Mali and Niger

I took a trip to Mali and Niger at the end of May/beginning of June for work. In Mali, we provided funding to the World Food Program to purchase millet from local farmers to use in their program activities including Food for Work and community health center feeding. In Niger, we had just approved funding to provide emergency food rations in response to the drought. We were able to travel to several locations in Mali including Bamako, Segou and Mopti, but were stuck in Niamey in Niger due to security concerns. It was an interesting trip - a very hot trip and I definitely need to learn French!

NIGER

Grand Hotel in Niamey that was not so grand:

Niger River view from Grand Hotel:

Sandstorm in Niger:

MALI

Mosque in Djenne - largest mud structure in the world and UNESCO World Heritage Site:

On banks of Niger River in Mopti:

Dogon Country:

Grain storage - aren't they so cute:

Meeting with a women's cooperative that was able to sell 30 metric tons of millet to the World Food Program and purchased with our funding:

USDA donated commodities to be used in a school feeding program:

Distributing food at a local community health center:

Houses and grain storage in Dogon country by the Food for Work activity:

Community members participating in a Food for Work activity to build a water reservoir:

Regular road block - the sheep were the slowest to catch on and move out of the road - the chickens weren't too bright either...

Millet purchased under our program at the World Food Program warehouse waiting to be transported to one of their program activities for distribution to beneficiaries:

End of the dry season:

View of Bamako:

Beekeeping

Bekah and I took a beekeeping class from the DC Parks and Rec Dept and we're now volunteer beekeepers for DC. Our hive is located at the Franciscan Monastery in Northeast DC.

Monterey Trip in March

In March, I had a conference in Monterey, CA and Spanky joined me for a weekend trip at the end of the conference. Did the 17-mile drive, trip to Big Sur, a few wineries and a trip to San Francisco to see Alcatraz and Angie

sNOw MORE

Dear Mother Nature - we have had enough snow to last a lifetime and now you are sending us 10 - 20 more inches of snow! This Texas girl has had enough! If we could dig out our cars, we'd be driving to Pennsylvania to make stew out of that groundhog that predicted 6 more weeks of winter. Here's some images from the weekend blizzard that left us with 21 inches of snow:

Here are some pictures from the December snow that dumped 17 inches...we thought that one was bad...

Sweetest 'Stache

Every year, Spanky participates in Mustaches for Kids to raise money for National Children's Medical Center. It's pretty much one month of the year that he grows a mustache and begs folks for donations. The month culminates in the 'Stache bash where all the growers dress in a character and compete for the title of Sweetest 'Stache. This year, Spanky was Kip Dynaminte, Napoleon Dynamite's brother. His coworker, Leesa, served as Lafawnduh (second picture). Spanky raised over $4,200 and the entire group raised more than $45,ooo for the hospital - not bad for a bunch of mustaches. Even with $4,200 raised, he was not the top fundraiser, but he did take home the ultimate prize of Sweetest 'Stache (and now we have another huge trophy in our living room)...

Go Hogs Go!

At the Arkansas vs. Texas A&M game at Cowboys Stadium - Video tried to capture the essence of the stadium and the enormous screen - whole stadium experience was awesome and we won! Go Hogs!!

Waylon showing his spirit - still working on his trick to Call the Hogs...hard to stand up on those short little back legs to get in a good Wooooo...

Arkansas Trip

Took a trip to Arkansas to see college friends and family...it was great to see everyone again and see all their kiddos...also, great to go to a Razorback tailgate in Little Rock - GO HOGS!

Lori, Marilyn and I at the tailgate

Sarah, Amelia and I - for more pictures of cutie-pie, Amelia, look at Sarah's blog in the links (The Currys)