Johnny Brooks in Kenya

Days 32 to 36

Some photos from Kate:

Starlette playing with big blocks in Vermont

  They visited an apple farm.

Apparently, they visited a hat store as well.

Kate's favorite chocolate, Lindt.

The lovely Kate

Day 31

Kate, Makena, and Starlette are in Schuylerville, New York. All I know about Schuylerville is that it is a village in Saratoga County and it is the site where the British surrendered during the Battle of Saratoga. Kate seems happy enough to be going to this village:

On the way Starlette had her first McDonalds experience:

 

 

Day 24 to 30

The past six days here on The Shire have been pretty mundane days. They have been busy days, but nothing out of the ordinary or exciting has happened. We continue to care for the animals, develop the farm, and work with the horses. My (Johnny's) workload has increased due to Kate's absence which keeps me busy for most of the day. It does not leave much time for writing, thinking, and communicating. 

Kate, Makena, and Starlette are currently in Connecticut. They are enjoying the company and fresh air. Starlette is having a bit of a tough time with all the time changes, but she is full of smiles and giggles during our video calls.

Three more weeks.

 

Day 23

Happy birthday Makena!

Bacon breakfast for her 18th birthday.

A trip to the craft store on her 18th birthday.

She got to visit Cat Haven. Makena has wanted to go there for several years now.

Petting a cheetah. Pretty cool.

The mountain in this painting hanging in Cat Haven is part of our view here on The Shire.

Makena feed a cougar.

Surprise birthday donuts.

 

Days 20 to 22

Yesterday was Halloween. I am not that much into Halloween, nor is it a big deal or really any deal here in Kenya, but the kids and I ate candy while watching Hocus Pocus. Not a bad way to spend the evening. I did manage to cook chicken tikka for dinner with sausage. It was while eating dinner we realized that I did not cook any veggies at all. Weird. Today will be full of vegetables to make up for that oversight. 

Kate, Makena, and Starlette are still in California. I was only able to speak briefly with Kate on Halloween morning, so I am not sure what they did or are doing. 

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Day 19

Back here on The Shire we grilled some homegrown pork, played Lord of the Rings Risk, and watched television. It was a great day. 

Way over in California Makena got some more hairs cut:

They met a number of people at Bob's:

I am a little fuzzy on the timing but they might have traveled to Fresno on Day 19, or it could have been early on Day 20. Either way, they are with the Howards now.

 

Day 18

Kate made sourdough bread with her hosts in California. She did it wearing SpongeBob SquarePants pajamas. 

Starlette encountered a vacuum cleaner for the first time. We actually own one, but after moving off grid we have never used it.

 

 

Day 17

On the seventeenth day of Kate's trip, we back here on the home front buried a friend and neighbor. She died the day Kate, Makena, and Starlette left for the airport in Nairobi. Fortunately, Kate was able to see her husband and offer comfort and get comfort. The service went well, I offered a prayer and prayed at the separate burial. She will be missed.

Meanwhile, Kate visited a horse therapy program called Project R.I.D.E. and was blown away by their facilities. 

Days 14 to 16

I got behind on blogging. Too busy managing these children on my own. I did have the bright idea of cooking a larger amount of chili, so we would have leftovers. Worked great, though chili three meals in a row somehow lessens the magic of a bowl of chili. 

I also had to pay a school fee for B.T. Kenya supposedly has free primary and secondary education, but it is not true. Schools will send you home over the smallest fee and then complain about the number of days you have missed school. 

Otherwise, life goes on here on The Shire.

Kate, Makena, and Starlette are now in California. We did a video call just before they boarded their flight from Houston to Sacremento. Starlette was excited about another flight. I think Kate and Makena are excited about their California visit. 

Now I see one of the reasons I got behind on the blogging, nothing much to say. Let me end with a picture from California:

Day 13

I am getting a bit fuzzy on some of the specifics of what day some things have happened with the trio in the U.S., but nonetheless, these things have happened:

Makena got a haircut:

Kate is having fun meeting Facebook friends in real life:

Kate is asking if she should cut her hair. Personally, I like it long, but then it is not my hair...