Three weeks of summer institute went by far too quickly and we said goodbye to students and most of my fellow English teachers on Friday. I taught Music and English, a class featuring a mix of grammar points for English learners and Canadian music- popular songs from the 70’s to now by Canadian artists. One of my students said it was nice to have a mix in every class, but every year I change subjects, so l am already thinking about what to teach next summer!
One of the highlights is working with a team that comes from Canada- It is so much fun to see friends that were here last summer or two years ago. It seems like they never left- facebook is a great way to stay in touch- even with those who haven’t made it back to teach again (yet-because the students and city get into your heart and you want to come another summer in spite of the heat) the very enthusiastic Stacey was the only new member of the team, and she had a great time seeing the city with students. This year Clay was was back as director and he booked his return later than the rest of the team. When he arrived he said he’d like to drive down to Yalta and see the Black Sea (whenever students disappear and don’t show up again we talk about how they must have gone to the sea to escape the heat) so I said Garry could drive him down. Turned out to be a good way to keep Garry’s healing hand away from the baler- one week after his injury it’s looking better (but not so good on Tuesday- thanks for the prayers) They found a hotel with air conditioning and are off to see the palace today.
Meanwhile on the baler front- they have got the knotter working better and have put more than 3,000 bales of straw in the hay mow. They are a little softer than Garry would like (more baler parts have been ordered) and some fine stuff has drifted down to the barn floor- the cracks between the boards got pretty big when that wet wood dried out in the summer heat! Of course Garry was unable to stop himself from helping- driving tractor, even stacking bales in the hay mow (last Sunday he played ping pong holding the paddle in his injured right hand in the city and then told me the doctor at the hospital had suggested he use a sling) so it’s good he’s away a few days- Tuesday will be soon enough to get back to work. Hopefully Maxime gets the bales finished and picked up from the field with the crew of men and teens he hires by the day before Garry gets back!
I froze corn yesterday- Garry bought a freezer two weeks ago- and I am putting stuff in from the garden. If it doesn’t rain I am not sure if there will be much left to do soon. The potato bugs are chewing on the eggplant and tomato plants now- they will eat the eggplant leaves, then fruit and the stalk- right to the ground!
Garry hopes to plant a field of millet that will need some rain to make silage for the cows, they are going to plant it after they finish baling, and pray for enough rain to get it out of the ground. This week the septic system for the barn was bricked by Timor (he did the house one last year) who stayed for a couple days- Jonah got to be his assistant mixing cement and lowering it and the bricks into the hole as needed. Jonah did some bale moving work in the mow also- the puppy was able to chew on the kitten a lot this week. The kitten does not seem that smart- he starts the fights- then screams that the puppy is beating him up. Mooska has learned her lesson – she’s laying down the law while she’s bigger than this puppy.
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