Big Dog, Bigger Tree

Blue is a good sized Red Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog) but he looks tiny beside the huge tree in my yard, about 300 feet from the house.

 

All 4 of the dogs and I again recently explored the river about 6 km down the road (see previous post).  

On another short adventure, Blue and Rex (the really big dog) went with 2 other men and myself a short distance up the park trail toward Volcan Baru volcano.  The dogs were concerned when I stopped to rest and the other guys went on ahead.  So first Rex and then Blue stayed with me (without asking) as the other dog went on ahead with my companions.  They are very protective of me and I appreciate their concern.

So far the rainy season has been short on rain and long on clouds.  Good weather for photography.

Sniffin' New Photo Sites

It was a sunny Sunday morning after 2 inches of rain yesterday.  So, the 4 dogs and I decided to go to one of the rivers nearby and sniff out some new sites for my Photo Adventures.  

Below, Blue and Sol discuss the possibilities, while Rex sniffs ahead.  Later we found some really large rocks that move down the river when it floods.  We had a great morning!  I hope that you have a nice day also. 

Going Bananas

I've just eaten the first banana from one of the trees in my own yard.  It was small to middle sized, sweet and delicious.  I live on the side of Volcan Baru, the tallest mountain in Panama.  I'm at 4,700 ft. ASL and the top of the mountain is 11,400 ft.

It is really too high and cool to grow bananas at my place.  However, a part-time worker transplanted five banana trees 3 or 4 years ago.  The first tree to produce was blown down by a gust from a freak wind storm before the fruit could mature.  The second bunch has been hanging on another tree for several months.  It takes a long time for them to mature, especially at higher altitudes.

Two and one-half weeks ago a local friend pronounced this bunch ready and cut it off of the tree.  I hung the stalk on the back porch.  They were very green and I thought that they would never ripen. However, today I noticed that many are showing some yellow.  There are over 40 bananas on the stalk.  The question now is; what do I do with so many?  Anyone want to come down and make a banana creme pie?  Fried bananas?  Banana pudding?  A banana and peanut butter sandwich?  A banana split?  Ideas ??

I don't think that my 4 dogs will be able to help, so come on down. I'll even meet you at the airport in David, Panama; 45 miles from here. Oh, and bring your camera because you'll hate yourself if you forget it.

Progress at Casa Jay

I have made quite a bit of progress in the past two months.  The carport & one meter wide roof extension over the front of the house is complete.  Also, the new radio tower is up and fully functional.

As usual, the dogs insist that I walk with them every day, so I get some good exercise.  The "Green Season" has begun again.  We should have some rain almost every day for the next eight months.  It's what keeps the lush tropical vegetation growing and green.

I have some more projects, as always, for the house.  However, almost all of them can be easily accomplished during the rainy season. 

I keep promising myself that I'll spend more time on photography, but it seldom seems to work out that way. I did go with a group of friends to the "highest waterfall in Panama" in early January.  Here is one of the pictures that I took on that trip.  Enjoy...

Time Flies When You're Busy

Well, another year in my corner of Paradise.  My dog pack is now complete at 4 amigos. They are great companions and keep bad people away.  They even allow me to live in the big dog house with them, although the 'doggie door' is a bit small for me.  

The new dog, Rex, has been a handful!  First I raised the fence from 5' to 7.5' because he was jumping over the fence and following me every time that I left the house.  That didn't help as he simply jumped as high as he could, then pushed himself up over the top.  I tried tying him up when I left and he simply slipped out of the collar or harness.   I finally had to get a special wide, nylon collar that he could not escape from.

I greatly dislike tying my dogs up so I then got a 'pet friendly' electric fence charger.  With both top & bottom perimeter wires Rex stays in the yard when I am gone. 

A firth dog, Blackie, came to the property about two months ago.  I didn't know at first, but he stayed behind the house for 3 or 4 days without me feeding him.  Persistence pays!  I finally began feeding him and took him into the pack.  He was a great, loving dog and minded well.  However, he attacked Rex three times in three weeks causing injuries each time.  So we found him a good new home.  Five dogs was simply too many in any case.  

I still have too many projects and not enough time for all of them.  We are in the dry season until mid-April and I had hoped to get a carport built this year.  I would also like to get the stone face on the outside of my living room.  And tile on the living room floor.  And ...

In the mean time, my friends Bruce & Barbara Miller from New Mexico moved into their new place about 5 miles south of me.  They are both ham radio operators and they brought two towers with them.  One of the towers is now on blocks in my backyard, so I will soon have two tall radio towers here.  Putting up the tower and transferring the antenna and cables requires a lot of time.  This will detract from my other projects.

I am looking forward to another Photo Adventure, http://www.jaymills.org/main/page_photo_adventures.html  in early April.  We should not have much rain, so hiking and other travel will be easier.  Things will not be as green as other times and some of the waterfalls may have less water, but we will find interesting things to photograph as always.

I sold a small lot at the 'street' end of my second lot to friends who are building a small house there.  It should be complete in another 6 weeks.  I will be glad to have someone nearby to watch my dogs and property when I am away.  I still have 4 lots for sale that are about 7/10 acre each (2,850 m3).  

I hope to keep this blog more up to date in the future.  But, no promises.