A Bird's Eye View and More

Let's finish catching up with June. Recently, we celebrated Bruce's birthday with lunch at Hosteria Uzhupud. Here's Juan, Bruce, Mick, and Nikolas.

Uzupud, near Paute, is quite lovely. The setting is beautiful and the food is good.

Bruce and Juan had access to one of the buildings on Parque Calderon, so we were invited to go to the roof for a bird's eye view of the city.

Some of the birds.

The Mickster and Nikolas

June is the month for many First Communions. At La Merced, the ceremony was about to get underway.

Nikolas

Father's Day at California Kitchen with Bob and Elaine.

This morning we were in the computer room and heard an unusual noise out the window. There was an ultralight, the first we've seen here.

While at the Coffee Tree, this unusual vehicle passed by. It does not exactly look like a bus, but contained seats and people. The make was Scania.

This guy is out a lot, just observing life.

There was a truck of balloons for a wedding, a common sight on Saturdays.

Another month has come to an end, as well as half of the year. Tomorrow's a new day, a new month, and you never know what's around the corner. "Rabbit, rabbit."

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy

Mamá Osa Proyecto

Thursday, a group of ladies congregated at Distribuidora Barrera to initiate the Mama Osa Project. Mama Osa, Mother Bear, will provided knitted and crocheted bears for the less fortunate children of Cuenca. More than 20 ladies met to knit the bears.

Here are Patricia, shop owner, and Bella, who has been involved in the project in the US and provided the pattern for the bears. Gertie knits on.
A finished bear.

I you're interested in becoming involved, visit Patricia's yarn shop, located on Luis Morena Mora y Cornelio Merchan to obtain the pattern. The shop will also serve as a drop off for the bears. Patricia can be contacted at distribuidorabarrera@hotmail.com . All the bears made in Cuenca will be distributed in Cuenca.

Until next time,
Mick and Kathy

Time Passes Much Too Quickly

Perhaps it is because we're older, perhaps it is because we're retired, but time passes extremely quickly these days. It has been a while since the last blog, so, it's time to attempt to catch up.

We've done a few excursions lately, a recent Saturday was spent in Azogues with John and Leeann. In the park, there's an interesting tree with the fence growing into it.

In the park.

Iglesia San Francisco is being renovated.

Inside the church
The courtyard

Leeann and John

The "smiley face" has been on Borrerro across from the Coffee Tree for a while.

These are new additions.

Someone had a birthday. There was a surprise party for me at weaving.

Nancy, Cecy, and Paquita

Faye, Nancy, and Elaine

The celebration ended at Santa Lucia.

Dibacco's has a Resource Fair every month. Patricia exhibited with a large display. A group of us had dinner afterwards. The restaurant was quite good.

The orchid that I bought last year at Ecuagenera is blooming.

This is my birthday orchid.

The weather had been so cold and rainy that the Mickster needed to get away. We went to Guayaquil for the weekend. We had great Chinese food and McDonald's. There was lot's of sunshine and warm weather. On Saturday, we drove to Playas for lunch.

There's some new faces at weaving. This is Xu Juan, pronounced Joo-ar. I've knitted most of my life and have known many knitters. Juan is the best I've ever met! If you buy the yarn, she will make a sweater for $50. She had mine done in 5 days and it is exquisite. All she needs is a picture of the sweater you want and your measurements. She's sporting her first weaving project.

Nancy

FayeSherry

In addition to the side trips, weaving and the Coffee Tree continue to take a large part of our time. We've been to Uzhupud, Mick went on a fishing excursion, Corpus Cristi took place, and there have been several cookouts. I'll have more pictures soon. Time passes much too quickly.

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy