Newest Rug completion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This rug took me the longest to complete plus I did 9 pillows.  It is my favorite so far.  It will also be Cheryl Beer's favorite rug as she likes snowmen as much as me.

My Nativity Scenes from Peru

My friend Maria visited Peru recently and brought me an early birthday present.  There are 3 different and distinct Nativity Scenes in Peru:  The Mountains, The Coast and The Jungle.  She brought me one of each.  Look at the pictures.  They are wonderful.  It has made me very happy.

 

House

February/March 2007

I am sorry it has been a while since I've written.  I've never gone two months but it has been a busy two months.  We have said goodbye to friends (Kathy & Todd to Tennessee and Sue & Dallas to Ohio next week) that are moving back to the states and we've been just trying to stay cool.  When we are choosing a restaurant at this time of year we only choose those that are air conditioned especially for lunch in the middle of the day.  Today John and I spent one hour in Blockbuster just to be in the air conditioning.  Last year on April 1 was the beginning of six months of cool weather.  2007 will NOT be the same.  Last night it was 85 in our apartment at 10:30.  It made me very grateful for the air conditioner in our bedroom.  I doubt I would be sleeping were it not there.  It does come with an electricity bill that did not delight us at all.

 

I have finished 3 rugs and 9 pillows.  The owners of the rug store, Claudete & Sylvana, probably think I am obsessed with Christmas since that is mostly what I have done for 2 years.  My next two rugs will not be for Christmas so this should make them happy.  It has been very hot at the rug store so we haven't been as regular as usual.  They do have a ceiling fan but that just moves the hot air around.  We have many new friends at the rug store:  Mieko a native of Japan but is fluent in English, Monica who is from Argentina and Itsy from Spain.  Itsy will be leaving us soon.  It has been a joy to get to know her.  Monica's Mom is visiting from Argentina and Maria's Mom and Mother-In-Law are visiting from Peru.  This has been a lot of fun for us to get to know them too.  Mary's daughter Julie and PRECIOUS granddaughter Stella were also here for a week.  Kyle's daughter, Joey, will be here this week with her boyfriend, JP.  They are off to Salvador.  If you are planning on coming July and August are perfect months. This is when it is cooling down.  It is fun to have visitors. 

 

John and I are adjusting to the news from Meredith and John that we will be Grandparents in October.  It has made me want to visit the MANY baby stores here in Campinas.  This is very dangerous for our checkbook.

I'm also planning an amazing rug for the baby when we find out what it is.  I should have it finishedby the time Baby Basel is here.  My friends all assure me that being a Grandparent is the very BEST.  Pray for Meredith because she has really been sick.  Ben is doing well and is planning a trip to Wichita Falls to see his friends.  We are very proud of him as he was made Manager of the store.  Beach Bums is a really nice store.  I enjoyed looking at all the merchandise.  Mom continues to struggle with her back & shoulder but is really excellent other than that. 

 

I will be in the states for 30 days beginning April 25.  I will be at Mom's for two weeks and then will travel with Mrs. Beasle to see her daughter, Kathy, in Philadelphia.  Kathy is a very good friend from high school.  John will meet me there to celebrate our 30 year wedding anniversary.  We are going to visit New York City, Philadelphia and culminate in DC for Jim and Katherine's daughter's (Amy) wedding on May 19.  We are very excited because we haven't seen their girls in a long time.  This will be a real treat.  John and Meredith are trying to meet us there for a couple days if he can work it out.

 

I've learned many things in two months.  A new stitch in rug making, Jan Rodger's taught me how to make the best apple pie and crust, Robin Durgin taught me the best marinade for chicken & Monica taught us how to make a torte from Argentina (better than quiche) and so easy.  The best contraption I have ever seen was Jan's apple peeler/slicer/corer.  It does it all.  We did 30 apples in 15 minutes.  I will purchase one while in the states.  I've also been going to physical therapy for my foot.  Physical therapy takes on a new meaning with no air conditioning.  I leave that place soaking wet.   The people at physical therapy are so kind.  I wish I could work there.

 

Pierre is planning a trip for 10 couples to a historic little city called Paraty in April.  It is our first adventure and will be fun to share it with others.  Robin & Harry Durgin (with The Navigators) will be moving to Denver in June.  They have been serving in South America for 25 years.  We will miss them so much.  Mary Catherine and her husband Randy will be moving to China in June.  Mary Catherine was one of the first Americans I met here so she is very special to me.  Please pray for these people because any move is hardbut an International move is really hard.

John turns 53

1 concrete house

Across the street from our apartment is an empty lot with a 3 story concrete house. Evidently the property has sold and they needed to clear the lot.  It took 3 men, 3 weeks, with 3 sledge hammers to knock down this house.  It was amazing to watch.  No bull dozer.  No jack hammer.  Just 3 men with sledge hammers.  The pictures tell it all.

February 2007

I have recovered from my seventh trip home.  Since I never sleep on the plane I welcomed the conversation of a young lady who was returning from her honeymoon.  Her husband was sound asleep but she was terrified of flying and couldn't sleep.  She told me all about their 3 week honeymoon to Canada and The United States.  It was wonderful hearing about everything from a Brazilian's perspective.  We think our country is amazing but it is nice to hear others say it is amazing also.  I had such a easy time going through customs and immigration and was at the bus right on time so I got the early bus at 9:00 back here to Campinas.  Jan & Ben Rodger's picked me because John had to be at work.  It was wonderful to see their smiling faces welcoming me home.

 

I had a great time with Mom for over three weeks.  Between the two of us we had 7 doctor visits.  I have an abscessed tooth which was untreatable because it was so infected.  They will deal with it when I return in April.  Mom had a tear in her retina and the doctor says it is healing well on its own.  No surgery.  She is an amazing woman.  I guess the years of vitamins and good eating are paying off.

 

I did get to go to Los Angeles to visit Ben.  It was an action packed two days.  We went to Disneyland and his friend, Wendy, went with us.  We rode everything possible in one day.  The next day we went to Hollywood and this was a real treat.  You hear about it all your life so it was fun to see it.  We ate good food and talked nonstop for two days.  I got to see his new apartment, where he works and experience the HORRIBLE Los Angeles traffic.  I got lost going and coming back to the airport.  I don't see how they do it.

 

Of course, I got to eat at all my favorite restaurants and see good movies with Mom.  I visited with close friends.  I got to meet new grand-daughters.  I got to see snow and experience good old cold weather.  We visited with our good friend in Atlanta, Jim.  He, Daddy and Dad's brother Bill used to go to the races together in Atlanta and Talladega.  I thought the traffic in Atlanta would compare to Los Angeles but it sure doesn't.  I think Atlanta was planned much better. 

 

John has returned from his deployment and he and Meredith celebrated their second anniversary in The Bahamas.  Hard to believe it has been two years since the wedding.  Seems like yesterday to me.  She was so glad to have him home.  I know we enjoyed having her here for 7 weeks. 

 

I am back to working on rugs and staying busy.  We went to a Carnaval parade on Saturday.   John is working harder than ever but I know he is glad to have me here for many reasons but mostly to do the cooking and the cleaning.  = 0  Carnaval starts February 17 so he will have two days off.  I was not here last year for the excitement of Carnaval so this will be a first for me.   When you get a chance let me hear from you.