Tags
Cesar Cevallos Sabando, Ecuadorian Cattle Farm, Ecuadorian Corn Harvest, Ecuadorian Shrimp Harvest, Frizztext Story Challenge X, Maracuya Farm, Xavier Cevallos Sabando
Xavier Cevallos Sabando posing for a photo at Punta Blanca, Ecuador
I pondered the words that start with X for Frizztext’s Story Challenge, and suddenly had this great Eureka Moment! X for my friend Xavier! Xavier is a first cousin to Fernando, who manned the canoe in last week’s image for the Let’s Be Wild Challenge. (That image placed in the honorable mention bracket!)
When Xavier’s mother lived in Miami, I often prompted Xavier and his brother Cesar to “Smile for your mother!” and then emailed the images to Maruja! Peer over my shoulder and experience typical Ecuadorian farm life, which is also my life whenever I ask, “Xavier, may I please tag along with you today?“
Xavier and his family befriended me years ago when I first visited the canton of Jama. Xavier and his brother Cesar are third-generation farmers who tend the cattle, shrimp, corn and maracuya (passionfruit) operations on their land.
Cevallos & Cevallos – Father & Sons – After planting corn!
Friday is “Cheese Day’ and the farmers in the area bring their cheeses to the Cevallos house, where they sell to a buyer at the end of the day.
Shrimp Harvest: CLOSE THE GATES!
Shrimp Harvest – How fresh is this?!
My friends use no chemicals in their operation; the just-harvested shrimp are immediately transferred to tubs of ice water.
The truck awaits!
Two people record the weight of each crate then compare figures at the end of the harvest.
This transplanted Mississippi farm gal tags along while Xavier makes his rounds on the cattle farm.
Brothers Cesar and Xavier troubleshoot the irrigated corn.
Recovering from knee surgery, Xavier took a sick day from harvesting the corn!
Xavier and the crew head back to the truck.
Whew! Let’s go home!
The Maracuya Farm
Xavier and Gatito (the carpenter) peered through the window of the riverhouse in 2008 before phase one of improvements began. *(Gatito still has not honored his ‘Manana” promise!)
Xavier patiently awaited at Punta Ballena while the Zeebra took “one more” photo!
Thumbs up for friends like Xavier!
See more pictorial images for the letter X at Frizztext’s Story Challenge HERE!
Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
Xcellent!
Ja! Thanks so much! Z
And two thumbs up for Z!!
You are too kind! Thanks! Z
Xavier is one of those cool names. Happy holidays to you. BTG
Yes, it’s a great name, and your comment will make him smile! Thanks so much! Z
thank you, Lisa, for sharing this wonderful Ecuadorian farm world!
Thank you! The Ecuadorian farm world is quite comforting to a farm girl like me!
Congrats on the honorable mention! Y a lovely post on X, Z!
What a great post depicting the life of a family in Ecuador. Beautiful photos Lisa. 🙂
thank you! i hope that you two find your way off the beaten path and make a swing through this area of ecuador! it will be fun to introduce you to lots of beautiful families like xavier’s! z
It is high up on our bucket list. 🙂
that will be so much fun! z
Wonderful story. Thank you for sharing, Z!
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Love it! The shrimp harvest is amazing 🙂
Yes, I never get tired of watching the shrimp harvest! Thanks for your comment.
z
I thought I was watching a film :)… shrimp harvesting – and all about good ole’ X! Lovely post!
xavier will love that! thanks! z
Great look at a different slice of life – thank you.
you are so welcome! it’s a slower paced, easy mellow life.