Motilón Tree -tear drop

In seven years that we own our finca YANAPANA, we have never cut a tree. We bought this property to preserve it and to allow all living beings that exist there to have there home undisturbed. In order to built all the 3 cabins we added to the land since we bought this place, we always purchased wood already cut. I could not bear the thought of cutting a tree.  Well, last week we had to hire some guys to cut few trees from the area of YANAPANA that will be under water once the hydro project is finished. The land is still in our hands (while the government processes our compensation) so we decided to cut two Chanul and one Motilón trees and save all the wood for our new house and to make furniture. We know that it takes at least 1 year before we can use the wood for construction, so we will put it to dry. It was a sad moment to see the tree fall. It is so strange to be in the position to decide to cut a tree - a tree that has been there long before us, we calculate that the tree was 300 years old. As a sign from the universe the Motilón tree has a tear drop shape or a water shape. I will always remember this tree and I will try to plant  and preserve many more in my life time.

Guy cutting the Motilón tree

Tear drop shape

Boards for tables

Nature is abundant

Here we go again!

Yep! We are back in Ecuador AGAIN!!! Lot's of adventures we have had in the past year, I will write about them little by little. The important thing now is that we are living here and enjoying our time together. We are dividing our time between city life and country life. We spend one week in YANAPANA and one week in Quito. I am taking a painting class on Saturdays so we make sure we are always here on Saturdays. Mateo is a 3 year old now and he is so fun to be around. He is a chatty box mainly in English with us and in Spanish with family and friends. Pat is applying for his resident visa and feeling good about our life. We will loose several acres of land in Yanapana and all the cabins we have due to a Hydroelectric project proposed by the Ecuadorian Government.  So I am glad to be back and post in this blog. For now few photos.

Mateo enjoying the Guaycuyacu river

Friendly bird seen in our land (Motmot) 

Enjoying the hummock 

One of my paintings

Family bike ride in Quito 

Grandma's 90th birthday - my family!