Buying local

The local market is less than a ten minute walk from Jen and Andrey's house.  It is a frequent destination for us.  Today I bought mangoes, (70 pesos for one kilo--5 mangoes for about $1.75) bananas, coconut (where I chose a coconut and had it shredded--for less than fifty cents), fish, eggplant, long green beans, pumpkin, onions.  Though we are stared at because of our foreign-ness, it is fun to interact with the smiling merchants and walk away with produce from Cebu.

Bedtime Story

After a busy day of playing with friends, bear hunts, preparing food, going for walks, playing hide and seek, building tents, eating, imagining many wonderful things...there is not a better way to end a day than to read a book together.  For some of us the habit continues...the book I have just completed  is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  Lou is reading Just a Thought  by Ed Cook.

On being kneaded...

Baking bread has always been a therapeutic activity for me.  I love to bake different kinds of bread.  Today we made cinnamon rolls...mostly I did, but Ella helped by kneading and also by making a few of her very own rolls.  Fun moments and enjoyable times sharing the results.

Environment Friendly

Kawasan Falls close to Moalboal where we went on a family hike.  As we entered the park, there was a sign that informed us that Cebuanos are Environment Friendly.  Reassuring.  There were a series of five waterfalls.  It was a good day.  Many people were getting on rafts and being paddled directly under the falls.  We enjoyed the refreshing cool water by going for a swim.

Dacozy Resort

One of the things we loved to do this weekend on our getaway weekend to Moalboal, about three hours from Cebu City was to walk on the beach, discovering the beautiful starfish, sea urchins, hermit crabs.  Looking at life and creatures through the eyes of a three year old always brings a renewed sense of wonder.

Traveling Mercies

Our travel to the Philippines was uneventful...minimal turbulence, good connections, our baggage arrived on the same plane that we did.  Lou is the best packer I have ever known and can get more stuff into a suitcase than many people could.  The picture was taken because the contrast between the appearance of his completely packed bag and mine was striking.  (You will have to take my word for it because I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of my dishevelled looking packing job).

Adventures

Let's see...which path should we take?

Happy with the path that was chosen!

Today we leave for the Philippines where we will visit  Andrey, Jen and Ella!  We are so thankful for the privilege of visiting, travel.  Daily adventures are also deeply treasured.  Yesterday afternoon we spent some time at the Lawrencetown Beach on the Atlantic Ocean with Lisa and Annika and Stella (the dog).  Next weekend we plan to be on a beach in the Pacific Ocean in Cebu.