Because Wednesday was a holiday (see previous post) we got to stay home and work on some projects around the house. Brian recently discovered that a drainage pipe at the back of the house was completely clogged with tree roots and dirt. Not only that, but it was a weird amalgam of steel pipe, clay pipe, and two different sizes of PVC. This needed to be fixed, since rainy season is approaching and our house is built on sloping ground (we’d rather not deal with a flooded basement!). So Brian dug out the old pipe and laid down a new one, and then built a new cement catch at the mouth of the pipe.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Home Improvement
Independance Day
September 16 is Independence Day in
spoiled dog
Defa (the lady who we pay to work in our yard once a week) likes Ruby, though she has trouble saying her name. In her language there isn’t a distinction between “r” and “l”, so most of the time the dog’s name comes out “Luby” or even “Buby.”
On Wednesday Defa made a comment that showed her opinion of how we treat Ruby. She told us “yupela i gat wanpela pikinini tasol” (you guys just have one child). In her opinion, our dog is hopelessly spoiled.
Papua New Guineans often have dogs, which are valued for security or for hunting, but they don’t take care of them the same way we Westerners do. Village dogs are often treated roughly and are left to find their own food most of the time. And so the fact that Ruby has her own haus kapa (house with a tin roof), and a painted one no less, shows that she is given special treatment. In Defa’s eyes, it’s a little crazy that we provide her with plenty of store-bought dog food, toys, etc. Every time Defa comes over to work, she comments on how fat Ruby is and how quickly she is growing. Lucky dog!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The HAPPYmatic
Today I brought home the Happy-Matic… a well-worn Finnish sewing machine that I bought from a friend. It works (most of the time anyway) and although it can only do a straight and zig-zag stitch, at least I now have a sewing machine and won’t have to borrow one every time I have a little project to do. I snapped it up because the last few times someone here has put up a sewing machine for sale I missed out. (You have to be superhumanly fast around here to nab the good stuff on the “for sale” board!)
I’ve been thinking recently that I might like to try my hand at quilting, so maybe someday I’ll be able to upgrade to something a little more capable, but for now I’m happy just to have the Happy-Matic.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Six Wheel Drive Fun
That’s right all six wheels turn when the mud gets deep!
Pulling our track loader out of the river when it got stuck: