Walking Views/Doors and More #ThursdayDoors

 Wow! Where did that week go? There is a misconception about being ‘retired in paradise’. There is actually work to living simply unless of course you are very wealthy and pay others to take care of everything for you. I see no fun in that, I suppose because I get great satisfaction in a job well done and work that actually improves my way of living rather than someone else’s. And still, here, we don’t have to keep up the property where this little home sits, so yard upkeep is out of the picture. My hubs certainly considers that a benefit of retirement and not owning your own place. 

We do have to work at boundaries for those beautiful creatures that we share our planet with. They really like coming inside and well, I just don’t want to sleep with them. He is currently finding a weather stripping solution for the crevices that they always manage to slip through. I mean, this morning, this guy tried to steal my seat on the porch!

😱🙈😱

What I see is that life should be about surviving together, sharing resources, talents and bounty. Somewhere along the way humans lost total sight of that and gave in to working so that they might earn money to buy what they need and desperately want while making someone else extremely wealthy. I don’t know, is the system merely modern day sharecropping? I think not because even at its birth the sharecropping family had a portion of land that was theirs to work. But, the governing powers and religious institutions kept digging into their pockets more and more for taxes and contributions. Back then if you didn’t donate to the Church you could be charged with heresy and executed. Think about it. Not much has changed over the centuries except the actual numbers and the extent to which we feel we are willing to sacrifice our health, sanity and dignity. 

Oh yes! My doors. We had business in town and since we don’t yet have a vehicle we took a cab ride for the less than five mile ride down the mountain. I really love town trips, especially if our to-do list is short, meaning we have more time to explore and walk around. Even when we have a vehicle it is more fun and interesting to walk the streets. Okay, so here are some of the Boquete doors we found that I really liked. There are a few gratuitous extra images at the end, sorry, Dan. Just to help wash away the ugly bug impression. 😉

Our new friends say this is a great place. All operating food and shopping venues here follow strict MINSA regulations with regard to Covid19. 

These open doors reveal great produce and a few local shopping options

This door is one of several outside a grocery/hardware store called Mandarin

Being old opticians and with my lengthy history in the eye business, we are always intrigued by optical shops.

This statue is in the garden at the center of the little produce plaza. I just love this giant cup. 

On a side street, very ornate in metal, presumably gating a community of apartments

Door to a stairway over a business. A lot of people live above their businesses. I’d like that! 

Artsy door to a business

There is a door leading inside this restaurant where we had the most peaceful and delicious breakfast experience.

Good coffee! Great view. Meditation music playing softly in the background. 

That garden was so beautiful. There was a Christmas tree too. I picked the spot closest to outside. 😊

Beneath that flower is a marvelous waffle!

Huevos Rancheros, Panamena. 

Those thick style grilled tortillas were perfect beneath the fried eggs, fresh ranchero sauce and the best cheese ever! 

Happy Thursday folks. For more great doors posts, hop over to our host, Dan Antion’s, blog at nofacilities.com. Normally I put a link in but blogger, or my computer, is glitching and not working properly. Sorry, Dan. 

Hello Beautiful! #SoCS

 For today’s #SoCS Linda Hill says to write or talk about ‘list’ or ‘lists’. You wouldn’t think that to be a difficult task. We all make them...on paper, in our heads, on our phones, a chalkboard on the fridge...look here’s one already! 

I could list my grandchildren...all eight! 

I could list the things I am thankful for...too lengthy.

Grocery list? Boring. 

Things I hope to accomplish? Too evolutionary.

Hmmmmm....how about something beautiful? We have made new friends since moving here, some two legged, but none as lovely as my feathered friends. They are so happy when I leave a bit of fresh fruit and tolerate my camera..from a distance...as long as they don’t see me. 

Now if you are expecting genus and species names for them all, well, you need to remember this isn’t Dan’s place. He is the details guy and would surely research every single one of these beauties. Me? I have done so before using our tropical bird guide book, but alas, I did not bring it with me this time. I do know that most of these colorful creatures are in the tanager family because a really nice new local friend told me so. One is definitely a Baltimore Oriole. I guess they have long held dual residency because I saw them in Costa Rica too! 

To me these feathered friends are more special than their information, each having its own personality, proclivities and partnerships. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. 

Scarlet

He must be the chief 

Little blue

Tanager family

Hummingbird. But you knew that didn’t you? 😉

Little blue

Oriole! I know this one. 

I am told this one is in the hummingbird family. It has a similar beak, but you can’t tell because it is buried in bliss. Just like me when I see them. 

Happy weekend everyone. Find something beautiful to take your mind off of the ugliness. It’s out there.

OutDoors #ThursdayDoors

 Yes, that does say OutDoors; but it does not mean out as in ‘In’ doors and ‘Out’ doors, although these doors can be used for going both in and out. My title is in reference to my very favorite place which is ‘outdoors’ and one might think there are no doors in Nature’s abode. 

But...since the definition of a door is, by Wikipedia standards:

...a hinged or otherwise movable barrier that allows ingress into and egress from an enclosure....

A doors’s essential and primary purpose is to provide security by controlling access to the doorway (portal) 

*(oooohhhh...have I got doorways coming up for you guys once my book is finished🤭)

Conventionally, it is a panel that fits into the portal of a building, room or vehicle. Doors are generally made of a material suited to the door’s task. Doors are commonly attached by hinges, but can move by other means, such as slides or counterbalancing. 

Thank you, Wikipedia. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Now, for those of you who know me, I need not reiterate that I am neither conventional nor above broadening the parameters of the norm to share a bit of beauty. I have concluded, as well, that definitions are more like guidelines. 😉

So, for those of you sticklers who live life to the letter of definition, try to relax and just go with the flow. 

Without further ado, I give you my out of doors, doors..

Yes, it really is a door to a really big house

See, it’s a door, providing security, and we are grateful.

The really big house? 

No, not mine, but this little place is. I spend a lot of time on that porch.

This is my door. It’s a good door. We go on a lot of hikes here in the mountains. That is where I found most of today’s doors. Some might argue they are gates. If that is you, you are free to exit the gallery..to the right please. 

Many have long narrow roads that wind out of sight, not allowing for any photos of the actual portal doors.

But oh the views...

This one reminds me of a favorite book, The Secret Garden. I swear I just saw a faerie flit by.

Hinges, protection and security, in-out. Good enough to pass for a door in my book.

Okay maybe this one is more like a doorway but down the hill sits a home with actual doors.

See? 

This? Only my favorite door of all, because it leads me to the beautiful outdoors where I find peace and sunshine

This door helped me bake chicken and dressing on ‘that’ holiday. 😉

The door to some business I don’t recall, but I just thought the guy guarding it was too happy not to photograph! 

Doors to a local church we pass when walking down the mountain towards town.

The door to get inside Pricesmart is up there...somewhere.  It only took about 20 min to reach it, masked up, maintaining 6 ft. No one uttered a word of complaint. A couple of months ago these folks were restricted to being out only on certain days of the week, sometimes alternating men days and women days; and elderly and those with disabilities got an extra two hours most days. 

This is a wonderful little Inn with more birds than I could begin to name. The grounds were lush, well maintained and teeming with hummingbirds. 

This was our room. Behind that door. 

Yeah....outdoors

Doesn’t this place look like it should HAVE a door?

I meet new mighty tree friends every day. 

Thanks for taking a walk with me and sharing my version of #ThursdayDoors. Thanks, Dan, for hosting this wonderful prompt. Do visit Dan’s blog to read other great posts and see more amazing doors! 

Not Broken Just Bent

 

When life bends you, you need not break. Just grow in a new direction.

Keep reaching for the heights...

Spread your beautiful wings

Plant your roots deeply 

 as you reach for your dreams

and soar to the heights..

Go with gentle grace along the winding path, 

and drift with the current as it pulls you to your destiny,

 your history beaten in the stones beneath the flow

of life’s unfolding. 

Cheryl KP

2020