We had a storm last night – INSIDE of the kitchen!   I was the only one in the house, but thankfully the dog was with me, so she shared in the excitement.  It was getting dark on the walk home from the in-laws, but we expect it to rain at night anyway as its rainy [...]

Hi all, someone requested pictures of views from our house here in Chalatenango, now that we’ve moved in, and I’m happy to post them.   I’m offline more than online these days, so apologies for slow comment turnaround these days.    Here they are: after table

We have now lived in our revamped adobe house together for a total of three full days.  Today we start the fourth, and I’m the first one up at 5am.  You see a different piece of the world waking up this early.  It’s like a private window that opens up to a beautiful view that [...]

I wanted to go to “La Nueva” (Nueva Concepción) on Sunday, but we decided it was best to wait till today when the Ferreteria/hardware store would be open.  Just like in the days before Home Depot, the local hardwares are all closed on Sunday.  So off we went, Monday morning.  On our way to La [...]

Today we are moving from the lovely home we have been staying in for nearly two years in Los Planes de Renderos, but we’re not leaving El Salvador (yet).  ( If I don’t answer a comment or email, it’s because I’m still offline!)  We are “leaving the enchanted forest”, but moving on to green pastures.   [...]

My husband wanted to show me how you fish with a net, which is called an “atarraya” in Spanish.  Although it’s not quite rainy season yet, the Metayate river in Chalatenango always has a few fish, even if they are small.   So, we went to the river, and my husband started throwing the net. After [...]

A couple weeks back, I announced rainy season in my enthusiasm of seeing it rain hard for a second day in a row.   In the interest of keeping dear readers well informed, rainy season doesn’t start until May.  We’re here now and it rained again once since my big announcement, at night, so I wouldn’t [...]

I cooked something!   Sharing the recipe with you.   Something totally new (to me) and Salvadoran.  Flor de Izote con Huevos – which is Yucca flower with eggs.  Not to be confused with cassava root / Yuca (one “c”) which people eat, usually boiled, and tastes similar to a potato. This is a white flower that [...]

The Flor de Izote I bought from Margarita was my last purchase from her.  For almost two years now, I’ve bought veggies, cheese, cream, and all sorts of foods from her as she makes her rounds in our neighborhood, toting her goods in the guacal on her head.   I don’t always need what she sells [...]

Tuesday, May 1st was “Dia Internacional de los Trabajadores” and also the graduation day for my friend Chata’s first level class in cosmetology schooling in Panchimalco, where they had a big FMLN style celebration.  Everyone had the day off just about, and mid-afternoon I went to “Pancho” with my camera.   Before the graduation ceremony began, [...]

Today’s blog is of casual shots I took on the way to, and from, a trip to Chalatenango two weekends ago.  The photos are very descriptive, so I’m going to “let the pictures do the talking” for the most part, with a little narration.   ( Rhymes with ‘let your fingers do the walking’, doesn’t it?   [...]

Before coming back to Los Planes de Renderos from the hills of Chalatenango, my husband purchased some pork meat.  A woman in the neighborhood, Nuria’s mother, decided to sell the meat herself rather than sell the whole pig to someone else, as she’d make more money.  Jesus told me he purchased 100 pounds of “pellejo,” [...]

It was Saturday morning, about 45 minutes before I was to be at the zoo.   Let me make sure I have money, before I go, I said to myself.   Checking wallet.  Money? Yes, check.   Debit card?   Hmmm.. last time I used it was ok, about a week ago and….Holy Crap where is that GD card?    [...]

I’m delighted to run into this story, as I worked here for Habitat for Humanity, and have family in and around Port St. Lucie, Florida.  Let’s hear it for Amy Whitlach volunteering in the Getsemani community in El Salvador, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Habitat for Humanity El Salvador!! http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/apr/14/port-st-lucie-woman-eager-to-help-make-a-home-in/