Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2013 was a success!  One holiday down, one more big one to go!  I've known I'll have the hardest time with missing family over the holiday season, so I say it was a success because I didn't break down into a crying mess at any point during dinner.  :)  It does help to have amazing friends to help fill the gap and so I am extremely thankful for that today!  Two of our dear South African families came to celebrate and our wonderful neighbor with his two sons (his wife has gone back to the States to await the birth of their daughter).  The kids table was a hit!  All the adults ate the entire meal and didn't have to get up once - (it's like a Christmas miracle but it's Thanksgiving, so....)  I, of course, had the most fun with the tablescapes and do find I love the challenge of still making things work without ANY shop to run out and buy something at!  :)  

Felicia and Noel, our amazing staff, prepped most of the meal, they are THE BEST!  They did also sit and enjoy it with us - once we got them to actually sit down!!  

Brett carving the 23 pound turkey (in my apron)

Ice cream cones - the perfect HOT Thanksgiving dessert!

A fun game of Pin The Hat on the Turkey

When we were planning for today and I was going over the menu (turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, bread, green bean casserole, pies, cookies, etc...) with my friend from SA where they don't celebrate Thanksgiving - she calmly proclaimed to me, 'hmmm, sounds like overeating to me'.  To which I replied, 'Welcome to America!' :) It was funny  - especially as I stared at the enormous amount of food we prepared and then could barely eat dessert because we were so stuffed.  Somehow, that part of Thanksgiving even happens in Africa!

Thankful today for this unique season in our life. Thankful for all we've experienced to this point. Thankful for a future. Thankful for all the people in our life - family and friends. And thankful that while I don't always feel 'thankful' - there is always something and someone to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!  

Trade Fair Randomness

I went to the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Trade Fair a few weeks ago.  I had high hopes - I thought this would be the craft fair event of the year!  Nope.  Here are a few pics, mostly humorous.  You need to pay special attention to the traditional African pharmacy.  I only have two pics below but they were in abundance here.  All natural remedies for any ails you might have. Even a product to enhance your behind (I was informed they like that here).  I spoke with a 'pharmacist' at length and if nothing else, it was a good laugh.  Funny stuff!  

Nice signage

This signage...well, not as nice - but the same basic prescriptions.  :)

A couple of models

Even wedding dresses

Look at all these earrings - mix and match

This gentleman was 'burning' on to hide - and doing a great job!

Most of the items at the fair were local and I was hoping for more variety and goods from the other West African countries.  Better luck next time.  

To Pee or Not to Pee.....that is the question.

It is my duty to inform you of my WHOLE life here, not just the beach trips and cool pics.  If there is ONE THING that I do not love about living here, nor will I ever love - it is the public urination.  Not just public urination, but public #2 as well.  I've witnessed the #2 a couple of times and both times -  almost lost my lunch.  It is not a pleasant sight!  BUT the public urination is something I literally see every time I leave my house to go somewhere.  It seems that everywhere I turn my eyes, there is either someone about to pee, peeing, or zipping up their pants from peeing.  They never go behind a bush.  And often they FACE the road,  do not even turn the other way.  So, there you have it. My post about PEE.  I apologize..... but just keeping it real folks. (To be fair, a public restroom is HARD to come by along the street and when you gotta go, you gotta go - but it is not my norm nor what I would ever get used to)

Signs like this - very common

Even in the fancy hotels - really?  Does this mean Men and Women....or  #1 and #2?  

And WHY must they be so literal?  No pictures necessary - WE GET IT!!!!

OK, I'm done.  You are now completely informed.  Life is not all glamorous over here in Accra.  Now, if you'll excuse me....

Veterans Day

It was an honor today to share in Remembrance Day with our British friends and Ghanaian military veterans.  I know this seems silly, but I haven't thought much about veterans outside my America. Those that have protected my own soil. Today, though, it was an overwhelming thought for me and so powerful.  These men were the foundation and basis of the Ghana military prior to its independence in 1957.  Darling, elderly men, so proud (& deserving) while we celebrated what this day stands for.  A remembrance for veterans everywhere.

Red poppies in abundance, as the symbol of remembrance.  I'm proud to share a few photos from today's event with you - celebrated with our British counterparts here in Accra, as well as members of the Royal West African Frontier Force (Gold Coast Regiment).

For my own veteran, all veterans, and their families.........you deserve to be honored, and it is a PRIVILEGE to do so.

As soon as the band started playing, they got up to dance.  

Happy Veterans Day!

The Art of Batiking

I've posted about my friend Esther a couple of times - she is the Batik Goddess here in Accra!  She lives out of town a bit and will give workshops on how to make batik fabric.  A group of friends and I headed out to do just that last Saturday.  It was such a neat experience - I did get a bit flustered at one point because I just couldn't grasp the concept of dying color over color over color!  BUT.....in the end, it all came together and everyone's projects turned out great!  I will definitely do this again now that I fully understand the process and exactly what to do.  Thank you Esther!

Love these ladies! Let's get started

The wall of stamps - pick one, or two, or three 

Start with white cotton 

dip the stamp in wax

stamp a design in whatever pattern you choose

dye using tubs of color

mixed by Esther herself

these are getting dunked again into another color

looks promising?

submerge in HOT water to set

rinse in cold water

and wait....for what appears to be hideous to turn out quite amazing!

our batiks waiting to dry

our work is done

headed home with our handmade fabrics

This was another of those 'experiences' that I didn't fully appreciate until later  - once I was looking at all the pics.  It is hard, even here, to slooooowwwww down and just relish the moments.  But, Esther is.such.a.strong.woman. who has worked very hard to provide for her family by making and selling the best batik product in town.  Plus, these side workshops are a GREAT idea to supplement that.  And, truly, just like everywhere, it's all about the people - and sharing experiences like this with friends, really makes it special.  Me + my friends + doing something creative = HAPPINESS! 

Happy Halloween

It was a fun-filled, crazy Halloween as usual!  The Embassy does such an amazing job making us feel at 'home' so the Halloween party consisted of home trick or treating, trunk or treating, a family BBQ and a haunted house.  It was a few days before Halloween. So, on October 31 we threw our own Halloween Bash - with a few friends.  Here's the kicker:  Most of them were from South Africa and had never participated in trick-or-treating before.  So, they were good sports, donned their costumes, and we gave the kids a mini trick or treating experience at the other homes in our compound.  It was a very fun night! We played, ate good 'ole American chili with cornbread, and decorated cookies!

And, because, most things look the same here every day of the year, there are no pumpkin patches, hay rides, or fall festivals - I picked up a couple of the pumpkins offered (there are not many and they can be quite expensive) and we opted for painting.  Drew and his little bestie Asha painted theirs one afternoon and Chase followed suit the next day.  All in all, it was a Halloween to remember - and it didn't feel all that different!!

We practice carrying things on our head a lot!!  

Spiderman and Morph in a tuxedo

painting pumpkins

He just loves her!!  :)

The party gang