First Fire

This past weekend we had a party here at the house. It was the first chance we had to use our new fire pit. We have had many camp fires here at the house, but we always did them in an old tractor rim on the dirt drive way. Recently the county has really cracked down on burn permits so we decided to get one, so now things are nice and legal.

To make it all we really did was take the old tractor rim and dug it about 3 inches into the ground. Not a big thing at all. So now we have a nice fire pit to site around in the evening, and since we get all our own firewood  off out wood lot we can feel free to have a camp fire when ever we like.

So here is a picture of our very first fire in "THE PIT".

Victorian Flirting code

It has been awhile since I posted anything steampunk and I read this post on another blog. It is a Victorian Flirting code. Rather then copying the image (stealing it) I have posted the link below.  I found it to be interesting. I hope you do too. 

Victorian Flirting Code

Wonderful story of Mission to Panama. I was there a few years ago on a different mission in a different area, but I still love to hear stories about what people go to do there. I hope you enjoy
-SA    

VISION CARE MISSION- Rex Leyte

In mid January 2011 after months of back and forth communications with the Panamanian Health Authorities, I received approval for a Vision Care Mission to Achutupu - a tiny island off the coast of Panama. On Feb. 27th my son-in-law, Dan Ayan, my right hand and translator (He's fluent in Spanish) and I arrived at the Achutupu airstrip. We were greeted by the most dynamic and energetic 80 + year old man you'll ever meet, Howard Walter and his wife Mariella. With their continued assistance for the next five days, we did visual testing and issued eye glasses to the native Kuna who call this tiny island home. We matched the prescriptions as close as possible (not always close enough). On my return I began matching prescriptions more closely and to date we've shipped glasses to 99% of those that needed correction. We are now in the process of getting ready for our next trip. Based on the first trip, I have a better idea of what to take and what not to take.

In addition to my eye glasses, my daughter Linda (a Barrie School Teacher) canvassed her school for school supplies. She collected over 150 lbs of school supplies which we delivered to the grateful students. This effort is ongoing for 2012.

Ours was the first such mission to Achutupu and the first time many of these people ever had functional vision. There are 48 more similar island communities in Kuna Ayla, all I'm sure with similar problems. I hope to continue these visit! for as long and as often as possible, expanding to other islands. I have the time, the equipment and a great source of used eyeglasses to do more. The limiting factor is funding. Anyone wishing to help can contact the Trinity Church Office at 705-728-2691.

Thoughts from Chair returns

You may already know that along with this blog, I also watch over another called "Thoughts from My chair". Thoughts is an online version of the weekly writings of Canon Frances of Trinity Anglican Church. Canon Frances writes her weekly article for the church newsletter each week and always has something thoughtful to say. Often tying events from her past to shine new meaning on to current events or subjects. Canon Frances took the month of August off from writing, but she has now started up again and will once again have an article each week.  

I have posted a link to the blog in this post, but the link can always be found in the links section. I hope you take a look and enjoy it.

http://thoughtschair.blogspot.com/

outlets

I am writing from the new wing that just open at my college. I was struck by the fact, as a student, you start to little things, such as outlets. This new wing is wonderful and bright. It has brand new chairs in cute little sitting areas to talk with others. Areas for quit with little cubicles for quiet study. It even has a new coffee shop. What it lacks is outlets. For a new building that will house so many people that will be using laptops, it has almost no outlets. To me that undoes all the good things. I feel as if because it does not fill that most basic need, the whole thing is undone.  

Old Barn

The past three days I have been working in an old barn doing some cement work. The barn is being repaired to house a second flock of sheep. These sheep are different then the others I have worked with. This new flock is made up of dairy sheep. Due to this they are much calmer then the other flock and I find much nicer to work around.

Much of the work that I did was simply making repairs to the stone work. Fixing cracks and replacing stones that have fallen out over time. It was interesting and important work. One thing that was some what exciting was when I came to a spot where a few stones had fallen out and discovered a family of Common Garter Snakes living in the wall. I was  a bit shocked but moved up the wall a bit and kept working. Making sure to make as much noise and vibrations as possible. By the time I came back they had all left to find a new home. I was left feeling a little jumpy, and was very careful to check before sticking my hand in any where.