An hour or two and $50 later we have a renewed computer. This is just to let you know. I'll try to post some pictures of camp life this weekend. Our bridge crew is moving right along and it's looking great.
The kids had an art and Spanish tutor for 2 mornings this week. "Mommy, this is so much more fun than regular school!" Today reality hit when we had to try to catch up on 2 days missed work, but we all survived. Tomorrow they get a special science class from the volunteer environmental science worker here. She's trying to work out a curriculum that is very close to the ideal way I want to teach science. It's a great partnership. She gets 3 willing guinea pigs for her projects and my kids get some fabulous teaching. She also makes great brownies and comes for coffee every day.
I'm reading a number of books right now: Mujercitas by Louisa May Alcott, Grace Abounding by John Bunyon, Nice Girls Don't Change the World by Lynne Hybels (a fast read--try to find it), A Guide to Tropical Plants of Costa Rica by some scientist and a host of school literature like Pilgrim's Progress, Shakespeare, Story of the World, etc. Waiting in the wings are Las Aventuras de Tom Sawyer, El Patito Feo y Otros Cuentos, Frankenstein, two others whose titles have escaped me by the same English author, a book on climbing, one on reading a compass and map and a couple of other rereads I want to get back to. Bronwyn received a history book called Our Island Story for her birthday in January and had it read within a week or two. The rest of us are waiting for our chance to start it. But first we have a book on pirates to finish and Farmer Boy and ..... I'm not sure we'll get to the history book before Keanan starts to read! And then there are those 18 hours a week of letter writing to fit in....
We have enjoyed beautiful papaya today and the sweetest pineapple the other day intermingled with bananas that taste nothing like those at home and mangoes...oh my! As I sit here I look at my windowsill full of gorgeously red tomatoes that are just coming ripe. We had the whitest head of cauliflower you've ever seen for supper last night and I can't wait to get at the avocado in my fridge. Yum-my! Come join us!
Monday, February 27, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Too late
In a lifestyle where morning comes earlier than it did in my previous life, I shouldn't be online right now, I should be sleeping. However, I have people to write, emails to read, bills to pay!
Death by morning. Or Cerro de la Muerte at sunrise. Sounds the same to me. It was beautiful. We all enjoyed good naps after our coffee. The kids said: No, not again! but got up in the dark with no complaints and had a good time on the mountain despite their hunger. This was a repeat of our New Years day expedition to meet the sun, this time to show my sister.
The cat is sleeping cozily next to me, the heater is keeping my feet toasty and the house is dead quiet with everyone in bed. We started school today after a week off for the visiting aunty. Everyone enjoyed the break but getting back was fun too. We had a lovely visit with friends to extend the morning's scheduled coffee break through lunch to the afternoon coffee break, interrupted by the show of a 8 tonne truck stuck in the river being pulled out by the other 8 tonne truck. The bridge crew is at work on our bridge. I got to chat with a nice couple from Indiana on holiday and needing to wait out the "stuckings" to get past to their hotel.
Sleep tight!
Death by morning. Or Cerro de la Muerte at sunrise. Sounds the same to me. It was beautiful. We all enjoyed good naps after our coffee. The kids said: No, not again! but got up in the dark with no complaints and had a good time on the mountain despite their hunger. This was a repeat of our New Years day expedition to meet the sun, this time to show my sister.
The cat is sleeping cozily next to me, the heater is keeping my feet toasty and the house is dead quiet with everyone in bed. We started school today after a week off for the visiting aunty. Everyone enjoyed the break but getting back was fun too. We had a lovely visit with friends to extend the morning's scheduled coffee break through lunch to the afternoon coffee break, interrupted by the show of a 8 tonne truck stuck in the river being pulled out by the other 8 tonne truck. The bridge crew is at work on our bridge. I got to chat with a nice couple from Indiana on holiday and needing to wait out the "stuckings" to get past to their hotel.
Sleep tight!
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Sisters and Teeth
I would love to put some pictures on this page. But...our computer is having issues. It´s shy, doesn´t want to perform when we ask it to.
We had teeth pulled yesterday--Bronwyn´s doing fine. She had a few tears to say the least, and an uncomfortable afternoon. But she got to keep the teeth!
Picked up ´the sister´from the airport and had a quick turnaround back to our sleep place. Fortunately the construction workers don´t work at night. But they´ve started work now and we have poundings reverbing through the building. It will be nice when it´s done but it´s a huge project. They still have the upstairs to do once downstairs is finished.
Simon wants to get back to camp by noon so he can say goodbye to some of the people he connected with in the group. So maybe it´s a good thing we´re being forced out of our beds by saws and hammers. We get to show off our old feria stomping grounds in an early morning tour for fresh fruit before we start climbing the Hill of Death. Welcome to Costa Rica!
We had teeth pulled yesterday--Bronwyn´s doing fine. She had a few tears to say the least, and an uncomfortable afternoon. But she got to keep the teeth!
Picked up ´the sister´from the airport and had a quick turnaround back to our sleep place. Fortunately the construction workers don´t work at night. But they´ve started work now and we have poundings reverbing through the building. It will be nice when it´s done but it´s a huge project. They still have the upstairs to do once downstairs is finished.
Simon wants to get back to camp by noon so he can say goodbye to some of the people he connected with in the group. So maybe it´s a good thing we´re being forced out of our beds by saws and hammers. We get to show off our old feria stomping grounds in an early morning tour for fresh fruit before we start climbing the Hill of Death. Welcome to Costa Rica!
Thursday, February 02, 2006
A New Day
I just read a friend's blog for the first time. She writes every day!
And I read my sister's email that encourages me to read a book in the sunshine while eating chocolate. Good advice for everyone!
Lucy the cat is cuddly this morning after having spent the night under the house last night. My boys are up and ready for the day, while Bronwyn is still in bed likely reading a book. I got to belay a group of climbers yesterday but realized hours later that I didn't get to climb. It made a full day of school fuller but we all had a good time. Today I plan on finishing up yesterday's loose ends and getting ready for my sister to visit tomorrow! Yay! We plan on climbing Chirripo, visiting Arenal and perhaps Tortugera and who knows what else. Botanical gardens, children's museum, beaches...the ideas are limitless. For sure I want to meet the sun on top of Muerte.
My beautiful daughter is due to have two teeth pulled tomorrow. Yuck. Then she starts "treatment" and "manipulation" of her upper jaw. What fun. But hopefully this will prevent surgery in a few years.
Camp, I haven't mentioned that yet. It's still here! We have a really good group in this week. They are learning to train leaders to work with young people. They've got more energy than I've seen anywhere except in J.F. from Wales. We're enjoying having them here. We've also started morning staff devotions and that's proving to be a good time of connecting with each other each day, as well as encouraging each other to keep the faith.
Breakfast time.
And I read my sister's email that encourages me to read a book in the sunshine while eating chocolate. Good advice for everyone!
Lucy the cat is cuddly this morning after having spent the night under the house last night. My boys are up and ready for the day, while Bronwyn is still in bed likely reading a book. I got to belay a group of climbers yesterday but realized hours later that I didn't get to climb. It made a full day of school fuller but we all had a good time. Today I plan on finishing up yesterday's loose ends and getting ready for my sister to visit tomorrow! Yay! We plan on climbing Chirripo, visiting Arenal and perhaps Tortugera and who knows what else. Botanical gardens, children's museum, beaches...the ideas are limitless. For sure I want to meet the sun on top of Muerte.
My beautiful daughter is due to have two teeth pulled tomorrow. Yuck. Then she starts "treatment" and "manipulation" of her upper jaw. What fun. But hopefully this will prevent surgery in a few years.
Camp, I haven't mentioned that yet. It's still here! We have a really good group in this week. They are learning to train leaders to work with young people. They've got more energy than I've seen anywhere except in J.F. from Wales. We're enjoying having them here. We've also started morning staff devotions and that's proving to be a good time of connecting with each other each day, as well as encouraging each other to keep the faith.
Breakfast time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)