kit and caboodle

Ay Chihuahua

1. dogs of mexico 7, 2. dogs of mexico 4, 3. dogs of mexico 5, 4. dogs of mexico 6, 5. dog prints mexico, 6. dog of mexico 1, 7. dog of mexico 2, 8. dog of mexico 9, 9. dogs of mexico 8

Those dogs know how to live!

We spent last week's Mid-Winter Break in Mexico, staying in a little town called San Pancho just north of Puerto Vallarta. It was pretty quiet (barring the ever-crowing roosters, barking dogs and regular bursts of mexican music) but the temperature was HOT!! Perfect formula for days at the beach or by the pool with a book or six. We stayed in a great studio :

 

 

1. Mr Bird, 2. sunset, san pancho, mexico, 3. church, San Pancho, Mexico, 4. casa de sarah, 5. the golden sun, 6. orange flowers, 7. moorish window, 8. potted plants, 9. mexico, 10. roosters, 11. shadow of me, 12. Mexican doorway  

SYSA - Team Urukundo

A screenshot from this week's Seattle Youth Soccer Association home page, featuring the kids wearing the soccer uniforms donated by the club which we took to Rwanda.  Link to Hope Made Real photos are here.

boys with painted nails

I'll allow myself one more post with some final favorite pictures from Rwanda, then resume normal service, such that it is.  Staring out at the bleary gray sky of a February Friday in Seattle, the country of Rwanda seems a very long way away.  But one of the many things my visit taught me was that the world is now a very small place and we, in the comfort of our homes in the West, have few excuses for not making an effort to bring change and hope to the lives of those less fortunate than we are. And a small commitment goes a very long way - words and thoughts are as valuable as all the material paraphernalia we drown in.  I've just finished stuffing all my excess yarn into a USPS box to send to the girls in Rwanda to feed their passion for knitting (which I fully understand!).  I hope that it will reach them in a month or so - Priority Mail is meaningless on the African continent. I added in a note from all of us here to let the kids know that they are loved and in our thoughts daily.  I feel as if my family has grown.

power's out again

the chicken house - 100 eggs a week is a good source of income

some of the villagers near Urukundo Home

1. impala, 2. african plains, 3. safari, 4. zebra, 5. water buffalo, 6. john paul, 7. tortoise, 8. baby giraffe

The mosaic shows a few shots from our big day out to Akagera National Park; we had a Toyota Landcruiser and driver (apparently the vehicle of choice for any sort of serious driving in Africa).  There were 10 of us all squished in the back of the car - a group of 5 misungu (white folk), one interpreter and then four kids from the Home.  Mama Arlene always tries to send some of the children on trips like this one since most of them have never had the opportunity to travel any sort of distance within their own country.  We took two girls and two boys and set off at 4am, arriving at the park around 7.30am.  Dawn and dusk are the best times to see wildlife but we didn't do badly at all as we wove our way northwards through the park over the course of the next 12 hours.  The road was a bumpy dirt track which really took its toll on the old bones by the end of the day. Our guide, James, was incredibly knowledgeable and spoke perfect English for us and Kinyarwandan for the kids so we were all able to learn a lot about what we were seeing. We had our lunch sitting on a high plateau which gave us a panoramic view of the grassy plains and savannah of Rwanda and across the lakes into Tanzania. Amazing. We wound up our adventure by taking the kids out for dinner in a hotel on the way back, which happened to coincide with the Obama's inauguration which was being show on satellite tv - so they got to see that too. It felt like a perfect ending to the day....

mamas and their babies, Kigali market

leaving Kigali - mud brick homes

The Children of Urukundo Home, Muhanga District, Rwanda

We're back safely - me in Seattle and #1 in the UK (he's going straight on to Findhorn for three months).  Our time in Rwanda meant so much to both of us - and before I start with my stories, I'd like to introduce the kids who live at Urukundo Home.

    

(top) Fabrice age: 14  favorite color: yellow  favorite pastime: Manchester United soccer favorite food: chicken

(bottom) David age: about 8 months favorite pastime: being gorgeous                

    

(top) Annah age: 5 favorite color: red favorite pastime: tennis favorite food: chocolate                                                                      

(bottom) Laki age : about 18 months favorite pastime: playing in the dirt

   

(top) John Paul age: 14 favorite color: blue favorite pastime: Man United soccer favorite food: beef                    

(bottom) Jerome age: 10  favorite color: blue favorite pastime: tennis favorite food: chocolate

   

(top) Saworoniya  age: 13 favorite color: orange favorite pastime: tennis favorite food: chocolate               

(bottom) Rosena  age: 9  favorite color: blue  favorite pastime: school  favorite food: chocolate                                

   

(top) Natete age: 2 favorite color: yellow  favorite pastime: having tea parties  favorite food: spaghetti                          

(bottom) Divine  age: 12  favorite color: orange  favorite pastime: playing video games favorite food: chips

   

(top) Florentine  age: 14 favorite color: yellow  favorite pastime: washing  favorite food: chips                        

(bottom) Gisele age: 12  favorite color: blue  favorite pastime: school  favorite food: chips               

   

Anita  Age: 13  Favorite color: red  Favorite pastime: soccer Favorite food: chocolate

Solange  Age: 14  Favorite color: red  Favorite pastime: singing/dancing   Favorite food: cassava bread

   

  Esperance  Age: 9  Favorite color: blue  Favorite pastime: tennis  Favorite food: chocolate

 

Seraphine Age: 12  Favorite color: blue Favorite pastime: singing  Favorite food: ice cream

     

Diesco  age : 13  favorite color : green   favorite pastime: soccer  favorite food : ice cream

 

Emmanuel  Age: 12  Favorite color: blue  Favorite pastime: soccer  Favorite food: fish

   

Desire  Age: 15  Favorite color: brown  Favorite pastime: soccer  Favorite food: chicken

 

Liliane  Age: 13  Favorite color: red  Favorite pastime: singing  Favorite food: turkey

 

Dada (Pacifique)  Age: 12  Favorite color: orange  Favorite pastime: music Favorite food: chocolate

 

Abias  Age: 13  Favorite color: yellow  Favorite pastime: soccer  Favorite food: rice

 

Olivier  Age: 11  Favorite color: blue  Favorite pastime: soccer  Favorite food: chocolate

 

Debora  Age: 11  Favorite color: green and blue  Favorite pastime: playing video games  Favorite food: chocolate

Gatete Martin  Age: 10  Favorite color: orange  Favorite pastime: soccer  Favorite food: chocolate

Cecilia  Age: 14  Favorite color: blue   Favorite pastime: praying  Favorite food: ice cream

 

Anett  Age: 15  Favorite color: yellow  Favorite pastime: studying for school  Favorite food: chips

Alexandre  Age: 13  Favorite color: black  Favorite pastime: soccer & basketball  Favorite food: ice cream

  

Esperance  Age: 15  Favorite color: blue  Favorite pastime: volleyball Favorite food: chocolate

 

 Lucie  Age: 15  Favorite color: blue  Favorite pastime: volleyball  Favorite food: chocolate

 

Penine  Age: 16  Favorite color: blue   Favorite pastime: dancing & volleyball  Favorite food: ice cream

Bosco  Age: 13  Favorite color: blue  Favorite pastime: soccer  Favorite food: chocolate

  

Eugene  Age: 12  Favorite color! blue  Favorite pastime: soccer   Favorite food: chocolate       

 

Amini  Age: 14  Favorite color: blue  Favorite pastime: volleyball  Favorite food: chocolate

   

Claude  Age: 12  Favorite color: black  Favorite pastime: soccer Favorite food: chocolate                                 

 

Bilize  Age: 5  Favorite color: blue  Favorite pastime: dolls  Favorite food: biscuits

Aline  Age: 3  Favorite color: blue  Favorite pastime: running  Favorite food: biscuits                         

(Not pictured : Tresord at secondary school in Kigali). 

It is possible to fully sponsor these kids - it costs around $600 a year to house, feed and school each child.  Some of the children have sponsors already and took great pride in telling me about their Mamas, Papas and Grandparents in the US and elsewhere. Our family now sponsors John Paul, whose huge smile completely beguiled me. I figure that I can afford $50 a month just by being more mindful of how I spend my money. Some things are more important than a coffee, a meal out or more books/fabric/craft supplies! Contact Mama Arlene ([email protected]) for more information.

dodgy power...more next week!

We've had no power for the last couple of days and I've spent too long waiting for photos to upload, so I'm going to wait until next week to add more to the blog when I return to Seattle.  The weeks are passing like a whirlwind and I'll be sad to say goodbye to all the kids who have come to mean so much, but there is my own little brood to look forward to - and I really, really am.  Happy Birthday, my youngest child - can't believe you're 8 years old today.

The Knitting Club

I've spent a lot of time at the Children's Home with the girls and a good number of boys too, teaching them to knit and making friendship bracelets. We made bags as a first project, and the girls here are busy creating stripy works of art (and listening to my ipod!). All the kids are incredibly handy - they have an almost photography memory for stitches and pick things up after I've shown them only once or twice. It's a skill which we're fast losing in the West.  The girls here all have their hair shaved off before they go to school, for hygiene and health reasons (there's a fungus which is easily transmitted otherwise).  Their short hair-do's show off their beautiful faces - the Rwandans are a very elegant population even in difficult circumstances.

#4 has spent his days digging in the fields, clearing an area which is destined to be a building housing the education center for the children.  Work on the foundations starts tomorrow.  For relaxation, he decided to sit and knit with us.  Trying to upload one of the finished projects - but the upload speed is horrible so I'll add more when we return to the US!

 

Going, going, gone

 

 

 

 

200lb of shoes, medicines, herbs, spices, soccer gear, jump ropes, school supplies. And a hefty financial donation. Thank you everyone. Next stop, Seatac airport. Byeee.....

Rwanda

A bit of an unplanned blog break, but we've been super busy the past couple of weeks getting ready for a short-notice trip to Rwanda. #1 and I leave on Monday night, and arrive Wednesday lunchtime in Kigali for just over two weeks at the Urukundo Home for Children.  

This is from their Mission Statement:

Hundreds of thousands of children who managed to live through the 1994 genocide and its aftermath in Rwanda are struggling for survival in desperately impoverished situations. Due to AIDS, disease, and poverty many younger children have become orphans or throw away children. The number of vulnerable children in Rwanda is not decreasing. They are without help. Most of them live in loneliness, neither loved nor cared for. Many children have been traumatized and the psychological consequences of invisibility and powerlessness is devastating. These circumstances overwhelm them. Most, feeling hopeless about their future, end up wandering and begging in the streets where they are routinely exploited, girls in particular.

Hope Made Real believes that all children are precious and are a sign of hope for Rwanda’s future.

They need the love they deserve before they become blind and deaf by abuse and hardships.

We started collecting shoes with the Brownie troop I'm co-leader of back in the Fall, but couldn't find a cost-effective way of getting the consignment there.  My husband and I had a conversation (in a pub, I think) and came up with the bright idea of sending me there with as much luggage as I could carry filled with donations for the Children's Home. #1 is on his gap year between high school and university (he's 19 years old) and gallantly agreed to come along and keep an eye on me/carry my bags. We booked our tickets on Christmas Eve, and started the business of fundraising in earnest, of being vaccinated (I had to have SEVEN shots), and making arrangements for the three children here at home in Seattle.  For all my friends, family and neighbors who have been so generous and caring - a huge and heartfelt THANK YOU.  We wouldn't be able to do this without your support and help.  

We're excited to go (and a bit nervous, if I'm honest). I'm looking forward to two weeks with my firstborn, to meeting Mama Arlene, who has worked so tirelessly to raise funds, build accommodation, feed and house the kids. And she's 77 years old. Amazing. We're planning to work our socks off while we're there. I'm also looking forward to finding out more about Rwanda which by all accounts is a beautiful country with a tragic history.  I'm hoping to post pictures as we go, so watch this space.

Here's a little bit about the Home :

Hello, I am Divine, one of Mama Arlene’s children of The Urukundo Home for Children in Muhanga District, Rwanda. I am Mama Arlene’s “first born”. No, I am not the youngest. But I was the first girl-child to come to live under Mama Arlene’s roof. Now thirty-five others have come. All of us are fully housed, cared for and given an education. And, an additional 245 children from the region join us at the community school with sponsored scholarships from Hope Made Real’s Scholarship Program.

I came because I could no longer live in my family home. Others come as orphans because all of their living relatives have died of AIDS or malaria. Still other older children are survivors of the genocide.

Each of us now has our own bed. The girls are housed in apartments with bunk beds with a house-mother. The boys live in a house with four bedrooms and four bunk beds in each room with a house-mother. Because of kind people I am most fortunate to now have food, bedding, clothing, school supplies, a mosquito net, lodging, education, medical insurance and basic medical care, utilities, transportation, and, of course, water.

Mama Arlene rents the houses we currently live in, but we recently acquired land and are building the first of five cottages. The plan is to have ten children and a mama or parents in each cottage. This means our little home will grow so that soon I will have fifty brothers and sisters.

on a cold, snowy day

We're enjoying some remarkably snowy weather in Seattle at the moment - it's been an almost continuous white-out for 24 hours now with no sign of let-up. The only thing to do is curl up with a book, knitting, mince pies, hot drinks etc and then dash outside at periodic intervals and make snow angels/careen down the hill next to our house/lie in wait for husband or unsuspecting offspring and stuff snow down their sweaters. All good fun. 

#1 son, husband and I snuck out of the house at 11.30pm last night and walked to Green Lake park with Woody Dog. I love the pristine snow and the heavy silence - so unusual in the city. We let Woody run like a mad thing, and sadly he went so wild that he raced at high speed into the lake which was frozen over, and promptly fell through the ice into the sub-zero waters below. We were all watching in stunned amazement as this happened but luckily #1 moved fast and piled over to the shore, laid on his belly and hauled the dog out of the water. Woody was none the worse for wear after this little adventure, in fact he seemed to rather enjoy being tucked up in my coat and dried off in front of the fire. I just wish I'd had my camera to take a picture of the dog-shaped hole in the ice...

A few things I've made for the Christmas tree:

Cutting out circles to make a felty garland - it turned out well but could do with being three feet longer - I'll save the extension for next year. I made the wooden heart three or four years ago when I had a scroll saw - it's plywood oiled with linseed, which deepened the color and brought out the grain. The scroll saw is a great tool for the crafty-minded; a few simple lines on a piece of wood and a pile of sandpaper and oil - and presto, some handmade wooden toys! 

And some needle-felted acorns (made from the enormous acorn caps we found back in September) which the dog has taken a liking to. The blue one at the back is a victim of his attentions!

Mount Adams

Dear husband and I decided to climb Mt Adams - actually, he decided that it would be a good experience for me to have and I must, at some point, have said 'yes'. He's climbed a few 'biggies' including Mt Rainier in Washington State and the Grand Teton in Wyoming, as well as countless smaller hillocks. I have no experience at all beyond hiking. The thought of wearing crampons made me squeak with terror, and I wondered if I could be even slightly noble and mountaineer-like when my knees were knocking.

The mountain was simply stunning as we drove towards our camp spot for the night but, by god, it looked HUGE. And the snow.... In July....

We got up at 3am and started walking in the dark with headlamps showing the route. The deal was that we were going up and down in one day and dear husband strode off, with me creeping along behind him. It was cool and quiet and the views got better and better as we followed the trail upwards and the sun gradually rose.

To cut a (very) long story short, we made it to the top. Most of the walk was simply a flog, until the final push towards the summit, which felt as if it were vertical. This was probably the scariest bit for me, particularly as we climbed over the ridge leading to the false summit where the wind whistled so hard I thought it would blow us away. In fact, hubbie kept telling me to look back to see the view, but I just couldn't in case I fell off the mountain! At the top, we piled on all our clothing and I did, eventually, look at the view.

The BEST part, absolute BEST, was going down!! We sat on our bums and, using our ice axes as rudders/brakes, glissaded down what felt like most of the mountain. It was superb - and (I think) I'd do it again just to repeat that experience.

We schlepped back to the car, arriving around 4pm - bloody knackered, starving and aching. But hey! I climbed a mountain!!