Do you recognize this flower?

Several asked if I knew the name of the flower yesterday. Nope. We asked the lady who gave me the clipping and she didn't know either. I'm hoping one of you might know the name. Here's a photo of the whole plant to see if that helps any; the plant hangs over the pot although it's sort of hard to see from this angle.
It's been raining off and on ever since we arrived home on Saturday so the laundry still isn't finished. But I think we just might git 'er done today.

The last of our missionary buddies left this morning on a bus back to Buenos Aires. We sure had fun getting to know everyone better this past week and I'm so glad we were able to laugh and love our way through some issues. You may not be aware that missionaries tend to be strong personalities, passionate about their work, and maybe a little thick-headed when it comes to the way we do things. A few meetings during conference helped immeasurably to make sure everyone understood that one way or the other isn't good or bad, just different. God has given each of us certain gifts and abilities, with a bent to doing things a particular way. And we can't expect everyone else to be like us and do it our way.

A good lesson to learn.

Or re-learn.

I really appreciate all your sweet comments and to let you know, I am feeling somewhat better but exhausted. I never expected turning 50 a few months ago would be such an ordeal. I'd like to think of it as my Year of Jubilee, like Skoots1Mom. But at this point it feels more like the Age of Upheaval. Only instead of economic volatility, I have digestive volatility. Rather than ethnic disintegration, my iron levels are deficient. And it's not my empire in decline, merely my season of fertility. That combination is apparently lethal for a woman's energy level.

So thanks for praying and keep it up!

And if any of y'all suffer from IBS and have developed coping mechanisms, please share them! Thank you, thank you very much.

I don't know if I've mentioned our little ant problem. We think the house was built on an ant hill. There were piles of dirt here and there when we moved in. Swept 'em up and most did not reappear. But a few did. Notably, in our closet on the bottom shelf. The hubby plugged their hole.

He thought.

He was wrong.

It actually took three or four sessions down in the closet with spackle before their entry way was good and truly blocked. So then they popped up by our doorway. Each morning there's a fresh mound of dirt by the bedroom door. And another by the back door.

And when we got back from conference, one in the shower. The SHOWER. Apparently they'd been coming up through the drain. It's amazing the pile of dirt a group of industrious ants can create in five short days. It filled my dustpan. Thankfully we seem to have the ants in retreat. From the shower. We're still dealing with the piles in the bedroom and kitchen.

Someone suggested we sprinkle cracked rice which they carry back to their abode where it ferments and lets off a toxic gas. The hubby tried it in his shop, another hot spot, but the ants are either highly intelligent or they don't like rice. 'Cause they're not going for it.

But after talking to the other missionaries this past week, I'm glad that all we have to deal with is a few ants. Things could be much, much worse! Our house is dry and not prone to mold and mildew. Nor do we have cockroaches or rodents or other vermin. So yeah, give me the ants any day.

Week 10, Project 365

Wow! We're 1/5 of the way through Project 365 already. Last Sunday I only had time to look at a few of the participants' weekly photos and it will probably be tomorrow before I have time to do it this week. I can hardly wait to catch up!

Our co-worker's youngest and her friend, all smiles on Sunday night.
All the Biblical Ministries Worldwide missionaries from Uruguay and Argentina enjoyed a week together, letting others do the cooking and cleaning during our annual missionary field conference in Bialet Masse, about 15 minutes from Carlos Paz. The Colonial Serrano Hotel was built almost 100 years ago. Looking one way you see the wing with most of the rooms and then looking straight ahead you see the bowed-out verandas (we had tea on the second floor veranda).

Look closer and you'll see these marvelous (and humongous) front doors. Rustic and quaint, accommodations were simple but the service was amazing. We had the whole hotel to ourselves (40 of us) and the hotel staff bent over backwards to make us comfortable.

Here's some of the food I didn't eat. Couldn't eat. Very sad that I was unable to enjoy some truly amazing food, artfully presented at every meal. This was the appetizer one night. Ham, cheese and hardboiled eggs rolled into a pinwheel sandwich with a dollop of mayo, an olive, and some shredded cabbage on the side. Colorful and, according to those who were able to eat it, quite tasty.
What made me even sadder was not eating dessert. I luuuuurve me some dessert and they had excellent desserts. Here my good buddies rubbed it in by all digging into the flan with dulce de leche. *sigh* I picked a particularly terrible week in which to be sick.
The girls enjoying one of their craft projects: decorative painting. The ladies also tried their hand at it, with more or less successful results. We spent the first hour practicing on paper before ever trying to paint our trays or magazine racks. Mine is still pristine and waiting for me to feel confident enough to go beyond just practicing.
I shared several photos yesterday from the ladies tea. Here's one more. Ruth has been a missionary the longest in our group. She and her hubby have been married 52 years and in ministry for all of them. She has a sweet spirit and cheerful heart and I want to grow up and be like her ☺
As we were loading up and waiting for everyone to bring their things down on Saturday morning, I noticed a plant on the back porch of the hotel. I'd never seen anything like it so of course whipped out my camera. A lady came out of the kitchen and offered us clippings! The Uruguayan ladies are not allowed to take things like that over the border, but I gladly accepted her offer. My clipping has two buds, so I'm hoping it survives, thrives and blooms!
During our Skit & Song program, we played something called The Creation Game. Some folks were selected to leave the room and quickly review the creation story. Then they were brought back in in pairs and timed to see how long it would take them to name 8 items and the day they were created. The items were laid out on a table and covered, so they had to lift the individual covers one-by-one. Wrong answers added seconds to their time. Here's a little video clip I thought you'd enjoy (it's only a minute, so be patient and watch at least until about second 30 when some action happens ☺).

It was the best of times, it was the...

This has been one of the best as well as one of the toughest weeks since we arrived in Argentina.

Best because we had our annual missionary field conference...a great time with our fellow workers from Argentina and Uruguay and we were blessed by POWERFUL teaching on prayer by Dr. John Talley, all while enjoying some incredibly beautiful scenery.

Toughest because physically I'm just flat wiped out. I struggle with how much to share at times. There are a few men who read this and while I don't go on and on about women's issues, inevitably things come up because I am a woman. The last thing you need when you're anemic is heavy blood loss (13 LOOOONG days) topped off with a spectacular bout of IBS. Thankfully I made it to all the sessions but it was necessary to rest between every.single.one.

Thursday was the longest day but also the most fun with the annual Skit & Song program at night. And in the afternoon we had our traditional Ladies Tea. This year my co-worker and I were in charge so I had an opportunity to use my teacup collection.
Bringing it to Argentina was something I waffled on for a couple of years until another missionary said, "If you really love something, bring it because you'll find ways to use it." I really enjoy my teacup collection and am so glad we brought it! We had tea on the second floor veranda with this incredible view... Once everything was set up, I relaxed and enjoyed the laughter (and chocolate) shared with dear friends.
We arrived home close to lunch time and the laundry marathon is in full swing. We've been playing the bus-or-plane-shuffle with the folks from Uruguay and the U.S. And the small trailer we shipped in the container has proved invaluable as we shuttle luggage as well as people. Another item we're very glad we brought!

Week 9, Project 365

The ford. Where the water spills over the cement, the tiny waterfall pounds your back like spray jets in a jacuzzi. Looking down river.

Thursday, the day of The Dreaded Annual Evaluation. As you can tell, we're a serious bunch who approached it with solemnity and fasting.

Went into Cordoba with our area director and his wife on Saturday afternoon. Playing with the camera I found a button I thought was for taking photos of buildings. It is, but specifically in black and white. I like the effect although it's a little Herman Munster-ish.

The guys on the bottom look like they're carrying the weight of the church on their back. Rather uncomfortable.

Freaky sculpture. From a distance it looks like her middle is simply underwater but it's actually two pieces.

Love all the metal work in Argentina. Not sure if this is primarily for security (it's over a window) or just decorative. Best guess, it's both.

After wandering around for a while, we finally arrived at our destination: Palacio Ferreyra, "museo superior de bellas artes". Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take any photos inside. At one time this was the private residence of a leading Cordobese family.