Finally a footpath!

You know you are in construction central when the sight of 'Scoop' outside our window no longer causes excitement for Mattias, and only merits a passing comment about rocks being moved.

And hence my joy the day the footpath was finished, never mind that it was raining. It is certainly hard work here. Hopefully we get to enjoy this footpath for awhile as is!

Mattias finishes pre-school for the year

The last day of pre-school for Mattias included an open classroom time, so we went along and saw him doing his stuff - some of the matching games and drawing etc that has kept him occupied this past half year. His face was full of concentration, very fun to see.

His teacher said a lovely speech about the kids in her class and how she'd miss them and managed to talk through her tears. Those kids are a cute lot. I'll miss them too, they always come up and talk to Annalise and 'Mattias' mum' at pick up time.

Holiday time now, nice that Evie doesn't have to be ready for the bus to pick her up at 7.15am! Hope it doesn't rain the entire time so that we can make it to the park without gumboots over these coming weeks.

Morning walk

Life in Loja is often dusty and windy and very little green in the immediate vicinity. It's because lots of gardens are tucked behind the house and so walking around you generally just see walls and concrete. And some construction is always happening somewhere so mud and dirt gets carried around everywhere (for example right outside our house).

And so, it is delight to be able to go for a walk along the river on the northern end of town. To be amidst the trees, the grass, the sound of the river rushing past is refreshing to the soul. Thrown into that, Annalise gets to see cows, horses, dogs, llamas, monkeys and eagles as we make our way along. And when I lift my eyes, the hills are there, green, often misty, and when the sun breaks through the clouds, the light as it hits those slopes is lovely.

It is worth the bug bites that always seem to appear once I get home!