I Skype with Celeste.

I pick up my 3 jars of Oro Blanco coconut oil from Madeleine.

I have lunch at Sambucha’s. Caroline, David, Pat, Renate and Mary Ann and I all share a table and conversation.

I have a nap.

I attend the New Years event at Cafe Cultura for a couple of hours before Pat, Renata and I make our way down to the square. There are effigies on display in front of many homes including a very elaborate collection that attracts many visitors. A bandstand has been set up in front of the church and a well known band performs on stage.

The new year arrives and the effigies are lit on fire in the street. I jump over the fire as is the tradition here.

Happy New Year 2014!

I enjoy catching up with Pat over dinner at Hosteria Vilcabamaba.

I am able to post to my blog again.

I enjoy a visit and lunch with Heather.

Heather and I walk to Kitzia’s market.

Heather and I have lunch at Crepe Suzette’s.

I am unable to login to my blog.

I catch up with my daughter Sarah for a few hours via Skype.

Merry Christmas!

I Skype with Stephanie and Celeste.

I enjoy pizza with Heather at Mama Silvia’s.

Heather and I watch the latest Superman movie.

My daughter’s cat Helix.

I make 3 batches of chocolate. Orange. Peanut butter / almond. Cinnamon / Clove / Jalepeno.

I walk to Irena and Josh’s house for the Christmas Eve party. About 40 people attend. Great pot luck food.

I walk home passed fields filled with fireflies.

I enjoy a late lunch and movie with Heather.

I enjoy a visit with Norie and Richard out at their house.

I enjoy dinner and a visit with Heather.

I awake during the night to the sound of a very heavy downpour.

I dream of a holographic house framework and it gets anchored in the ground. The house is built around this framework.

I walk to Kitzia’s market and into the village before heading home. The colorful performer is playing in front of the church.

I nap.

I Skype call Stephanie, who is now in Phoenix, Arizona.

Heather and I go out to Malacatos for the fund raising event. Part of the Loja symphony orchestra performs outside.

I talk with Stephanie on Skype.

Heather, Marc, Marie and I walk to Elena and Vlad’s for the raw lunch. The food is delicious. The dessert comes with a fortune note inside a date dipped in chocolate.

Joe Baby the Dolphin Whisperer comes by for a visit.

Heather and I take a taxi up to the OneWorldVilcabamba greenhouse up at Larry Evans place. Landon gives us a tour. We leave with organic tomatoes and other organic goodies.

We walk to Marc and Marie’s who are being visited by friends from France.

Heather and I enjoy a delicious salad made from the produce we brought back.

Stephanie leaves on her trip to the U.S.

I enjoy a visit with Heather and she makes a tasty dinner.

Stephanie and I enjoy dinner at Hosteria Vilcabamba.

I make a couple of chocolate deliveries.

I enjoy a visit with Heather.

Stephanie comes by at 10:30 am and we head into the village for breakfast at the Juice Factory.

Stephanie and I make cacao butter / vanilla / coconut butter cream.

Stephanie and I make almond / peanut butter chocolate and hazelnut chocolate and orange chocolate.

I walk to Kitzia’s market and then walk to the Juice Factory to meet Amalaa who has my freshly melanged hazelnut butter. We chat for a bit until I head back to my place for a nap.

I enjoy dinner and conversation with Stephanie at Cafe Cultura.

Stephanie and I take a taxi up t Sumana’s place. The house is coming along really quickly and looks very comfortable.

Stephanie and I enjoy lunch at Madre Tierra.

Stephanie and I make 3 batches of chocolate. Almond, hazelnut and mint.

Stephanie and I enjoy dinner at Mama Silvia’s.

My day starts with a support call.

I pick up 4 packages at the post office. Yay!

Heather sits with me while I enjoy a Sambucha salad and mashed potatoes.

Heather and I visit Amalaa where we get to taste test some delicious hazelnut butter made in her melanger.

New picture taken by Thomas Ives