Friday, May 6, 2016

April updates

We're doing well here, though I don't seem to have time to blog thoughtfully about it all. We're... busy. Not busier than you, necessarily. Just busy. But I don't want to forget things, so here goes:

I've started to do some research in Masiphumelele, which means less hiding behind my computer for work, but Hana does NOT take breastmilk that's been pumped, so figuring out how to fit work in can be hard. I am really happy about my research and wish there were more hours in the day (Yup, that's shorthand for "we're leaving all the duck poop on the verandah for now"). Hard things: this and this. We love Cape Town, but we're not homesteading in a vacuum or a beautiful utopia. We are so grateful for our lives and livelihoods, and somehow these have to relate in a good, honest way to the people around us.

I've been planting out a lot of trees, but now it's suddenly hurricane-windy again, so here's hoping they make it through. I'm trying to finish a small section with trees before the winter sets in-- so that no more trees will be added, the trees can settle in and enjoy a massive amount of mulch, and I'll just gradually add cover crops and smaller perennials. I need to take some photos of it, but it doesn't really look like much yet so I don't have much to show. I've been doing a lot of mulching and a lot of pretty back breaking work, particularly if Hana is on me. I love it. It feels like what I'm supposed to be doing. Which doesn't make it less back-breaking. Pacing ourselves is really hard, because everything feels quite urgent. There's so much to do. I've really been enjoying David the Good's permaculture and gardening tips, based on a Florida climate-- our climate is not too different and we're also dealing with sand. I like his (Christian) anarchist style.

Our chickens are laying-- three of them, at least. They're like clockwork, despite the winter, which means we are self-sufficient in eggs and should have extras to eat or sell once the other three start laying.  Anyway, without further ado, here are some pictures from April.

Applying for a U.S. Passport... (Eug and I also got our absentee ballots)

Noah's birthday present for Eli: Mouse train tracks, cut and play.

Eli's birthday cake. We are not the greatest when it comes to celebrations, so it's best you don't say anything about the train cake. 

Hana in Sheila's duck jersey (made it through Noah and Eli, to Hana!) and Angie's ridiculous (and very lovely) fuzzy socks. She's growing up really fast. 

Eli's birthday with his trains from South Africa (ok, really from China probably) and clothes from Korea (ok, really from China probably).