LUST LIST #2: NEW VINTAGE RECORD CONSOLE

 This ol' soul of mine needs an afternoon where the kids are sitting down & being quiet, the "media naranja"* is occupied with something constructive, no yapping from the dogs, the chickens keep quiet, A really, really, TALL glass of  My Mixture**, my hardback of "I Know This Much Is True" by Wally Lamb, a soft breeze, comfy spot on the outdoor bed, and a stack of good vinyl to play! Oh that would be paradisaical... Music is always the final touch and the sound of my records is ASTOUNDING!!! If only because my taste in music is flawless. To improve on the perfection of my music, one needs an equally impressive machine to play the music on. I'm currently using an adequate Crosley player but "adequate" is not good enough! My LP's deserve only the best and the best is the "Symbol Record Console" . It's a sleek & modern record player that gives a nod to the old school all-in-one console hi-fi's. The Symbol has the brains & brawn. The walnut is warm & dreamy.  The metal base has this industrial chic thing going for it. Did I mention the 2 full range speakers? Or the hidden amp and subwoofer? Oh what about the built-in Wi-Fi? Let us not forget the hand-built tube amplifier and turntable! I love the way it pays homage to the fabulous record players of our past but offers up all the modern touches that make it irresistible. Your Grandma's player couldn't stream from an iPhone, iPad, iPod, or computer! 

*"Media Naranja"-Instead of saying "my other half",  Ticos often refer to their significant other as their "media naranja" or the other half of their orange. Cute huh?

**"My Mixture"- My favorite cocktail of course is a combo of pineapple juice, lemon-lime soda, and rum....lots and lots of rum ;)

Construction Debris = Papaya

HUGE, MASSIVE, GARGANTUAN,  MAMMOTH….well you get the point.  That is exactly what this pile of construction ish I have is. Remodeling a house is always a big undertaking and so is the garbage that goes with it. In Costa Rica most of the homes are constructed of concrete, unlike back in the states. So knocking out a wall entails ALOT more work. The overhauling of our home here has been our life for the past 2 years and will continue to be until “Casa de Kelley” is “listo”!

So the other day I was pulling up tile from the dining room. For some reason this is one of my favorite demo jobs! It’s just something about popping tiles up that does it for me… Ok sorry for being weird. Well, once they are all popped up it is time to take the ones that I couldn’t get up whole to go to the debris pile.  It was so random to find  that in my pile of concrete and tile a papaya tree had sprouted up!

I have heard people joke about being careful about where you spit in Costa Rica because the next day a “Spit Tree” will take root! The land here is just that fertile! I think it’s a combo of the volcanos, rain, and warm weather. That unique fusion has made Costa Rica an agricultural wonderland.

One ingredient to this concoction of perfect soil is the heavy rains that fall for about half of the year keep the soil moist and provide the vital water that all plant life needs to thrive.

People have flocked to Costa Rica for years because of the temperate weather. It is always warm and welcoming. Guess what? Plants like it too!

Lastly, the volcanos work wonders! The volcanos are one of the top tourist attractions here. Even scientist around the world come to research them. The many eruptions over the past millennia have dispensed a plethora of minerals into the dirt. The rich volcanic soil that was produced has contributed to Costa Rica’s lush landscape and fabulous forestation!