Kids

 

My goat Nina had twins, a boy and a girl. Just in time for Easter weekend. 

So far everyone loves them.

We’re the Noble Lads of Canada

The Noble Lads of Canada have arrived.

They are good at fixing things, balancing on tin roofs, riding bikes while carrying lots of stuff, and playing my kind of music. There are three of them. One of them is a cowboy, who lives with a large herd of siblings, and an even larger herd of cows. The other lads do construction and run lumber companies, and somehow survive heaps of snow.

So of course I have lent my fiddle out, and gotten a little homesick listening to my “village music” on Sunday evenings. And did I mention they are helping us a lot?

"O now the time has come, boy boys, to cross the Yankee's line,

We remember they were rebels once, and conquered John Burgoyne.

We'll subdue those mighty Democrats, and pill their dwellings down,

And we'll have the States inhabited with subjects to the crown.

We're the noble lads of Canada, come to arms, boys, come!

Duck eggs

My ducks actually lay eggs quite regularly, but they have not yet hatched any out. I left one duck to sit on her nest and she has been there for a long time. For a while she and a hen were both sitting there, but only a chick hatched out. After that, the hen moved to another nest and the duck continues to sit. I'm not sure what will happen.

But the other ducks occasionally lay eggs around the chicken yard and I get to have eggs for breakfast most mornings. For that I am very grateful.

 Despite not much rain lately and a busy week, the garden is still growing...!

 Some of the kids and I went down to the river the other day and had fun splashing around/swimming

Underwater feet

Green

Green trees

 Green grass

 Did I mention it is beautiful here?

And that green is one of my favorite colors? (Right after purple, of course)

Helmeted Guinea Fowl

My animal collection is expanding and recently I was given this unique looking species of bird.

This is the male; they were supposed to be a pair, but sadly the guinea hen escaped on the journey. I guess she hated being tied up and strapped to the back of a motorcycle, and the pair had already come a long way from the DRC. So at the earliest opportunity she fled.

Anyways, I got the male bird, and started trying to keep him with the chickens and ducks, and feed him so he'd stick around. He is extremely fast and got away once, but my neighbors helped me get him back. They are rare around here, and aren't in Impfondo at all, but apparently when kept in pairs  or flocks they will lay dozens of eggs each month, or so I've been told.

Today, after another long trip to go pick someone up in a town further north, the guinea hen was found and brought to join her husband here. The hen is not as nicely colored as her partner, and her feet are a bit sore from being tied up, but I think they are happy to be together again.

You can read more about this special variety of guinea fowl here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmeted_guineafowl

 People live in all kinds of houses...

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

 I had another good visit with friends. This time I went to see their place. They were very welcoming and even gave me avocados and plantains.

Hair Days - Good, Bad and Otherwise

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and I will heal their land.”

-2 Chronicles 7:14

Saying goodbye to Dr. Sagar

Pictured: Stephanie, Dr. Ryck, Masky, Dr. Sagar, Benonie, Kate, Serge, Simon, Mama Sarah, Kevin, Mervedy, Bouan

Today is Saturday. So far it has been a quiet day. 

I did get woken up before I was ready, to open up the pharmacy, but after that I enjoyed breakfast and coffee in peace, and then Bouan and Kevin came over and helped me weed and water the garden. 

I walked around the hospital with a trail of children behind me, searching for the goats, and then when we found them I put them in the playground yard, and fixed the fence. Hopefully they will stay in there for a few days and eat the weeds down, so it will be more tidy looking and more easily accessible.

In the late morning several of us gathered out in the yard to say goodbye to Dr. Sagar, take photos and pray together, and then I went back to the house and laid down, while the kids got into all the toys.

All the stuffed animals were brought out to fight. The wooden elephant, which is really a decorative piece, joined the battle as well. Just as I was thinking they would probably break the tusks off the elephant, they did. There was momentary pause in the fight, as they waited to see what I would say. I told them I’d glue them back on, and so the fight resumed.

The battle was long and violent. Kevin and his animals against Mervedy and his. It ended with the monkey doll flying through the air to attack Eeyore, and the elephant stomping on crayons and grinding them into the floor, staining it red. I would have liked to avoid that part, but it happened before I could stop it.

Later on the boys took naps, Kevin on the floor and Bouan on the couch. I cooked some random things for lunch and after that the boys went home.

So far it remains peaceful and I am enjoying a day of rest.

Happy International Women's Day

Snapshots

Freddy and Jephthah, two of my neighbor boys who come over almost every day.

Some of my favorite people around here! (Okay I have a lot of favorite people)

Gaspard and Esperence

My food for the day, cooked by Freddy's mom, who is always giving me stuff to eat. 

Fried plantains and grilled fish, fresh from the river.

Mama Sarah, driving to the airport like a boss

Adonai, hanging out and trying to learn more English