October 27 - November 2, 2008

One dog, six ducklings and a pig. In brief, this week was defined by the three aforementioned additions to our growing menagerie. On Tuesday, before picking me up in Chácara Santo Antônio, Lone stopped and picked up Layla, a black Labrador, from our good friend Melissa. We then drove back to Alfheim, stopping twice, once for gas and once to change another flat tire, this time on rodovia Ayrton Senna (note to self: begin shopping for options to Pirelli). Layla is well-behaved, gentle, playful, a quick study, energetic and a serviceable watch dog. Her only downside was her initial fondness for playing with the chickens, particularly the roosters. Not surprisingly, the chickens did not reciprocate her youthful exuberance; fortunately we were able to quickly cure her of her joie de poulet.

Next week Layla should be joined by Negão, a semi-abandoned dog that lives near Clair's sitio just outside of Vargem Grande. Negão and Layla seemed to hit it off when they met earlier this week. We will, therefore, ensure that Negão receives all of the appropriate vaccinations, and Layla will gain a play pal more her size.

The timing of Layla's disciplinary rehabilitation could not have been better because on Thursday I bought six ducklings. The ducklings spent their first night inside, and the next day Clair and I fashioned a makeshift duck pen, replete with pond. Owing to their youth, Lone and I decided it best to continue to bring them in at night, where they sleep safely in a cardboard box (note to self #2: acquire a bigger box while in São Paulo this week). The ducklings will aid Lone immeasurably in keeping her garden slug-free as they 'devour slugs like mad'.

This week's final animal addition occurred on Saturday, when Clair brought his pig to Alfheim. He had earlier told us that he would not be bringing her to Alfheim because he intended to slaughter her. However, when we visited his sitio on Thursday on the way back from São Luiz do Paraitinga, where among other things we purchased 200 citronella and 400 lemon eucalyptus saplings (to produce organic, insect-repellent oils) and dropped Clair off at the bus stop so that he could take the bus to Taubaté to sort out some paperwork, we saw that his pig was very much alive. It was during this visit that his wife, Rosana, informed Lone that she did not believe that he would have the heart to slaughter his pig, a fact that he himself, somewhat sheepishly, has since confirmed. Seizing this opening, Lone and I encouraged him to bring his pig to Alfheim to root in Lone's vegetable garden. And so it was on Saturday, when Lone and I were returning from a long walk with Layla to some of the more distant corners of the fazenda, where among other discoveries we chanced upon a previously-overlooked pasture, that a truck arrived with Clair, Dener, Kaoê and a driver to drop off Clair's pig, since renamed Miss Massey (think Massey Ferguson) and collect all of the scrap iron and metal tins for recycling. Miss Massey, who is fed thrice daily, seems to have adapted quickly to her new environs, but is quite indifferent to Layla, who initially wanted to play, but who since seems to have acknowledged that in this game she neither defines the rules nor sets the pace.

In addition to all of the animal fun, Wednesday was spent helping Clair clear another pasture -very physical work, but less difficult than hoeing. In the farming equivalent to rock-paper-scissors, hoe still tops scythe on the degree of difficulty scale. Note to self #3: buy a heavier scythe. Clair's scythe weighs almost twice as much as mine, a fact that I jokingly used to justify his clearing twice as much pasture as me.

Lone, Clair and I spent Friday painting and liming (aka whitewashing) the main house. More specifically, Lone spent all day painting our bedroom while Clair and I limed the exterior. Lone's task is by far the more time-consuming. This truism led me to question why we don't lime houses more often. Lime costs approx. 10% of what paint does and is infinitely more user-friendly, i.e. it applies more easily, dries more quickly and cleans up effortlessly. On top of everything else, it is more environmentally-friendly.

Friday was punctuated by a late-afternoon visit from a new friend, Emmanuel Rengade, a Frenchman who owns a pousada in Picinguaba. Emmanuel is a friend of the brother of Karen, with whom Lone attended the London Waldorf Teacher Training Seminar. Emmanuel was joined by his Portuguese wife, Filipa, their French-Portuguese son, Felix, their Brazilian babá or nanny, Flávia, and a French friend, Lois Jammes, a bush pilot who lives in Bolivia.

In between liming the exterior and negotiating the delivery of 14 rolls of Belgo Motto® Farpa Vermelha barbed-wire, I cooked my favorite Austin chili for our guests (note to chili-interested readers: drop the flour and add carrots). For her part, Lone baked another flat loaf of her corn and oat bread. All modesty aside, both were delicious. If anyone is interested in a wheat-free alternative to bread, Lone is generously offering up her recipe below free of charge:

INGREDIENTS
1 cup (2.4 dl) cornmeal
1 cup oatmeal (2.4 dl) oatmeal
1/2 tsp (0.05 dl) baking soda
1 tsp (0.025 dl) salt
1/2 cup (1.2 dl) buttermilk (or equal parts yogurt and milk)
2 eggs
0.9 stick (100 gr) melted butter

DIRECTIONS
Bake in a preheated oven (200 degrees C or 400 F) until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Today, Sunday, Marcos returned to Alfheim to review the relatively short list of pending construction items. He and his crew of two or three will spend this coming week completing these tasks and, on Friday, phase I construction will officially come to a close.