Avacados and Earth Tones

Yikes, it's been awhile since I've updated this blog. My apologies. Life has been busy here getting ready for visitors. First a group of nursing students are coming from NY in about a week, the next is my Dad coming in July!! When I do have a spare minute and want to have a little art therapy I have been plugging away at the mural in the pediatrics ward.
The Phoebe House is truckin' along. Every time I stop by there are new women and children there it seems. The youngest is a little girl named Naomi, who eyes are the size of saucers. Adorable. She has taken a particular fancy to Steven, and him to her. I wouldn't be surprised if we arrived home and found her in our suitcase :)
I brought some pills over the other day to treat them all for worms and was amazed at how each of the little ones just popped that bitter pill in their mouth and didn't complain a bit. They didn't even take it with water. I was a little less impressed when I later noticed some slimy pink tablets hidden under and sticking to Brian's feet (he's 4). I pointed to the tablets and made the "tst-tst-tst" noise-the kenyan sound for disapproval. He just started grinning sheepishly for being caught in the act, and he let me redose him without much of a fight. What can I say, he's adorable-so all's forgiven.
Since I've strategically gotten word out that I love avocados, I've been getting them by the bag full from friends who have them growing in their yards and falling on their heads. To combat this influx of quickly ripening cados, I made a batch of guacamole today that fit into a good sized punch bowl. You can never have too much of a good thing, right?
We are also busy getting the Mother's Union shop well stocked for the big group of visitors coming soon. I have been drawing up some design modification for the ladies to make some things more appealing to Americans. They make the most beautiful and well made baskets and such, but I'm trying to impress upon them a variety of colors and also some neutral tones, as hot pink and teal don't do in many American homes. They seemed perplexed by the terms "neutral" or "earth tones" until one of the women realized what we wanted and I heard the words "American" and "dull colors" in her explanation. To explain her point she pointed to mine and Steven's wardrobe for the day. We both happened to be wearing brown and khaki (I swear we do wear other colors). They all smiled and shook their heads in understanding.
That's all for now. Sorry there's no pictures, it sounds like this computer may blow up if I try one more time to upload an image.

jessie