December 25, 2013

 Here's a picture of our frosted window pane Christmas morning. Our thermometer in the kitchen indicates that our house has reached "safe fridge temperatures."

Some of our Christmas decorations...Merry Christmas, Christmas Gift!

December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve

 This is our diminutive Christmas tree. The two large ornaments on it are an "Our First Christmas" picture and the airplane.

Amos is building a fire in the bathroom to make it nice and toasty and steamy for our pre-Christmas showers. From left to right--sink, stove, Amos, kerosene-soaking bucket, ash-sifting bucket.

We don't have any real snow yet, (though there were some lovely frost ferns on our windows this morning) so we've decorated with artificial snow.

Sugar cookies waiting to be iced for the Christmas party tomorrow. It's becoming our Christmas tradition to have a random, informal gathering at our house for people who don't have any other plans.

Have a happy Christmas, everyone!

November 19, 2013

This song wove its way into my dreams last night...a choice selection from one of Grandmother's old tapes that I imagine only JBs, and possibly only the oldest of those, would remember.

I saw the wayworn traveler, in tattered garmets clad,
Traveling up the mountain, it seemed that he was sad.
His back was heavy laden, his strength was almost gone,
But he shouted as he journeyed, "Deliverance will come!"

And palms of victory,
Crowns of glory,
Palms of victory
I shall wear.

The summer sun was shining, the sweat was on his brow,
His garments torn and dusty, his step seemed very slow.
But he kept pressing onward, for he was wending home,
Still shouting as he journeyed, "Deliverance will come!"

And palms of victory,
Crowns of glory,
Palms of victory
I shall wear.

The songsters in the arbor that stood beside the way
Attracted his attention, invited his delay.
His watchword being "Onward!" he stopped his ears and ran,
And shouted as he journeyed, "Deliverance will come!"

 And palms of victory,
Crowns of glory,
Palms of victory
I shall wear.

I saw him in the evening, the sun was sinking low,
He overtopped the mountain and reached the vale below.
He saw the golden city, his everlasting home,
And he shouted loud, "Hosanna! Deliverance will come!"

And palms of victory,
Crowns of glory,
Palms of victory
I shall wear.

Boutez en avant...

November 15, 2013

"Well the winters drive you crazy
And the fishing's hard and slow.
You're a damn fool if you stay,
But there's no better place to go."

Amos being towed to center line for a flight a few days ago.

P.S. It's not cheating to listen to Gordon Bok here, like it might be some places. By the time November rolls around, I've EARNED it.

November 2, 2013

Somehow, I have always felt that the correct response to "May the Force be with you" ought to be "And also with you." This must be the Anglican influence.

October 28, 2013

 

A Romantic Evening  in the Wakhan

October 12, 2013

Now that we're back from Turkey, here are a few more photos from our trip up North. It seems like forever ago now...

Here I am with "Steep Grandfather Mountain" in the background:

 Some of the beautiful sand patterns in the Wakhan riverbed:

The skylight of a traditional Wakhi house. The fire is below in the middle of the house and  the smoke goes out the hole, more or less:

A barley field:

A yak, one of the animals most frequently used for transportation in the Wakhan:

September 16, 2013

Contrary to the more camera shy people in Kabul, people in the Wakhan think it's the greatest and most exciting thing ever to have your picture taken--or take a picture. Some of these I took, and some the eager students of my brief photography course took.

September 7, 2013

The airstrip we flew into is in the village of Kret. After landing, we put our things in a Landrover and drove about half an hour or so over steep and rocky roads to the house where we would stay, in the village of Kipkut, where the doctor and her husband live, and where the clinic is.

Here's the airstrip that we foreigners use to enter the area. As for the locals--"We was borned here!"

 Here is the airplane:

And here is the handsome pilot:

September 6, 2013

Amos and I arrived safely home this afternoon after a glorious trip to the Roof of the World. More pictures to follow.

September 2, 2013

For the happy few who are actually able to view this blog, I present—for your interest and edification—how to construct a Greek, or let us say Greek inspired, dress. It is very simple. Choose a fabric in an optimistic pattern, at least a meter and a half, if not more, and gather your other necessary sewing supplies.

First of all, cut a long strip off the bottom or top of your material roughly three inches wide. You will determine the length of the strip later.

Fold your fabric in half longways, right side in, and cut it into two rectangles. To make this dress fit me, I needed a meter and a half of fabric, so it was approximately fifty inches long and twenty five wide.

 From the top of the rectangles, measure roughly four inches down...

 And cut out a quarter oval scoop shape thus:

 Fold over and repeat on the other side. Sew down both sides from the bottom of the scoops to the end of the material.

Turn in and sew the scoops.

Turn the top edge under and sew it down, making a pocket approximately an inch wide.

Using yourself or an article of clothing (like a tee shirt) that fits well, determine how low you want the neckline of the dress to be. Drape the long extra scrap around and cut it to size.

 To make a rounded rather than a flat strap, double and sew it twice. I sewed a ribbon inside mine, because the fabric was quite stretchy. With another kind of fabric this is not necessary.

 Thread the strap through the pockets, sew the ends together, and work it around so the sewed bit is not visible. Now you have a wide, shapeless drawstring bag with no bottom. 

 Pull the fabric until it lies how you like it, front and back, and than tack it to the drawstring from the inside.

Next, wearing the dress, measure from the neckline approximately five to six inches down to create a high Empire waist. At this measurement, sew another pocket on the inside of the dress just wide enough to run your elastic through. 

Measure out a piece of elastic that fits snugly, but not too tightly, around your ribcage and thread it through this second pocket, sewing the ends together. Work it around so it lies flat. Except for hemming up the bottom, the dress is finished.

August 27, 2013

Amos with his birthday cake and Kodiak card, drawn especially for him by a fellow team member. We had a nice party, but after eating all the other food I had fixed we were too full for birthday cake so we ate it for breakfast the next morning (today.) One of the candles stands for twenty and one for eight. We will leave you to decide which is which.

August 23, 2013

Despite the fact that our washing machine is a bit of a prima donna, the laundry is remarkably easy, at least during the summer time. Hang it out, and in an hour it will be bone dry and ready to put away. We have chosen to ignore the existence of irons. In the winter however, if you hang it outside, you will be bringing it in in stiff sheets.

August 21, 2013

In Kabul, even the less affluent like to play with colors and brighten up their houses.

August 11, 2013

With the end of Ramazan and the coming of the cooler breezes, kite season has begun. It's hard to find a patch of sky that isn't dotted with kites in the evening. Unfortunately, it's difficult to photograph them well. The other day, a kite that had been cut free during a kite battle floated down into our yard. Almost before it touched the ground the little boys who had been chasing it were banging on our gate. I handed it out to them and they ran off to re-tie it and fly it again.

August 8, 2013

Here's another calligraphy design (plus artwork) by Amos.

"The porcupine says to its own child, "My velvet baby!"

August 4, 2013

I was asked to make a baby shower cake with an aviation theme for C.'s baby boy's shower this week. After considering my options, I decided to make a chocolate cake in the image of (as least my artistic conception of) one of our remote, mountainous airstrips. Following is the result:

It did look quite a bit more "mountainous" and "airstrippy" in real life.

P.S. If you've made it to this blog and are able to view the pictures, please leave a comment on this post. You don't need to write anything except your name. I just want to make sure everyone is still able to see and enjoy the "Picture of the Day/Week"

August 3, 2013

It's the last week of Ramazan, and I don't think anyone will be sorry to finish the fast. People are saying it's the hottest summer in forty years. Whether that's true or not, it certainly feels hotter when you're not drinking anything all day long. Too bad you can't bottle up some of this sunshine and use it later...

 I plan to get my Eid shopping done early in the week--lots of fruit, nuts, candy, and little gifts for the extra special people.

Welcome

Hello everyone!

I started this blog to take the place of the "Picture/Caption of the Day" (or week) that many of you have been receiving. I hope this continues to give you glimpses of our lives out here and helps us all to stay connected.  Keep coming back--I'll try to post something new at least a couple times a week.

Boutez en avant!