wordless Wednesday

tea anyone?

all is well

well since my last post. the sun did shine the next day, and the rainbow that follows the rain came out.

All is well.

My husband finally came home after 2 weeks away.  I spent over an hour yesterday chatting to my daughter and things at home – Papua New Guinea are all good.  It’s hard not too worry about family and siblings so far away.  But everything is well. 

And we had a lovely weekend.

I hope your weekend was a good one too.

I’m continuing my count to 1000 blessings over here.  Even in the tough days there’s always something to be thankful for.

Happy Monday.

one of those days….

no picture today for ‘wordless wednesday”.

Only words…..

All sunny skies would be too bright

All morning hours mean too much light,

All laughing days too gay a strain;

There must be clouds, and night, and rain,

And shut-in days, to make us see

the beauty of life’s tapestry.

A week ago…

28 adults and 36 children loaded up onto 3 buses and headed out to a farm, a Camel Farm.

I have said that this year I wanted to go out there, and experience this place.  So when the email came out that this trip was being planned, I told my kids - we’re going!

The family farms camel milk.  Now I’ve been to a couple of farms and they’ve always been the large ones where most manual labor is complimented with machinery.  At this farm no such thing.  And with the amount of camels they had it looked like a nice size farm.

I saw these people work.  Manual hard work.  I saw young boys walk/run out to the camels and bring them in close.  Close enough for the woman to hold their buckets up and support it with their thighs, and then milk them individually.  They didn’t fill their buckets to the top. not because the camel wasn’t able too but only because the bucket would be to heavy for them to hold up comfortably.

  

It was hot out here.  Dusty and hot but I watched them work. work because this is their way of life.  Their livelihood.

But they were also happy.  happy to show us their farm, their camels and the way they live.  Happy that these curious expats wanted to go out their and see how they live. 

Here are some more photos…….

This photo is the entrance to the area they dug out and use it  like a fridge.  they store their milk and meat. Here is a frame of a yurt.  I think they were in the process of assembling it together. 

And yes, their outside potty, which when you have to go – you have to go.

And the kids who live on the farm.

It was an interesting trip. 

We contributed money as a group to show our appreciation to them but I think we  - 28 kids and 36 adults walked away with an appreciation of their culture, their way of life.

I know I did and that’s hard to put a monetary value on that.

weekends are for….

finding beauty and enjoying it.

watching the children in camp run around and play outside.

enjoying the last summer days at the pool and

still cleaning through my clutter.

hoping your weekend was a relaxing one.

photo hunters - swanky

here’s my take for this weekends word – swanky

exotically swanky

The Maldives - 2013

another school year begins

here they are again – first day of school.

     

they are sooooo ready, and so am I  (wink, wink).  As you can see there’s only 2 this time.  Not too sure how I’m going to manage this year juggling through 2 different school calendars.  Renee is already in her 3rd term and the other 2 are just starting. 

It should interesting.

well after I left them at school I went for coffee hosted by the empty nesters in our community.  So sweet of them to do this for us every year.

Are your kids off to school yet?

Is it just going to be another year or are you hoping for something more at school and maybe at home?