Pues...

... here I am, already weakened by the earth's tilt.  Ugh.  Sol, sol, solecito, ¡cómo yo te necesito!

So, what's going on?  We have just finished week 6 of ManSoul Academy.  The mornings are going very well, thank God, but I definitely have trouble mustering up the energy, etc. to do the afternoon's activities.  I am going to play around with the schedule next week, to see if I can't ameliorate the situation in time for Term 2.

For my own personal education, you can see off to the right that I've moved on to Autobiographies, after accepting that I don't really like modern fiction.  Whilst I'm awaiting Augustine's Confessions to arrive at my local library, I'm wading through Good Ideas from Questionable Christians and Outright Pagans.  So far I've made it through the basics of Socrates and Plato.  Next up?  Aristotle.

In the garden, well... Mr. Mapache is voraciously attacking, so far unsuccessfully, our poor two remaining hens.  Rob has been in hand-to-paw combat with the masked beast, but he just won't give up.  On the positive side, I have planted about 120 cloves of garlic.  Wahoo!

Let's see... oh, yes, what the kids have been saying:

So, I had sliced apples on the table the other night for dessert.  There were just a few slices left and I encouraged our guests to finish them, since no one wants to eat an oxidized apple.  Ever since, Girumy asks me after each dinner if there is any food in danger of oxidation... because, you know, he would do me the favor of preventing such a calamity.  Ha!

Yesterday, I heard the boys talking to our dear Kun-y.  "So, you need to love Jesus," said Ty, "and when you go back to China, it's not allowed, but don't let it be a secret.  You have to tell the people."  To which Girumy responded, "No, she'll get in trouble.  She should just keep it (you know, Jesus) in her house."  I clarified for her and then she said, "Well, which is it?"  I said "Both."  "Don't keep the good news a secret, but maybe tell others about it in your house instead of on the street."  God, help her!  God, help us!

Oh!  Can you tell that our camera's battery is dead?  And yes, the earth's tilt is keeping it from getting charged.  Waa-waa.