I’ve been sorting through recent photos and found a few I would like to share.
The flowers on this hedge were attracting a lot of butterflies.
.
This was on July 19th. I think this was the hardest I’d ever seen it rain! It was incredible, and everyone’s yard quickly flooded.
Unfortunately we’ve had very little rain since then. We’ve had a few short rains and some sprinkles, but nothing like what is expected in the rainy season. It’s of so much concern that the canal is putting limitations on the boats that can go through, specifically on their draft or depth of water that they need. Each boat that goes through the locks uses water from Gatun Lake, and they are worried about the water levels in the lake. If we don’t get more rain they may increase the restrictions next month. The news says this is the driest rainy season in 100 years, and the El Niño weather system is causing a lot of this problem.
On another day we were in the car in the rain, and saw this interesting way of keeping dry on a bicycle.
.
Mariñon Corizon fruit on the ground.
One thing I like about Panama is all the fruit that grows here, and often you can find it on the ground or free for the picking. These fruits are a bit bland when raw, but cooked they are a lot like apples and really good. They had a short season of fruiting recently but I picked up a few bags full, and now have some cooked fruit in my freezer.
This woodpecker spent quite a bit of time pecking on this little twig hanging from the neighbor’s tree.
Another fun thing around here is hunting for plants. There are various empty lots in the area and these are often used for trash from people’s yards. We have found a lot of pretty plants and cuttings from vacant lots. One had a lot of these heliconias growing and I couldn’t resist taking a couple sprouts. When the rains started this year they really started taking off, and now they are making these beautiful flowers.
The lobster claw heliconias started blooming recently.
One day I needed to see someone in either David or La Barqueta. Not being one to turn down a trip to the beach, I chose La Barqueta. It was a pretty afternoon and the waves were rolling in.
I am looking forward to home grown chicken. I bought a big chicken at the Saturday market, and I have bought the big chickens at the supermarket as well. You have to cook them more, especially the supermarket ones, but they have a great flavor. I have learned that I can cut them up and cook them in the pressure cooker. Then this chicken can be used in any other recipe, and you also get a great broth that can be used for soups and other recipes. I hardly want to buy the ordinary supermarket chickens any more.
I visited the chickens one morning and they were all huddled in the corner to escape the water while their chicken house was being cleaned. I am trying hard to look at them as dinner, and not as long term residents. Cedo says all but one are roosters so they wouldn’t make good long term residents anyway. Can you imagine? 30 roosters?!
We live on the north side of town above El Torronal, one of the most upscale parts of town. The lots and houses are large and there are many beautiful spots. We were biking down one of our favorite streets and there was a for sale sign on one of our favorite lots! Even if we could afford it, I don’t think I would want to live there. There are many trees and a pond so it’s hotter, less breezy, and more humid than other areas but to visit, it’s great. There are lots of fruit trees and other plants, and one of the giant ceibo trees that I love so much.
I went biking back in the hills today where I hadn’t been in quite a while. It was a beautiful day, a bit cooler with some cloud cover, and I had a very good time. I like this little spot by the river.
Volcan Baru was looking especially beautiful.
Volcan Baru peeks out from behind the hills and the clouds.
This is a bit of what I have been seeing in my daily life around here. It’s quite nice.
The Panama Adventure 
Great Photos, Muchas Gracias!
LikeLike
con mucho gusto 🙂
LikeLike
Great shots Kris!
LikeLike
Thanks, glad you enjoyed them 🙂
LikeLike
I love your outlook on life and how you are enjoying your surroundings so much, Kris! Life should be appreciated and enjoyed every day. We vacationed once in a location that had many many chickens/roosters that would all compete with each other throughout the night, crowing. We had to wear earplugs to sleep, lol. We stopped going to that particular location.
LikeLike
We are really fortunate to be here and I do love this life. We had a neighborhood rooster in the past though, and I can well imagine a whole lot of them nearby. I’d need earplugs too!
LikeLike
always look forward to reading your posts … 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Kris, for shining the light on this wonderful corner of Panama.
LikeLike
My pleasure, and thanks for visiting my blog 🙂
LikeLike
As I am being wooed to relocate to Boquete from the States, I really appreciate the beautiful pics. A pic is worth a thousand words. I’ve raised backyard chickens for years. I LOVE the sounds they make. Like a tranquilizer and very comforting to me. The beauty of all outdoors is like a kiss from God! Though I did have a prob when taking Youth Group on Mission trip over the Sierra Madre Mts. to the desert Indian villages of Mexico. Not much growing in the hot desert sand. No rain. Not much wildlife. All there seemed so God forsaken. Though I know there IS beauty there. I would have a hard time living there. Some are born, live and die never leaving those desert villages. The men will ride donkeys to the main highways and tie them up under a tree, catch a bus and ride into the larger towns to find work and money to feed their families. Many of the babies and children become sick before their “rainy” season from putrid little water left in the resivoir. No water to drink, bathe or wash. Children are dirty, Clothes are dirty. Dirty linens hanging out on lines with sand blowing against them. Guess they used the sand to clean things including dishes and floors of house. Gotta use what ya got.
LikeLike
Have you visited here? Boquete, and pretty much all of Panama is so beautiful! I think you will love it. I haven’t been to Mexico, but I have visited some of the southwest desert areas in the US. It’s very beautiful in its own way but I also don’t think I would like to live in the desert. Those poor people you met having to deal with no clean water! People can manage in many circumstances but water is such a basic need.
Yes, the chickens are very cool. Today, I got my first gift of a carton of eggs from them!
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your comments 🙂
LikeLike
I haven’t visited Boquete but have learned enough that my heart is already there. Sensing my first visit will be my actual move there. There’s nothing like the reward of your work and effort with those first backyard farm chicken eggs! What are the natural predators you deal with there? I’ve never had problems in all the states and areas I’ve lived in till now. My backyard goes down to the Etowah River. The predators though never caught except for one possum, I believe were varied. Sadly, you can tell from the remains…what the predator was. After quite a bit of work and struggling, I’ve finally given up for a time. I’ve been traumatized by the losses. Guess the river wildlife is just not the best place for raising chickens. I suspect Racoons. I was awakened one night with dogs barking to find 5 racoons on the back deck knocking at the door. Couldn’t scare them away. Prob a momma and her grown babes she raised on my chickens looking for more chickens! I locked my girls up in a tight house each night. The rascals would climb on buckets and unlatch the door. Ugh!
LikeLike
There are some birds of prey here, and though the neighborhood dogs and cats are generally pretty good it’s probably good to protect the chickens until they are full size. Raccoon are challenging. They are way too smart and resourceful. We had them in Florida and they would get in trash cans and look for other opportunities. Can you eat raccoon? 😉
LikeLike
Oh, and my $.02 worth, I highly recommend you visit and spend some time in Boquete before you make any life changes. It is a different country, climate, culture, language, etc and it doesn’t work for everyone. Many people come and find it isn’t what they thought, and then they either have the expense of undoing the move, or worse, they are stuck. And for sure, do not buy anything until you have lived here at least a year. You will do much better with that when you know the area well and have local contacts. I don’t want to rain on your parade but I have seen enough unhappy and bitter expats to advise much caution.
LikeLike
I understand and have heard that info alot from others. Truth that makes perfect sense. Have many contacts already living there and much information. Thank you for your help and encouragement. You are absolutely right. Much prayer and care needed before proceeding with an international move!
LikeLike
Oh good, glad you know what I’m talking about. I hope you are as happy here as we are! 🙂
LikeLike