Trying to catch a few last memories with photos

We have posted pictures of the Galeano family pets before, but don't think we've really given you a good vision of the plethora they host. So here they are again.








Mother and baby
We see pairs all over the ranch but haven't got many good pictures of them together because mother is eager to coax her baby away from us. We finally got one.


The cows below were hogging the road as usual when Amy got out of the truck to get some pictures.

The cows are not afraid of the truck, but they took off in a run when Amy showed herself. Wish we'd known how easy it would be too clear the road months ago.


Took more pictures of the beauty around us.








We went back to Buenos Aires to pick up Elder and Sister Kitchen from Salt Lake. They are our directors which is similar to a mission president and his wife.

In order to avoid a storm, we went a day early and went to the Buenos Aires Temple again. We're still trying to get the session down in Spanish.

Afternoon walks included a trip around the temple.






Again, we offered all the kids a chance for computer time on the same day do to the logistics of the week. The two you see below are not siblings but got along so sweetly sharing the computer that we couldn't resist a picture.











We enjoyed showing the Kitchens a bit of our life teaching El Quebracho kids.


We were finally able to get a picture of a mother calling for her baby. I (Amy) feel much like these mothers calling for the welfare of our children. Though they are all grown, danger still lurks, and they still have lessons to learn and progress to be made. I want to raise the warning voice that they are still in danger and pray that they are being wise and following the voice of the Savior calling for their return.

Certain times of the year, we watch anxious mothers calling their nurturing warning voice.


Los Perales:
Vanesa was so pleased with her blouse. All she had left were the buttons and button holes.

With just a little instruction, she was good to go and finished the new task with little effort.


Carina made a towel rug to put in front of her shower door. However, she didn't want to be in the picture this time so Amy took her place.

Vero was successful with her first raglan sleeve blouse. All that is left now is elastic around the top edge.


The end of the week meant a trip back to Buenos Aires for the Kitchens to catch a plane flight to Brazil, their next church ranch to visit.

We all attended a temple session together.





It is such a beautiful time of year and a beautiful temple.


On the way back to the ranch, we experienced more weather miracles as we left pouring rain to the south and found dry roads to the north.


Check out the trash pickup below. Instead of a horse, they use old tractors that still function.

Making one day of school count

Due to lots of rain and mud, Tuesday was the only day we could have school this week so we made it count by inviting all the kids to join us for computers after English class. (Usually, we have half of the kids on two different days.) Of course, that meant we had to double up on two of the computers since we had eight kids and only six computers.

However, it worked great and our English class went awesome with the promise of computers to follow at the end of class.







Candela chose to draw for part of her computer time since sharing a computer is not always easy.

Great memories with these active kids...


We got a thumbs up for the day.


Last meat grind:
We want to remember grinding hamburger in our little grinder. Roque brings the meat ground, but we like it much better ground fine. This is probably our last time for this regular chore and one we'll probably miss since the meat is amazing and not to be found outside a cattle ranch.


Gregg has taught gospel doctrine a number of times since we've been here but today was the first time to pitch hit in Spanish with no advance notice. Amy says he did awesome!



Elder Lujan on the far- right- below is being transferred. He has been so good supporting Amy in her valiant attempts to speak Spanish. Elder Lujan is a native Spanish speaker whose brother learned English and taught him. His goal was to talk to Amy in English as much as possible and compliment her for her tremendous efforts.


Feliz Dia de la Madre (Happy Mother's Day) is celebrated in the spring in Argentina, the third Sunday in October.

Homemade boxes full of candy...

...and handmade aprons were given to each mother


Los Perales:
You have to know how amazing Vanesa is. Remember the pattern Amy helped her with last week? Well, without help, she finished the blouse which as you see below included a collar, pockets, top stitching, buttons, and button holes. Anyone who sews knows that this is a tremendous job especially for it being her first try.


We weren't able to have class due to bad roads this week and Vanesa was not happy, but when she sent us this picture of her finished blouse, we knew that her confidence was growing in leaps and bounds as she succeeded on her own. What could be better than that?

El Quebracho update:

Other than Monday (muddy roads), we had a full week of school at El Quebracho. The kids are awesome and learning English quite well. It is very helpful to have consistent days of class. Next week looks promising for more clear days and therefore more school.
Los Perales:
The chicas went to town the past two weeks finishing winter projects. Since spring is already here, they want to hurry before their kids grow out of their new winter wear.




Also, a new skirt and vest are almost complete.

Carina made another bag but only had a picture on her cell phone to show me. This is great news for her to have completed the project on her own.

Carina is also making a pink, spring, gathered skirt for Luisiana.

On the way back from Los Perales, we spotted this cute pony. We've seen him before, but didn't get a picture.


Galeano's were welcomed home by their vast number of pets. This is only a small portion of their numbers. Aren't they colorful!

We also noted this bird nest made of spines. Usually, the birds pick a post top to build their nest in place of a thin electrical wire.


The gauchos are always so friendly as they travel here and there. We're never quite sure their destination so to us it seems that they are everywhere.


The nest made of mud below was done so on a moving gate. We haven't traveled this part of the ranch for awhile...obviously, long enough for a bird nest to be constructed in a vulnerable spot.


Below is a picture of Gregg trying to discourage dozens of cows from monopolizing the road. Now you know why there are so many cow pies in our way.


They are often quite suspicious of us.

More stares...




Still working on clearing the road

Often, we see mother and new born calf huddled together. Occasionally, we see a mother butting her youngin' off the road but usually, the babies follow their mother closely. Mother below is making sure we stay away from her baby.



Ixsi is doing awesome on the piano. Gregg is hopeful that she can start playing hymns for sacrament meeting when we leave next month.




Note the blooming bush in the back ground. (We're not very good at selfies yet.)