Early morning

Change of plan. We decided that it made more sense for Rey to travel to San Jose alone today, and for me to go alone next week for my hospital appointment. That way, Nilo doesn't have to go at all! He and I can spend the week at home, quietly doing, while Rey gets on with work in the herbarium, without the need to be thinking about how bored we're getting in the meantime.

So, this morning I was up at 3:30 am to say goodbye to him. I couldn't see the moon to begin with, but then realised she was on the otherside of the house, peering at me through the forest.



















Looks like batik!

It's definately worth getting up very early here. For one thing it's the only cool part of the day. Beautiful and peaceful...



















This morning's first light at Los Charcos de Osa.

... apart from the birds. The Scarlet Macaws started up at 4:30am this morning, squawking their heads of, as is their want, and accompanied by a group of green parakeets. Bloody noisy lot! Waking up at Los Charcos is abit like waking up in a zoo. Not that I'm complaining. Although, there is the occassional morning when one feels one could happily strangle the laughing falcons, with their raucous cries of "Guaco" (pronounced Gwa-ko), for which they are locally named. Other than this, there is generally much twittering, cheeping, trilling, and beeping, and many other bizarre noises that only Dr. Zeus could name, and making Los Charcos an ornithologist's paradise!

And then, we all know that the early... spider... catches the... umm... butterfly?















A dainty breakfast, well under wraps. The weekend begins!

Moon of the New Year

Luna de año nuevo

El año empieza
con luna plena,
mascota de buen peso
en el bolsillo del porvenir —
que se multiplique sin cuenta.

Blue moon sits in an old Cecropia tree.

I was facinated by the moonlight hitting the edges of different types of clouds ( I have a thing about clouds... as you can see HERE!)

Hard to believe, but these images were taken at night, with no flash on my little Coolpix S220 (in plum, if you please ;>) This will make a great painting! YEP... I am going to get back to painting this year, after a very long time away from it.

This type of cloud formation always reminds me of a ribcage. Infact, often, clouds seen by moonlight remind me of those funny dentists lamps... you know, the ones that look kind of like they're lined with white gold, and have something of an X-Ray pattern about them?

I really like this! The combination of the silhouette of the leaves and light in the clouds.

My guess is that this might also form the basis of abstract painting at somepoint.

I Can't decide whether it's better with or without the moon in the picture?

Later, it started to get pretty cloudy, but the light held out for hours. enough to be able to walk around the house with no flashlight (but definately with shoes on!)

Moon of the New Year

The year begins
with a full moon,
good-luck coin of good weight
in the pocket of what is to come —
may it multiply without measure.

Rafael Jesús González

(someone I just met in a dream and am liking his words)