Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Biogas is Important for Children
This video was produced during my recent visit to Uganda in December. We were visiting bio gas projects. At the end of the video, when they are interviewing the boy about the benefits of having bio gas, you can see me in the background :)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!
Heart Stripe Red Valentine's Day Card
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Wednesday, December 15, 2010
One year anniversary
A year ago today, the girls and I arrived in South Africa. It is hard to believe a year has gone by. And what a year it has been! Upon arrival, we were involved in a car accident in a game reserve. We were hospitalized and Sofia had to have the side of her nose sewn back on. Then in late January, Gary passed away and we had to rush back to the US. March, April and May were rather quiet. Then in June, the house was broken into and many of our things stolen. July, my father in law, Gino came to visit. August, Sal came and we celebrated the girls' 5th birthday. Late September through late October, we travelled back to the States again. And then for the last two months we have been back. It has been a roller coaster of a year. Let's hope this next year is one of peace and quiet and no major mishaps.
Yesterday was the last day of work until the 3rd of January. Yesterday, I also signed the lease for our new house. I am very excited about our new place. It is in a very secure complex. I have since cancelled the lease at the Plantations and now we will be in Manorfields Estate. It is so very central in Hillcrest. At first, I was a bit worried because I would still have to drive daily back out to Forest Hills to bring the girls to school. But then, just last Wednesday, Hillcrest Primary called and said they had space for the girls. Hillcrest Primary is literally one minute from the new house. It is one the same street just a few hundred yards down! It is ideal! And many of the girls' friends from their preschool are going to Hillcrest Primary. Today, we went to get their little uniforms! They have to wear dark green and burgandy tartan plaid! They were so excited. Their school bags are about half their size- so big! They start Grade R (kindergarten) on January 18th!
Tomorrow, I head for Uganda for 5 days. The girls will stay with our good friends, Jonita and Steven. Their daughter, Izabella, is one of the girls' best friends. We go over to their house a lot. Originally, I was going to try and take them with me but the tickets were too high. I have to go to Uganda for meetings.
When we get back, we leave for Cape Town 2 days later. We will be in Cape Town for 5 days. Then we get back from Cape Town and we move on the 29th and 30th. Then on the 31st we are going to a beach house with Jonita and Steven and Izabella to spend a few days there. It is going to be so busy these next few weeks.
The monkeys are constantly at our house now. Today, the girls and I watched them for over an hour. They are so interesting to watch. Such smart animals. They come and sit at our windows and peak in. Of course, I can't resist but to feed them. I guess that is why the hang out here! Plus there are no dogs to run them away like at our neighbor's houses. The girls absolutely love to watch them. And I think the monkeys like to watch the girls. Today, there were quite a few adolescents and two very tiny babies. One baby was too small to leave it's mother. But the other was just a little bigger, but still so small. Every time I would try to take a picture, one of the adolescents would pull the baby to them and try to protect it. It was so cute. And the baby would squeal because it didn't understand that there may be danger. I would crack the door and throw food out for them. They would run over, smell the food, take a small bite and either eat it or throw it if they did not like it. I had some stale gorp (like chex mix coated with white chocolate). They couldn't figure out why the pretzels and cheerios had this coating on it. They kept trying to rub it off. They scraped it on the ground. It was soooo funny. I think they thought it was dirty and so they tried their best to clean it. It is really educational to watch them at such from such a close proximity. Then, they got into my trash and made a mess. I wasn't too happy about that....
Christmas is next week. It is hard to believe. It doesn't feel too much like Christmas here- maybe because it is hot and because it is not so commercialistic here. It is nice. Yesterday, I took the girls to see Father Christmas (Santa). Sienna warmed up to him. Sofia would have nothing to do with him! She just kept looking at him out of the corner of her eye. She said later it was because she knew he wasn't really Santa.
Yesterday was the last day of work until the 3rd of January. Yesterday, I also signed the lease for our new house. I am very excited about our new place. It is in a very secure complex. I have since cancelled the lease at the Plantations and now we will be in Manorfields Estate. It is so very central in Hillcrest. At first, I was a bit worried because I would still have to drive daily back out to Forest Hills to bring the girls to school. But then, just last Wednesday, Hillcrest Primary called and said they had space for the girls. Hillcrest Primary is literally one minute from the new house. It is one the same street just a few hundred yards down! It is ideal! And many of the girls' friends from their preschool are going to Hillcrest Primary. Today, we went to get their little uniforms! They have to wear dark green and burgandy tartan plaid! They were so excited. Their school bags are about half their size- so big! They start Grade R (kindergarten) on January 18th!
Tomorrow, I head for Uganda for 5 days. The girls will stay with our good friends, Jonita and Steven. Their daughter, Izabella, is one of the girls' best friends. We go over to their house a lot. Originally, I was going to try and take them with me but the tickets were too high. I have to go to Uganda for meetings.
When we get back, we leave for Cape Town 2 days later. We will be in Cape Town for 5 days. Then we get back from Cape Town and we move on the 29th and 30th. Then on the 31st we are going to a beach house with Jonita and Steven and Izabella to spend a few days there. It is going to be so busy these next few weeks.
The monkeys are constantly at our house now. Today, the girls and I watched them for over an hour. They are so interesting to watch. Such smart animals. They come and sit at our windows and peak in. Of course, I can't resist but to feed them. I guess that is why the hang out here! Plus there are no dogs to run them away like at our neighbor's houses. The girls absolutely love to watch them. And I think the monkeys like to watch the girls. Today, there were quite a few adolescents and two very tiny babies. One baby was too small to leave it's mother. But the other was just a little bigger, but still so small. Every time I would try to take a picture, one of the adolescents would pull the baby to them and try to protect it. It was so cute. And the baby would squeal because it didn't understand that there may be danger. I would crack the door and throw food out for them. They would run over, smell the food, take a small bite and either eat it or throw it if they did not like it. I had some stale gorp (like chex mix coated with white chocolate). They couldn't figure out why the pretzels and cheerios had this coating on it. They kept trying to rub it off. They scraped it on the ground. It was soooo funny. I think they thought it was dirty and so they tried their best to clean it. It is really educational to watch them at such from such a close proximity. Then, they got into my trash and made a mess. I wasn't too happy about that....
Christmas is next week. It is hard to believe. It doesn't feel too much like Christmas here- maybe because it is hot and because it is not so commercialistic here. It is nice. Yesterday, I took the girls to see Father Christmas (Santa). Sienna warmed up to him. Sofia would have nothing to do with him! She just kept looking at him out of the corner of her eye. She said later it was because she knew he wasn't really Santa.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sienna and Sofia have finished preschool :(
Yesterday was Sienna and Sofia's last day of preschool. They have now officially become little girls. They will start Grade R (Kindergarten) in six weeks. This week they took a tour of their new class and met their new teacher, Mrs. Stapleberg. They have a really nice little school and classrooms. The only thing is that it will now be far from our new house. It is right down the road from us now but when we move at the end of this month, it will be a long drive in the morning. I am trying to get them into a school that is near the other house but classes are full right now.
They had a ballet show at school on Thursday. They are doing so good in ballet. It was so sweet to watch them!
Also on Thursday, we gave Bella, the cat, to another family. The girls are actually okay because she went to one of their friends, Izabella.
I had signed paperwork last week for the new apartment in Plantations. But then on Tuesday, I got a call from another agent and she said she had a place for us at Manorfields Estate. That was where I was wanting to get into originally. The complex has a pool, a squash court, workout room and very large park for children. And it is very secure with 24 hour security and gates. So, I called the Plantations to see if I could get out of that lease. At first, the owner was not going to let me. Then after pleading, I was able to (but had to pay $350). It will be worth it. This other place is a house, not an apartment. It has 2 large bedrooms, 2 baths and a study. It is very nice. I like it so much better than the apartment at Plantations. There is no comparison. This complex is actually right across from Plantations so it is all in the same vicinity. The only thing is that the school is far now.
Today, we went to a birthday party for one of the boys in Sienna and Sofia's class, Logan. They had fun as usual and we were the last to leave. We came home and I made some homemade PULLA. It is a Finnish bread. So good and has been so long since I have made it. The girls really enjoyed the whole process of watching the yeast dough grow. Then kneading it, braiding it, etc. They were fascinated. Sofia ate 3 pieces (like little cinnamon rolls) after her big bowl of pasta with pesto.
We will go to Cape Town for Christmas. We leave on the 23rd and get back on the 28th. Then we move on the 29th and 30th. It is going to be hectic.
It is hard to believe we are approaching our one year anniversary of arriving in South Africa on the 15th of December!
They had a ballet show at school on Thursday. They are doing so good in ballet. It was so sweet to watch them!
Also on Thursday, we gave Bella, the cat, to another family. The girls are actually okay because she went to one of their friends, Izabella.
I had signed paperwork last week for the new apartment in Plantations. But then on Tuesday, I got a call from another agent and she said she had a place for us at Manorfields Estate. That was where I was wanting to get into originally. The complex has a pool, a squash court, workout room and very large park for children. And it is very secure with 24 hour security and gates. So, I called the Plantations to see if I could get out of that lease. At first, the owner was not going to let me. Then after pleading, I was able to (but had to pay $350). It will be worth it. This other place is a house, not an apartment. It has 2 large bedrooms, 2 baths and a study. It is very nice. I like it so much better than the apartment at Plantations. There is no comparison. This complex is actually right across from Plantations so it is all in the same vicinity. The only thing is that the school is far now.
Today, we went to a birthday party for one of the boys in Sienna and Sofia's class, Logan. They had fun as usual and we were the last to leave. We came home and I made some homemade PULLA. It is a Finnish bread. So good and has been so long since I have made it. The girls really enjoyed the whole process of watching the yeast dough grow. Then kneading it, braiding it, etc. They were fascinated. Sofia ate 3 pieces (like little cinnamon rolls) after her big bowl of pasta with pesto.
We will go to Cape Town for Christmas. We leave on the 23rd and get back on the 28th. Then we move on the 29th and 30th. It is going to be hectic.
It is hard to believe we are approaching our one year anniversary of arriving in South Africa on the 15th of December!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
If it isn't flying ants, tarantulas or shongololos, it is a plague of grasshoppers. The flying ants continue to exit from the ground by the hundreds (and the monkeys continue to jump after them and pop them in their mouths like candy). Now, I have a big group of grasshoppers that move in unison in my fence....
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