 One of the things Kevin and I enjoy the most about running a B&B are all the wonderful people we meet. We have heard nightmare stories of other establishments, but we've been incredibly fortunate to enjoy so many interesting, kind, worldly people. Christina and Philipp were no exception. Here is Philipp catching his first fish ever! A proud moment.
December 28, 2014 Dear Anne and Kevin, To make a long story short, we had a wonderful time at Hush Valley Lodge! The 'casita' and the whole property is marvelous – we didn't miss a thing and can't complain about anything – except that we should have stayed here longer than just 2 nights! You two being one of the greatest hosts we've met so far, we felt welcomed at once and really enjoyed the time with you – the tours you gave us, the cow feeding and our very first fishing experience! Additionally, the food and the dinners you prepared for us were excellent :) We're really thankful and hope that a lot of future travellers can enjoy the beauty you built up here!!! All the best, Christina and Philipp Germany
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From Hush Valley Lodge to wherever you may be spending the holidays, we wish you a very happy, safe and healthy Christmas. May you all feel blessed.
Anne and Kevin So, I know that it's the Christmas season, and this being our 3rd Christmas here, you'd think we'd find a new way of getting into the spirit, but the truth is, with all this beautiful warm weather, without our kids, it's just not the same. But this year, I decided to grow our own tree... have a look:  Okay, okay... I can't fool anyone... it's only a celery. Having said that, I read somewhere on Google that you can grow celery from another celery stalk. Cool, eh? You put the stalk in water and voilà! Soon I'll plant it in my garden with the rest of the celery plants. But until Thursday, this is our tiny Christmas tree. What could be more appropriate... the birth of something so natural and healthy. Christmas morning will be spent no doubt on Skype chatting with Phoenix and Jude, my parents, and my sisters. And then I'll be cleaning the guesthouse to get it ready for guests who arrive from Germany on the 26th. Speaking of guests, our last guest, Janessa and Mike, left an amazing review here but also on Airbnb, which we appreciate so much. We hope it will help secure even more bookings. This is Janessa being a great sport by fishing in the rain:  Today, Kevin and I caught 6 trout to smoke. We have friends who are buying 1 kg/2 lb for a recipe they want to try. So after Kevin is all done with the filets, we have a lot of fish heads, tails and skeleton bones leftover. I decided to make a bone broth with lemon grass and sage (all organic). It smells wonderful. When it's done simmering, I'll strain all the solid bits out and be left with a yummy, healthy soup base. I've never tried doing this before... it was Kevin's idea and a good one... it's always a shame to waste anything.  And in other news, Bobbie McGee is growing and we're loving her spirit. She's incredibly playful and happy. I play fetch with her and she is thrilled to retrieve her ball and bring it back to me. She a real sweetie and a smarty pants for a 4.5 month old. And as proof, I took some pictures:   We said goodbye to our guests... really nice people! Check out their guestbook comment here: http://www.hushvalleylodge.com/guestbook.html
Our friend, Roger, has lots of beautiful bamboo on his property in San Marcos, and he wants to get rid of some of it so he can make room to build a small worker's house. When Kevin heard Roger was giving it away, he jumped at the chance to collect some nice, big bamboo. He's thinking he can use it as fence posts. But first, he has to soak them in water for two to three weeks. Soaking them is a natural way to remove the starch... and it's important to remove the starch because insects are attracted to the starch and eat it. This is not good. Once insects get into the bamboo, the bamboo breaks down quickly and loses its strength. Within a year or two, they would need to be replaced. Because the pieces are so big, Kevin placed them in one of the ponds... one that has no fish. In a few weeks, Kevin will take them out and let them dry. I have no idea how we measure whether the starch has been completely removed. It's all experimental at this stage. We'll see what happens.   On another note, we were introduced to a new fruit called 'anona'. We were told it tastes like custard... well then, I couldn't pass up a chance to taste something that promises to taste so yummy. Once it's ripe, you just split it in two with your hands (no need of a knife). You eat the white flesh inside, but not the black seeds. I tried it. I can't say it tastes like custard... more like a very sweet pear, and it's delicious! I found the first bite a bit bland, then I took another bite and it grew on me, as though the taste became more pronounced with each next bite, A bit addictive, actually. It's nice to try more typical foods of the region and when I see it at the market I'll recognize it. That's always nice.
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AuthorDave and Krista are a couple from the Pacific Northwest that led overwhelmingly busy lives. 
Click here to pick up your copy of Anne's book! It's all about their adventure and the establishment of Hush Valley Lodge: from leaving their middle-class suburban lifestyle in Canada to reinventing themselvess in the beautiful mountains of Costa Rica. Check it out and if you enjoy it, please spread the word! Thanks!
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