On our way back from Baaba's new home, we stopped at a view looking over the ocean. The Braunbergers wanted to see the ocean.
I told Eugene we needed a place up high so they could see the beauty without noting the garbage drifting up first. He and Baaba agreed on a place that was just right. Up high, nice view, people playing in the ocean and walking the beach - right in front of a resort. They groom the sand every morning. Perfect.
Baaba has been looking for a new home for a long time. I became aware in October of her disappointments and concerns about her current apartment.
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| Having the ceiling fall down is awful and unacceptable. |
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| Closer view of the damaged ceiling. |
Baaba got the keys to her new apartment. She has running water but no electricity has been turned on yet. That is a concern she will have to wait until Wednesday to take care of because the office is not open due to the holiday.
The Braunbergers and Martin came to help out. Eugene and I came a little later when I asked if she needed help. The first car was loaded up pretty fast and it didn't take all that much time for the second. Eugene had already been so he knew the way to her new place. He lead the way and Brother Braunberger stuck to his back the whole way. Unloading up three flights of stairs made us all tired. I think the Braunberger's who are in their 70's were exhausted.
So exciting for Baaba. A beautiful view and lovely breezes on the third floor.
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| The black SUV is getting filled with Baaba's belongings |
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| Both cars filled to the brim |
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| Green apartment house with construction still going on... |
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| She will live on the third floor |
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| Sister Braunberger and Baaba in front I, Brother Braunberger, Eugene, and Martin |
The Muslim month of fasting (one of the most sacred times for them) is over today. Eid-al-Fitr has begun, it marks the end of Ramadan. I noted the women were in beautiful outfits and were coming down the street from a big Mosque. We seem to be in a parade with lots and lots of people on motorbikes who would zoom past us to get ahead of the line. Eugene says they go to the Mosque before starting the rest of their celebrations and is part of the festival.
We tried to stay out of the streets so we wouldn't add to the mass of people.
It is so lovely to go out and exercise in the pool just steps away from the condo. Today is Monday and the temple is closed every Monday, so Doe Kaku often joins me. Today she came to exercise with me. We had a lovely discussion about how she joined the church and how she met her husband.
Life can be sweet at times.
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| No bubbling water shooting out of the end of the pool.......why? |
Comfort's meals are disappearing quickly. I buy individual meals that are frozen to give to people who visit or helping me out who need a meal. Everybody loves Comfort's cooking. So far the Waakye is going out the door the fastest, with Jollof rice a close second, and the banku and okra stew coming in third.
It is a way to give Comfor a livelihood, it takes care of people who haven't eaten for the day, and it makes some people happy or feel appreciated. Win all around.
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| Cooling off and putting in individual servings |
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| Adding chicken before it's put in the freezer |
Erica dropped by for a little bit to see if her samples matched my hair. I can't wait to see if what she comes up with is fun and exciting!
After the rain poured down, I found these.....snails? slugs? on the walls next to the sidewalk. I have never seen them before. With rain still looming in the sky, the snail, slugs looked like a dark blue. What are they?
I was chatting with Rachel while she was making dinner one night. She told me about this pizza dough that was made with flour, yogurt, and soda. I thought the whole thing sounded interesting so I had to try it.
It was late, I needed to have banana bread made and when I dumped the bag into the flour container - a moth fluttered. I smashed it and wondered......
So yes, there were some anomalies hiding in my flour. Last bag of flour, late at night, no way to get more until the weekend was over, bananas already ripe.....
I pulled out the shifter and took the "lumps" out. Then washed them down the drain. I was taken back to my childhood watching grandmother Conover shifting flour. As a 9 year old I asked what she was doing. She said she was getting the lumps out. Ok, and I didn't think anything more of it. But now....... I can't help but wonder if her lumps were the same as mine? Would they have turned into moths after a bit of time?
If I was of a scientific mind I would have dissected the "lumps" to discover everything. Nope not scientific just squeamish. I didn't find anymore moths and I shifted every bit of that flour, and made banana bread. Then I washed all the containers in my cupboards with hot water and soap.
The next two sacks of flour that I bought the next Monday seem to be smooth and free. But I'm watching....
Saturday was very busy at my place. Comfort came over to do her thing (and made us cabbage stew which Jeffrey was very grateful for). My apartment is close to the stake center and so it is used to store and make things for events next door.
Different people dropped in to use the stove or electricity or room to organize what they needed. I cooked in the morning all the banana bread and apple bread when I ran out of bananas, cookies, and muffins. Nelly stopped by and brought all the tablecloths, napkins, cups, forks and paper plates over to help with the set up. Nelly and Bertha directed the guys putting up the tables and chairs and spread tablecloth over each table where items would be shown.
A rehearsal for our temple view sisters' song was called for a half hour before the event. I left my apartment with three women in the kitchen and came back to the faintly burnt smell that kitchens can have. No smoke so its all ok.
Comfort, Baaba and I packed up and carried the rest of the supplies over - about a half hour after the event was suppose to start.....
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| My talent is having a hand to take a picture even when loaded down with bags |
A little under 20 people were there but we started anyway. It was cool to watch Comfort welcome and conduct. Usually she doesn't. Temple View sisters were first as some had other appointments that night. Nice for me to have it done.
Nelly and Bertha were the MC's and they did a really good job going from one thing to another. People kept filling up the chairs and we had close to 40 ladies - which is exceptional as usually we have 12 to 15 ladies to our events. Comfort had given the lady from the week before transportation money so she could come on Saturday and again on Sunday.
It was so fun to watch the games, songs, dancing, and the ladies describing their goods, services, and all the food goodies. It was really a good night. In the clean-up and reflections of the night, one lady said it was the best Relief Society event she had gone to. She also mentioned that having ALL of the temple view sisters supporting the ward was a first in her memory.
I came away with homemade dish soap and plantain chips. Just so you know I paid for it earlier as no selling of goods can happen on the Church Area grounds.
Line dance up the stairs then down the other side of the stage....singing and dancing
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Many homemade goods like soap, braided rugs, embroidered pictures, jewelry, decked out flip-flops, and all kinds of treats that were homemade. Toffee, cookies, coconut ground with added ingredients and fried, and then the real food like banku with fish and pepper sauce, etc. Lots of drinks - especially sobolo. It was a fun evening of sharing and chatting with friends.
