Meet Misty

No, we didn't get another cat. My cousin T lives in the country and has been trying to "catch" a cat to take care of the mice she gets around her house. She hasn't had any luck, but the other night this little one showed up on our front porch.



She is the sweetest little thing! She purrs the instant you pick her up and just loves to be loved. The kids had seen her a couple of times in the neighborhood by herself. She came up on the porch and just stayed. She was hungry and thirsty. We fed her and then she wanted to come in. She just made herself at home.

Having four cats already, we could NOT keep another one! T was very excited when I called her, but she was in Washington DC. Could we please keep her for her?

Well, who am I to say no to a baby kitty? Of course we'll keep her.

Misty is the name they decided on.

My cats have adjusted pretty good to having a little one around. Even Esther, who is the queen around here.

In fact, Misty reminds me of Esther when she was a kitten.



Oh, we'll miss you Misty!

Prayer Request

This is C1 and her Great Aunt D. They share a birthday and a special bond. C1 LOVES her Aunt D! She gets so excited whenever she is here. D lives in Columbus and doesn't get a chance to come very often. But when she does come she always makes a point of seeing C1.

Tomorrow is a special day for D. Tomorrow she starts her treatments for cancer. In May she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her treatments include 5 days of radiation for 5 weeks and a chemo pill. Hopefully, with this pill, she will have an easier time of it. Although I know this whole process will be rough, my aunt is a VERY strong person! She'll make it through.

Please keep her in your prayers. She is definitely in ours.

We are all pulling for you D! We love you!

Crazy Corn

Today I have already made three trips to our nearby city. It is roughly 15 miles round trip. Later this evening I will be making the trip again.

While doing all this driving you can't help but notice the crops in the fields. My grandad was a "gawker." He always looked at the crops and commented on how they were doing. I never really understood why, he was not a farmer. But as I get older I find myself doing the same thing. I make comments to my kids and I'm sure they are wondering why.

While driving on one particular road, there is corn on both sides. The corn has gotten so tall that it is almost like driving in a tunnel, without the top of course.

To get the affect of how tall the corn really is, I made C1 and her friend S, get out and stand by the corn so I could take their picture.



C1 was a little nervous about this. "What if someone sees us?" she said.

Um, taking pictures of the corn? I don't think they will care.

Here's a shot of the corn growing against the soy beans. I kinda love this.



What I really love is when you can actually see the individual rows of corn. So neat and tidy. The way I would like my cupboards to look, but they don't.



Here's a trick I learned from my friend T. Put the camera in the corn, and point up. Then just take the picture. You get what you get. And here's what I got.





Oh, guess what we're having for supper?

Corn on the cob!!!

Catnapping

Remember my mom's kitten Sam? He is growing FAST! He's 12 weeks old now and quite the cutie.

The other night when we stopped out to see my mom, she came out with Sam. We stayed in the car and she placed him on the dash. Being a kitten he had a great time exploring.



Then C1 thought that Sam wanted her.



So she strapped him in her seat belt and told her grandma we were taking Sam home with us!



Poor Sam!

Almost getting catnapped!

(At least she was trying to be safe with a seat belt)

Friends Are Forever

I found this video this morning. I had tears running down my face by the end. I don't know of it is my love for animals, or what it says at the end that got to me. Anyways, enjoy!

Air Bud

Early this morning the dog was being ornery, getting into things, and barking for food. So, M got out of bed and put.him.outside.

Now, when he acts like that in that in the morning, he usually just wants to eat. Give him some food and water and he will lie down and go back to sleep.

When we finally all got up this is what was waiting for us in the backyard.

What he has on his head is a floating basketball hoop that C2 got at Dollar Tree. It was in the bucket of toys, which also tends to get water in the bottom from rain, wet toys, etc. He was thirsty, that's why he was barking so early in the AM. I imagine while sticking his BIG head in the bucket to get a drink, the hoop got stuck.

I'm so glad our yard is fenced in. I wouldn't want the neighbors to be jealous of our "smart"dog!

Biology 101

I had lunch with the teacher I work with today. She had said on the last day of school that we would have to go to lunch sometime soon. Well, summer started and things got busy with us both and we didn't get together until today. She wanted to do it now, because if we waited much longer, she said she would just sit there and cry. Every time she hears the locusts she gets that sick feeling in the pit of her stomach she said.

Well, that got me thinking. Are they locusts? And why do they make that noise? And why so late in the summer? Why do they shed their skins? So, I did some research.

First I Googled "locust". It described a locust as a type of grasshopper. Well, I've seen these boogers and they are no grasshopper! More like a GIANT fly.

So I got a little more technical and Googled "What insect makes the buzzing sound in the trees?". See, much more precise. And I got what I was looking for.

They are called cicada. The droning sound that you hear is actually a mating call. Only the males do the calling to attract the females. Once they have mated, the female slits an opening on a branch or twig and deposits her eggs. After they mate, the cicada dies shortly thereafter.

When the eggs hatch, the young nymphs drop down to the ground and bury themselves in the dirt. Here they will nourish themselves from the sap of the tree roots. This is what is freaky. They stay in this nymph stage, in the ground, for 2-17 years! Wow!

Once they emerge from the ground, they climb several feet up the tree and their skin splits, and the adult cicada pushes its way out.

That is when you find these:

The first two the kids and I had found yesterday. After I did my "research", I went out to the pine tree in the front yard and found three more on there.



Then, I looked directly under the shells, to see if I could tell where they had come from. I'm not sure, but there were a couple of places that looked like this:



It's hard to see, but is actually a small hole in the ground.

After they break from their shells and fly to the trees to mate, they only live an average of two weeks as an adult.

Now, we have all hopefully learned something. I hope it was not just me. If you already knew about this Internet, please, don't make me feel stupid. Let me think I taught you something.

After all, I do work in a Kindergarten classroom.

Synchronized Swimming?

Last night we did some night swimming.

Here's the video of C1 and C2 doing a trick that they came up with:



So...Do you think they're ready to take their show on the road?

You Don't See That Everyday!

On my way home tonight, I had to wait on a train. No big deal in this town. But, I am still shocked at what I saw. I was sitting there kinda in a daze, when the end of the train went by. At the end...I still can't believe it...there was...are you ready? A CABOOSE!!! It was one of those things that you say to yourself, "Was that a caboose?"

Of course I was alone. I wanted to yell at the cars waiting on the other side, "Did you see that?"

Oh, I am such a dork. I am like, so excited by this. Are they coming back? Was this just a fluke? I don't know!

A, can you help me with this?

Find out where this mysterious caboose came from, will ya?

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday.

This is a picture of she and I when we both were obviously a lot younger.

For the most part, it has been just she and I. Due to the War in Vietnam, she was alone when she had me. I think the fact that I was all hers from the very beginning has helped to form a special bond between the two of us. She has always said that we have grown up together. Being an only child has only made that bond stronger.

My mom has given so much of herself to me, I cannot begin to tell it. The time, dedication, and sacrifices she made in my behalf are amazing. Looking back now, especially now that I have a teenager, I am amazed at what she did. Again, during my teenage years, we were alone. Just the two of us. I never went without. But what amazes me the most is the fact that she had the strength to let me go. This is what I am struggling with the most with my own kids. How do you do it with one? How do you trust them enough to make the right decisions? I cannot imagine.

Mom, I know I don't say it enough, but I LOVE you! You are such an important part of who I am, and who I will become. Your love for me and my family is astronomical! My kids know where to turn when they need the extra attention. You are a very important part in our lives! I don't know what we'd do without you!

Happy Birthday!!!

July 20th?

Do you know what July 20th commemorates? If you live in this area you do! On July 20th, 1969 Neil Armstrong was the first man to step on the moon. And why is that such a big deal around here. Because this is his hometown. This is where he grew up. To show their pride in Neil, they even have a festival to celebrate the day.

That is where M needed help yesterday. The festival started last night and the restaurant has a booth there. M, B, and I worked the festival last night and I will probably be there tonight. With the heat wave coming through, last night started off slow. Not too much business, but then again, it was a Thursday night. Tonight I'm sure we will be VERY busy!

At the festival, there are food vendors


rides and games


and of course a band and beer tent.

Here is our booth


M is trying to stay cool.


B was being a brat and did not want me to take his picture. I got him anyways!


The back of their shirts


At our booth we sold tenderloins, fried pickles, fried mozzarella sticks, fried macaroni and cheese bites, ice cream cones, water, pop, and these


Like I said, not too many people eating. What we sold the most was water. I think we were the cheapest. Towards the end of the night, we did sell quite a bit of ice cream and Itti Bitz. Tonight I'm sure we'll be very busy.

I wonder if Neil realized what a celebration his stepping on the moon would cause? Even this many years later? Pretty awesome!

Another Hot One!

Today is another HOT and HUMID day! I was half tempted to spend it like yesterday, but M says no. He needs my help with the restaurant tonight. I don't do much with the restaurant. That is his baby. But, once in a while, he does ask for some help. So, in order to help him out tonight, I need clothes to wear. I certainly could not show up in my ragged shorts and tank top. Or my swim suit. Either of these is what you will catch me in if you stop by unexpectedly. That means laundry needs to be done. And because I'm so anal, I can't do laundry in a cluttered house. Which means I also have to pick up, do dishes, and whatever the kids haven't drawn out of the chore jar.

So, here's how I've been going at it. I do a little work. (enough to work up a sweat) Then I go out to the pool. It's tempting to stay in the pool longer than necessary, but I do get out to tackle the endless list of things to in the house. (enough to work up a sweat) Then I go out to the pool. Then I come back in. You get the idea.

So far, so good. Things are getting done, and I'm beating the heat.

Tomorrow? That's another story.

Lazy Day

Today is a lazy day. I just can't seem to get too motivated. I slept later than usual, maybe that's what has gotten me off to a rough start. But the kids are just lounging around too. I guess maybe it's the heat. It's VERY hot and humid. You would think we would be in the pool. But they are parked in front of the TV and I've been napping.

I hate wasting the day.

There's so much to do.

But once in a while is OK, right?

Right Said Fred

I'm too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts!



'nuff said!

Heavy Traffic

The worst part about the jamboree is the traffic. Since we live one block north of the fire station, which is located on Main Street, our street gets all the detoured traffic.

This is the traffic on our street on a normal day.

Looking left,

looking right,

and center.


Now, here is the traffic during the jamboree.

Looking left,

looking right,

and center.


Thankfully it only comes once a year!

Fireman's Jamboree

This weekend is the annual Fireman's Jamboree! This is the biggest event of the year for our small town! It runs Friday night and all day Saturday. There is good food, rides, raffles, bands, Bingo, and a parade. You don't dare miss the jamboree. Although, we did have to miss last night due to Family Night at Boy Scout Camp. But we heard that between the car show and the band that played, there were around 4,000 people in attendance. That is twice the total population of this village! Amazing!

We made up for our absence last night today though. After watching the parade, we went to the firehouse for chicken dinners. Mmmmm! They were good. Then the kids got to have their fun.

They rode the rides. (Everyone except C2. He just doesn't want to. He's not scared)



And they played lots of games.




They all wanted to win one of these,


but all we came home with were these.


I will be hiding those in the next few days.

Family Night

Remember my excitement about Boy Scout Camp? Well, the week has flown by. Last night was family night at the camp and today he came home. The camp is actually only forty five minutes away. So the drive up there is not too bad. It's the hike to their actual campsite that's rough. His troop likes to reserve the site that is the farthest away from anything so that they have their privacy during the week. Nice for them all week I suppose, but when it's 89 degrees and HUMID, not.so.nice.




So, after the 57 mile hike to the camp site, everyone sets up their chairs for a nice visit. The boys show their parents around the site and talk about what they have done all week. Then we eat. The troop provides some sort of meat, and the families are to bring desserts and/or other side dishes. It's really kinda nice.




Then we all make the 57 mile hike back up to the main part of the camp for some activities and the campfire ceremonies. After all is said and done the families head for the parking lot and the boys go back to the campsite.

Glad we didn't have to make that hike back again!

Swimming In The Dark

Tonight we have cousins staying all night. The weather is nice enough that they were able to swim late. Everyone loves to swim late! They all had a great time taking turns jumping off the ladder. Usually, this is NOT allowed, but since it's night swimming, I'll let it slip.






Here's the whole group for one last picture before they got out!


They should sleep good tonight!

Times Have Changed!

Remember the days of locking yourself in your bedroom with a radio and cassette recorder to tape a song off the radio? You would wait with the tape in the recorder set to just the right spot. Then, when you heard the first few notes of the song you wanted to record, you would leap across the bed or whatever to get to the recorder to push the record button. Then you would be real quiet. You didn't want any background noise to come through on your tape. Heaven forbid if your mom or anyone knock on the door or came into the room because then your recording would be ruined. Sometimes getting a full tape of the songs you wanted would take quite a few days. This was a very slow process.

Well folks, those days are gone. C1 spent part of the morning updating her MP3 player. She searched for songs and then downloaded them to her MP3. This whole process took maybe forty five minutes.




These kids have no idea how lucky they are!