Virtual Africa: Kenya

 

Kenya covers over 580,000 square miles...it's capital city Nairobi.

Nairobi

https://youtu.be/86UKVM0kgOM

Kenya is named after Mount Kenya.

Which is STILL dotted with glaciers!

View from the Summit

Climbing Mount Kenya

https://youtu.be/AFeFqzrqwoI

Although Kenya is populated with many ethnic groups...the two official languages are English and Swahili.

Most of Kenyans are Christian...mainly Protestant and Catholic.

Among the agriculture, that is second in revenue only to tourism. is coffee and cashews.

The cashews grow outside pods known as nut apples.

 Life Cycle of the cashew nuts.

The single nut below each nut apple is then shelled and harvested. They can be sold/eaten raw or salted and roasted. The latter is what we are most familiar with...

Now, we see why they are so expensive!

You can buy cashews directly from Kenya here...

https://www.jumia.co.ke/kaya-nuts-salted-cashew-nuts-39197554.htm

Cashew Production

https://youtu.be/XmsGYnvcVcQ

And...if you are like me...now I want warm buttery cashews!!!

 

Next time: Somalia  

 

Birthdays...Our August Adventure...and More...

 

"You're going away again...aren't you?"

Emma turned 15 on Thursday!  We are all getting together soon...the whole herd of us...even Chris and Tina.

Just got home from Our August Adventure and Loretta's 80th Birthday...and recovering.

(...if we had longer than 3 days...I'm pretty sure I'd die, honey...)

It was a wonderful adventure.

Good food...good company...a hot tub...shopping...surprises...what more could anyone ask for???

We were able to pick Loretta up for her 80th Birthday!

And were surprised that Cracker Barrel now has wines to accompany meals...so after 80 years, Loretta was finally able to try white wine.

She had never tasted wine in her life and always wanted to...

So...she was able to enjoy Rainbow Trout fillets in lemon pepper butter with green beans, fresh fruit and Chardonnay...and Coca Cola Chocolate layer cake with a candle!

Afterwards we took her on a small shopping spree.

She laughed and had a great time!

We spent a couple of days there...playing in the hot tub...eating Chinese in bed...and just generally goofing off...then our carriage turned back into a pumpkin and it was back to being responsible adults...again.

We stopped by Cracker Barrel for breakfast on the way out of town...and this is the surprise I was talking about.

On Thursday, we had noticed a soft-as-a kitten shawl while we were there, and Loretta and I had taken turns "petting it". So soft and snuggly and pretty. I almost bought it. It wasn't expensive...but I couldn't see where I'd ever wear it...and so I didn't.

Thursday night, I actually realized I had paid off my Mastercard just before we had left for our trip...and convinced myself to charge it on Friday...

By Friday I was proud of myself for "adulting hard"...realizing I really did not NEED the cream colored fuzzy shawl...and gave it one final "pet" as we left.

 Quietly...I had regretted immediately (after leaving) that I hadn't just put the damned thing on my card...

...little did I know...

Before John left here Friday, he brought a big bag in from the car...when I had taken a restroom break at one point he had slipped into the gift shoppe earlier and bought the shawl as a gift (there was more than one)...I was amazed and happy!!!

(...thank you....it is my new woobie...I LOVE it...and you...)

We ended Friday night together catching the end of the Colts 3rd and last pre-season game which we WON!!!

Both the Colts and the Chiefs have emerged from their respective pre-seasons undefeated!!!

It is shaping up to be a great football season...and the excitement and win was the perfect ending for our adventure.

Caught up on the news...the suicide bombing by ISIS-K outside the Kabul airport killing about 170 including 13 of our service members...quickly followed by our targeted drone strike killing 2 of the ISIS planners and wounding a third.

Because Joseph "Fuck Around and Find Out" Biden handled the situation. 

Obviously not SLEEPY...SLOW or SENILE.

We have 4 days left for evacuations...and last count had removed over 120,000.

A minor miracle.

Many nations, including our own, are offering the refugees asylum.

Charlie Watts, drummer for The Rolling Stones, died this week.

And Keith Richards made me tear up with his tribute the next morning on Twitter...which was simply this photograph...

The sunflower seedling are now beginning to stand tall!

And September 1st we will start the Fall Decor.

No book this week...but getting in queue for King's newest tome...Billy Summers.

This Week's Movie

 Face it...

It is a Disney Film...based off a Disneyland ride...starring The Rock...okay???

This is not War and Peace.

It is basically bubble gum for your brain.

Having said that- it is engaging...often funny...has beautiful cinematography...some incredible CGI (and some not-so-incredible)...a predictable but still interesting story-line...and a happy ending.

What more could you want?

The best for me was the banter between "Skippy" and "Pants"

The Skipper played by The Rock and Blount's trouser-wearing heroine.

Well worth a look!

Now to get unpacked and tidy a bit so I can enjoy a Zen Sunday, tomorrow.

More Anon... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BIG Fish...Breakfast with Brenda...This Week and PIG

 

I wish I could have been there to see his face.

My "gadget" guy got himself a new fish finder and depth locator recently...with all the bells and whistles.

and has been having a great time playing with it.

This week he had an Old Man and the Sea moment when he got something truly HUGE on his hook.

After four runs and fighting to land it for nearly 25 minutes...and fishing buddy Kenny helping get it in...

It was the largest fish he had ever caught.

30 pounds and over 3 feet in length.

The best part was, after pictures and weighing, he released the old fellow back in  the pond!

Enjoyed Breakfast Company with Brenda, Monday.

Had a misadventure with scalding coffee, too. I burned blisters inside my mouth to the point that eating anything beside puddings, ice cream, milk was impossible. Finally able to do some soft pasta last night. First real food in a while. All the blisters, save the largest, now gone...and I won't be bringing boiling hot coffee to the table again. 

(...note to John...thank you for the puddings and ice cream and milk...you saved me...)

Finally, back to somewhat resembling normal and no longer in pain. The good part is dishes consist of only cups and bowls and spoons. Planning a Cinderella Day to pull together the rest of the house.

The sunflower seeds outside are now poking their tiny heads out of the soil! Going to be a lovely addition to the patio this Fall.

This Week's Movie

Nick Cage like you've never seen him before.

 

A few extra pounds, gritty and bearded...spending most of the film bloodied and bedraggled.

A man who lost his wife ten years prior and took to the mountains as a hermit with his truffle-pig.

This is a story about life and loss and making peace with losses you cannot change.

Stories beneath stories...a lot of subtle nuances.

This is a film you will want to see more than once.

Amazing acting.

Now off to get a hot bubble bath...water the seedlings...and get this place back in order!

More Anon ...

Cooler temps...Rain on the way...Mexican brunch and The Week's Update.

 

The Great Decluttering continues.

The felines are less than amused.

"You are messing up our...everything!!!"

                                                      Gadget and Sofi

And slowly progress is being made.

Happy today...the heat (which has been insufferable) is starting to break. Today started in the 70's. Felt almost chilly given the 90's of last week. Clearing out the dry and crispy flowers and planting sunflowers for Fall. Quite a bit of rain on the way...they will be up and bloomed soon.

Diane and I, had a late Mexican Brunch out this week...great food...catch-up...and chat. Her garden, like mine, suffering the effects of the recent heat wave. I decided to cut the remaining basil and oregano...already crisp and dried...strip it and mix it together with powdered garlic and dried onions. Jarred and in the cabinet simply as Italian Seasonings.

Hopefully, the cool and wet week will lead to a beautiful Fall.

Plans made with Brenda for early next week.

Angie is feeling better and The Shoppe is doing well.  Fall Decor is coming.

Chris is happy and enjoying his new career.

Lennon (although fully vaccinated) is double-masking again thanks to unbelievable Covid levels.

"Thanks, DeSantis"

and James is just happy it is finally getting cooler...having been on a roofing job for most of the extreme heat wave.

He and Nicki, slipping away for a concert in Chicago last weekend.

 Because you can't just be Mom and Dad all the time.

The grands, all back to school.

A sophomore, a freshman, a sixth grader and a second grader.

Busy times.

Planning a get-together soon.

Finally, new movies again...

Caught up with 

 Friday night.

Dom and the crew are back!

Realized the franchise has been going on since 2001. 20 years out and still entertaining.

Enduring characters, hot cars and great stunts/action. What's not to love?

Some..okay, a lot, of suspension of disbelief...but overall a good story-line culminating in warm fuzzies at the end of this one.

If you've followed F&F from the beginning you will love it.

If you haven't you might want to watch them in order first...as this one wouldn't stand alone very well. You need context.

Well worth the wait.

Starting a Cinderella Day, here.

More anon...

 

Addendum:

Football is back! 

The Colts play the Panthers at 1 tomorrow...pre-season.

Virtual Africa: Great Lakes...Lake Victoria

 

Like North America has Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Erie...the continent of Africa has its own Great Lakes.

Although there are only 3, they cover ten countries.

Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika...and our adventure today...Lake Victoria.

 

Covering over 23,000 square miles it is the largest tropical lake and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. It has a maximum depth of 276 feet.

The basin of the Nile River flows here.

It is one of only 3 lakes in Africa where Cichlids are found.

 

Victoria supports a healthy fishing industry.

Some of the fish from Lake Victoria

Nile Perch

 

and Tilapia

Lake Victoria is so large that it spawns its own climate at night and results in many dangerous thunderstorms.

 The Lake is also a major mode of transport between the countries of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.

https://youtu.be/6BXANXbJW7I

Crossing Victoria

https://youtu.be/xuiTih_8BoY

The Nile Source at Lake Victoria

 https://youtu.be/tUIpPYGTxgI

Fishing Lake Victoria at Night

 I hope you have enjoyed today's adventure.

Next time we will explore Kenya.

Until then...

 

 

University Man...John and The Grands and Great-Grands...Dreadlocks and More

 

Two of John's great-grandlings...Mia and Lily.

A whirlwind visit with the whole fam-damily including kids and spouses...grands and great grands.

 

This is why we don't have children at our age...it takes days to recuperate!

Still they managed to plunder the State Fair and the Children's Museum...and a goodbye breakfast together.

My youngest just finished his first week employed as a University Man!

No private office yet...but a desk!

"....yeah...so, I've reset your password to OmgYouAreSoFuckingAnnoying can you remember THAT???"

It is a good fit and he is loving it!

The guys have been doing a lot of fishing in this beautiful weather...and his son managed to land a nice Flathead catfish.

 

Nicole has sported a new look with dreadlocks!!!

Assuming they are extensions, after KB told me

"She boiled them to make them softer."

Can't wait to see!

We are all getting together for brunch after the back-to-school rush subsides.

My week has been spent de-cluttering and cleaning. Making some real progress.

Where does it all come from???

Also learned this week that I can use ANY muffin mix (...Strawberry...Blueberry...Cinnamon-Apple...) with my baking doughnut pan.

Incredible.

Just need to add a tablespoon of oil to the batter.

So yes...when we run away for Loretta's Birthday this month...there will be fresh doughnuts-to-go.

This week's movie

 A 1998 Action/Thriller I had missed.

Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, Ed Asner, Randy Quaid, Minnie Driver, and Betty White line up this flood/robbery edge-of-your-seater as the dam breaks.

White's character adds some much needed comic relief as the ever-nagging and delightfully funny wife to Henry (the hen-pecked husband) and one of the funniest lines in the film when Quaid's character reminds him

"Remember, God will understand if you drown her in the basement, Henry."

Morgan Freeman plays an interesting...new to me...type of character in this as well. 

Worth a watch!

Heading out for a bask and some weeding before Monday's rain comes. Baked Strawberry Cream Doughnuts for the weekend...and have a fat hen to roast tomorrow with veggies...then it is back to reclaiming my room.

John has been making amazing progress on his place...and Gadget has now laid claim to the living room sofa...lol!

 "Mine...all mine."

                             Gadget

 

 

 

 

Virtual Africa: Uganda

 

There is a myth that the bright red soil of Africa is because of all the blood that has been spilled on the continent through the centuries.

The real reason is much less dramatic...a make up of Laterite and clay enriched with iron and aluminum give it its color. It is much like the soil of the US Southern State of Georgia...baking hard in the summer sun.

But here in Uganda...given the upheaval..civil wars...and genocides...it is easy to believe in the myth.

The worst of which was the brutal reign of General Idi Amin who took over in a bloody coup from 1971 until 1979.

Amin was called "The Butcher of Africa" and killed (or had killed) an estimated 500,000 people in the eight years before he was ousted and died in exile.

Most were civilians.

Idi Amin

The Rise and Fall of Amin

https://youtu.be/mCD3FwuDIcU

Officially, The Republic of Uganda...the years of civil unrest have taken its toll. In 2012- 70% of the population was under 30 years old.

Uganda is in the Great Lakes Region of Africa

And later we will check out Lake Victoria, specifically.

Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world...and most of its people live on less than 1.25 USD per day.

Lake Victoria drains from the Victoria-Nile Basin to the Nile River.

The languages spoke here are English and Swahili.

Most of the population are Catholic...except for a small percentage of Muslim.

Uganda hard hit by HIV...where 5.7% of everyone here has it...and is now besieged by Covid. 

Life expectancy here is 53 years.

Next time we will explore the Great Lakes of Africa...and Lake Victoria.

 Until then...