From the author Thabo update

Illustrations for "Thabo Looks For The Animals" are being completed by the orphans in South Africa. Cannot wait to see them.

From the author: Almost a vacation

It is Friday here just after noon. We go to training in Tzaneen, about a 4 hour ride for Peace Corp Training. This means ten days of luxury. Almost a vacation.

South Africa is a land of contrast both geographically an socially. I have started a story on this theme. I truly have no idea where it may go. The working title is "Reflections of an Angry Land". So no doubt it is a more serious topic.

The rainy season started with thunderstorm every night this week. Unfortunately the down spout off the roof to the JoJo slipped out of place and the rain did not fill the JoJo. This also means the start of mosquitoes and needing to take more precautions against them.

I will write more as time allows for better reflection.

Marty

REALE ART: My Five Holes of Golf

REALE ART: My Five Holes of Golf: The latest Illustration Project  Three boys sneak onto the golf course in Columbus, GA and are chased off at the fifth hole. They all ...

From The Author: Sunday evening

Hello from North Carolina:

The week has been wet and sunny with thunder storms in the afternoon and evening. In between the rain drops and rolls of thunder Suzanne and I did a bike ride, aborted a hike as it started to rain at the start but discovered a nice antique store in Chimney Rock, NC., and went dancing. We celebrated with ice cream.

All in all it has been a good week. We organized the garage by taking every thing off the shelves and work bench, took the shelves down and started bringing them down from Jolly Green Giant height to Suzanne height. We will continue this tomorrow and hopefully get everything up off the middle of the garage floor and onto shelves in an organized manner.

I completed my first week at  WALMART as a demonstrator. It is interesting and people watching is fun for character development.

Suzanne and I are busy completing the check list for Peace Corps and preparing for South Africa sojourn. We have decided on whom to have sit the house. He is a person we met since moving here and have had lunch with three times and worked together in the garage.

We are reviewing the volunteer book for the Peace Corps to become better acquainted with the aspirations and expectations for Staging. Our pass ports and visa applications are sent. Doctors and dentists appointments are made. We have an appointment with the County Health Department to start the shots needed.

Suzanne is busy with jewelry.  Her designs are well accepted and selling. She can be proud of her work and efforts in marketing.

That is it for now.

Marty

From The Author: Hello

It has  been raining most of the week. This is good. The garden is being watered and the plants that have been transplanted are getting watered in with little work.

Most of my week was spent doing yard work and looking for a part time job to bring in some extra money. We went to a picnic this afternoon with a group we belong to, Friendship Force. Those interested in learning more about the world, our country I recommend looking them up in your area. We have met some interesting people both from here, other states and have the opportunity to meet people from other countries by hosting them in our home and showing them our area.

The reality of South Africa is catching up with both Suzanne and I. We have no expectations of a great adventure, but realize it will be a tough assignment, but hopefully worth energy, both physical and emotional for the personal reward of helping others. Many have asked where and what for more details and our answer is we will find out when get there and actually start our training. Meanwhile we are looking for a tent, netting for sleeping and protecting us from mosquitoes, and reading as much as we can about the country to learn more. We have discussed the basics that we take for granted and how we will address them.  Much will be answered when we arrive at our assignment but we need to prepare for the worse and hope for the best.

I am looking forward to learning folk tales and gathering more story materials for the future stories. Suzanne has been looking at a book with Zulu Beading.

We hope for a break in the weather to take a hike tomorrow, maybe one of the state parks nearby.

That is about all for now so have a good week.

Marty

From the Author: Storyteller

Hello: It has been some time and much to share. I decided to go this format using a blog. It will be interactive and allow readers to comment on what is written. I will be using it to post some of the new stories I am working on or just sharing thoughts that may turn into stories. I cannot remember the last Friday note sent out. That shows how long it has been. I know it has been before we went to California because many of you were told Suzanne and I were coming. We had the pleasure of seeing many friends and visits with family. It was a very enjoyable trip and relaxing. We arrived on May 19th after getting up at 2:30 am that morning and arrived the same day around ten am. Chris, Suzanne's son met us at the airport and took us to Joyce's home where we all enjoyed a marvelous banquet. The next day we woke late after going to bed early. Over our jet lag we ventured out and continued to do so for the next two and half weeks. Activities included dinners with old friends, hikes in areas we use to frequent and catching up with family. We came back relaxed and ready to settle back into our home in Western North Carolina. Suzanne's daughter, Rosie graduated with honors from Sac State. The twins, Ella and Rosie are now overseas, Ella in Italy and Rosie in China working as counselors through a school program. Chris and his wife are enjoying life and he may be going over seas for another work assignment to help people keep their elevators going up and down. A story title floating around in my head is "The Snoring Possum". Another is the "Night Chatter on the Back Deck". As you can tell the influence is coming from the woods that surround our home and the visitors that frequent us. Suzanne and I are enjoying hikes and bike rides in the surrounding parks. We discovered Wintermint Falls in Dupont State Forest on Fathers Day. We found a black snake crossing the trail and the entire forest learned of our discovery when hearing our announcement. Today we joined another couple and hiked into Rainbow, Turtle and a third fall no one we asked knows its name. So it is the "Other Water Fall". Another aborted hike was the search for High Falls. We were told a short cut by a man on a horse who introduced himself and told us he was one of the people who kept the trails clear. After following the directions we turned around seeing the hour of the day and decided to try another time. Another planned hike is into Douglas Falls, a seventy foot water fall off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is four miles down and four mile up but will be worth energy needed to reach it. The Peace Corp has not called so we do not know if we are leaving or not. Both of us would love to receive an invitation, but are content on enjoying our life here. Suzanne is enjoying her grand niece making a trip once a month to visit her niece and baby sit. Yes, I join her too and help. We are continuing the Wookie and poloties exercise lessons. We have been having regular thunder storms. Since we are high on the mountain. Lightening strikes nearby are common. One came on the hill just above our house, followed by a second strike. The house shook. The next day our neighbor up the hill told us they saw it hit. The house held and there were no leaks or trees falling on us, so we survived just fine. So, that is it for now. As said above I will be posting here. So to stay up on the adventures of Marty and Suzanne tune in here. Take Care Marty

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Chagall is a fun look at the recycling process through the eyes of a dragon including examples on where your sorted materials go after they are collected, with a twist.
This publication is a fun educational book for children, teachers and their parents encouraging problem solving innovation and cooperation.