Easter break

We had an Easter mini break from Thursday to Saturday at Green Pastures which was very nice. I enjoyed some good walks in the middle of lovely green pasture and trees and saw and heard dozens of species of birds. I also played some chess. I beat my architect grandson Felipe and drew with his partner Vivi. This morning we had the traditional Easter egg hunt with all the family including Liz's sister Esther and her family. We had heavy rain (18 mm) at the time of the hunt which added to the fun!

For those interested in nature let me give you the English names of the birds I saw at Green Pastures. If you Google these names you can see what they look like. Campo Troupial (orange - saw young in the nest in a lamp shade), Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Solitary Sandpiper (migrates from Canada), Small Egret, Rufous-bellied Thrush (sang lots), Blue-black Grassquit (flies up and down on the spot as it sings), Common Tody-Flycatcher (by its nest which hangs from a twig), Picazuro Pigeon (a lot of these), White-tipped Dove, Picui Ground-Dove, Red-cowled Cardinal (singing a lot at dawn), Caatinga Cacholote (making nests), Squirrel Cuckoo, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani (by its nest), Long-billed Wren, Southern Wren, Brazilian Teal, Spot-backed Puffbird (flew out of its burrow), Rufous-browed Peppershrike (singing profusely and beautifully), Pigmy Owl (singing night and day), Striped Cuckoo, Short-crested Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Cactus Paraqueet (2 nests in ant mounds in Eucalyptus trees). Whilst walking we observed over 100 Brazilian Plum trees that we have planted over the past years in partnership with the federal university forestry engineers.

QPR beat Birmingham 2 x 1 at home yesterday! 😁 They are now 4 places clear of the relegation zone. 👍

I led the Easter service at our Patos school tonight and three teenage boys made commitments to Christ at the end. PTL!