One of the great joys of our life here in Panama is that we are constantly meeting new friends. However, there is nothing like meeting up with your old friends!

Tim and Jess made the long journey from Washington, USA down here to our farm in Panama. There is no great direct flight options from the northwest states. After 3 different planes and layovers, they made it!

​It was great to trade stories and spend a week with them, but it was also great that they came here with some fresh ideas and even helped get us started with some new products.

Of course there was playtime too. The beach, visiting monkeys and sloths, evening talks by the fireplace where the dogs wanted to join in too. We will miss them and were very happy to have them here. I think it is our turn next to go up and see them. :)

Unfortunately, there was a storm the entire time they were here. The wind was blowing everyday and knocking things off of the table constantly. At the same time, there was a virus or something going around town, so we avoided going into Boquete as much as possible. Over 400 people were sick with symptoms of the Norovirus. Thankfully, we did not catch it!

Now it is time to get our projects finished and get as much work done as we can while we do have good weather. The fields are being picked this week (last picking for 2018 season), the new storage shed is being built, our store items are being replenished and coffee is being sorted.

When someone leases a tree for the year, we generally do all of the work and send the finished product at the end. However, if you live in the area, you might be caught doing some of the work too! One couple came for the morning to pick and process the last of their cherries themselves. :)

All of our leased trees have now had their last picking and they are waiting for their beans to rest and move onto the next stages. It is a fun time right now. We get to see what the final product looks like after a year of work!

The rest of this month will be full of working on the road to get some more repairs done, finishing the storage area, getting ready for the last stages of the 2018 harvest, getting ready for the 2019 season and maybe fitting a few fun days in too.

Supplies
First we have to order supplies and wait for delivery. This time it was 2 truck loads full. Bags of cement, blocks, gravel, sand.....

Prep
Next, the site has to be prepared and all of the tools needed to be set in place. Hector brought down his cement mixer with his truck as far as he could take it. They had to push it the rest of the way.

Foundation
Today, the pad was poured! Rick is back on light-duty and more tree leasing signs and letting Melvin finish up today. 

I did not help with this project yet, but I did take care of the food (including a brownie cake for Melvin's birthday) and this evening it is my roasting day. I will be hand-sorting coffee and packaging coffee for the next 2 days. :)  

This project must be finished in the next 2 weeks, so I will keep you updated on how we are doing with our deadline. :)  Tomorrow is day off from working on it, we will be picking up our friends who are coming to visit for a week....*getting excited* 

They have already left their house and have started their journey here. :)