tj ranch-puerto rico vacation

Bilingual..Si o No?

2011-05-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

I have lived in the mountains of Puerto Rico for the past twenty seven years. If I had lived in any other Spanish speaking country for this amount of time, I have no doubt that I would be totally bilingual.

Having studied Spanish in both high school and college, I came to Puerto Rico with the ability to read and write and a pretty good vocabulary, although once I got here, I spent most of my time saying, “Que?....what?..slow down….mas despacio, por favor.” After living with a Neyorican who speaks extremely fast,in both English and Spanish, I finally can understand most people face to face. But how come I still can’t understand the guy on the radio telling jokes in the morning? I used to ask the kids if they understood what the guy said, and they would laugh and explain the joke to me. It may have been a lousy joke, but they understood it. Oh well..so much for radio banter..what about the printed page? I should be able to read the headlines…and yet sometimes I’m at a loss for the key words….maybe they’re slang..I don’t know but it seems unbelievable that I can’t!
We have guests that swear that no one speaks English on this island. They’re amazed that with English classes in the schools and so much stateside influence of movies and television that more people don’t speak English and yet everywhere I go and ask a question, people answer me in English. I think people are shy to speak English but anxious to try and practice it, so when I ask a question in Spanish they jump at the chance to answer me in English. I suppose it’s my accent, but I’m often asked if I’d be more comfortable speaking English even though the person asking me may have their own heavy accent.

I have the utmost respect for any person who lives in a country and has to speak a language other than their native tongue. It can be exhausting…or is that just because I haven’t passed the fluency barrier? I do know that it just takes practice to speak another language. After a recent article in the local paper, we’ve had a lot of phone calls and I’ve answered a lot of questions..and with just a month or so of telephone talk, I’ve become more fluent..at least on the subject of TJ Ranch…so practice is the key….but Puerto Rico can make you lazy. The beauty of Puerto Rico..besides the physical beauty…is that I can live here in a ‘foreign’ country where people speak a ‘foreign’ language and yet I can speak English, pay in dollars…it’s foreign, but ‘convenient’. I can also get by with butchering both languages and speak the familiar Spanglish. I can invent words and can be readily understood. I don’t think that would be the case in the mountains of Bolivia.

And so mis amigos….I’ll say adios and tu sabes…I’ll try to work mas duro and practice so that I don’t get so cansada trying to speak. Yo se que yo puedo..I know that I can. Don’t let me switch you over… hablame en español y dejame contestarte.

Hasta luego..

The Oh-My Phone

2010-09-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

Things are changing at TJ Ranch. Some people actually have cell service and internet. Years ago it was easy. “There’s no signal here”, I would say and watch the look of panic. Then our guests would take a deep breath, put their phones away and say, “it’s OK, probably good in fact, now we can have a real vacation!”

Now a days we have the worst of all worlds. There’s signal here and there. “Try the fourth step; go to the pool; you can text in the yellow casita…” Phones ring…..”can you hear me now?” It’s a little disconcerting having your phone with you on vacation. I almost feel like making a place setting at the table for the newest member of the family…the know it all. And it does know it all: point at the stars and it’ll tell you what constellation you’re looking at; point at a sign and it can automatically translate it; take a photo of the flower and then it can be identified including all its medicinal properties.

The new phones are technological wonders, but do you really want to spend your vacation looking down? Isn’t a vacation supposed to rid you of that neck ache? Isn’t part of the fun on vacation getting lost and asking for directions? Is it that important to have you phone with you at meals, at the pool and in your cottage at night?

Please people….show me your phone and all that it can do, because it’s new to me and I think it’s really cool….then put it away and enjoy yourself. Make all your calls, e-mails, etc. at one stop (where you have a strong signal) and then look around, talk to people, eat food…and relax and enjoy your vacation!

Talkin' Chicken - TJ Ranch Farm Update

2010-04-18T07:25:00.000-07:00

Our chickens are loose; they run all around. I guess now a days the term is “free range”. Our chickens, like all chickens, lay eggs; but finding them is an Easter egg hunt all year long.

In the “old days” there was ‘candling’ to find out if the egg was edible. We put our discovered eggs in water and if they float, it’s time to toss them. Sometimes we let the hens sit on their eggs and then watch her leading her baby chicks around. There will be various hens with their chicks behind, each day the number diminishing due to various obstacles in the life of chicks here on the farm. Our chickens are known for breeding fighting roosters. I’m not sure how we started with them because we don’t raise roosters, but they are tough and do survive the elements. The eggs are small and cream colored with dark orange yolks.

Periodically the roosters fight on their own. It’s their nature and although I don’t believe in adding power to their battles with sharp spurs, etc., cocks are pretty brutal and fight whether you bet on them or not. Periodically we kill a gallo (rooster) and make soup. Too tough to eat, they make an excellent broth which we freeze for future use.

We’re thinking of getting some “ponedoras”…egg layers. It takes about 6 months of careful care before the chicks lay eggs, so it’s usually better to buy older chickens ready to lay…but for now…come join us at TJ Ranch and hunt for some fresh eggs. You won’t regret it. See ya………..

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Health Care in Puerto Rico

2009-10-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

Whether you’re a tourist visiting the island or a resident, you can rest assured that Puerto Rico has top quality doctors. For whatever reason there are still well qualified doctors who choose to remain or return to the island. “Brain drain” is well known here. Companies entice university graduates to well paying jobs in the states; NASA picks students from UPR, Mayaguez like ripe grapes on a vine, but there are a variety of doctors and specialists all over the island 'doing medicine" and doing it well.

From my personal experience: an ectopic pregnancy, pre-eclampsia in another pregnancy, a basal cell carcinoma on my lip which could have left me looking like Stacy Keach under the knife of a not too steady dermatologist, I have gotten excellent medical treatment. I know both friends and family who have survived breast, kidney and prostate cancer, all receiving medicine at its best.So that’s the good news. From broken bones to root canals, modern medicine is on the island and doctors know their stuff!

The bad news is that you may die waiting for treatment. We’ll start with a typical situation for a non life-threatening stye. You call the office of the ophthalmologist who says to come between 7am and noon. You arrive around 7:30 and sign the list (number 20) and figure you have time to go for coffee at the truck outside. While you’re gone, your number was called so you lose your turn…finally you are called and you move to a secret waiting room to wait some more. After about 5 hours you see the doctor and are prescribed antibiotics to reduce inflammation and told to return for another appointment. For your second appointment you forgo your coffee and stay firm…you wait 4 hours and are told your stye looks better but come one more time…if it’s not gone, you’ll get it cut out. The next appointment is ‘cutting time’ so you have to go. You wait 2-3 hours and in 5 minutes your highly skilled doctor removes your stye. You have spent approximately 12 hours to get a simple stye removed and have done extensive damage to your back sitting in the office chairs. This doctor is highly recommended for cataracts and all other eye diseases; you decide you’d rather go blind.

I’m not sure where Latinos get their hot headed fiery reputation…maybe in affairs of the heart. I have never seen more patient people waiting to see a doctor. I bring a book or two, some magazines, then I watch TV and talk to the other patients. When my bony butt gets too uncomfortable, I get up and start pestering. I have a mini tantrum stomping my feet and grimacing trying to see the doctor and get through the receptionist who should block for the NFL.

I’ve often asked doctors why they won’t make appointments and they say people don’t show up. That’s when I say that I’m a Gringa and I promise to arrive 15 minutes early and I’ll never stand them up. Pleeeze let me make an appointment by phone…they smile and ignore me. Some offices are more adept than others. My dermatologist makes you sign in and the receptionist can tell you about what time to come back. If you’re not deathly ill, if you have some shopping to do, or if you live nearby, a doctor’s visit doesn’t have to make you crazy. Some offices close for lunch…I arrive at my dentist at 12:30 and sit on the steps with a sandwich til 1 so that I get ‘first’ in the afternoon (and apologize for the pastrami in my teeth). My gynecologist no longer delivers babies so his office has gotten better. Even though he makes appointments with dates and times, there is no way to gauge how long it will take. I honestly don’t know how people can go to medical appointments and hold down a job. So that’s the bad news…and for me, it’s very very bad.

The ugly is as ugly is everywhere…the costs, the insurance, the mess. The fact that my insurance covered a hip replacement operation but not the hip, nor the rehabilitation is ridiculous. The fact that my prescription discount card can reduce a $200 prescription to $140 is a joke. Who knows what ailment is around the corner? I am confident that I can find a competent doctor on the island to treat my problem although I’m not sure I have the mental wherewithal to do it.

If I can only get a doctor to TJ Ranch one time, I’m sure I could get future house calls. I could lure him/her with the food…I could tempt him/her with the privacy of no cell phone service… I can see it all now…the doctor tells his/her receptionist to pass any call through from that crazy Gringa just so she/he has an excuse to leave the office and get away….doctors tell their friends, other doctors …and soon the word spreads and we never have to come off our mountain. Oops…excuse me…I just nodded off…. must’ve been dreaming………..gotta go….they just called my name….J o a n….K???

Here are some pictures of the good ole days when our vet made house calls.

Hats Off to TJ Ranch Guests

2009-09-15T16:13:00.001-07:00

I’ve been thinking about how much our guesthouse and guests mean to me. I usually do this kind of refection around Thanksgiving, but I’m thinking about it now because I realize how important it is for my psychological well being.

I’ve lived twenty-five years in the “boondocks” of Arecibo. The first four years were spent in a physical quest planting our farm, tiling the house and making a life in my jungle home. Then came children and I spent the next eighteen years shuttling the kids up and down the hill or if not physically taking them around then mentally focusing on their well being.

But things are different now. Our youngest is driving and independent. So here I am…spending more time at home with never ending chores to occupy my body, but what of my mind? The guests at TJ Ranch have been my life line to the outside world. I hear about things going on and meet people I probably would never have met, even living in a metropolitan area.

How would I have known about “Green Gas” if I hadn’t met Efrain? Please check out his website at www.greengasllc ....it’s important stuff. Or where would I have met Allison, the Mormon mother of seven, traveling with her eldest son for a week before going back to Augusta to home school her brood. Hey, Rick..thanks for telling me about your father’s 40 acre almond farm and the “shaker” which shakes the trees to harvest the almonds. How come they haven’t tried something like that for coffee? Daniel, the Frenchman who studied in Spain…oolala what an accent! Thanks for fixing our telescope…guess aeronautic engineering has some hands on applications. I just wrote to Steve, the firefighter from Arizona, to see if he went to California to fight this year’s fires…not this year wrote his wife, Nikki…although he’d like to… Don’t let me forget the Boricuas, traveling from other parts of the island. The trip for Carlos and Waleska from Naguabo probably took as long as a flight from Florida to come see us. They had a relaxing weekend celebrating his recent return from Honduras. And good luck to Clarys who needs to make some hard decisions in order to deal with her debilitating lupus condition. I hope the days at TJ Ranch gave her the rest and fortitude to persevere.

And so…keep on coming TJ Ranch guests. Not only do we need you to survive economically, but I need you in order not to go brain dead. Each of you is truly unique and has made my life in the mountains as rich and diverse as that of any city dweller.

(photos included have nothing to do with our guests...just some of the TJ Ranch family)

Rethinking Coffee

2009-09-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

In 1989 we planted 3000 coffee trees, spacing them according to the government’s instructions, only to find out that they were too close together and we had to remove about 700 trees.

In 1990 Hurricane Hugo flattened our crop, but they were so young that we could stake them up and they were fine.
In 1999 we removed more trees to build our guesthouse, but we maintained two major areas devoted to coffee.

We enjoy being farmers. We are city folk transplanted in the country, learning by trial and error…Green Acres revisited. We followed the coffee process from start to finish. We picked, skinned, dried, shelled and roasted our beans, although usually we picked the coffee and sold it “uva” to the local cooperative which would then sell it to the various processors. We’d gather a crew together during harvest and pick coffee from early morning until we could load the sacks in the pick up and take them off to some remote location to sell. We were coffee farmers and although we never made much money, our hearts were in it.
Now it’s twenty years later; our coffees are old and so are we. Broca, a world wide coffee plague has come to our area, diminishing the quality and price of coffee and requiring more attention and money. So it’s time to rethink our coffee. Just as we’re approaching a new age in our lives, so must our farm.

There’s no such thing as fallow land here. The jungle has its own life and takes over all in its path. Our cottages would soon disappear, covered by vines of ñame if we were to leave things alone. And so we’re thinking…without investing a lot of money we’re trying to come up with a plan for the future. I’ve heard that the government has reforestation programs, encouraging people to plant trees and leave them for ten years, but it involves government loans and lots of paperwork.

We’ve come up with a preliminary plan. In the past year or so we’ve interspersed some plantains in our coffee plantation. We also have various kinds of citrus trees ready to plant. I even have a fig tree started in a pot. We have a row of asparagus and a row of papayas planted among the coffee. So I think we’re going to continue our various plantings… label them so that our guest can walk around and see….space them so that we can cut the grass with the mower or the tractor and perhaps at some point the trees would provide some shade that would inhibit undergrowth.

So that’s our idea…keep some coffee for “show and tell” but try converting the area to a variety of trees…maybe some ‘exotics’ (vanilla? Venus fly traps???) so that we can maintain our groves, eat from the trees and wander through paradise. Anyone want to trade some bulldozer time for a couple of nights in Eden?

WINDOW CAVE – CUEVA DE LA VENTANA

2009-08-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

You don’t have to go to the Camuy Caves (Cavernas de Camuy) when you’re visiting the North/Central part of Puerto Rico. In fact , last week one of our guests tried to go there two days in a row and for various reasons he couldn’t get in…not even to the parking lot on the park grounds.

We have a cave in the neighborhood which is easily accessible and free! Window Cave has been known to the locals for quite awhile but has recently been “fixed up” with an identifiable mowed path leading to the attraction. The cave has an exceptional view looking onto Rt. 123, a bridge and cow fields. It’s unbelievably beautiful…so much more so than on ground level traveling the road, although that view is nice.

To get to the cave, park at Bosquebello Texaco on Rt. 10 between Arecibo and Utuado, buy some water and goodies and say hi to Jr., the owner, and walk up the path next to the wooden kiosk at the side. Be sure to bring a bag to carry away your garbage and any other garbage at the site. This is not maintained by anybody but us, so let’s keep it clean! Also bring a good flashlight. The cave isn’t very long but it is very dark. Walking inside Window Cave is easy. There is another cave, tucked behind tree roots, which meets the Window Cave entrance which is a little more difficult to move through and involves some climbing.

All in all, a visit to the cave is well worth it. You can make it a quick trip or linger and have a relaxing time in the mountains. Stay at TJ Ranch and we’ll lead you there!

Surfer Mom

2009-03-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wish I could be an actual surfer… or perhaps a boogie boarder, because even getting up out of bed is a struggle for me at this point in time, but I’m afraid that’s not in the stars. Taking a tumble at Jones Beach, when I was a kid ruined me for life; sand in my suit, tossed around not knowing which way is up, gasping for breath…it’s an experience I don’t want to repeat. Even now I need my sister, or some other person I trust, to take me past the break and tell me what to do. My heart pounds as I look behind at the wave approaching and yell, “What do I do?” “Jump”, my sister says…or “Dive through it!” Exhilarated and panicked, I’d wait for the next one…but that was years ago. Nowadays I’ll stick to the beach.

Sometimes I would bring a cheap boogie board to the beach…just in case. Just in case meant that if something went wrong, I would leap in the water with my boogie and save my child, Bay Watch style. My motherly instinct would overcome my fear and I would save the day!

As the years went by, my fear diminished as I saw my boy’s body change. He became a surfer. No longer a bony “flaco” (skinny boy), he had broad shoulders and fit arms. He paddled, duck dived, and rode the waves. He wasn’t a grouchy teenager; he became a nicer person when he surfed. It had some sort of “Zen” effect on his being. I spent more time reading and relaxing at the beach and I often missed him riding a good one. Soon he was driving on his own and he didn’t need me to take him to the beach. My only rule was that you should never surf alone and that someone should always be on the beach. I don’t know if he paid any attention.

I miss my days as Surfer Mom. I live up in the mountains a half hour from the beach. There’s a different climate where I live. It could be raining a downpour at home and sunny at the beach. I have to make sure I continue my beach trips. I too feel my “Zen” at the beach. No longer clad in a bikini, not even a bathing suit; I go fully dressed with a hat and a shawl to cover my sun damaged chest and I leave my white legs peaking out from my capris to try to get a little color. I bring my books and magazines and feel like I really live in the Caribbean. It’s been over twenty-five years and my mountain jungle is definitely my home, but the sun and the wind and the blue water is island life. Even without my son or my daughter I have to make time for the beach. I’m a Surfer Mom and pretty soon I might be Mom to the Arecibo locals as I make my way to the beach alone.

A Perfect Wedding in Puerto Rico

2009-03-24T05:39:00.000-07:00

It's the perfect place...a bride's dream: romantic with flowers all around....and I think the groom would feel probably the same: a casual setting in the open air in which there were lots of nooks and crannies to hang out ... or hide?).....

Hacienda Siesta Alegre in Rio Grande is a private Mexican style house on a horse farm in the hills of El Yunque Rain forest. A picture's worth a thousand words so check it out....From the entrance path up to the main house, to the grass walk down to the ceremonial altar, Siesta Alegre is beautiful...bouganvilleas abound overflowing from the clay tile rooves.

After the ceremony the guests were ushered through the house with cocktails passing the lit fireplace. As evening approached, the fire warmed the cool crisp air of El Yunque. The dining tables surrounded the open air patio dancing floor and music filled the air. There were no down pours, but there was a sprinkle of showers on and off that did nothing to inhibit the party. There are various hotels in the area and the bride and groom were wise enough to hire a van to drive their guests to their hotel where the party continued.

And so now you know...if you're looking for the perfect wedding locale in the Caribbean, check out Hacienda Siesta Alegre....and then enjoy your honeymoon at TJ Ranch....just ask Carlos and Melissa. They ended their week long travels on the island at TJ Ranch and then were ready for getting back to the "real world."

We may not leave the farm often, but when we do it's worth our while. This was a wedding to remember!!

Best wishes for a happy life together, Carlos and Melissa...you had a great start!!! Felicidades!!!

(Please excuse the graphic layout of this blog...I can't seem to post the pictures the way I want ...and can't get them to move around!!)

Going "Greener" ???

2009-03-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

.

I'm writing this blog in response to Antigonum Cajan who has left me two comments on my blog. The last one I couldn't seem to comment back to him (or her) so I thought I would make a blog dedicated to the issues. Here is the not so nice comment which was written after my Art in the Mountains blog.

"I mentioned it before too much lawn, in turn= pollution with lawn mowers, trimmers, blowers. A total contradiction while looking for nature... Get it on ..."

First of all I'd like to say again that specific suggestions are welcome. Talk is cheap. We would love to put away our tractor, mower, trimmer and machete. We're not only growing coffee and oranges, we're growing tired...anything we can do to make maintenance easier and "greener", we're all for it. In fact I'll be telling you about our "green" cookware in a future blog.

But first of all...do clarify...where exactly is our lawn? Is it this? This is the goat pasture...which isn't very "good" grass for the goats, but is great for Sr. Villalobos who comes and harvests it to twist the grass for his furniture.

Or perhaps you're talking about this lawn? We have the view out the yellow casita into the coffee farm...not exactly "lawn"....

We do have green spots between the parking spaces of the casitas...is that what you mean?
...and then there's our "pond"...please tell us how to get rid of the jungle which is invading our wetlands...

We also have grass at the bocce and horseshoes court connecting the pool area and restaurant. Is that what you mean? or the space between the parking area and the restaurant?

There is a lot of grass here, but I would hardly call it a "lawn". Your profile shows a beautifully landscaped urban area...how about some jungle farmland?

We're always looking for experts...we built TJ Ranch poco a poco...learning as we go. There's always room for improvement...so put on your overalls, Antigonum Cajan, and show us your stuff!!

Art in the Mountains

2009-03-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

Wilma and Angel, two of our frequent gusts, told me about their trip to Jayuya and their stop at a gallery with artesania and paintings. They told us of meeting Miguel Angel Guzman, painter and musician, who not only impressed them with his painting, but delighted them with his guitar music and voice. They were so enthusiastic, I had to get off my mountain and check this place out!!

As you wind on Rt.140 heading towards Jayuya from Utuado there is a white building with bright Taino graphics and paintings outside. Galeria Saguay open Fri,Sat,Sun. 9-5

Olga Reyes welcomed us into the gallery and showed us her latest work.

After chatting up a storm and looking around, selecting items for us to sell at TJ Ranch, Olga led us downstairs to the gallery where her husband paints and displays his art work. A combination of Puerto Rican lore and Picassoesque brightly painted canvases are displayed in the cool cellar of the gallery. Miguel took his time to explain his work and his life in New York and on the island and then delighted us with a concert on his guitar. It was truly an afternoon to remember.
To top off the excursion, we headed down the hill on Rt. 140 and found a comfortable place to get a bite to eat...a pincho stop on the road...with cool breezes and delicious munchies!!

Extreme Sports - February

2009-03-03T09:37:00.000-08:00

Next year I hope to post these events before they happen:

February 11-15th: Arecibo hosted Puerto Rico Freefall Festival...the picture above shows Fred packing up his parachute which he takes as "carry-on" back to Ohio. The skydivers do most of their diving at the Arecibo airport in order to get as many dives packed in as they can...the last dive of the day, they can do at the beach.

Fred and Donna enjoyed staying in the mountains. It was a close trip to the airport...about 30 minutes....away from it all....and they had plenty of time to take day trips to the beach.

February 28 -March 1: Corona Surf Contest: Domes Beach, Rincon, Puerto Rico...Watch the pro surfers battle it out for the $15,000 prize.
winners were: Brian Toth...an Isabela local and Karina Petroni from Florida.

It's raining cats and dogs

2009-02-12T17:56:00.001-08:00

It was raining for days...and not just tropical afternoon showers...it was raining hard and it was raining all day long. In addition to finding all the leaks in the roof, we found...or rather they found us...cats and dogs. This was a week of animal stories.

Anyone who has traveled in Puerto Rico knows that one of the most difficult things to see is the amount of stray animals on the roads. Skinny and mangy, animals are left to fend for themselves. Road kill is frequent. Dumping unwanted animals on an isolated country road is prevalent.

Before the strays showed up, we had a doggie guest, Titleist...a service dog who warned his owner if he needed to take his seizure medicine. We never saw Titleist in uniform...he has a vest he wears to go to restaurants, etc. but he quickly became part of the family. Just ask Puppy.

After Titleist left, Maxine appeared. She didn't arrive at the gate, like most strays...rather Tina took Rafael and Tony to the bottom of the hill to save her. Rafael lives part time in Ciales and the family dog watching over his mother's house was taken, so he was in the market for a new one. Abandoned in a box, she was not in good shape...but was in good spirits. Tina took her to the vet to check out her mange and dangling leg. While first sleeping in a box in the garage, Maxine made her way to the balcon the next day and when Rafael picked her up, she was already part of the family. Good Luck you guys. I hope things work out ok. After promising a home for Maxie, he found out his brother had already gotten another puppy...oh. well...now the dogs have company while taking care of the house.

Now we just have a kitty problem. She was so shy...curling her back and hissing ...
and today I found her in my room. Ay dios mio...what to do. Puppy barks...he ignores our cats, except to eat their food...but this black kitty really gets him going. Anyone want a kitty?

TJ Ranch...Valentine's Day is coming soon

2009-02-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

TJ Ranch is pleased to announce the marriage of Carlos and Melisa. Yesterday they came, along with their photographers, to document the road to matrimony.

Last Valentine's Day they fell in love, although they weren't sure of how the details were going to work out. She was living in New York and he was here. This year the wedding is planned and everything is moving right on schedule with the couple settling in Puerto Rico.

So...love is in the air......Valentine's Day is around the corner and TJ Ranch is the perfect place for your romantic getaway. But be prepared...TJ Ranch is very fertile. Many babies have been made here. Back in the '90s we had some Australian campers who wrote to us as they were making their way east, back to Australia, to announce the news. Although we didn't care for knowing the details of what went on under the banana trees, our friends from Cabo Rojo made their first- born here...and I think the same is true of our grand daughter.

If I don't get my annual valentine's day card out this year...Have a very Happy, Healthy and Loving Day...and Year...and here's last year's card:

The Caves are Open!!!!

2009-01-26T03:58:00.000-08:00

Las Cavernas de Camuy are back giving the full tour. One year after closing due to an accident, the caves have reopened and guides are once again leading tourists through the enormous galleries of the camuy cave system. The tour for the past year was a trolley ride down to view the sink hole, but didn't include the walk through the cave. Saturday, January 24th free tours were given and Sunday there was suppose to be music and more celebrations.

The Caves and the Arecibo Observatory are two important turistic sites in Central Puerto Rico. The limited tour of the Caverns was a disappointment for many, so I'm glad that the full tour has resumed. From what I hear, the Observatory is still in financial instability, but hopefully the scientific community will receive renewed funding this year.

I hear that the Caguana Indian Park in Utuado is closed temporarily. I hope that will open shortly with expanded exhibits. This is a beautiful region and I would hate to see it get "over developed", but there are many existing sites that could be improved. Bosque Rio Arriba is suppose to be very nice for walking its trails, but the main gate is usually closed.

Lago Dos Bocas has improved over the years with its landscaped setting and ferry boat rides on the lake and rivers. Restaurant boats also shuttle passengers to their restaurants, especially over the weekends. At one time, kayaking was offered on the lake; I'm not sure if any boating is offered lately.

So come on down and visit us in the mountains of Puerto Rico and enjoy the cool mountain air and see the local attractions.

Happy New Year - I'm back!!

2009-01-12T06:13:00.000-08:00

The "holidaze" are over. In Puerto Rico they last a long time...through Three King's Day on January 6th. Today is January 12th and it's a Puerto Rican holiday, Maria de Hostos...and next week is Martin Luther King Day...so here in Puerto Rico we celebrate any holiday we can.

We followed our Christmas tradition and made pasteles (similar to Mexican tamales). Pasteles are made with a dough of grated green bananas, pumpkin, various root vegetables and coloring and have a meat filling of chicken or pork. They are then wrapped in paper and banana leaves and tied in a neat little package to be boiled. We also made some of yucca, which can be boiled or baked in foil and are called empanadas. We set up our assembly line with "abuela" leading us to a record 473!! At 85, abuela Raquel, doesn't tire.....a cap on her head, string around her neck (for wrapping), we set up our factory. I found a paper from 2006 that said we had made 347. Some of our pasteles are gifts, some we eat right away and serve our guests, some we sell, and the rest we freeze. Pasteles taste the best in summer when no one has seen them for months...easy fast food....boil 'em up and you have a full meal....yum!

It's a new year and I'm still talking about my garden. My tomatoes are slowly appearing, the peppers don't look great and I have more seeds to start while picking up goat poop to mix with my compost. Like most things in the jungle, certain plants go wild without much care. Check out our roof garden. Unlike most roof gardens in the city, our roof garden appeared on its own. We've already have eaten stuffed chayotes and are drying out our loofahs...waiting for the next harvest.

And so...welcome 2009....we're ready! We're gonna try to grow more food, try to continue our morning walks to the end of the farm..touch the banana tree and then cirle the camping area "track" and come home for breakfast, and try to meet more people from more places than ever before. January has brought us wonderful people so far and we're looking forward to meeting more.

I'll be talking to you soon...with more pictures and more info from TJ Ranch, Arecibo and Puerto Rico. Adios and Feliz Ano Nuevo!!!

What to do in Puerto Rico-the Nutcracker is coming to town

2008-11-26T07:48:00.000-08:00

You don't have to live in New York to see fine ballet; you don't have to be freezing to see The Nutcracker Suite; you don't even have to go to San Juan!!

The Ballet de San Juan is coming to the Teatro Oliver in Arecibo, Puerto Rico on Friday, December 5th for one day! Presentacion de El Cascanueces del Ballet de San Juan dirigido por Orlando Carrera el 5 de diciembre.

6:30 Welcome cocktails
7:30 Ballet
9:00 Noche de Bohemia (various artists invited)

For Information and Tickets ($35): 787-487-6416 * 787-675-5880

Thanksgiving Thanks

2008-11-13T12:25:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving approaches and we all take time to reflect and give thanks, I want to formally thank all the guests who have come to TJ Ranch.

Living on a farm in the boondocks has its limitations in that we don't get away much to "see the world"; but the most important aspect of the world, its people, have come to us. Over the last eight years we have met people from all over the world. In many instances the line between "guests" and "friends" have blurred and become one, which really isn't a problem except that we feel badly when we have to charge... but back to the point at hand.

Ron and Evelyn, I must mention by name... our first guests who mailed us a deposit for their full stay and have been my technical gurus to follow til death do us part.

A diabetes' educator came on vacation and when I mentioned Tony's "borderline" condition she sent us a care package with meters, booklets, creams and ointments...the care packages keep coming and so does she. Thank you Wilma.

Maybe it was just luck that a nurse and a fireman were here when the gas stove blew up in Tony's face, but we thank them for the cold water response and the care packages that followed. We also learned to search for wi-fi cruising the streets of Arecibo in their rental car.

The two veterinarians came separately that Christmas when our cat had infected stitches. Both vets opened our eyes to the variety of jobs veterinarians do, from traveling with the CDC to cancer research in John's Hopkins' lab. Thank you vets.

Our sun-dial is set to Wisconsin, the home of our other guests/friends.

We were sent a beautiful CD/DVD from Germany of TJ Ranch and Arecibo. We hope to see Emilio and Susi in 2010 when they return to Puerto Rico.

We never heard of the Isle of Man nor Estonia (shame on us) before guests came from those faraway places. The Estonians took us all over the world from their laptop....and the Israelis wanted to hook up the kids for a free trip to Israel based on their lineage.

Thanks go to Heather for leaving her copy of Breaking Dawn for Tina (and then for me) saving us a trip to Borders in San Juan.

We can never forget our birdwatchers from Cape Cod and DC who have opened our eyes (and ears)to our co-inhabitants of the farm.

Thanks to our native american trooper/governor security force from Connecticut and now we know that the Friday after Thanksgiving is Native American Heritage Day. She keeps us up to date on the "real world" and politics...and is another guest who has crossed over from guest to friend.

For all those I haven't mentioned, please don't feel ignored or forgotten. You've made TJ Ranch a very special place for us and we'll be thinking of you during this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving....and Buen Provecho!

Life on the Farm

2008-11-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

It was getting too much. This picture just shows a small piece of the flock. Tony's morning ritual was getting out of hand; our little pond was too small; and you already know about my chicken problem.

What are animals on a farm for if not to eat? Today was the day....we used to kill ducks by using a wax to remove feathers and down....like waxing your legs, but we don't have the wax and we don't have the time to do all that. Today we're doing it Puerto Rican style...removing the feathers and the skin (the best part). We'll be eating duck fricase in no time. Fricase is a typical stew for duck, rabbit, goat or chicken. Today's special is chicken soup...can't get much fresher than this...maybe this weekend we'll have some pate for appetizers. In all we have 13 ducks and 13 chickens in the freezer!

Garden News

2008-11-04T07:20:00.001-08:00

Our coffee is all trimmed knee height. The first ones which we cut awhile ago already have new growth. In between some of the coffees we're planting papayas. Some are males which don't bear fruit (although their flowers are suppose to be a good expectorant as a tea), others are females so hopefully we'll have homegrown papayas for breakfast.

We're working on our garden. We still have our herbs (oregano, basil, rosemary, parsley) and we have cherry tomatoes, peppers and kohl-rabi (which I've never tasted) planted. We have beefsteak tomatoes, 3 kinds of lettuces, cucumber and zucchini, thyme and parsley all in the semillero (where you start seeds), but I'm running around like crazy putting up wire blockades because our chickens are messing them up. It's nice to have our chickens loose...and these are the kind that don't give eggs when they're caged, but what a pain! They dig in the dirt to get comfortable and knock over the peppers...plus I think they've eaten any of the seeds we plant directly in the ground. Well...we're overdue for fresh poultry...too many ducks and too many chickens. In the meantime, I'll keep a careful eye on my seedlings and look for the perfect garden spot. Wish me luck...I'll keep you posted.

I have good news and....

2008-10-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

Well the good news is that we're inThe Lonely Planet guide book for Puerto Rico.... that makes 3 guide books that I know of...Lonely Planet, Moon, and Alternativa (a local guide book that we were in volume 1, but I don't know if it's come out again.) We also will add a Trip Advisor badge to our site, when I learn how. So the good news is that we're getting good reviews and we're "out there". If you know of any other guides (Fodors anyone?), let me know.

The bad news is that we haven't had inquiries nor bookings. Vacation plans are on hold during hard times and the economic incertainty lately make traveling a luxury many can't begin to think about. The people who have come down from the states lately said that their airfares were pretty good, so if you think that the upcoming winter may get you down or if you're picturing the warm water surf....make your reservations NOW!

In the meantime, we're keeping up with maintenece...the pool deck is freshly painted and we're getting our garden together so you can have fresh vegies.

Here's a picture of Tony cooking lunch for some local guests that stayed last month....fried rice, vegies and pinchos (kebobs)..Mmmmmmm Buen provecho!!!

Birdwatching in Puerto Rico

2008-10-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

Bill Harvey, a bird watching guest of ours, wrote to ask how we were doing after the rains. I told him we were fine and that he should check out my blog but please excuse the bird pictures. Bill sent me some great pictures, so here they are....most are from TJ Ranch; 2 are from El Yunque. Come and bird watch at TJ Ranch.
www.tjranch.com

Please excuse the layout...I can't seem to move the pictures like I want to....I hope you can click on the pictures so you can see them full size. They're really beautiful!

2008-10-02T06:25:00.001-07:00

As the sun was setting over the Atlantic and I'm anxiously waiting for Tina to get out of the water, I saw a beam of light slowly appear and disappear. Trying to count the seconds so I can take a picture of the beacon, I saw the Arecibo Lighthouse in a new way. It really is a navigator's tool that marks the rocky coast of Arecibo. The picture's not great, but the lighthouse is. Come and see for yourself.
www.tjranch.com

Arecibo Beach, Puerto Rico-It's a bird, it's a ?

2008-09-30T05:24:00.000-07:00

Don't be surprised if you're sitting on the beach at Caza y Pesca in Arecibo and some people come by looking for just the right spot, a flag on a pole or an x on a blanket....then everyone looks up....in a short while you'll see parachuters in the sky...bright colored sheets with what looks like a toy hanging down....one minute up in the sky and the next minute cruising over the water and the landing steadfast on the sand.

This time there were few of them...

and I never even saw the plane......

and then they gathered their chutes, wrapped things up and were gone!

From what I've heard, Arecibo Airport has jumps for novice and experienced jumpers. Tandems for beginners offering videos as well.

I'll find out more info for those bold exteme sport enthusiasts. Contact me at: www.tjranch.com

Arecibo Events-Octoberfest

2008-09-30T05:17:00.000-07:00

Announcing Caribbean best Beer Fest - never before in Puerto Rico
exhibitions, fashion show, music, music, music....Saturday, October 4th...Arecibo Coliseo...7pm

www.tjranch.com

TJ Ranch lights up...Puerto Rico by candlelight

2008-09-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

Our electricity was browning out, our appliances going on and off...it was time. The electric company finally cleaned up the trees touching the main power lines coming over the dam. Now our light seems to be doing OK; now we finally got our new generator.

Don't worry...the day will come once again when the light will go...usually in the middle of preparing food for our guests, but we'll be prepared. Even though it's loud like a truck, we'll turn on that big green box (which I'm anxious to paint with flowers) and our casitas will light up, the restaurant will have music and everyone can shower with hot, hot water! The convenience of electricity will prevail...and hopefully you'll even be able to hear the song of a coqui over it all.

www.tjranch.com

Fresh Food or Food is everywhere in Puerto Rico

2008-09-11T05:23:00.000-07:00

We don't have a magnificent garden (yet), but we do have food to eat. As I look around, I see 3 fresh breadfruits (pana), a couple of avocados (aguacates), some oranges (chinas) and puerto rican pears (pluma rosas) falling from the trees. It's a little early for oranges, but you can see them slowly changing from green to orange. Although I try to "buy local" it seems that when the markets are selling avocados, I have my own. It's only in an off month(like December) when we want avocados and they are nowhere to be found...
Mangos are summer fruit, oranges are November through March...I wish I knew when everything pops up.
I remember a day when we were getting ready to eat a bacalao salad and Tony and I each said, "Wait a minute." We each headed out the door and in opposite directions and came back with an avocado. "Now we can eat!"

More Surfing News

2008-09-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- SEPT 6th, 2008
ASSOCIATION of PROFESSIONAL SURFING of PUERTO RICO (APSPR)
CORONA EXTRA PRO SURF CIRCUIT
SEPTEMBER 27 - 28, 2008
PLAYA MIDDLES, ISABELA, PUERTO RICO

APSPR's Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit Set To Crown Season Champs

The Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit returns to Playa Middles, Isabela,
Puerto Rico Sept. 27 - 28, 2008 to crown the champions for this year's
competitive season.

Surfing in Puerto Rico - Arecibo and the North Coastt!!

2008-09-07T06:37:00.000-07:00

When talking about surfing in Puerto Rico, everyone thinks of Rincon....but Arecibo's the place to be. From the sandy bottom of Caza y Pesca for beginners to the treacherous Marginal in downtown Arecibo for the more daring, the open water Atlantic has waves for everybody. La Poza is perfect for a mixed group of swimmers and surfers with a protected area for bathers as well as a stretch of waves among the rocks for competent surfers. For those summer days when most areas are flat, Hallows is sure to have something, but know what you're doing because you may break your board or cut up your feet.

Isabela also has well known surf spots....Jobos being the most well known, but for me...I prefer my home town of Arecibo.

"El Doctor" has taught both my kids to surf and has given private lessons to many of our guests. Locals seem to have a watchful eye for bathers because the currents can be deceiving.

So come to TJ Ranch and have the best of both worlds...play on the beach and relax in the mountains.

Eco-friendly in PR...before thinking 'green'

2008-09-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

I guess we've had a piggy pot for the last 20 years. If it didn't go to our neighbor's, then it went to our own pigs. Having grown up with disposals, I was initially perplexed as to where to throw table scraps in my country kitchen in Puerto Rico. Although composting was possible for the "neat" stuff...potato peels and plant cuttings; we had so much of the other stuff... saucy greasy food stuff...and those things became a haven for ants. Just like I used to ask," Can eggshells go down the disposal?" now I'm asking, "Are you sure pigs can eat chicken bones?"

So if you come to TJ Ranch you'll find out why pigs are truly pigs ...and come with us down the road to drop off our piggy pot. By the way, bring your camera because there's a great view of Lago Dos Bocas.

PR Birdwatchers paradise

2008-08-27T11:53:00.001-07:00

At 5:30 all the puerto rican tortulas are flying around. Is this really the dark pigeon that some people eat? What's that little bird with the red legs? I wish some birdwatchers were here. They explain it all to me. "See that bird over there? He's going to the nest that the other one just left?" Birdwatchers know it all...they spot all the birds and know all the chismes (gossip).

The guaraguayos (hawks) are circling. I hope they're not eying the chicks crossing the road. The pitirris are swooping down at Puppy (our dog), but he doesn't seem to mind. Hey...the hummingbirds are making holes in the bananas! Are those finches in that plant?

Our birdwatching visitors have spotted alot of birds at TJ Ranch, but so far no one has been able to locate the screech owls. Can you?

B&B Special

2008-08-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

So what do you do when you have 2 of these lying around? We have banana muffins, banana bread, smoothies, and banana ice cream. I'm out of cream but tomorrow I may try a 2% banana 'cream' pie. Any ideas would be appreciated. We're at the end of our cucumbers (must get a rhythm to keep a continuous crop) and something seems to have eaten our summer squash, but our loofahs are doing great (summer must be the time)
and our herbs are fine. I'm thinking of trying hydroponic tomatoes. I haven't started researching this, but if anyone knows anything about it, let me know.
Yes...we have bananas!!!
In November we'll have fresh orange juice everyday and looking into orange recipes. Come for breakfast .... www.tjranch.com

La Broca or Uh oh for the coffee this year

2008-08-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday ASDA (the department of agriculture) came to spray our coffee for "broca." Broca is an insect smaller than the head of a needle. It attacks the coffee bean from the tip and eats all the way inside. Broca is the main coffee disease throughout the world. Google it and it pops up in Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, etc. Last year Puerto Rico had it in the areas of San Sebastian and Yauco but we never had it in the Arecibo/Utuado area. We had expected to trim our coffee trees after last years' harvest, but waited too long. Once the trees flowered we decided to harvest this year and then cut. The trees looked healthy...full of green leaves but didn't seem to have many beans. Usually that's because they're too tall and bushy and the sun can't get in...maybe this year it was the 'broca'....although don't think the bugs come until there's fruit.

So..our trees have been sprayed with an organic mixture of pepper something and now we're making traps....the next line of defense against this pest. We've been told not to let any ripe grains fall to the ground because infestation can occur on the ground. Basically impossible to avoid that happening. We plan to harvest the little coffee that we have and then chop it way back. We'll dry the coffee to sell it. We've been told that there are few places buying ripe coffee this year and that the ones who are buying it are throwing the coffee in water and paying for the beans that sink. The floaters are damaged. For the already suffering agriculture industry in Puerto Rico this is truly a set back.

If you're driving through coffee country and see empty soda bottles hanging in the coffee plantations, you'll know they're trapping broca there. We'll have ours hanging soon although it's not til after the flowering when you really want to trap them. I guess they'll be a permanent part of our coffee landscape. I'll take a picture once we have them up.

Coffee season for us is usually from the end of Sept. to Nov. so come to TJ Ranch and try your hand at picking coffee.

www.tjranch.com

Day 1- Welcome to TJ Ranch

2008-08-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone....welcome to TJ Ranch's blog. We'll be talking about everything from the "broca" coffee epidemic, the north shore surf report, to Tony's famous recipes, old and new. Let me see if and how this thing works and I'll catch you later.