ANTEATER SITING

This afternoon when walking along the path to the studio we had an anteater siting. Approximately 100 feet before the studio there is an old rotting tree stump. As you cross the small creek and start up the stairs, it is easy to spot. Today, enjoying a big meal of termites that live in this tree stump was an anteater. Luckily, this tree stump is close enough to the studio to go get the camera and return.

As we took his photo, he simply worked his way around the stump, always on guard, but not willing to leave such an abundant meal. He is so cute that you just want to pick him up and squeeze him. He looks like a soft stuffed animal. But beware. His front nails are very sharp and a force to be reckoned with. One slash of these claws and he can kill small predators. It is not uncommon for anteaters to kill dogs that get too close.

This is the second siting of an anteater in a week. Late last week he was spotted crossing the road between the casitas and the studio. We are assuming that it is the same anteater. We hope to have many more sitings of him in the future.

GREENHOUSE REVISITED

As a follow up to my blog earlier this year, I am happy to announce that the Monte Azul organic greenhouse has been completed. The new structure´s construction was finished in mid January. Since that time we have been busy preparing the planting beds, starting seedlings and watching the plants grow.

The planting beds are now on the ground instead or raised beds. We have even found a use for the empty wine bottles from Café Blue. We invert these bottles and bury the neck in the ground. In a row, these bottles become a permanent, weather resistant border that we fill with soil. Our hotel guests really seem to like this wine bottle idea.

The plants are all doing extremely well. Our cooks at Café Blue are very pleased with the produce that is again available to them from the Monte Azul greenhouses. Thes guests seem to love the fresh organic produce as well. Some organic produce in the greenhouse includes 4 types of lettuce, 2 types of argula, sweet peppers, hot peppers, basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, celery, tomatoes, and various types of onions. We are also experimenting with Belgium endive, shallots, soybeans and bok choi.

The green house also includes our coffee bean drying area and earthworm composting area. We had our neighbor, Wilberth, the local earthworm expert and Swiss cheese maker, come over and give us all a workshop on how to use the earthworms for composting. He was kind enough to bring us a big bucket of worms to get us started. These worms seem to really love the organic waste from Café Blue.

The only problem we have experienced so far with the new greenhouse is that is is already too small. We have it filled and want to plant more things. We have already started looking at plans to build a second greenhouse. I will keep you posted.

The 4th DOG ARRIVES AT MONTE AZUL

For years we have been able to hold the line at 3 dogs at Monte Azul. A month ago Carlos and I have stepped over this line and have adopted a 4^th dog. Up to this point we had been able to limit our canine family to 3: 1 inside and 2 outside. Tyler was always the “top dog” in the group and received all of the pampering and comforts of indoor living. When she died in August of 2007, she was quickly followed by Scooter a few weeks later. Scooter appeared in the road one day near the cafetal. He was a cute chubby 6 week old puppy in need of a home. How could we not take him in? He became the new 3^rd dog.

In March 2010, Shadow died unexpectedly. A few weeks later Paco appeared in the road frail, emaciated and in need of a home. Paco became the new 3^rd dog and took over the inside dog space with Cookie and Scooter being outside. All was right in the Monte Azul dog universe, 3 dogs, just the way it was supposed to be.

Jump to March 2011. Things changed. We received a call from our neighbor that there were hunters on our property. In addition to Monte Azul’s anti-hunting position, hunting is illegal in Costa Rica, anywhere, anytime, any animal. Our workers quickly went into action to confront these hunters. We found them, took their information, contacted he local authorities and told them to leave our property which they did.

However, they left their dog behind. The dog was out in the forest during the "arrest" of the 2 hunters. We captured the dog and were surprised at his condition. He was very thin, old, covered in fleas, visible cataracts in both eyes and battle scars all over his body. We did our usual routine and took him right to the veterinarian for an examination. We named him Hunter, based upon his previous occupation.

It has been several weeks now and Hunter has gained weight, no longer has worms, fleas or mite nests in his ears. Because of his age, he is now the 2^nd inside dog and 4th dog in total. He is a very gentle dog and has made himself quite at home in the studio. He is now retired and enjoys sleeping in the chair during the day and in a soft bed at night. Hunter and Paco love to play between naps. Here are a few photos of Hunter in the studio.

My only concern is that we have crossed the “3 dogs only” line. Who knows where this dog family end?