Day 24: Don't stop it God!

Each day before I go to work I pick some fruit to eat. Lately I'm hooked on the apples, and there are so many of them that I don't feel the least bit guilty for taking the fruit even though I was given permission to eat whatever. So this is my favorite apple tree. And you can see that the apples are just right. They are sweet, juicy, and delicious. It is amazing what a difference organic makes.

Potential inhabitants of the rock pile.

Current rock pile.

Now that I'm done with clearing the road and digging the cutout in the berm I have to gather rocks for Shelby Dam. Um, I'm not sure where I'll find them.

 Last night as we were finishing up I saw a group, herd, load of camels. There were some cute little guys, too. I asked if they were somebody's, and Tamar said yes, but they get to go out to graze. We are in the country, indeed.

So the sunset was magnificent again. Are you tired of the beauty here? Me either. But I'm in my fourth week here--that is the halfway point. I cannot believe the time is flying so quickly. Avi said that, in a very existential way. He has four kids, so he's sown his legacy in that regard. But it was sad to look into his eyes as he talked about getting older and, just like sand in your hand, feeling the time slip by. I'm not ready to be done with the planet by any means; and I'm about half of the way through this life. But I'm feeling pretty good about it so far. There are things I will do in the world, I know because I'm plotting them. But I'm excited for the unknown-unknowns, to quote one of the worst war criminals of our time (Should I even do that?). When I'm ready I will have earned the right to yell at the little bastards running across my lawn. Me, on the front porch smoking a pipe and rocking to the rhythm of Val's playing. I'm building a sand castle with the sand in my hands.

Then I had to start the day with this sunrise over the vineyard. God hates me, clearly.

My spider bite is better in that it is not on fire any more. The flesh does not appear to be rotting, but it is definitely affected. I'll keep putting lotion and oil on it and it will get better; I'll will it so.

Then it was off to the rock pile. Do you really want more pictures of that?

And then it was art lessons. We worked from 0930 until noon and then from 1400 to 1600. That is a lot of art lessons, but they love to have them and I love to give them. Who knew I was a teacher. Two of the kids are really frustrated with watercolors, but our materials are not the best. So I'm frustrated, too. But I don't let it show. Lulu is having a blast, and her work is that of a 10 year old. She is, though, eager to experiment and takes my directions and suggestions well.