new house site later today, so we'll walk over and help/watch. The attached pictures are of our little apartment and our Sunday visit to the avocado ranch.
