Home Sweet Home

A dear friend of mine was so kind to stop by the old homestead and snap a few digital pictures which I want to share with you. The house of German and Spanish origin was originally the home of Dortors Sweat, actually five generations of family doctors come from there, the house actually being their office years ago. Lots of history there and of course, I raised 8 children there along with countless dogs and other assorted cirtters. The home was also a grist milll at one time and the cold water springs there were used to cool milk in the early days before refrigeration. There is a creek that flows beside and in front of the house, in the early days of Meigs County it was known as Sharps Creek which floods annually a couple of times but never reaches the house and goes down as fast as it comes up.

Now the bad ass dalmation dog you see there, his name is also Lester. He is a graduate of the local Athens County Dog Pound and was assigned to death row shortly before I extracated him from his doom. Quite a find dog, also one or two short of a six pack and going blind I think although he still has a damn good nose.

Not much to report form here in Peru. Still waiting on our government to grant our requested immigrant visa for Giovanna. Weather in Ohio is slightly different from the warm pacific breeze down here, yet if I had my drothers, I would like to be feeding a wood stove right now. Stay Tuned !!!

Neighborhood Farmers & Produce Markets

The following pictures dipict the significant amount of fresh produce, meats, fish and other products available at the farmers or community markets here. There are about four large ones within walking distance from here plus many other small family markets and stores. Also, there are many small shops within every block or neighborhood. Again, everybody here works or is producing something. A pleasure to see. Since there is no social welfare here, if you don´t work or produce, you will not eat. We have much to learn from these people.

The pictures of the young girl are those of Gladis, the only daughter of Giovanna´s youngest brother who left here about two weeks ago for Chili to find work. That being the case, he left me with three women to take care of, not a bad job at all. These pirctures were taken during her ¨¨coming out party¨¨, a traditional celebration of womanhood at 15 years old. A major event in a young Peruvian Girl´s life.

I am not used to such care and am getting fat from all of the chicken, rice and daily fresh bread and juice. Most of the stores are extremely small and in the markets, one about every 12 feet apart and packed with people daily. Unlike us, the shop daily for fresh food. You do not see the canned goods here because of the abundance of fresh commodities. The climate makes this possible as the weather is seldom below 60 deg. or higher that 80 deg. with an almost constant pacific breeze.

Friends from The Gambia, West Africa

Gambian Socor Team members staying in our hotel.

This is one of the 3 - wheeled taxis so common here in Lima. The lady below had a booth in one of the local markets, 100.s of vendors there. She prepared fresh juice of all types, very good.

My lettle friend, Giovanna and I.
These are some of my friends I met shortly after arriving in Lima. They were all very gracious to me, spoke english and invited Giovanna and I to their country. The indicated that they could use assistance with economic development, especially in the area of cattle ranching and irrigation systems, sustainable agriculture. Here I was playing my harmonica made in China to this young couple form Gambia.

Thoughts Before Going to Bed

My little girlfriend here was playing ball in the street by herself and with her dog - she stopped for a moment while I caught her picture. My friend below was about to have lunch at one of the street diners on cart wheels, totally self-contained.

I offer this shot of The Corner Pub and Sports Bar only to show that the Yankee is busy in downtown Lima. When I was in there it was packed out but too damn expensive for a poor farm boy. As you can see, and this is just of many, the fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, chicken, fish, beef, pork, ect. is in abundance down here - I damn near odeed on banannas, an addiction which I have not yet overcome.


For sure, many of these photographs reflect the productivity of the Peruvian people and the abundance of riches bestowed upon them in terms of agro-production as they apply their hands to the soil and its riches. The internet has only been here, for the common people, just over a year, yet there are now internet cafes all over the place, well managed and full of young people connecting and chating locally and throughout the world. What a blessing this technology is for those who crave to learn and connect - truely our world is becoming more flat, open and connected. Where this all is going is truely exciting, yet there exists so much suffering mostly caused by man himself and not discounting natural disasters fortold of long ago - eg. - Pakistan and its children this winter - we should all think about that on our way to the ball game and Wall Mart ??

More Pictures From Callao, Peru

Well folks, more pictures. The little fellows are street merchants and they knew their trade very well. Says a lot about American kids, doesn.t it ?? How about that good looking dalmation, he was pissed off. By the way, from my vantage point down here, those little fellows sure make obvious how spoiled and handicapped our American kids really are though their parents are thinking they are doing them a favor taking them to ball games and other foolishness.


The old lady was selling what she had and she shared her hat with me. Again, productivity, she was just not sitting on the porch waiting for the big one.
This little guy was evidently in training and was taken with my white hair which is not seen much down here. You can see his mother has another one on the way so he will have much to do. And upon the blanket is another open-air mini-mall, not quite Wall Mart, but a hell of a lot more interesting. Says a lot about American women laying around on their fat asses collecting welfare doesn.t it or those sucking on others bread.