Coffee in BRAZIL

Coffee in Brazil!

Just one of the beautiful places to enjoy coffee in Brazil.

Seated: Wendy, Heidi & Kathy Standing: Marina, me, Nancy and Theresa Seated: Brendon, Phil, Gary, & John Standing: Pierre and Curt

We have had a bunch of parties lately. So much fun and great food. We said goodbye to Susan and David at their beautiful home. Then, we met for coffee the next morning to say one last goodbye to Nancy and Curt. We will miss you all very much.

Bugs in Brazil

Cute, but deadly, caterpillar!

I have scars from the mosquitoes here in Brazil that will never go away. At least I hope they were mosquitoes. I stepped on a fire ant hill the first year here while visiting Kyle. Didn't know that the bites would about drive me crazy. Heidi said if you step on an ant hill to pour plain Listerine on the bites and they will be much better the next day. Wish I had that hint 3 years ago. I know I suffered 6 months with those bites. Of course, if I had not scratched them they wouldn't have taken so long to heal.

Anyway, I was sitting at the rug store last week and heard all this commotion in front of the rug store. There was a caterpillar there. I thought to myself why the commotion. Turns out these caterpillars here are vicious. They do not bite or sting but when they crawl on you they send poison through their sneaky little feet. The store owner told me that they have been known to kill dogs and cats. My art teacher said she went to the emergency room because she had been "walked on" by one of these caterpillars. Said she had never known so much pain and they had trouble getting rid of the pain. Finally a kid came up with a broom and knocked that poor caterpillar into the sky. Who knows where he landed!!!!! At least now I know to not think they are cute little critters and try to pick one up.

Bye Bye Kathy, Wendy & Susan

Susan with quilt square made by Kyle

Me with Stella!

My wonderful group of friends here in Brazil. We were very blessed to cross paths with one another.
Kyle quilted each of the women their own "sidewalk square of Campinas". This is Kathy with hers. Kyle amazed us all as we looked at her quilted pieces in her home.

Susan, Wendy, Marina, Kathy & Cassia.

The centerpiece (Birds of Paradise) were cut from Kyle's yard.

We had the going away party for Kathy D, Wendy & Susan today at Kyle's home.
It was so much fun to be with friends and eat delicious salads and laugh and talk.
God has been faithful to allow me to meet new people at almost every turn.
Still very hard to say goodbye to those we love.
Although, I'm getting pretty good at it.

Mirror Kathy made. Aren't all of you impressed with my tile work.

While walking on Saturday we saw this beautiful greenery in front of doctor's office.

In front of the doctor's office there was also a banana tree.

Some new pictures of scenery in Brazil. Also, a picture of the mirror I just finished in Art Class.

This is a picture of Reagan at 18 months.

Seems like yesterday she was born.

Brazil Update May 2009

I have a baby shoe charm for Reagan and I got baby girl #2 shoe charm this week. They are so cute!

Sue is front row in green. (Front row: Nancy, Nectar, Marina, Sue & Kyle. Back Row: Heidi, Cassia, Dionne, Wendy & Jane)



The beautiful tulips at the Mall. During Christmas it was Amaryllis.

In Ecclesiastes 3:2 & 4 the Bible says: A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. The expatriates and many Brazilians here in Brazil have experienced this with the death of our friend Sue Olson. She died suddenly on Mother's Day of a brain aneurysm. It was the day after her 48th birthday. It has been very hard for all of us. We gathered Monday to mourn with her husband Dallas. Sue and Dallas have been here twice. They arrived around the same time we did 4 years ago, then they were sent back to the States, then they returned about 6 months ago. Dallas works for Goodyear. We have had many wonderful times together. She would always meet me for coffee (she always had tea) and she was making a beautiful rug for her Mom. She loved her husband, her family and her dogs very much. We will greatly miss her.

The City where we live, Campinas, has come to a standstill. The buses are on strike. Since this is the mode of travel for probably 1/2 of the people of Campinas it has caused a huge disruption. Driving home last night was proof. I was riding with Pierre and Marina and there was traffic everywhere. I did not know of the strike and Pierre told me the problem. I hope they resolve the situation soon so everything will return to normal. The only good thing for us is the lack of noise because to the back of our apartment is a very busy bus street.

My two favorite waitresses have left Romana's. Diana had been there 9 years and Fabiana 7 years. I really did not even need to place an order with them. They just brought me the same thing every day. I would say they spoiled me rotten. Somehow Diana thought I liked a lot of foam on my coffee. Every time she did my coffee there was at least an inch. I think she got the idea from watching Jan Rodgers sprinkle sugar on her foam and eat it with a spoon. She must have thought I liked it too. It will never be the same for me.

We have been to a bunch of movies the last couple weeks. Kyle and Sam have become our movie buds. We saw Star Trek last week. Many of you know John has always enjoyed Star Trek so he enjoyed this alot. The story starts with the Star Trek characters as very young and then shows how they grow up. It really develops the older characters we have always known. The two best parts of going to the movies with friends here in Brazil are the taco's before at the new Mexican restaurant and the popcorn during. Definitely worth the price of admission. John and I go to the Mall early and walk. The flowers there are always colorful and take your breath away.

Goodbye Nancy & Nectar

Sue (holding precious Stella) just one week before she passed away and Priscila Something we do well here is laugh. Keeps us sane. Nancy, Nectar & Kyle sharing a good laugh

Just a few of the wonderful women.

Heidi had a luncheon today to say good-bye to Nancy & Nectar. Great food and an even greater storm. While we were eating the sky turned black and the wind started blowing. Inside we went.

Graffiti in Brazil

Graffiti that is cute! Graffiti not so cute!

There is a lot of graffiti here in Brazil but I have to admit it has gotten better since we first arrived. Some of the graffiti is just gang writings like in the states but the other appears overnight and is cute.