Elaine and Rich are a young retired couple, from Southern Georgia.  Their accent was a treat in Panama.  They’ve lived in Panama for eight years and love it.  Their home was beautifully decorated, as Elaine is a interior decorator.

Boquete is beautiful!  My daughter joined me on this trip and we loved exploring the little town and shops.  We drank too much coffee and experimented with new fruits.   The house was quiet during the day and their two Cocker Spaniels, Oscar and Felix gave us plenty of love and attention.

There was a disruption in their internet service on the first weekend, but a quick text to Rich gave us George’s number.  George came over the same day and immediately found the issue and we were back in business.

Elaine made Oscar and Felix special meals throughout the day that we followed – it required a bit of cooking each day, but I enjoyed the time in the kitchen.  Along with the special diet, Oscar and Felix they enjoyed afternoon games of fetch and hikes up the hill and early evening baths several nights a week.  We enjoyed spoiling these lively dogs.  They were a joy to play with and full of personality that we quickly came to love.  We were sad to leave them and Boquete at the end of our stay.

Responsibilities:

• 2 ~ 4-year old Cocker Spaniels, Oscar and Felix
• Indoor plants to water, turn and deadhead
• Outdoor plants to monitor and fertilize
• Daily trips to their P.O. box, to pick up mail and packages

Extras:

• Daily email messages to Elaine on how Oscar and Felix were doing.
• There were a couple of sofa cushions that were in need of repair, small tears in the seams.  My daughter and I spent a quiet evening stitching these up.  Their house was kept immaculant by Elizabeth their twice weekly housekeeper – but she doesn’t do windows – so I cleaned the front windows, inside and out.  It was a full afternoon chore, but the house sparkled from the inside and out after .  I also cleaned and washed the dog beds.
• I perfected my banana bread recipe and had a fresh loaf in the oven on the day Elaine and Rich returned – a warm welcome back home.

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Oscar stretching the boundaries of his bed.

Felix napping in the afternoon.

The yard at Elaine and Rich’s place.

The lovely patio at Elaine and Rich’s place.

The lovely hike nearby – that we took several times.