The Mini-Markas

Another garden update: Limnaya and I planted this morning! I’d planted the melons last night on my own, but apparently I’d done it completely wrong and Limnaya redid it this morning. It was so exciting to put those seeds in the ground! Except for my Bol beans and straggly flowers, I haven’t really planted anything since the Honey Locust tree that I grew from a seed in a milk carton in a second grade science project. If any of you are in the vicinity of our farm in Iowa, note the stately Honey Locust out by the road.

You’ve heard me talk about the Magtalahjar Girls Mentoring Center. Well, Limnaya and I have started a Little Girls Mentoring Center. The word for “center” in Hassaniya is “markas,” so I’ve dubbed it the “mini-markas.” Limnaya recruited 10 little neighborhood girls who are 8 and 9ish. We had a meeting with their moms and today was the first session. During two hours each Saturday and Sunday, I’ll teach French and English and Limnaya will do computers and life skills. The girls were so cute. Just listen to these names and tell me they don’t sound pony tailed and adorable: Moona, Naja, Qlana. Plus, we have both a Moika and a Boika and two Fatimatous. Limnaya tends to rule things with her pudgy iron fist, so the girls were well behaved and totally into the French. Fun! We’ll get the big GMC underway once school starts.