charliedoggett.net
“When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy,
And the dimpling stream runs laughing by;
When the air does laugh with our merry wit,
And the green hill laughs with the noise of it.”
– William Blake
¡Pura Vida!
See more vista photos in my Vistas Galleries!
This afternoon I got up from the computer where I was working on my Guayabo bird photos (boring compared to this!), and as I walked across the living room there was a Keel-billed Toucan in my Cecropia Tree! I quickly got my camera and shot through two panes of glass (sliding door open) which was still better than shooting through the screen! 🙂 And the photos aren’t nearly as blurry as I expected! After some rapid shots, I slowly approached the screen as he hopped up the tree, but by the time I was quietly out, he flew away! Oh well, even quick experiences like this in my own house and garden are just a few of the many reasons I enjoy living “Retired in Costa Rica!” ¡Pura vida!
¡Pura Vida!
See my GALLERY: Costa Rica Keel-billed Toucans
With other shots made in my garden! 🙂
Plus more from all over Costa Rica!
🙂
While I’m still in the hospital recuperating from surgery today, please take a walk through my garden via a slideshow of flowers that were blooming last Wednesday, 10 March.
And if you like flowers, check out my gallery: Flora & Forest.
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
– Audrey Hepburn
¡Pura Vida!
By Wednesday or Thursday I hope to give a report on my health. This was another “Pre-published” blog post done before I went in for surgery. I’m not home with my computer yet.
 |
| Heliconius Ismenius Clarescens A regionally endemic butterfly found only in SW Costa Rica Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
 |
| Golden-hooded Tanager Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
 |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
 |
| Red-lored Parrot Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
 |
| Pale-vented Pigeon Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
 |
| Simple Trails Like This Led Me To . . . |
 |
| The Birding Canopy Tower Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
 |
| Going early before breakfast gave me nice views as well as birds! I went alone this morning compared to a group with guide on Wednesday. The birding tower is an excellent perk for birders who stay at Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
 |
| Lodge Office with Lobby to Left and Dining Room in the Background. See my photo gallery for more images of the lodge spaces and grounds. Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
 |
| The Last Trail Junction Before My Cabin I was in Gavilán (Hawk) Cabin Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
This lodge reminded me of the delightful days I spent at Boy Scout Camps as a boy, Camp Logoly near El Dorado, Arkansas and a whole summer while in college as staff on Camp Quapaw near Benton, Arkansas. There is nothing better than simple facilities totally emerged in nature! I have so many “favorite” places here in Costa Rica and this one is certainly near the top of the list! I will return in the future. And of course I hardily recommend it to anyone who loves nature and to my birding friends! After all, I found and photographed 4 “lifers” here or birds seen for the first time.! They were the Blue-crowned Manakin, Red-capped Manakin, White-shouldered Tanager, and the Scarlet-rumped Cacique.
 |
| Can you see it? In the fork of the guarumo tree on the distant hill. Red-orange. It is a spot of color I see every time I walk out on my terrace and it brings a smile. It is an African Tulip Tree I’m glad a neighbor planted! Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| It is a tree like this one by our front gate in Roca Verde, African Tulip Tree, native of Africa and brought here as an ornamental tree for yards that adds new color to the many natural colors here. Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| And a little closer. |
See my photo gallery: Flora & Forest
Roberto was one of us 6 men in the hospital room this week for two nights and as the healthiest looking and the only one who was mobile, he became “a little Christ” among us, walking humbly and quietly from bed to bed to comfort each of us any way he could, listening patiently to the overly talkative man, emptying the urinal of the overweight man, cranking beds up or down, talking quietly with the wife of the dying man, and generally being the presence of God’s love in our little 6-bed hospital room. To watch a man imitate Christ in front of me for parts of 3 days was pure joy!
Then today as I returned to hospital simply to make a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist (no, you can’t do it everywhere by phone) I got to try being like Roberto or Christ. A special needs adult in front of me in line dropped a hand full of papers that scattered on the floor. I got down on my good leg’s knee and picked them up. As I handed them to him the radiant smile on his face was another moment of blessing among loving Costa Rica people.
Philippians 2:3-8
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
 |
| One of my joys in retirement; just walking out the door! |
