At Hogar de Vida Today

On Ruta 135 going north out of Atenas is this B&W Sign pointing to (maybe 500 meters on this road)
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

I failed to photograph the entrance sign because I’m attracted to the park-like atmosphere inside!
Next time I will include that attractive sign & more of the campus.
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

One of the children’s’ cottages with a worker hanging out the laundry.
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

Another children’s cottage on campus.
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

Playground  
 Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

Rancho, which is what we call a picnic pavilion or covered dining/meeting patio here.
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

8:30 AM Prayer Meeting every morning with all children, staff and volunteers.
The table & chairs is for the children’s snack time after devotional. Breakfast is much earlier!
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica
After the prayer meeting or devotional time this morning I spent time with Matt, the director in black shirt in center right of above photo. It was good to get acquainted and learn more about how they love and care for their capacity of 35 children (always full). Most of the children have been abused and legally removed from their parents, some of which are in jail or dead. The kids are babies to younger elementary school children, most of which will be adopted within 6 months to a year, though some are not as fortunate and will stay here longer. Two siblings in today’s group will leave next week to live with their adopted new parents in the country of Italy. Wow! They go all over the world! 
I met two local American retiree men like me volunteering today and I filled out the paperwork to be a volunteer one day a week. I have eliminated some of my other volunteer jobs for now, so this will be my new one and a good preparation for welcoming my friends from Nashville in April who are coming on a “Mission Trip” here to work in the children’s home. So Nashville guys, keep reading the blog as I plan to share something about Hogar de Vida at least one day a week in my posts except for weeks I travel away from Atenas.   🙂
For more about Hogar de Vida, see their Facebook Page. 
Or the Costa Rica portion of their Homes of Life Website.  

Copied from their website:

Our Program

Homes of Life oversees two distinct homes for children: one in Costa Rica and one in Guatemala. The missionary work of each home has its own unique objectives and challenges, but both return abundant blessings to the children who are cared for there, as well as to those who generously support this important ministry.
Many of these children arrive completely destitute, without a family’s care or the basic provisions that so many people in the world take for granted.  Often the victims of abuse or neglect, the children’s needs are met by the patience and hard work of caring men and women at Hogar de Vida y Nutriciónin Guatemala and at Hogar de Vida para Los Niños in Costa Rica, and by the important support of the child sponsorship program.
We invite you to partner with Homes of Life as God’s loving compassion is demonstrated daily. Consider participating in our child sponsorship programs and spread the word about Homes of Life.
Or go to the website for more information. 

Attack of the Chachalacas

Sunday evening I was watching the 5:30 TV News when
the loud chattering began of 30 or more Chachalacas landing in the tops of my trees, including the above Guarumo.
A few came down low enough for me to get this decent shot of full name: Gray-headed Chachalaca 
There is a huge colony of this chicken-sized, noisy bird in Roca Verde and they occasionally visit my trees.
Atenas, Costa Rica

Check out my photo gallery BIRDS.  https://charliedoggett.smugmug.com/BIRDS

Los Paleteros – Fresh Fruit Popsicles

A new business in Atenas is quite popular, especially with young adults.
Fresh tropical fruit juices/smoothies frozen on a stick. Some with ice cream filling
Atenas, Costa Rica

I had the green one on the right, Cas/Mora, Cas fruit (CR Guava) with Blackberry filling –  Tart but Yum!
Atenas, Costa Rica


¡Pura Vida!

Pot Plants Star: Desert Rose

Along wall by windows are a “Crown of Thorns” that blooms constantly year around and I just moved from white pot,
as it is growing! Stair-stepping down is my favorite which is a Desert Rose or Adenium Obesum.
And the tiny pot is a now small Jade Plant. Desert Rose came from it in my transplantings.
There are of course more pot plants on the terrace all the way back!  🙂
Atenas, Costa Rica

Desert Rose or Adenium Obesum
It too is growing and I just moved it from that smallest pot above.
Atenas, Costa Rica

Desert Rose Blooms 
This is the most blooms together like this yet in 2 years.
For those who knew Anthony, this came from him when he moved to states.
For locals: they are available at Vivero Central in La Garita, but not cheap.
Atenas, Costa Rica
For those interested in growing this wonderful flowering plant, the most amount of information on growing them is at this excellent website with how-to videos and all: 
It is originally from Africa and must have heat and lots of sun. With temps below 65° Fahrenheit you must bring inside. They bloom in the summer or hottest season which it is now in Costa Rica.  They need minimal water, mainly in hot season when blooming. It is a nice tropical addition to one’s garden! 
For my gallery of Costa Rica Flowers+ see:  FLORA & FOREST 


¡PURA VIDA!

Eye-candy Leaves

At least for me!
A Cecropia or Guarumo leaf with its exquisite shape, color and lighting in this case. Captivating to me.
Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Resort, San Ramon, Costa Rica

A dying banana or other tropical plant leaf
with its vibrancy of change in color, contrast and life/death
Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Resort, San Ramon, Costa Rica
On the Sidewalk
Atenas, Costa Rica

Recycling older photos that may or may not have been used on this blog. For more see

the photo gallery  FLORA & FOREST  that has more than just leaves!  🙂

¡Pura Vida!

Affirmation Article on Costa Rica as #1 Place to Retire

Scarlet Macaw
Tambor Tropical Resort, Costa Rica
by Charlie Doggett

Christopher Howard is affirming International Living’s ranking of Costa Rica as the best place in the world to retire. You might like to read his take on it:

Costa Rica as the Best Place to Retire

It has been good to have so many people, organizations, blogs and magazines confirm my decision to retire in Costa Rica! Of course those of you who follow my blog know how much I like it here. The perfect place for a nature lover and peace lover.

Sunrise
Tambor Tropical Resort, Costa Rica
by Charlie Doggett
¡Pura Vida!


See also my photo galleries:  Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA

Finishing the country road walk today . . .

It bugged me that I did not finish walking Calle Nueva the other day, so today I did so with my friend Jason Quesada. Here are a few nature shots along the road for a total walk of 5.3 miles:

Soccer Fields are the most defining thing of a community in Costa Rica
even along a dirt road among farms out in the country! Necessary!
Calle Nueva
Atenas, Costa Rica
Calle Nueva
Atenas, Costa Rica
Calle Nueva
Atenas, Costa Rica

Calle Nueva
Atenas, Costa Rica

Mango Tree Grove
Calle Nueva
Atenas, Costa Rica

Lots of Purple and Yellow Flowers if you look close
Calle Nueva
Atenas, Costa Rica

Calle Nueva
Atenas, Costa Rica

Calle Nueva
Atenas, Costa Rica

Calle Nueva
Atenas, Costa Rica

After the walk we had a late lunch in a little Soda in the village of Rio Grande on the river of same name and our expressway Ruta 27 where there is an Atenas exit just south of Atenas. In this same little village is a chicken processing plant (low-pay jobs) owned my Walmart and a small air conditioner plant, both on the expressway. We road the local bus back to Atenas Central which went by these two job sources locally. And back in town a political experience which I will share tomorrow.   See the Photo Gallery Walking Calle nueva   –   PS: WARNING! I learned later that two days before this walk an expat man from Canada was walking this same road solo (as I often go) and he was robbed at knifepoint by two young men on motorcycles, supposedly Nicaraguans, which is who most Ticos blame crime on. This is highly unusual in little Atenas, but of course can happen anywhere. It is more common in parts of the big city of San Jose.

-o-

International Living magazine again ranks Costa Rica the #1 Place to Retire!

The USA Today article on Costa Rica, the Country Without an Army & the Happiest Country

“Blessed is the Costa Rican mother who knows her son at birth will never be a soldier.”

¡Pura Vida!