All Work and No Play Makes Senior Missionaries Incapable of Jovial Behavior

 Yup,  this is us at the ocean.  We went down to Ventura for a day and experienced a flea market (new hat for Elder Fillmore), picked free avocados, ate at a Chinese buffet, walked in the waves, visited a quaint Danish village and bought 15 large grapefruits for $5....which were yummy I might add.  We traveled with two other senior missionary couples (sorry the picture is dark, but it was getting late).  We are on the right.

While at the flea market, we found these shirts for the neighbor boys, which we just couldn't pass up because they are so appropriate.

Every 1st Thursday the office celebrates birthdays for the month, and the Senior Missionaries are responsible to buy or make the goodies.  It was my turn, so I made 9 of the 11 pies shown in the picture.  They were a big hit.  Apparently a lot of people don't make pies anymore.  The 2 apple pies were served warm with ice cream.....another hit.

Next time you are enjoying your raisin bran, think of this picture.  They are making raisins by drying grapes on...you guessed it....the ground.  At least they put paper down first!

The big news is the changes happening in our own backyard....literally.  This beautiful mulberry tree came down, and the greenish looking grass was dug up, in preparation for two garages which will be built this next month by Elder Fillmore and Elder Smith.

The neighbor boys are LOVING all the dirt piles, trenches and treasures that they are finding in the dirt.

Other memorable experiences from the past two weeks:
Bruce:  Fixed several broken water lines incurred in the yard digging and also from a farm machine     that hit a post with water and gas lines attached.
Installed shelves in the equipment trailer, so his wife can organize it for the working elders
 Ran a jack hammer for the first time in his life...to free the damaged water and electrical pipes for replacement.  It was a real bone jerking experience.
 Operated a ditch witch....you can compare it to a chain saw on steroids, with wheels.

Ann:  Fed young missionaries (6-8 of them) multiple times
Fed senior missionaries multiple times (6 of them)
Cleaning out aforementioned trailer (mouse poop heaven)
Participated in the graduation of 16  Hispanic workers from the Daily Dose English Program
Assembled 14 quilts for the Relief Society & Young Women to tie for the Linus Project (donated  quilts to help displaced youth in protective care)
Scanning large maps on a HUGE  scanner so they can be digitized

It's always fun on the farm!  Until next time:  Hold on to your horses...it only gets better.