Today’s bounty from the féria

Not pictured: one potted orchid with a host of blossoms and one pejibaye (consumed during the photo op).

Pictured: 3 avocados, 6 tomatoes, 4 canteloupes, 10 granadillas, 3 cucumbers, 8 apples, 4 pejibayes and one large head of lettuce.

Pejibayes, tomatoes, melons, and much more for good eating!

All (except the orchid) purchased for less than $10.00.  Mmm.  Good.

Cheap (and fun) living in Costa Rica

This morning I rode the bus to Heredia (28¢ each way) to do some shopping for fabric to make a baby quilt (new grand daughter!).  After checking out a fabric store and finding nothing that appealed to me, I headed for the ropas (sometimes used, sometimes new items) to see if I’d have better luck.  I found exactly what I was looking for (plus a few things I wasn’t!) and bought it.  I paid 60¢ for a huge, plain colored fabric for the back of the quilt and a bright colored juvenile fabric perfect for the top ($1.20).  Then I stopped at a fabric, ribbon, sewing notions and yarn store and picked up batting ($3.50 per meter) and yarn (60¢ a skein).  From there I went to the market and had a delicious lunch of fried chicken, pico de gallo, picadillo, rice and beans and a glass of tamarindo ($3). Back to the bus and home with the “kills” from the ropas.  They’ve already been washed and are bouncing in the dryer.  I can’t wait to start the quilt.