Art and Gardens

 

(J's most recent project, learning about Frank Phillip Stella.  S was sick this day.)

 

(Watching beans grow)

 

(The kids love catching Baka-Baka in and around the garden.)

 

(Overcast view from our most recent hike.)

Another One Bites the Dust

It's been another full week here in Northern Luzon.  A week full of sickness, that is.  S and J have been passing different head colds back and forth since Christmas, so it's no surprise that they are still hacking and coughing like champs.  In the village around us, chicken pox is still making its rounds.  Most recently, a charming little stomach virus has started blossoming in the pits of unfortunate stomachs. 

I fell victim to the stomach bug Tuesday evening.  Never before have I experienced an illness quite like it, so I naturally held the vomit back long enough to Google my symptoms.  About ten minutes before the diarrhea or vomit, my stomach would boil with a tangible heat.  It felt like a flesh eating slug was trolling the inside of my stomach.  Only when the heat became unbearable, my stomach would unleash a watery Armageddon.  Google, of course, told me that my stomach lining was being destroyed and, in any case, I was experiencing a severe allergic reaction.  Truth be told, unless I'm allergic to Filipino potatoes, it really was just a bug and I was fine by Wednesday night.

Whether it is due to sickness or prepubescent mood swings, S seems to love me one moment and hate me the next.  She has adopted a charming mute condition whenever I ask her questions about what she is working on.  Fortunately, she miraculously regains her power of speech whenever throwing her pencil does not properly communicate her frustration.  Of course, there are just as many moments when she is practically an angel.  Go figure.

J has a thousand questions lately.  Most recently, there have been lots of questions about "the good H" and "the bad H."  She also wants to know "Why do we call it saved?"  It has been an honor to be able to experience this part of her growth.  Her head cold has also made her slightly more emotional.  When she discovered that the multiple illnesses would prevent a "real party" for B's birthday, she burst into tears because "it isn't a real birthday without a party."

Which brings us to B turning four.  It seems like she has transformed over night.  Now all she wants to say is, "I CAN DO IT MYSELF!"

In the village, it is almost time to harvest corn again.  This is causes mild concern because the constant rain has prevented the previous harvest from being sold as of yet, so the price for that corn is dropping tremendously.  Prayer that both harvests will make it to town and be sold would be greatly appreciated! 

TTFN (Ta-ta for now!)

The Garden and The Pig

Outdoors version of today's photo update:

The first sprouts of sayote, beans, and cucumber have made their appearance.  Next to the garden, Adobo the pig has a new bamboo shelter.  I snapped a photo of her chowing down on her second favorite food to apples: left over green beans.

 

(Cucumber sprouts)

(Close up sayote sprout)

 

(Adobo getting her greens)

(Adobo's hut)

Teaching Pop Art

Just a quick photo update with a little blurb because I have some time AND internet this morning.

In honor of Valentine's Day, I taught a lesson on Jim Dine's heart art.  The girls got to experiment with pop art and repeating patterns.  We liked the results so much that we decided they needed to be shared!

 

(J's masterpiece and the artist at work) 

 

 

(S and her finished product)

 

(My example piece)

Photo Update

(Adobo, 2 month old piglet)

(Grindelwald, before his habitat was built)

 (New garden, pre-planting)

(The first seedlings of pechay)