Van Loo Ventures

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Spring?

3/17/13

Our phone calls and thoughts of home remind us that the seasons are changing back in Washington. I have tried to see these same changes here in Colombia although they are much more subtle.

The winds have picked up in the last week, possibly signaling the end of the dry season and the first drops of rain since November. The wind will be missed as it replaced the air conditioner as our source of cooling. However it did wake us up for three consecutive nights this past week as it reached it’s furied pitch between 2:30 and 3:00, flying and screaming through any possible opening. With the impending shift, birds have arrived to prepare for the bugs that will accompany the rain. This morning saw more than 50 Orange Winged Parrots fly over and past our apartment on their way to feed on the other side of the river. Slightly smaller than a seagull and just as loud, but feathered with a tropical green, they are the highlight of my bird watching here.

http://www.ttnaturelink.com/ttnaturetrips/tale-forests

Another notable newcomer is the Yellow Oriole, who makes an intricate woven basket nest that is suspended from a branch. There has been a pair working on a nest near the entrance to school for the past two weeks, and it has been a joy to follow their progress each morning. Unfortunately Friday’s winds pulled it from the tree. Fortunately for me, I found it on the ground and quickly added to my collection of cool stuff. ₁

http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2012/06/08/early-morning-swamp-adventure-in-trinidad/

It has been a long stretch of 5 day weeks going back to the beginning of Lent, but the time in the classroom has been good, enjoyable. With 4 days left before the end of 3^rd quarter and Easter break, we have made it.

For the past few weeks, one other thing, besides teaching, has been occupying our time and thoughts. We are working on buying a house with a little bit of land! It is a long process, and not ours yet, but we are hopeful, and very excited. Small house, with space enough for a big garden in Bow, WA

Not for Sale!

Notes:

1- Cool Stuff Collection – Founded on Friday 3/15/13

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Some Good Things

A few photos and stories of moments of Joy

While at Holden in December I took an afternoon and threw a few mugs on the pottery wheel. But as our time was short I had to leave them and hope that somebody would glaze them and that they would eventually find their way to me. Becky took them under her wing and glazed them with glazes made by the school kids from local Holden materials. She then passed them off to Kari, who just visited us, and ensured their safe passage to the land of great coffee, that requires great mugs.

Beverage bearers from fabulous friends

Yesterday while grocery shopping we realized we needed an Orange squeezer. I am not sure why it took 6 months to get a simple $4 tool to help us take advantage of the abundant fresh oranges, but the results have been refreshing.

Overdue Orange Juice

Volcan Totumo, a mud volcano, amazing.

Tara, loving it?

Hands

and feet.

Loving it!

Barranquilla is not known as a tourist city. But it is known for its Carnival, a UNESCO World Heritage Event. We went to the parades on Saturday and Sunday. I entertained myself by taking some photos during the parades (1,500 give or take) a few of which follow. Both days we left after 3-4 hours, about 1/2 way through the parades.