Biking the farmlands

 Brett and I took his mountain bikes out to the farmlands around Koutiala yesterday afternoon. It was nice to see the simple life of the farmers.  Above is a family herding cattle.  During the wet season, all of the children are out of school to help with working the land.  Most of the green in this picture will be gone once the dry, hot weather starts again.

 Malian woman carrying her things in a bowl on top of her head.

 The rounded mud structures in the center of this village are the original type of home for the people of this area.  They now serve as buildings to house their grains and other produce.

 This little boy was finishing off the last of the tea from the kettle in the shade of this tree.

 Baby goat with his mom (or dad).

 I would like to see Allison try this!  If you look closely at the woman on the left of the picture you will see that she is not only balancing a bowl of vegetation (?type) on her head but she is also wearing her baby on her back with a tradition sling.  I will try to get a video clip of the full process of a mother putting her baby in one of these slings!  She will grab the baby by one arm and toss it onto her back while leaning forward.  Then she reaches back and wraps the cloth around the baby and ties it in the front.  Looks like it takes a lot of practice!

 The Maclean's treehouse in their yard.

 The MacLean boys, Keenan, Silas, and Dawson with their desert turtles.

 This desert turtle is huge and belongs to the mission family next door.  It likes to come after you when you are not looking....luckily it is very slow.

The turtle is strong enough to walk with Dawson going for a ride!