Happy Halloween! 6 months I have disappeared from the blog world. The real world became a bit of a rollercoaster ride these last months so too dizzy to sit down and write I guess. Haha. So, as the end of the year is fast approaching, I thought I should emerge from the void and start sending out posts again. This will be a catch up post and after this, I will try to be a bit more present in this space. Ramping up again on work and life in Northern Kenya. 

To start with the most important subject: pets!! I have two new beautiful beings living with me and my menagerie. Moonshadow, a kitten the universe gifted me and Giorgio (he was really missing Mouse so the kitten was for him to have a friend) came into our life in mid April 2024 just after my last post. She is so amazing. At present, despite being only about 8 months old, she is expecting kittens any day now. With my travels lately, she managed to follow her call of nature and urge to produce new life. Not from Giorgio as he is not intact. Oh well, such is life. It will win out in so many ways. I’m hanging around Ngurunit this next couple of weeks waiting for the big event. 

The other exciting addition is Brutus Maximus Caesar, my Great Dane puppy that I got beginning of August 2024 at 10 weeks old. He goes by the name of Caesar. He is so fun. Such a silly character. Turned 5 months old last week and is already huge.

The size of a big goat. He will be the size of a small cow by the time he is full grown. Haha. He is so good natured. The cats have accepted him in all his puppy slobby exuberance, and everyone are friends. I say that Mouse and Bruin left such big holes in my heart that I needed a very big dog to start to fill even a small part of it. Thus a Great Dane is the biggest dog available. He is definitely a gift of the universe. He has a few mutations such as a compacted stubby tail and some double claws and too many teat nibs. That brought down his monetary value which made it possible for me to get him, but has raised his adorableness value which makes him so special to me. Such a sweet big boy. 

Another big event of the last 6 months was a visit to Wisconsin to see family and friends and do some moving activities between properties as life after parents gets sorted out. My place in Wisconsin is now officially the Wisconsin North woods. Was so nice to get settled in there and spend some peaceful days there in the beauty. Also had some fun times visiting my kids in Madison and friends and family in between. While it was a nice June in Wisconsin, I missed Kenya and was happy to be back since July. 

 The big activity of the last few months has centered around basket marketing for the Ngurunit Basket Weaver’s Association. The basket business is taking off again after a slowdown since 2020 (won’t mention the why of that..uggh). I was invited to participate in my first Artisan Trade Show ever in Nairobi the beginning of October. I had so much fun and made so many connections. I secured a lot of new orders for the Weavers and now we are in process of filling them. I also found a new Nairobi outlet that we are trying. So now available in African Living Hub as well as Spinner’s Web. 

 PEAR Innovations is the umbrella under which this basket marketing activity happens. Working in partnership with the Basket weaving group. Hoping to take it to a new level. I jumped out of my comfort zone and opened an Instagram account! Still have no idea how to use it. I think it can be found as @nomadicbaskets. Anyway, new adventures around basket marketing. Exciting. 

Life going on day by day. Praying for the short rains to start here in Ngurunit. Spending most of our time caring for the goats. My favorite, Ruma, had triplets in August. One didn’t make it, one big boy she accepted and a tiny girl she rejected. I took this cute little goat on and she lived in the house for a bit. Then we managed to find a foster Mom for her. I named her Tiny Tina and she is the cutest little goat ever. She’s doing well and living her best goat life now with her kid friends. Will leave it at that for now and get on with the day. Two months of 2024 left. Will try to be more present in this space. Peace to all in this last season of the year. Until next time….