Another view of the quilt and a pile of yellow fabric for the next project

Here are a couple more shots of the wall hanging I just completed but have not pressed or hung.

 I kept the quilting simple: stitch in the ditch and then outlined each cup.  The paper pieced quilt pattern is by Karla Alexander   Cups Cups Cups!  available at www.saginawstreetquilts.com

 I am an intermediate quilter, I think, but slow.  This took mostly patience and persistence because of all the little pieces in each cup.  But it was fun once I got the hang of paper piecing. Selecting colors for each cup was the most fun!

I miss my compatriot on this project, Cindy.  We spent hours side by side at her dining table, each working on our own cups.  She is in Oregon working on a Dalmatian quilt.  Thank goodness for Skype!  We are able to chat each week with video.

Also, it is amazing how much I can get done on a quilt project now that I am retired and have some hours to dedicate to sewing - rather than grabbing just 3 hours of class (thanks to Victoria Jones my FANTASTIC teacher at A Common Thread in Lake Oswego, OR) and maybe 3 hours on a week end to sew, while working full time.  I'm a lucky girl! And living on less $ in Cuenca, Ecuador made retirement possible.

and here is a photo of the fabric I am cutting out now for the next twin size quilt.
I love quilting!

What is Ecuador and specifically Cuenca like? Part I

I am reflecting this evening about how I, as a citizen of the US, thought of South America and specifically Ecuador before I ever visited here. This was coming from my own world experience, which was quite limited as far as travel goes. 18 months ago, I was like many US citizens: I had a vague idea of Ecuador but thought it was part of Central America.  1 year ago, I was rapidly learning about Ecuador, had purchased a guide book and a good map of the country. I knew it had jungle and Andes Mountains within its borders. I knew of some Inca ruins and was hungry for information about what it would be like to live in Cuenca, its 3rd largest city.
I had expected a "3rd world country" with few amenities, friendly people, dirty streets, high crime and food similar to Mexico - lots of corn tortillas and spicy fillings .  And what have I found in my first weeks here?  I am going to reflect on that answers for about 3 posts - intermingled with other ideas in separate posts because I want to do it that way {:-D       This is the first of those

Third World
Well, Ecuador is a 3rd world country with poverty and employment issues to demonstrate that. I have read that 35% of citizens of EC live below the poverty level.  The minimum wage in Ecuador, when it is paid, is $2 and change.
One Big Adjustment for US citizens?  There is no postal mail delivery to one's door. There is one post office in the city of Cuenca, a city of 400,000. People just do not mail things except for emergencies, like a key needing to be returned.
There appear to be few if any unions and many protections are missing. Example:  protective harnesses for people working on scaffolds seem to be optional.
Seat belts in taxis are a luxury and rarely present.
If you buy something, it is yours - no returns of goods here.
Motorcycle helmets are optional although they are "required"
If you see people working high on a structure for a new building, they probably do not have helmets on but they will have some type of "harness" on in case they fall.
There are NO STREET SIGNS!  Some streets are marked by having charming tiles set into the building on the corner telling each cross street's name. But many times on MANY corners, there are no street names.
Street numbers are optional and rarely used.  You tell a taxi to pick you up on X street near Y intersection.  Then you stand near the curb and watch.  They always find you!
Taxis are fast and usually well run, usually very clean.  And they are very inexpensive.  Take a cab from the airport clear across town and it will cost you $2.  It may be 50 cents more if it is night time or traffic is very bad but you can politely barter. But remember 50 cents is not worth a fight!

So yes, it is a 3rd world country with many of the struggles associated with that.
However,there are also many positives.

• Children are wrapped to their parent's chest or back, getting lots of physical contact. Many people have many children so an older child or grandmother may help get the toddler up on mom's back to be carried. Children also walk a lot for little ones.  It is just part of  life. 
• Children hardly cry here. Why is that?  As a family therapist, I would like to know but I speculate that having extended family and constant early contact helps children feel more secure and enfolded in the family warmth. Also the focus in on family and not on acquiring "stuff" or cosas.
• You only rarely see a stroller or pram.
• Children seem to fight less.  There are of course arguments of who gets what first but one just does not see the aggression that I have observed among children in the US.
• The level of education is higher than I had expected.  It seems that higher education is the right of citizens of Ecuador to pursue at no additional cost (unless attending a private university).  Here is one example of what I mean:

We met one 30 year old man native of Ecuador who had studied 4 different fields extensively before finding the profession into which he had settled.  He knew a lot of other aspects of life in Ecuador and global issues, partly because of his experiences at different colleges he attended around the country and the people he was exposed to during that journey.

He also had traveled extensively. By the time he turned 30, he had spent time in 20 different countries.  He came from modest financial background and from a small "3rd world country" yet he had a world view and cultural awareness that showed wisdom beyond his years.

Poor children and those living in very rural areas have a harder time getting a good education but serious efforts are made.  English is not routinely taught throughout the country but it is being taught in some schools. As one of the main languages for global communication, it is valued.  But it is rarely spoken well in Cuenca.  Most people know a little English but are reluctant to use it because they do not get to practice.  Espanol/Spanish is the important language used all over Ecuador.  Quechua is a complex language spoken by many indigenous people and is being taught in some schools after a long period of not honoring its importance.


Soon more thoughts: so are the streets dirty?

Cuenca thoughts and Quilts

Today, a video about another walk by the river, thoughts about retirement and the new life we have chosen here in Cuenca, Ecuador. Oh, and the new quilt project I started with a little peek at the fabric.

Hope you are having a terrific week end.  S

Wall hanging quilt CUPS! CUPS! CUPS! is complete

The CUPS wall hanging - just one thing left. I need to hand stitch the hanging sleeve you can see at the top so when I hang it on the wall, that will not show.  Oh, and I need to figure out how to drill holes in the super hard plaster the walls are made of here in Ecuador.  Of course, it is not perfect but I'm very happy with it and proud I learned a lot about paper piecing. I LOVE quilting!

How I brought a cat to Ecuador from the US

So you want to take your cat to Ecuador?  It is easy to find conflicting or outdated information online about importing a cat to Ecuador.  Here is my experience in the Spring of 2011.

I have a 16 year old calico cat named Feisty.  I had a lot of fear and anxiety about bringing her to Cuenca, EC because I knew it would be a long trip, she is an OLDER cat, I did not know the process - it felt confusing and kind of overwhelming to sort out. Yet I love this cat and wanted her to be with us.
My husband and I talked over the pros and cons and decided to go for more information.

  Tip:  Be Sure You Both Agree to commit to this because it is not cheap or easy.  However, weigh the value of having the comfort of that pet with you (both for the pet and for you).



Timeline: January 2011 The journey really began with this decision in January 2011, with a departure date of May 1.
 
    Tip:  Be Sure to Use A Veterinarian Who Has An International Vet Certification

Feb 1, 2011

I began with a trip to our vet and blood work to see if the Dr U. thought Feisty could withstand the journey.  Feisty needed to be up on all vaccines.  The physical exam and blood work found no reason she could not withstand a long flight.  Due to her age, the vaccines were broken out to give part one week and part another week so that it would not overwhelm her system. She was also given benadryl and watched for several hours to be sure she managed the vaccines ok.  And she did, with flying colors. 

Feisty used to be a fierce hunter when we lived in the country and needed help with mice, voles, things like that. Her first 10 years were joyfully free and wild.  At age 10, we moved to a home in Portland area and she became an inside cat.  Surprisingly she did not object much at all.

Tip:  You DO NOT need to buy an international vet certificate.  The USDA will fax that to your vet upon request by them. 

March, 2011  Sorting out the deadlines and locations to make that all happen:
Now that Feisty had her vaccines, we asked our vet, who is a qualified international veterinarian, to get the forms from the USDA and fill them out ahead of time as much as possible.
We planned to move around May 1, so I set about buying the airline approved  pet carrier (Amazon had a great online price and quite a selection with free shipping of course). In March, I left the new carrier sitting out and open near the cat's fav spot, put treats in it to entice her to see it as a place that was not frightening. This went ok.  I bought a harness and new collar, as it turned out all unnecessary but we were prepared.

 Tip:  Check with the airline you plan to use regarding the approved airline carrier for your cat.  Also check on weight limits (it was 15 pounds max when I flew).   

Len researched what flights would work for us to give us the quickest route from Portland, OR to Cuenca, EC. It turned out to be best for us to fly Delta from Portland to Atlanta, a 6 hour layover, and then Delta direct to Guayaquil, arriving at 5 am.

Tip:  schedule your pet, much like getting a ticket for your pet, once you book your own tickets. Most international flights have a limit to how many pets may be in the cabin.  It seemed there are more restrictions during the summer so check that carefully.

You cannot fly with animals in the cabin within the country of Ecuador (at least in Spring of 2011) so we knew we would need to hire someone to drive us with our luggage and our cat to Cuenca.   We also learned that you have to get the sign off of the USDA within the state where you reside and then quickly send the international vet papers with that signature to the Ecuadorian Embassy in Washington DC to a specific person, Marco Farfan  (A VERY important name to know as this smooths things and all was returned on time).

April, 2011 We scheduled a date for the final exam and paper signing.  Within 10 days of your actual flight, the papers need to be completed and signed by 1) your vet, 2)  the USDA vet in your state and 3)  Dr Mark Farfan at the Ecuadorian Embassy in Washington D.C.
With Dr U, we also discussed sedatives - not a good idea as some pets die during the flight, somehow related to the sedative and the high altitude.  We knew we wanted to have Feisty onboard with us, under the seat in a little airline approved carrier. My friend Sully had traveled across country with her cats and noted they were quiet and hunkered down most of the way.  One of my fears was that Feisty would bother other passengers and we would be asked to move or something like that.  There is an absolute rule that you MAY NOT get the pet out of the carrier on board or even in an airport during the trip.  But talking to the pet and being close during this confusing trip is comforting to your pet.

Tip:  Be realistic about the probable cost.  We had no complications and expected it would all come to about $400.  When we arrived at the flight ticket counter, we found out that the price of her "ticket" was up by $100.  Other incidental costs brought the total to about $600.  Weigh that against the value to you of having that particular pet with you.  I personally could not, in good conscience, put a healthy pet down, and none of the people I knew were willing to take a 16 yer old cat on.  Plus I love this cat a TON!

In April, we began doing some short weekly test drives with Feisty in her new Delta approved carrier.  They went well. Feisty practiced her arias and we practiced patience.

May, 2011
As so often happens, a couple of  personal things had to be wrapped up so we could not fly until May 13th, which was ok, just moved our final vet visit  a little later,ti stat within that 10 day window.  This visit was to recheck the cat's health, to get the papers signed with all the duplicates and get on the road to the USDA office in Salem, OR.
We drove the papers to Salem, an hour away and back, to speed the process of the turn-around time.  We had an appointment scheduled in Salem and all went smoothly there.  It took about 20 minutes and we never even met the USDA vet.  The cost was nominal.

Now we quickly drove to the UPS office to send the papers to be signed and translated by the Ecuadorian Embassy, c/o Dr. Mark Farfan.  We used 1 day service and 2 days back, about $44.  One big anxiety was would the papers all be signed correctly and rushed back to us in time to board the plane Friday  at 8 am.  The papers were returned on Tuesday so there were 2 big sighs of relief at our house. Feisty was still oblivious to the impending journey of her life.

For weeks I had been packing and repacking things. trying to get the most stuff in but stay under the weight limit of 50# per bag.  Here are some tips about what to take if you have a cat:
Tip: Essentials you MUST pack!  Buy a disposable litter box at a place like Petco or PetSmart.  I placed the clean litter box right in the suitcase and filled it with various things: a small packet of dry food, 2 cans of wet food, a sandwich bag of kitty litter, a water and food bowl, an empty water bottle to get water at your destination or layovers to offer the cat
I also brought some treats from the pet store that were rated well online as helping animals to be relaxed with major issues like a plane ride (and ok'd by the Vet, Dr U). Feisty really liked those and it did seem to relax her.

Flight Day
As it turns out, the flight went amazingly smoothly.  With getting there early, all the connections and then driving to Cuenca from Guayaquil, Feisty was in that carrier box for well over 24 hours.  Feisty hunkered down and was very quiet most of the time.  When I tried to offer her water in Atlanta, she was not interested.  I was concerned so I stroked a little water on her hair, knowing she would lick it off.  That is the only hydration she took on the whole journey.

When we got to customs in Ecuador, an agent looked very carefully at the papers, the man asked me a couple of questions and waved us on through. Whew!

We then had a long wait and a harrowing ride in a taxi van to Cuenca.

When we finally arrived at our new cottage, Feisty came right out of her carrier, looking a bit gaunt.  But she set about exploring.  She was not scared or slinking as she did with her previous move.  She seemed to take it all in stride. It took a little while for all systems to be normal but there were no unusual problems.  She tried out that cup of cat litter right away.  And we set about locating litter and food for a cat in Cuenca.

  Another tip?  SuperMaxi grocery has both.

This story has a happy ending.  Our elderly cat has taken charge of our new home and runs the show, as any cat knows is proper.  I am comforted by having her every day.  My husband, who is not a "cat" person, says it was worth every penny because he sees how much connection Feisty and I have.

The Final Tip:  Please let me know if you have specific questions or I can be of help in moving a cat to Cuenca.       Sharon

A handsome couple in Tarqui

This handsome couple came out of the cathedral in Tarqui during the Festival of the Virgin Carmen.  Her dress is typical of many women of this age range who live outside of Cuenca.  Many of the skirts have elaborate colorful embroidery around the hem, as you can get  peek of on the woman sitting on the right, holding a waist shawl over her lap.
Typically, the hair of most indigenous people is thick, shiny, black and luxurious.  With my thin, baby fine hair I have hair envy!

Double click the image to get the full view.  Aren't the colors glorious?

Tarqui is a small town outside of Cuenca where there is a lot of dairy farming We could see many small plots of maize (corn) growing on very steep hillsides.  It is a somewhat higher elevation than Cuenca so it is cooler there. Many people travel to Cuenca each day to sell their produce and goods in street markets. Quite a number of Ecuadorians are building beautiful, large homes there for the future.  They are building as they can afford, no credit cards, and put much effort into these homes when they are not working at their other jobs.

Cuenca, Ecuador's Fieria Libre market

Here is a video of what some say is the largest market of its kind in all of South America.  Lenny estimated that if you think of the largest Costco you've ever been in - this is 10 times larger. It is semi covered, crowded and this is not even the busiest day.  The busiest market day is Wednesday. Notice how beautiful the people are as you watch.  S