Jwaneng Diamond Mine in Botswana

In June the Bannons and I had an up-close look at 'what goes on' at a diamond mine.

The Jwaneng Diamond Mine, located in Jwaneng, Botswana, produces the most value of any diamond mine in the world. Here's a link for more info. So excited to tour the mine!

This first pic is our group standing beside one of the massive trucks used to transport the 'ore' from the pit up to the top for processing. That's a mighty big 'Tonka' truck!





Standing at the top edge of the 'pit', looking across and down in to the pit. Absolutely amazing. Those 'cutouts' on the side of the pit are called 'benches'. That's the process used to ensure stability of the mine as they dig deeper and deeper. In another 10 years or so, the depth of this mine will increase greatly, as well as the width.



Group on the observation deck. Our first stop was to gaze upon the pit from the 'bird's eye' view.


We were all required to wear a hard hat, safety goggles (sunglasses), reflective vest and steel toed shoes. All were provided by Debswana (the joint partnership between De Beers and the Botswana government).


To the right of the observation deck and also at the top edge of the pit was this structure, called "The White House". This is the operation center for all those trucks going in and out of the pit. Read here about the mine and the mine's White House.

























The worker in this 'loader' had the job of scooping up the 'ore' and filling up each of the large trucks.



The tires on the loader are surrounded in chains. The chains help protect the life of the tire. Those are very expensive tires.

A single load weights 36 tons. Each huge truck hold about 250 tons. There is a digital readout on the side of the truck, showing how much weight it is carrying.

To get an idea of the size of those massive trucks - compare it to the bus we were riding in, and also the pickup truck. Wow.

My tour buddies, the Bannons!

Stylin' in our steel-toed shoes.
At least they weren't as ugly as bowling shoes!

Oodi Weavers

Oodi Weavers is a place I have wanted to visit since hearing about it from others here. When our friends from IN visited us last month, what better time to go?! Though we were taking them to 'shop', I was hoping to find a treasure there for our (OK, myself!) home in NC.

To learn a little about Oodi Weavers, go to this link , or this one to read a little about the history.
Here's another link about the founding and sustaining of the business.

From the card that came with my tapestry:
"This tapestry is a unique piece of art, the only of its kind. The yarn used is pure new wool, spun and dyed by the weavers themselves to rich African hues, and is all moth-proofed and extremely durable. The tapestries are designed during the weaving progress by the weavers themselves -- without prepared sketches -- and each tapestry depicts its own story. Oodi Tapestries have won international acclaim from successful exhibitions in Europe and North America."

This first picture is of our tapestry from Oodi. The proper way to display the tapestry is from a wooden or metal rod. Rather than wait for that, I asked Mr. B. if he would hang the tapestry for us to enjoy. (I provided the 3M Command hooks for the hanging. Tacky, but it works until we get home!) Mrs. B helped me decide on this tapestry. I liked it best because it shows a village with its people living everyday life...men working, mothers with their babies on their backs while balancing bundles on their head, children, goats, chickens and roosters. Plus, I liked the blue sky and the hills. The blue skies of Botswana are the brightest blue! I'm going to miss the blue skies here.



A "close up" of our tapestry.

This is Selebaleng, the lady that created our tapestry.
What a joy to meet the artist of our treasure.

Spinning in progress. Only one lady was doing the spinning.

Weaver at work. The ladies were talking and humming while they worked.
Very relaxed and joyful environment.

Another weaver

Close-up of her work in progress

I really liked the golden and orange background

Setting up the 'framework' for another tapestry to be created

The handspun and dyed yarn, drying in the warm Botswana sun

Inside the workshop

When we arrived at the location, the gate was closed, but the sign displaying the hours of operation (sorry, didn't take a pic) indicated they should be open. So, what did we do?? Like any good tourist, we opened the gate and drove up to the buildings to see if anyone was around!!
I'm so glad we did!!!

The Oodi Weavers store

Inside the store. I wish I had taken pictures of the many colorful tapestries on display. I think I was more engrossed in picking one out to take home! Our R captured these pictures for me to share with you. Tapestries were available in all sizes. Deciding was tough!!!

Mr. B checking out the price tag.
"Remember, that's in Pula, not USD. Divide by 7."

Mrs. B. She's so funny. I miss her.

Mr. SHINNanigans, checking out a tapestry

The workshop - where the artwork is crafted

Again, I am SO glad we made the short trip from Gaborone to the village of Oodi. I am thankful for the artists that were so kind and allowed me to take their picture. More memories of our time in Botswana that I will never forget. For our friends in NC, we can't wait to show you these one-of-a-kind treasures from Botswana.

Double-Digit Birthday for B - She's TEN!

Today marks a milestone for our 'little' girl. She is now DOUBLE-DIGITS!!! Ten years old today,
July 3, 2011.

B continues to be a blessing to our family and to those who know her. She brings so much joy and laughter to our home. I think she gets her mischievous-side from her Grandma H. :-)

We love you, precious girl!

Happy Birthday!!!!


Enjoy the photos of our daughter!!

July 4, 2001 - The day we brought B home from the hospital.
1 day old

Christmas 2001 - Big sister holding little sister. This photo makes me smile.
5 months old

Christmas 2005 - Singing in the childrens' choir at church. She still loves to sing!
A song in her heart!!
She likes Toby Mac, Third Day and the Newsboys.....influenced by her parents!
4 years old

January 2007 'snow'....the little prankster!
5 years old

June 2007 - Graduation from kindergarten!
Almost 6 years old

July 2007 - B with her Disney Princesses birthday cake.
6 years old

July 2008 - Go-cart racing!!!
7 years old

July 2009 - Her first birthday in Botswana!
(It's winter here in July - thus the fleece clothes!)
8 years old

July 2009 - Going to see Toy Story 3 for her birthday!
9 years old

Helping Mom pick lemons. She loves being outdoors.
9 years old

July 3, 2011 - Today.
Before going to church - opening birthday presents.
10!!!!!!!!!!

The 10-year old with a Star Wars Lego set.
No more Disney princesses for her! She's a Star Wars fan!!!

To digress a little....B had her '10th Birthday Sleepover Party' last weekend.
Here is her cake for that party. ARMY theme!!!!
She has a blast (no pun intended) playing with the tanks and army guys.
(Cake design compliments of Mr. J. Bannon! Thx!)

My Lord Jesus has blessed me greatly as a mother. Precious daughters.

J & J's Final Post (sniff sniff)

Hard to believe but the month has come and gone. We leave for the airport in about 3 hours. What an amazing trip this has been. We can’t thank our friends enough for letting us become part of their family. We now consider ourselves honorary Shinns (as we consider ourselves honorary Ogles and honorary Patersons and . . . – such a blessing to have so many deep friendships). If you’ve known Jon or me for any length of time, you know we love seeing connections (or ‘convergences’ as one of our friends calls it) – when the same message is being told in many ways from many sources. Like when the sermon is on the same subject that your personal readings have been about, or when you rent 3 random movies and the same minor actor is in each of them. I bring this up because a sci fi movie we watched the other night had a line in it that sums up what we’ve been experiencing this whole month and in fact all our lives. The quote was “A place is only as good as the people you know in it.” We consider Botswana a very good place indeed.

Speaking of quotes, as we already mentioned, we have enjoyed trying different brands of pinotage while here. Since we didn’t know any better, the criterion we used to select the brand was how pretty or creative the label was. Our all-time favorite (in fact favorite sign we’ve ever seen in all our travels) was the warning label on a bottle of Arabella. It reads “Don’t drink and walk on the road, you may be killed.” We laugh anew every time we say it! It has become a catch phrase, like the one our guide used on our day walks in the Okavango Delta when he told us a safe location for "the calling of the nature."

Let’s see, since our trip to KRST (Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust), we have hosted 20 people for dinner – we grilled veggies and corn on the cob and chicken for the missions group from the Shinns home church. As I was cutting veggies I realized I’d be doing this again with my family in less than a week! We have also done a bit more shopping and sightseeing in Gabs. And packing - what fun to try to package our treasures so the airport baggage crew doesn’t destroy them.

Today is an exciting day for the youngest Shinn. She’s having a slumber party birthday party tonight. We are sorry to miss out on that (though we haven’t been told whether we would have been invited if we were still in town, smile), but we have been able to help prep for it. Jon’s creativity is in full use right now as they create an army themed birthday cake for the confirmed tom boy (a child after my own heart).

Thanks to all for following our tremendous adventure. For those who follow the actual owners of this blog, thanks for sharing, and stay tuned, I’m sure they’ll be back from ‘holiday’ soon. God’s peace and blessings to all, J & J.

At our final lunch out. A coffee shop and cafe called Fegos.

Someone came out to say goodbye to us.
He appeared on the kitchen ceiling last night.

Decorating the front door in preparation for her guests this evening.

Our home sweet home away from home in Gabs.