Summertime Fun

Sophia is NOT having fun though 

2014

2016

                                                                                           

Visiting Baby Gus! What a cutie!

Everybody loves a Piggy-Back ride from Uncle Jun

Go faster Auntie Dani

Tumor free and relaxing in the sun. How did you get your hairy to still look so bouncy?

                                      

Sometimes you cant let a walker hold you back from dancing

Cultivating a little Gardener

Alex's first pea pod sprouted yesterday! He received this plant from school and decided to plant it in the front of the house. Every day he religiously drowns waters the plant and pats it own its "head." So excited to witness the fruit of his labor. I asked are you going to eat it now? "Why would anyone eat my treasure?" LOL

We have another gardener joining the team this summer

Refinished Dresser

Happy Memorial Day! Here is a project that I have been working on, and I am in love with the results! I bought this dresser for $45 dollars from the Community Forklift, and updated it for $20.

The dresser fit snugly into the backseat of my car. A testament to the Honda Fit

The veneer at the top of the dresser was chipped, but the dresser was in good shape overall. I removed all broken veneer, added wood putty and sanded the dresser smooth 

The drawers were darkened with left over Minwax wood stain. This same can has lasted for years! 

The outside was painted with homemade chalk paint and 2 coats of polycrylic sealer was added to the outside. This dresser is going in the guest room, so I wanted something that was gender neutral. I have gotten a little out of control lately with my white and gold decorating, and wanted a rustic feeling for this room

I swapped out the previous knobs for contrast....And Voila!

ARTS Senegal

Here are some of the photos from my recent trip to Senegal with ARTS (A reason to Smile). My phone did not survive the trip, all photos were taken by Nancy Marie and Mariel. Thanks for the digital memories! 

A beautiful mosque on the way to Northern Senegal 

A perfect aim in the bathroom is a must

Our hotel in Ndioum

One of the most amazing health centers in Pete, Senegal. Your operatory chairs may have looked better than mine?

Getting ready for a day of extractions 

This is how we sterilized our instruments. A pot of hot water always comes in handy

Our peace corps volunteer and translator Marissa in Pete. Don't mess with her..she does not take sassiness

Eating around the lunch bowl with Nancy, Nicole, and Mariel

All SMILES!

Stay hydrated my friends

Stretchy Pants Unite!

Nancy and I working hard

We were the entertainment for the kids. All the kids couldn't resist peeking through the windows

My favorite picture of Nancy and Rreze. The kids loved them! 

The whole team with some of the peace corps volunteers. Of course my eyes are closed :) 

Peace corps agriculture volunteer Alicia Gray in her garden

                                     

Our last day in Senegal. This is a shot of a busy market in Dakar 

                                       

                                     

Everything is halal here, mine is ginger ale for the record.

Here is my blog from my favorite village Louge

I spent the evening before our clinic day in Louge Tourge a small village in North Senegal. I was hosted by Marissa a health peace corps volunteer that has spent the past two years living and working in the village. Each person that stopped to greet my host and I would immediately open their mouth and ask for a quick exam. They all expressed interest in seeing me tomorrow and being placed at the top of the list.

I could feel the energy and excitement grow throughout the night, everyone was telling tales of the Toubab dentist. Women gossiped over the food bowl over who should be placed at the top of the "list". After much discussion it was agreed that a young girl who misheard the dates and had traveled to the village three days prior for the dentist would be given the first spot on the list.

Marissa and I arrived early to set up the site at the local health center to find the entire foyer filled with people. I was overwhelmed with the immense need for dental treatment. Unlike other sites that we have visited the word had spread throughout all of the ethnic groups in the area ( Fula/Pulaar, Wolof, Serer). Over a hundred people were waiting outside in the dry heat.  It was breath taking to witness the solidarity in the groups of people.
Each person greeted each other sincerly over and over again stating that they wish peace to the other "m'Badaa, jam ton, Ada selli, mawdum.

Our van bringing supplies and volunteers was delayed in Ndioum. Many people began to panic that there would be no treatment.  Groups of people began to present their case to Marissa on why they should be guaranteed treatment. Finally the supplies arrived and everyone began to settle down under the shade of the Baobab tree. We worked non stop from 9:30-3:45 until the head nurse finally asked everyone to take a break.

The vast amount of caries was particularly sad to see as a dentist. Children and young adults loosing teeth that had just erupted. As the sun began to set our headlights were not strong enough to illuminate the space. At the close of the day we saw 87 patients. While I was ecstatic that we had helped to alleviate pain from those suffering from dental disease. The day felt incomplete, because we had to turn away sixty people. I then understood why each person had insisted the night before on greeting me and asking to be placed on the "list".

                                        

Launching our little free library

I have wanted to created a little free library for a while, but I didn't think I would have the stamina to build one from scratch. Such beautiful works of art have popped up close to takoma park, md; but none in our neighborhood. Even with the influx of ebooks, there is something to be said about holding and turning the pages of a Real book.

Take a group of children and pack them into a noisy room, they will all stop talking when they hear a book being read. Alex is the same way...he loves to read 2-3 books before heading to bed.

I set out on this project to create a platform to inspire children to read, and finish a summer art project with my son. But honestly I am the one who has become inspired. After years of college and graduate school I have lost my passion for leisure reading. The library was intended to stock childrens books only, but my neighbors had other ideas. They have restocked the  shelves with books for all ages with titles that have motivated me to re-read classic American tales.


Here's how we did it:

First we designed the little library or as likes to call it "the book tree house"

The design the LittleLibrary sends out involves you mounting the platform on 45 degree angles. This involved me convincing the ace hardware guy that he in fact DID know how to cut on angles; which might have been more convincing if it wasn't twenty minutes until closing.

Then assemble this platform contraception together

But atlas the library was ready to be installed after three weeks of sitting on our living room floor. I dug 24 inches into the ground using the post hole digger and then mounted the house onto the post platform. And my me, I really mean Mr. Patrick. 

 

And voila! Eh it's mounted on the wrong side of the sidewalks...technicalities  

Last Day of School..First day of Camp

I cant believe the school year is over already! It feels like it was just yesterday that I sent him off in his little Dinosaur book bag off to Pre-K3. We were so blessed to have such nurturing teachers that have looked after Alex this past year. The last day was probably more emotional for me than Alex; I wanted to double check his locker and cubby and make sure to give everyone hugs before we left. Alex was already racing out the front door crying out a loud "See ya!" 

Thirty looks good on me

30 is the new 20. I'm not sure why everyone feels the need to say this to me. They must have read the same 30 birthday quotes and sayings. "Oh I see someone is turning 30 soon...don't worry I heard 30 is the new 20." All of the people who have said this...must clearly NOT be 30. As though thirty is a negative marker that has to be redefined to help us deal with this new stage of life.

My dad sent me these old pictures this morning, as well as a biography of all of my triumphs and not so warm moments thus far. I love his honesty!  I'm looking forward to this new decade of adulthood, because my twenties was just a rehearsal. Let me assure you that there will be no tears, no sadness about the fact that I am getting old. Because lets face it 30 is just 30... and it looks good on me.