This is an email that I sent out to some family members and friends, thought I would share it with you all. Actually my mom said I should share it. Listen to your Mama.
So this past Friday, I decided to do some laundry. We had let it pile up a little too much so there was alot to do. And as you know I do it all by hand. So I packed up all the clothes in two buckets, one small and one big. And decide to head down to the pump, which is about 3/4 of a mile down a cliff from our village, mind you it is 100F outside too. So I put the big bucket on my head and the small buck i carried in my hands and I start a' hikin' . At one point the bucket falls off my head and the clothes tumble everywhere, which was okay cause I needed a break anyway. But I finally made it to the pump and was ready to start washing.
I find a place under a shade tree (really it was a bush) and I sort out all the clothes, colors, whites, malian fabric (these tend to bleed really bad), and so on..... I then go to the pump to get water, meanwhile the cows, goats and chickens are getting in my way. So there are a few kids around so they start batting away all the animals so I can get water. I get my buckets full of water and head back to my shade tree, but as I am leaving the pump area a cow sticks his head in my bucket and starts drinking. I had to whack him away. Next I am under my shade tree washing, and every 3 minutes the goats come up and try and drink my soapy washing water, I am having to yell at them and chase them with a stick, meanwhile the rooster is crowing in my ear and wont stop. Each time i would have to change my dirty wash water, I would have to keep running back and forth from the pump bc the animals would start drinking my water. And then when I was done and hanging the clothes to dry the cows started eating my bar of soap. I had to hang the clothes on thorn bushes because there is no where else to put the clothes because everything is sand, so I got a few pricks and scratches too.
So there I am sitting in the hot sun, my clothes spread everywhere, cows and goats bugging me and all i could do was laugh. I guess what doesnt hurt me only makes me stronger.
I think I am really going to enjoy my wash machine when I get home.
Hi Joe and Ashely,
ReplyDeleteI always find it interesting to read what you write. I'm not sure who is talking, I think it's Ashley. Did I guess wright? Dirty laundry can be alot of work. Even though I have a washing machine I get sick of it.
If I had to experience what you do, I don't know if I would laugh or not. I might get more fusterated or maybe I would laugh too. I'm glad things worked out in the end.
Anna is sleeping so I found time to write. I enjoy sitting down at the computer and taking my time. I like to put my thoughts together and not be in a rush. Anna loves to play with the keyboard. She loves to talk now it's so cute. Ben and I took her shopping and bought her a doll. Anna loves dolls but she also enjoys kicking the doll too. Her hair is coming in and it's going to be curly/wavy like mine. Mom's friend Barb, saw her for the first time this weekend and she says Anna looks just like me. I was very happy to hear that. Anna has her six month appointment this week, so we are excited to hear what the doc. has to say.
Well have fun doing laundry and I will write again.
Love Jody,Ben and Anna
Oh,Ashley, I will think of you every time I throw our clothes in the washing machine and then the dryer. I am soooo lucky. You are one strong woman!!!
ReplyDeleteAshley I admire you for laughing! I would NOT be laughing and I would also make Jesse help me with that job. You are a GREAT wife! I miss being able to just call you. Keep posting, I love it!
ReplyDeleteThere is only one thing missing in this...Joe with the video camera!! I would LOVE to see you poking goats and yelling a cows to get out of your way! I think that maybe next laundry day, you should bring it along!!! Love you lots Ash! (Joe too...love ya babe!)
ReplyDeleteHi Wollersheims! Having not fully adjusted to cyberspace I feel like a peeping-tom reading your blog without you knowing it - so this is Mitch saying hello! ... I'm watching you ... mauhahahahaaa. Well, Joe, we made it to Mali - separately, but we did it. Whats next? ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Joe and Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI thought I would write again and say HI. How is your "Dirty Laundry" coming along? I never get caught up with mine. I feel like that's all I ever do. How are you guys doing? Joe you should E-Mail me when you have the chance.
Anna is now eating baby food or solids as they call it. Her first kind was Carrots and we just laughed at the face she gave us. She is now used to carrots. We were told that six months was the starting point for solids. Even though every parent does things different. I think first time parents are always more careful.
We have been sick here at the Behnke house. Ben got sick first then Anna and now me. It's Anna's first time being sick. She came down with a cold. We all can't wait for spring to come. I am so excited to get outside and enjoy the nice weather again.
MISS YOU BOTH!!!!!
Talk to you later
Love Jody,Ben and Anna