Our own garden of Eden

 

It seems like this past rainy season has done wonders for our garden. When we moved into this lot 2 years ago there were 3 scrawny short trees and nothing else. What a different a few years (and some gardening TLC) makes!

When we first moved in- June 2008. Our tree on the left was so small we were almost taller than it! That tree now has three levels and is a good 4 feet taller than the roof of the house!

And NOW!

 

Trying to plant a few things….

 

That same corner 2 years later!

 

The front of the house. You can see the mats hanging down (wet from rain) in the screen porch behind.

My basil bush shrub! I have two kinds of Basil grown here – a native Niger one and one that I planted from seeds bought in Italy. I am interested to see which will last longer, but they both taste and smell amazing! Anyone need some basil?

And if course Harriet likes all the foliage- to hide in and to eat!

Our front gate

Our fig tree! Last year I got maybe half a dozen full grown figs. Now this picture is just a little look at one part of a branch. I probably have 50 figs growing on it today alone!

 

 

So I have learned that things CAN be grown here in Niger! Even my poor attempt at a green thumb can’t mess it up, especially when our guards remember to water and weed even when I don’t!

So come visit our very own garden of Eden! It sure helps cut the sand and bleakness of the country!

Blankets

In our grain aid distribution for September we also had the capacity to hand out hand-sewn blankets to all of our program families. Each family received two warm blankets. You might not think you need them here in Niger, but they use them on the floor in hot season and to cover up with in cold season. These blankets came to us through a group of women in the USA who get together and sew sew sew! There is a crazy variety of fabrics and colors, all put together to make simple quilts. I wish some of these dear women who make the quilts could see their love in action!

We had 8 bundles with 40 quilts in each to give out here in town to our community we work in. That’s a lot of blankets! We also sent out an additional 32 bundles to our village locations. That’s roughly 1600 quilts!!

And of course, we never forget to have fun!

End of Ramadan!

 

Last week marked the end of Ramadan, the month long Islamic event where many people fast from sunrise to sunset. As we learn more and more about the culture and the people, we were surprised to see how many were not fasting in fact, and the variety of reasons that it was excusable. Interesting!

At the end of this period of time, there are always lots of parties!

We went to our friend Miriama’s house to celebrate the end of the fasting. We spent the afternoon there enjoying good friends, interesting conversations, strong tea and great food!

 

Bennett takes his role of “watcher of the tea” very seriously

 

He helps Aminata mix in the sugar and pour it into cups  

Then he hands around all the cups of steaming hot sweet tea!

Katherine enjoying her first African meal and tea event!

Ramadan is also a time where everyone gets new clothes. It was fun to drive around and see shiny clothes, bright sequins, swishing skirts and bold colors wherever we went.

These two boys were ADORABLE! They are 5 and 2 and had matching little suits. So darn cute! On the right there is the same dirty little boy who had Bennett’s toy car between his thighs a few weeks ago that I blogged about- he cleans up good!

Rebecca and Aminata were also looking good! Aminata is getting married in two weeks and I am excited to be her photographer as well as taking part in the day as part of her “family!'”

  

And of course, Arielle was looking cute as always!

And eventually it came time to eat. We eat at their house often, usually an assortment of some type of sauce that we dip bread into or they pour over hot rice. This food was even better! It had chicken in it, lots of sweet potatoes and other veggies. Everyone dug into the big platter and had their fill.

The adults bowed out after eating their share, but the kids kept on going…

Ibrahim thought it was “finger licking” good!

And the last one standing, crouching in a true African fashion while chowing down- Miss Arielle!

    

Black or white, friends all the same!