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PL873
10th January 2021
It's time to get back in the groove. The parties are over, the tinsel is in the box and life has begun to return to relative "normal". Generally speaking, it has been a pretty relaxed pace but we're all happy to get going again. A round of viral gastroenteritis is currently making it's way around the farm, with over a dozen of us getting sore tummies - either that, or it is all the feasting we did over the holiday season coming back to haunt us!
We are still in the middle of winter and each day is a mixed bag of meteorological madness; warm sun, cold fog, rain or wind - the weather just doesn't seem to be able to make up its mind! It has been an unusually warm winter though, with no major dumps of snow in the mountains behind us .... as of yet.
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Dogs run around in the foggy morning as Gordon wanders to breakfast.
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The playground, wet with dew, as the sun works to break through the mist.
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By mid-morning the fog has lifted and the cricket match begins.
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Lyra, the Small Girls cat, searches for warmth on the roof of the walkway.
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We don't consider it 'bad manners' to wear a hat to breakfast on a cold morning.
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Our kids received a bunch of treats thanks to Naomi (one of our alumna) who has headed back to work in Lucknow.
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Today's loot: two chocolates and a pack of biscuits.
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Our regular study program has also resumed.
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A handful of teachers come each day to assist with studies.
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We really don't know where else to put this photo but knew we had to include it, so here you go!
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Trudy and Kelly using leftover flour from the kitchen to make face masks.
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On the farm, the gents have been working hard to keep our wheat crop well. Some rains through the week have been a blessing; washing the young leaves and bringing much needed nitrogen and moisture into our soil. Our men took advantage of this and gave the fields a spray with some fertilizer to help the growing plants.
In the workshop, there has not been a whole lot happening. Rick, Sunny, Flippy and Kallu hooked up an old well to act as a high pressure washing station for our vehicles. Most everything else has just been gentle and general maintenance.
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The workshop has been pretty quiet this week.
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The biggest job was the installation of a new water/wash system.
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Ganesh has been casually working on a few bookshelves.
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Pailad has maintained his regular chai delivery service.
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Eugene, Benny and Anil meet in the morning to discuss the daily jobs.
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Eugene is always there, keeping an eye on our big farm.
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Spraying the young plants as they reach for the warm sun.
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Shane looking like an absolute boss as he sprays the field.
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Our wheat crop appears to be growing well.
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Quite a few weeks ago, we mentioned that we had turned our old school grounds into a new garden space. The grounds of the school are now covered in rows of garlic, radishes, turnips and fresh green coriander (cilantro). We are happy to report that the project has gone extremely well and we have been feasting on fresh green produce every day.
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Priscilla and Trudy wander through the new vegetable garden.
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This time of year we get the very best vegetables. Almost everything we eat is either grown here on the Mission or in our local area; very little is sourced from more than a few hours drive away. As a result of all the fresh produce, our lunch and dinner menus change: salads, chutneys and curries are given a boost by all the new options at our fingertips.
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Aunty Violet helps by shelling a few peas for dinner.
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Lisa had the job of washing and peeling a pot full of potatoes.
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Beans, radish, carrots, turnips, peas, corn, cauliflower, cabbage... the list goes on.
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Basanti prepares some fresh bay leaves, grown right here at home!
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Saturday's dinner for the group was a lovely vegetable soup.
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We started a new tradition this year: with the weather being what it is, and a reasonably reliable morning sun each day, we have begun to eat our lunches out in the yard. Now, we sit at a table by the garden, out on the playground or just a patch of grass under a tree - whatever works for you! The best part about this new eating method is that we don't have to sweep down the Dining Room afterward and everyone is responsible for washing their own dishes!
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We can definitely see outside lunches being the new normal each winter!
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Pinky getting into some of the home grown radish.
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Today's lunch was curry, rice and salad.
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Aunty Violet heads her table of children.
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If Aunty Violet is the head, that must make Cynthia the tail!
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Hi Sareena!!!!!
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Parwat and Jyotika have their spot under one of our big eucalyptus trees.
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Gladys and Shivani enjoying their curry.
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The playground is also a great spot to sit for lunch.
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Kevin, Jared and Dennis prefer to eat at the top of the fort.
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Quite a different scene to the foggy morning earlier that day!
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Amos and some of the Small Boys lunching on the tires.
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King Raymond casually rides his elephant over lunch.
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Over the last few weeks, and continuing forward, there are a few new (and old) faces around here. You'll definitely see their photos popping up every now and again. We thought we might take a moment to introduce a few of them to you.
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Shawn and Kushi (good friends of Clifton and Priscilla) have been here with us over the last month. Shawn works at Royal Enfield and has travelled with Clifton to many remote and exciting locations including Tibet, Mt. Everest and the Northern Himalayas of India's Spiti Valley.
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Meet Nadia, Priscilla's brother's daughter. Nadia will be living with us for the next few weeks or perhaps months. She is escaping the nasty pollution of Delhi to spend some time with her cousins.
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Gail and Meena are both back home. We're so excited to have them here! While we see Gail every few months, it has been years since we have seen Meena!
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Gail actually celebrated her birthday with us this week and, as a special gift for her, our dear friends John and Sarah from Tasmania helped us put on a huge birthday breakfast for her (and the rest of us). Fresh waffles, jam, honey, fruit and ice cream made for the most amazing start to our day! Later that evening, Priscilla cooked some incredible pizzas and a lovely ice cream cake to finish off the celebrations.
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Gail's special birthday breakfast was a real treat!
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Golden honey flows onto the warm waffles.
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Kevin eagerly awaiting the ice cream for his waffles and bananas.
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Later in the evening, a few gathered for a special birthday dinner.
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Amazing homemade pizza, ice cream cake and baked sweet potatoes! Yuuuuuum!
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And that, our dear friends, brings us to the end of the week. We're so happy to have you all along with us for this incredible journey - thank you for your prayers, support and love. We're not sure what our PL is going to be like next week as Clifton will be away towards the end of it, but more on that another time.
Blessings on you,
Rick, Clifton, Eugene & Priscilla
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