The view outside our window today was quite foggy - and it appeared to have rained at least part of the night. David assured us that the fog would burn off and we should have some sunshine. Ann and I each did a load of laundry and took the chance of them drying outside.
After breakfast, Ann and I walked to the fingernail place and found it this time. This was an unusual treat for me. I was very conservative in my choice of nail color and splurged with a little flower. Ann likes red and added hearts to her nails. We each paid 10$ - about $4. Good deal I guess! 
David and Merl walked part way with us and turned off to go to Wilson's house. The goal was to clean out the bathroom (which is actually outside of his house and attached to his uncle's house next door) and to clean out his bedroom( about 6' x 8') which is also outside of the main house (shack). 
After Ann and I had our nails done, we walked over to Wilson's place to see if there was anything we could do. We helped load up sacks of clothes to bring home to launder. Merl made some shelves inside a wooden cupboard in the bedroom using an old handsaw and rusty nails and sorted through the stuff in the room. David did most of the work in the bathroom removing lots of stuff for the garbage and clothes to be washed. A lot of work yet to do, but it is getting better.
Ann and I walked up the street and across the park by the lake to find a member with a car who might be able to haul bags of clothes back to the apartment. The lake is still covered with green plants with no water visible. We passed one of the local "recyclers" and his horse. We found Diva son (Cristiano Berte) at home sleeping, but he was willing to help us. Diva (pronounced Gee-va) is a counselor in the Primary presidency. Cristiano saved us a long, heavy-laden walk home in the sun. Ann immediately got started washing clothes as Merl and I got ready to walk to Wizard. Our lesson with Camila went okay today - now that Christmas is over, we will need to start studying in earnest. So much to learn, but we are coming along. We can read much better than we can speak, and the hardest part is the listening. Everyone talks so fast, and their are so many dialects that it is difficult to pick out a few words we understand. We walked to a fruitaria with Camila after class and purchased celery, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, and a big fig. Produce was very nice there. Camila said that we live in the most expensive place in Brazil; she tries to do most of her shopping (clothes, food, toys for the kids) in Porto Alegre or Caxias de Sul). Merl thought we would be able to save money living here (instead of at home); but I am not so sure.
Ann started to wash all of Wilson's clothes, even though the weather forecast predicted 90% rain. Miraculously, there was no rain today, and all his clothes were washed. We left a few batches on the line overnight. We all worked hard today. Some people in the apartment complex don't have a washing machine so they use the laundry sinks to wash and rinse their clothes; then they spin the water out of the clothes in a plastic tub made into a 'centrifuge.'David prepared Family Home Evening after a quick dinner, and he and Ann retired to bed. Merl and I went for a leisurely walk up the hill and into town to get some fresh air. It is difficult to cool the apartment off at night since we have to keep the windows mostly closed due to mosquitoes. No one has screens here. We stopped by a little food place that was still open at 10:30 pm and got a bowl of gelato - three small scoops (pineapple, kiwi, and something pink). Cost 5,30 reis which is about $2. Commas and periods are reversed in the numbering system here. The clerk accepted a 5$ bill and called it good. We have found sometimes that they either don't like to make change or the change is worth so little, that it is forgiven. We shared the treat as we walked home and enjoyed the breeze - an no rain.
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| Quero Quero bird at the lake |
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| How many satellite dishes can you find? |
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