After returning from Thailand, we embraced a normal routine at home. Normalcy is good, especially after it's been absent for a while.
Last month we finally had a weekend at home, with everyone together and without Eli on call. The rains had still not come, so a hike to the waterfall (which was virtually nonexistent) turned into a rock hopping excursion up the riverbed. We'd never explored up the river before and it was delightful to do so. We live in such a beautiful corner of the world.
Our mango tree was drooping with mango perfection when we came home from Thailand. Our tree is famous on our compound for growing the best mangoes around, and we're always able to share the abundance with many people. I'm actually not a huge fan of mangoes, but mango pie and mango crisp are the exception. I made a mango pie for Pi Day and I daresay it was delicious!
Then the rains came, right on time, which was a marvelous and gracious gift of God. East Africa has a long and ongoing struggle with drought, and many people's lives revolve around the rains, so it's never taken for granted when the heavens open and water the thirsty ground.
There are many signs of rainy season, but one of my favorites are the rain lilies. These pink flowers pop out of the ground all over the place, bringing sudden and simple beauty to the whole compound.
Another sign of rainy season: Usiku can be found curling up in a cozy place. He's often found in a windowsill or underneath the car, but he also takes turns in his basket, which usually stays under the couch on our porch. We bought this on the roadside in Nairobi to offer this friendly creature a cozy place to hang out. The boys were ecstatic to get a bed for the cat, veritably promoting Usiku from "compound cat that hangs around our house" to "pseudo pet" of ours.
Also, during rainy season Usiku can often be found on the lap of one of these two. Kai and Olive love loving on this cat!
Rainy season or not, regular shenanigans abound. Chameleons are discovered here and there, and sometimes rescued. We recently saved a big Jackson's chameleon from being eaten for breakfast by a gabar goshawk in our oleander tree, and our colleague recently saved a chameleon that he found on a hospital bed in the hospital - chameleons are promptly killed by Kenyans who hate all reptiles with a passion. We never tire of admiring these fascinating creatures and trying to teach others that they're harmless.
Perhaps the most normal sight and sound around our house are boys battling imaginary monsters and villains. The soundtrack of my life includes pretend blasts, war cries, whoops, and hollers. It hardly ever stops! But I love it. I know they won't be running around with swords and shields forever, and I'm soaking it up while I can.
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