Nyiraga Volunteer Fire Dept.

I was walking this morning when I saw this fire.  I knew it was near the school so I found a trial heading that way.

When I came up the children were all outside beating the fire with branches, and the girls were bringing large pans

full of water putting it out.

I pulled this in and I hope you can see all the children working.

See the water being poured on the fire.

Here comes more water.  You might ask where are the teachers?  The two  I saw were on the porch watching the action.

As I walked away and spoke with the teachers I thought about how different it would have been at a school in American.  Always something to see when I walk and visit with neighbors.

Playing with kids at Bore Hole

It was so hot this afternoon I did things inside and read a lot.  About 4:30 I decided I had to get out so I went out and realized the “neighborhood” was outside by the borehole getting ready to do the wash.  The little girl Brenda that

is so afraid of me was carrying a little can (that hot chocolate comes in) on her head.  When I spoke to her she stopped and pulled her panties out of the can.  She was going to wash also.Here are the

small girls, Brenda and her cousin washing their clothes under the tree.  They are taught very young to start the wash.

She was standing like the big girls when I took the original picture but when I asked her to look at me she sat back down.  She does not have any panties on so I am guessing the three pair she had in her can was all her panties.

Lambert the young man that helps me with Fra Fra and Amena who lives with me were together so Amena’s mother could cook dinner.  She understands the camera now so he is holding her arm so she can not touch.  I think they are cousins.

Here is a small girl carrying a bucket of water this is her second that I saw her carry.  She is young but she is also doing the washing and showing me how it should go then has to stop to carry water I am assuming for her Mother but I am not sure.  Anyone can be asked to do these chores and they do not argue they just do it.

As Brenda’s mother pumps she has Brenda’s little brother on her back.  The brother likes me also notice he is smiling at me as I take his picture.

It has really gotten hot in the afternoons and they tell me this is nothing.  I maybe in trouble.  The other day I brought my washing out so I could play in the water.  Today under the shade tree it

was very pleasant.  Maybe spending lots of time under the tree. 

 

Amena and I played this morning and she discovered my skin up close.  She sort of picked my chest and arm and decided it was okay and forgot about it.  Pretty funny.  I taught her to shoo away the goat and birds.  So I guess it was a good day in Ghana.

Computer working again and it is to hot outside 99 degrees

Smoothing the bush cut boards to try to make them even and smooth, notice the workbench is a real bench but he put his hammer head under the foot because it was broken off and kept falling over.

The things was a little wiggly so he put in the braces in back but it was still a little wiggly and I was afraid it would fall over so no problem he wedged a piece of board again the wall and the shelves so now no problem them are stable.

So now all is off the floor and in a place-just have to cover with material to keep some of the dirt off.  You should have seen how brown the top of my green netting was.  Took it out and shook it now I am going to see how long until it is brown again.

This is front door to our house – so you see why there is so much dirt in the house.  The windows are the same way.  The only thing is with the stucco mud bricks etc. it is a little cooler than most houses inside.  Rob could not believe the difference from outside to inside when he came over.

About the end of pictures so I thought I better send them while the computer was acting nice.  Barbara

Watching the Dying Process

The Secretary of the Craft Center called to say they would be dying for the new baskets if I wanted to watch.  So I went over to see how it was done.  Some of the ladies had started the baskets before they knew they were to be dyed so that is the reason some of the pieces going in were started.  They then laid them straight and reshaped them.

The big tub had water boiling when the dye master started working.  Yes the water all had to be fetched in the big buckets no running water.

The stick is what he stirs with as will as dips out the color with.  I guess you would call that far from exact measuring but he seems to know exactly how much to make yellow.Here the secretary (the one in the white shirt) and the ladies are looking at the dye job.

These are the ones they had started making, then dyed them, and now she is laying them so when they dry they are the right shape.  Did you know if a basket get misshaped all you do is get it damp and work it back into place, then let dry.  Watched a whole lot of baskets that had be squashed in the packing, get wet, shaped and dried right back where they wanted them.  Think of the baskets we have thrown away because their shape was gone.

When all the yellow was finished, the dye master added colors until he got the shade of brown he wanted and then they dyed all the brown pieces, then when that was done, more colors and out came the green pieces. 

Here, like Easter Eggs (they had NO idea what I was talking about dying Easter Eggs) we would have had different pots, for each color and would have measure exactly the amt needed that would have been calculated.  It is amazing that we would say primitive yet look at the beautiful baskets they make.

African Cup Ghana VS Botswana

My living room is the only TV close around to many families.  About 3:30 today I started getting company because the family was still at work.  Slowly slowy

 

this is what it turned into.  Reminds me of Super Bowl at home all the hollering and cheering.  This has been going on all week as all the teams try to win to top honors.

Fun in Ghana is everywhere. 

Continuation of Post Because of slow connection

.I was in Zorco today to go to the market there. I met some young men yesterday and they said they would have some big wheel bikes for sale and I wanted to visit with Dawn so I went. The bikes were not there but we did find a pig and she was not too happy about it. Her baby got out

very fast when she saw us. Ha!!

This little boy in Zorco came by to shows us his new truck. Yes it is a juice box that he fitted with wheels and cut outs. Great little toy.

I thought maybe you could see it better here.

Everything is so interesting and different here. In the market Zorco Mama (Dawn) and I were greeting and talking to everyone It was so exhausting. I got there about an hour before Dawn and the people were so worried that I could not

find my friend. They offered a seat every where for me I had to convince them I wanted to walk around. It was so much bigger than I had thought it would be since our market is two little booths under a tree. There was all kinds of things and as I was walking along an elderly lady came up to me and ask if I knew her. I was so surprised at myself I said yes you are Theresa and I met you on the Tros Tros. She was thrilled and walked me over to her booth to show me. I would have thought she would have had more material but it was nice to make her so happy.

Sometimes it is nice that people want to help you but sometimes it would be nice to walk around and no one want to greet you or shake your hand and welcome you. It gets to be a lot after awhile. We went back to Dawn’s and talked for awhile then I was starving. Her friend had come over and insisted on fixing us lunch. I tried very thing but she was going to do this. We sat down to eat with her and thank goodness no fish so I was able to eat a little but that sand crunch is just more than I can handle. I wish there was some way to tell if it is really sand.

Tomorrow is another day. See you later, Barbara

More Random Pics

Next time your spouse, child etc tells you their phone is cracked, broken or whatever, get this picture out.  This is a phone being charged at my house.  Notice not ONE of the numbers of up down bottom or anything else is here.  How it works is a mystery but he can make and receive calls plus he has music.

 

We all went to the bore hole to get water but when I saw Brenda (yes the little one that is so afraid of me) insist on her bottle and her cousin also I had to run and get my camera.  Notice the big yellow watering can on this little girls head, and the big bucket on the other girls head.  The mother with the wrap and checker skirt, is carry the baby on the back and water in each hand.  Most of the time she has the yellow can or wash basin on her head also.  They are so strong and do this at least 2 times a day most days more.

 

Lambert is the boy in the dark shirt-he is my teacher for Fra Fra at the moment and also my card playing partner.  Amenia, is a boys girl, she loves her Daddy and Uncle the best but just about any boy can pick her up and play with her.  Peter is Lambert’s little brother and this is the first time I have seen pants on him.  They are waiting for Williamson to come and get on his Moto – Amenia waits for him or screams for him most days when she hears the Moto coming.I was in Zorco today to go to the market there.  I met some young men yesterday and they said they would have some big wheel bikes for sale and I wanted to visit with Dawn so I went.  The bikes were not there but we did find a pig and she was not too happy about it.  Her baby got out

very fast when she saw us.  Ha!!

This little boy in Zorco came by to shows us his new truck.  Yes it is a juice box that he fitted with wheels and cut outs.  Great little toy.

I thought maybe you could see it better here.

 

Everything is so interesting and different here.  In the market Zorco Mama (Dawn) and I were greeting and talking to everyone It was so exhausting.  I got there about an hour before Dawn and the people were so worried that I could not

find my friend.  They offered a seat every where for me I had to convince them I wanted to walk around.  It was so much bigger than I had thought it would be since our market is two little booths under a tree.  There was all kinds of things and as I was walking along an elderly lady came up to me and ask if I knew her.  I was so surprised at myself I said yes you are Theresa and I met you on the Tros Tros.  She was thrilled and walked me over to her booth to show me.  I would have thought she would have had more material but it was nice to make her so happy.

 

Sometimes it is nice that people want to help you but sometimes it would be nice to walk around and no one want to greet you or shake your hand and welcome you.  It gets to be a lot after awhile.  We went back to Dawn’s and talked for awhile then I was starving.  Her friend had come over and insisted on fixing us lunch.  I tried very thing but she was going to do this.  We sat down to eat with her and thank goodness no fish so I was able to eat a little but that sand crunch is just more than I can handle.  I wish there was some way to tell if it is really sand.

Tomorrow is another day.  See you later, Barbara