Dog Days of August

There have been some changes this week.  A state of emergency has been declared here in Ecuador until September 15th.  A theoretical rise in COVID-19 cases.  It is rumored that the reason that Ecuador is not completely green is that the government cannot afford to pay its workers.  The deception that goes on in government is sad but now surprising.  The Mayor of Paute, Raul Delgado, pushed the curfew back to 6 pm on Fridays, Saturday, and Sundays.  On Sundays, every business is closed except for pharmacies, medical clinics, and hospitals.  The Paute buses will run again beginning Monday, August 17th and the long-distance buses will go from Cuenca to Paute to Cuenca on Monday, August 17th, also.  The long-distance buses will only go from the bus station to the bus station.  No stops in-between.  Fifty percent capacity on the buses.  The Gualaceo buses are still running as the long-distance buses that go from Gualaceo to Cuenca to Gualceo.  Only bus station to bus station.  No stops in between.  I am not sure but I think the bus fare has stayed the same.  Thirty cents for the local buses and seventy-five cents for the long-distance buses.  I don't miss the buses and the way they would pass by passengers without picking them up.  Whatever the reasons, the reasons were not good.  Just not feeling like doing their job is not a good excuse.  Another thing we do not miss is eating at restaurants often.

We enjoy cooking at home.  So much healthier and better-tasting.  Randy makes really good apple pie, steaks, and omelets.  I enjoy making homemade lemonade, popcorn, and finding creative ways to cook vegetables.  Homemade hierba luisa is delicious and healthy.  Kobe makes delicious chocolate chip cookie cakes and macaroni and cheese.  We, as a family, enjoy cooking.  Cleaning the kitchen...not so much.  We do our best to eat healthy so that we stay healthy.  Walking the trails gives us plenty of exercises.  Fortunately, our spring gives us freshwater that we for which we don't have to pay.  Living in a rural area shields us from the harsh realities of the oppressive governments.

This is the view of our driveway as seen from our bedroom (my and Randy's) balcony.

The Paute River as seen from our driveway.  Cookie (girl) is on the road.

A rare picture of Kobe (age 18) smiling.  He loves his new haircut.

The entrance to our driveway is close to the Paute River.

Lucy (girl) COLOR SWAP effect 

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Two eggs from our hens.

The roof of our house can be seen from the trail.  FOILAGE effect

The hens and rooster fought over this flour tortilla.

Lucy (girl) COLOR ACCENT effect 

Cherimoyas (COLOR SWAP effect)

This the road to our house as seen from the bottom of our driveway.

I am enjoying the warm sunny afternoon and being near the Pauter River which is a natural river.