Day 48 and 49: Short-timer.

When I first got here the sun rose from
the little dip to the left of the sun in this
picture. The sun is already moving south.

In the army I'd be called a short-timer because I have one day and a wakeup to go before I leave this wonderful place. How wonderful is it? Haven't you been following my comings and goings? Sheesh.

Storks in the sunlight.

Just today on our way to the bustan we saw two gazelle. Real gazelle running free wagging their little gazelle tails. Then, as we were working two flocks of storks flew north going to Europe, you know, to bring babies--be careful in Paris Val! The storks were so cute because the leaders got over the orchard and started circling. We couldn't figure out why. But after a few minutes the stragglers flew up and they circled for a minute or two--the leaders were encouraging the slackers I'm sure--and then they headed north and west. You go little stork guys!

Where'd Mark go?

Here is Mark--almost working.

So I'm a short-timer, too, because I've been malingering a bit in my studies, my work, my blogs, my everything. Not my eating, though. Never that. I think I'm getting fat off of fruits. So there are two jumbled days of posts here, and, as you can tell by my attitude I want you to read them but in no particular order. You know, kind of how Billy Pilgrim went through life in Slaughterhouse Five.

Plenty of citrus to weed.

 Yesterday I got to weed and weed and weed in the citrus. But the results are clear and fast, so I do enjoy it. I've seen only one snake, so I look forward to returning to it tomorrow.

I finished the weeding--I was really just done. I mean, four hours is enough, right? So I went up to help Tamar in the garden. This is really what she loves to do, tend her garden, so I don't like to bother her too much while she is there. But sometimes she needs help. So I got to cover some baby corn plants so that Heckle and Jeckle don't get 'em. The crows here are a bit different because they have sandy-brown chests. But they sound the same, for sure.
Sometimes I sit under the huppa that we made when I eat my fruits in the afternoon. The farm car was screaming to have its picture taken, so I did. And then it happened again to day in the orchard; weird.

 This is the last Monday I get to help get the deliveries going; they've already gone. It amazes me every time that we pack up all of the juicy deliciousness to go to Tel Aviv and other places. I'm happy the family can do what it wants and make money to support themselves while doing just that.

Yesterday evening I was back to digging.

Yesterday morning we could see the clouds coming up the valley. It is great that we are on top of a hill because we got to see the tops of the clouds. It was really remarkably beautiful. The colors were so vibrant for being so early--or maybe my eyes seeing it is the amazing part.

 One of my favorite pictures from when I was a kid is that of my having my football jersey, yeah, I was a Patriot before it became cool to be one, being gnawed on by a goat. I had to take this picture of my favorite kid eating my shirt.

Today we had to wash the aphids off of the pomegranates. The aphids make everything black. So we used a fire hose and a lot of water to clean everything up. It is really a three person job. Raz was using the smart end of the hose. Suzanne was holding the net. And I got to drag around the heavy-assed hose, which was really kind of nice because I got to keep moving and got wet.

Notice Suzanne's shirt. Now Suzanne is from France, and there is not Dog Tag Heroes, Inc., there. She got the shirt from the pile of worker's clothes. This is where volunteers like me abandon the clothes we will not take home. For me, I just need the space in my bags. So she didn't know that the company is ours and I didn't know that she chose it. But it is a sign. Have you liked DTH on Facebook? Have you made your tax deductible donation to the organization? We are going to open a thrift store that focuses on furniture because that is what we get asked for most often. Do you have a space to give us? Do you know of someone who does?