Have been having computer problems the last month and have been afraid to blog as so many things just disappear….thanks to Rockisland, my server, “upgrading” and somehow I got “downgraded”. It has been an action packed month with Professional Photographer, Kathleen King, staying with us to do a Photo Exhibit of the Cu-cu’s (Grandmothers). After she had heard about our project and read about the Cu-cu’s she felt very strongly about telling their story of strength and courage.
Kathleen arrived the same day that the kids (57) got out of school. We barely got in the door and they started coming about 5 minutes later hungry and not only excited to be out of school for the month but to have a visitor. Kathleen was great and bonded with all instantly. So with the kids in and out and the 9 puppies and two momma dogs underfoot and the neighbor kids rushing over to meet the new mzungu (white person) and hopefully get some cookies and juice we were a bit chaotic but happy!
We had an amazing two weeks of photo shoots. Incredible to see how Kathleen was able to capture the cu-cu’s on film. The cu-cu’s really enjoyed themselves too and their moment in the spotlight! We kept teasing them about being Hollywood Movie Stars as they did many poses. This was also a good time for Daniel, Susan and I to check on their well being and issues they may be dealing with. The kids all in good form too….everyone at this point healthy. Amazing how many health problems these kids have…..lots of colds and flus which I can’t help but think it’s related to the water they drink. We have many teenagers and with them they bring the usual “growing pains”! So we have been sorting out a lot of issues.
As for the puppies, 9 are now in new homes that we found and 2 the landlady wants to keep. Why I’m not sure as she doesn’t care for the 3 she has! Feel bad for the two left behind as they are the sweetest little things with great personalities! Our gift to Momma dog was to have the vet come and give her a shot so she can’t get pregnant again (also her daughter). She was so worn out when we arrived two months ago and now is strong and healthy and hope she can stay that way. Susan ended up keeping one puppy that she took to Nairobi to give to a friend and in the end couldn’t let him go! He has brought so much joy to their house that they named him Zawadi (gift in Swahili)
Ah… then came Sunday. We awoke to a beautiful shiny day. Kathleen had read my earlier blog from last year regarding the Revival Church behind my bedroom and thought “my, isn’t she just a little touchy and sensitive”. About 15 minutes into their Sunday ritual she came tearing into my room asking what that horrible noise was! I told her that was nothing compared to last year’s revival the church held. Kathleen was able to enjoy this for the rest of the day plus Tuesday and Thursday afternoon practices and whatever they were doing a couple Saturdays ALL night long! It was nice to know it wasn’t just me being sensitive! I do have to admit that on Easter Sunday they did have one lady who sang quite beautifully….but only one song which I loved. But then the karioki microphone hogs snatched it away and that was the end of her….
We were so sad to see Kathleen go and begged her to stay but she had commitments at home. Lucky she left when she did as her plane was the last allowed to leave Amsterdam because of the volcano! The airways shutting down for that length of time also hit Kenya quite hard. Kenya has a huge green house business where everyday flowers and fresh veggies are flown out to Europe at night to arrive at dawn and be on the streets by 9am. The trickle down affect was huge as so many people whose livelihood depends on working the fields had to go without. They say it will take time to recover ….
Last Sunday we got the rest of the kids back to Boarding school and Susan and I were in Nairobi for the week. Susan to be with her family and catch up with her regular customers that depend on her for doing their hair and I was house sitting the Nairobi house where I rent a room and took care of the chickens, Bahati (our rescue dog from last year) the cats and the vervet monkey that just took up residence in the corn patch. Was a good time for me also to catch up with friends, venders and my accountant. The week went amazingly fast and by Sat the 24th we were on our way back to the Gilgil house to pack up and move into our new digs. Didn’t think we had that much but after two years we managed to accumulate a lot! It felt nice to leave that horrible place, it just got to feeling evil. The landlady would turn off our water and say the pipes up the street had burst when in fact she had turned off the water and then used it on her garden. Mind you we paid for our water…. she would do this for days at a time before we catch on to her game. That wasn’t all but best to leave it in the past and enjoy our new house which is stunning, a palace compared to where we had stayed for two years. The only sad part was leaving Momma dog behind. She loved us so much and followed me everywhere. We will go visit and bring her juicy big bones…….
