Three in a row

Sophie, Simone and Annabel playing on a hill.

Antigua back yard

Behind the apartment in Antigua, Guatemala were the ruins of a church (above).  The apartment ($16 per month) had a courtyard, an outdoor kitchen under a tin roof and an enclosed bedroom and bathroom.   The back of the courtyard had a door into the space above.  The door didn't close and the remains of the church were so beautiful that eventually I took the entire door off and made it into a table using some of the broken pillars as the base.  The church space became my dining room. The only other church entrance was this opening about 5 feet off the ground.

About a week after getting the apt, I added an oven and a fridge.  Suddenly the neighborswith their flocks of children and their friends children came knocking to ask if they could use the oven and it seemed to always be cooking something.  I had to buy a gas bombe (canister of gas) nearly every week but the breads and casseroles coming out of the oven were worth it.   I also loved having all the kids around and started up an ad hoc dance school to entertain them and keep choreographing.

(more photos coming..)

Pioneer schmoozing

Pioneer Square is a wonderful place to live and Annie Strain has been a huge positive force.  She gather ed a big group of the Pioneer community at her beautiful home to greet the incoming Mayor Mike McGinn.  Here is a picture of William Justen, Mayor Mike McGinn and Simone.  Simone asked Mike to please help her get a playground in Occidental Square for her little sister.