Today, Gonzalos's landcaping crew finished spreading the fine gravel throughout the paths and public areas, and painted the dividing walls. 
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Landscaping #4
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Landscaping #3
By last night, the bright red sawdust of mahogany that cushions the "floor" of the playground, completely changed the look of the yard.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Volunteering in the Library
My 16 year old niece, Larissa, arrived on Saturday to spend the next two months here, working as a volunteer with local kids through the new library and studying Spanish.
Playing
By Monday afternoon, the neighborhood kids were enjoying the playground around the piles of sawdust that await spreading as a base for the playground area.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Landscaping #2
Bit by bit the landscaping for the property around the playground is progressing ... this week Gonzalo's team planted grass in several areas, plus lots of jungle plants that, once rooted, will grow without much daily care. Unearthing History
Every digging project in this area will unearth piles of 1500 year old Mayan pottery shards. These pieces were some we saved as the landscaping team were moving earth.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Relocating the Wildlife
This morning I took the time to relocate two tarantulas who had lost their homes in the ground because of the landscaping project. Tarantulas are beautiful, furry, gentle creatures ... and contrary to popular belief, do not have a poisonous bite.
Ready to Play
By nightfall, they had finished, and left the community with a fantastic new playground!!
Playground Assembly
The muchachos worked hard all day, taking only a quick break for lunch, while an ever changing group of neighborhood children watched.
Playground Arrives
Yesterday morning the crew from MonKids arrived bright and early to begin installation of the new prefabricated playground that is being donated to the children of El Remate by the Alberta Ix-canaan supporters.
A Stage for the School
Thanks to the generosity of the Ix-canaan Alberta supporters, the local elementary school now has a new stage for presentations and school events.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Landscaping #1
The landscaping of the yard between the clinic and the library started on Tuesday morning. By this morning, Salba was laying cement block around the stightly raised playground area, and the gardens are marked out with lime.
Installing False Ceiling
This week, Santos and Walter, (working for Eduardo Cofino) are installing the new wooden false ceiling in the clinic.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Saturday, September 02, 2006
New Ix-canaan Gate
The cement is still drying around the newly installed gate on the Ix-canaan property.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Down East Flavor
A casual arrangement of buoys from the omnipresent lobster traps paint a picture of life on the North Eastern Seaboard. It was a wonderful trip.
Visiting Family 3 - Me with my brother John
During my stay, my brother John flew in from Calgary to spend some time at his summer cottage. He came to the bus station to see me off.
Visiting Family 2 - Mom with my brother Herb
We passed through St. Stephen to visit my brother, Herb, en route to Fredericton, where I stayed and visited with Mom for the next several days.
Incredible View from the Porch
From Maine, we took the ferry to Deer Island where Mo and Kathleen have bought out and renovated the family house overlooking Lord's Cove Harbour. Mom joined us here and we all spent a few fantastic days living in front of this view! If you, too, would like to spend some time beachcombing and eating lobster and salmon in this paradise, you can see more pics and contact Mo and Kath through www.haddoncottage.com.
Visiting Family 1 - Mo, Kath and Billy
I recently returned from a short trip to New Brunswick to visit family and I just have to share a few of my favorite photos.
I flew to Boston, from where my brother Mo, with his wife, Kathleen and son Billy (who had just arrived that same day from England to visit) and myself drove up along the eastern seaboard. Here they are shown on the banks of the St. Croix River which forms the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick. Off in the distance I'm sure you can make out St. Croix Island, made famous as the winter camping site of explorers Champlain and DeMonts in 1604.
Fence and Gate
Thanks to a Guatemalan/Canadian partnership, the land of the clinic and library now has a new fence (courtesy Eduardo Cofiño), and the cement frame is almost ready for the double gate (Alberta Group).
Architect Volunteers Services
Last week we were visited by Architect Luis Mendoza from Guatemala City, who has volunteered to assist the women's group by drawing up the plans for their new "Center". Here he is shown with (L to R) Sandra Van den Brink of Foundation Ayudamos, Juana Melendez, president of the women's group and Cyra Lopez, vice president of the women's group as they discuss the group's needs and dreams.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Interviewing the Patients
Judy Schwank and her team work with Enrique to determine what surgery is most needed amongst the people of this and surrounding areas.
Line-Ups at Clinic for Surgery
Today, about 50 people came to the clinic to see if they qualify for free surgery through Dr. William and Judy Schwank's surgery team that is to come to Guatemala in the fall. Unfortunately, there is no adequate place in Peten to do volunteer surgery, so the patients that are chosen will have to find the way to and back from Guatemala City or Antigua, 10 to 16 hours from here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
