Another month is behind us! It is amazing how fast time flies!
We are almost out of weaning mix so after the Child Center closed, we went to town to buy dried field corn and soybeans. Zorash went to town with us. We are planning on going to Tamale tomorrow so Amama will wash the grain for us and set it out to dry; that is if it does not rain. It did not rain today and we only got a drizzle yesterday afternoon so we might be in for a big rain.
While we were in the market buying corn and soybeans, I decided that I would like to have Zorash make Banku (fermented corn dough balls) for me. Every so often she makes them for us; we always make a lot so that I can put it in the freezer and enjoy it whenever I want to. We saw some really nice dried field peas so we bought them and also Agushie seeds; they are the seeds from a gourd. They are delicious; sometimes we roast them like peanuts with salt but traditionally they are ground and used to thicken soup. There is a section of the market where the ladies sit that sell the Agushie seeds; the ladies sit there all day painstakingly shelling the gourd seeds. We would not advise anyone to eat the seeds raw because they wet the seeds with water from who knows where so that they will be easier to crack. The seeds are dried on the ground. The ladies’ hands may not always be clean and if they come to a seed that does not want to crack, they use their teeth to open it. Definitely not a food to eat raw! But they are delicious none the less!
We worked on the books again today. We are just about to get caught up on recording the receipts. This afternoon Steve figured the taxes for the Child Center. He got them ready for Mr. Iddrisu to take to the bank to pay.
We have a long list of things to look for in Tamale; we also have to buy plane tickets for our next trip down to Accra. A well pump is at the top of the list; sure hope that we can find one that does not cost us an arm and a leg. My microwave’s turn table has stopped turning; the unit still works but it makes a big hot spot and we have to constantly rotate it to keep the food from burning! I might as well put it on the stove top! If we do not get everything done tomorrow, we will sleep over and continue on Thursday.
Thank you for the love, prayers and support.
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
A big branch broke out of the top of the giant mango tree. The branch was loaded with mangos; all those mangos might have been the reason that it fell down. After it fell Mom put me on my long leash so I could play in the tree. The branch was stuck in the tree. I had a grand time jumping on the branch and seeing the mangos fall to the ground! The mangoes were still green; I took a bite out of lots of the mangos. I was hoping that I would find one that was ripe but I had no luck! We picked up the biggest mangos; Mom says that sometimes if they are mature enough, they will go ahead and ripen. I figure we are just going to have a basket full of rotten green mangoes!
Later this afternoon Dad decided that we needed to try to pull the branch out of the tree before it got loose and fell on someone. Dad threw a rope around the end of the branch; I think he thought that he was a cowboy! As soon as he threw that rope over the branch, I was hanging on the end of it swinging; just like Tarzan! Dad was not impressed but he had to laugh because I am so talented! Dad pulled and pulled but the branch was stuck. Finally, Mom took off her shoes; climbed the ladder and climbed up in the tree with me! She said she could climb better without the shoes but what about that dress! If I was her, I would have taken that off too! That would have given the neighbors something to talk about! I was surprised that she could climb a tree! You know she is rather “fluffy”; I thought she was too “fluffy” to climb a ladder much less a tree! Dad handed her the electric saw and she cut the branches loose as Dad pulled the branch down! It was great fun had by all! Dad drug one of the larger branches to my condo and put it inside so I would have something to destroy!
Love,
Tree trimmer Skeeter
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