Ha !

So, Jason...you had your fun, but your slightly-less-then-utterly-helpless maman has unskewed the template and thus you fall to your rightful 3rd place in the line of progenic succession.

No more of this "privileged" blarney.

NO, no no, no no.

Naturally, I also changed my password. Something akin to, "outofthewill" or "jasontheterrible."

Or not.

You will never figure out my password...never in a million years.

Mwah, hah, hah, hah, hah.....
 

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Life in the Yard

This time of year makes it difficult to find pretty flowers. Many are past their optimum bloom time, and the weeds have taken over the ditches, not to mention my garden.

Here is a little hardy geranium, a holdout amongst the greenery.
 
Life:  A blend of sunshine and shadow.

(A better photographer would have decreased the exposure. A humble one doesn't mind telling you she forgot. As it is always difficult to choose between humility and proficiency, I prefer the less showy of the two :-)

Carolyn's "Heavenly Blue" morning glories volunteered themselves for another year of duty.
  
They seem to live up to their name quite admirably.
 

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Boys in the 'hood

I know this probably looks bad....
 
....but it's just a matter of having stopped by the grocery store. The saleslady whipped out the sucker box while I was scrounging the bottom of my purse for a penny.

Nolan displays that eternal Hoyt trait: skepticism.
 

Not sure whether Trevor is having fun or in pain, but we stopped by the park after running a few errands in town.
  

And since one of those errands was buying mower gas, I'd better get crackin'....
 

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Potential

  

Ah, the start of school. That time of year when we welcome the smell of new textbooks and kiss expanded summer game-time goodbye.

I am glad for the following:

-Ardith is happily tapping away at her wonderful computer job each day and making the world safe for democracy.

-Sharon is picking up "ye olde Spanishe" and enjoying her time in Argentina, where she has influenced her hostess to eat oatmeal for breakfast.

-Jason has made it through his first class--history--pronounced it "probably boring" and someone has scrounged up a calculator for him (new ones cost $180.00 at the bookstore!!) Most importantly, he had to wear his new suit for yearbook pictures yesterday. How I WISH I could have been there to see him, all resplendent in black suit, white shirt, tie and black tennis shoes. (good shoes arrive tomorrow)

-Bossy Ma is reassigning a few chores: kids clean the kitchen floor twice per week, and Kendra and Melinda take over the bread making. Nolan has taken his slot with the dishwasher, though I still have to oversee and help him.

But mostly, I am thankful that my computer did not break down until AFTER I had typed, printed and collated the forms for six homeschool students.

We officially start the day after Labor Day, since I have this thing about kids getting a full summer. With no fog delays, no snow days and no parent/teacher conferences--aside from the occasional consorting of teacher and principal--we should easily et in the required time.

(crazy "g" doesn't work riht......GGGGGGGGGGggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg...there, that makes me feel better)

Continuing on this educational theme, I must sadly report that Ma took the "Word Geek goes Latin!" quiz (third heading on right) and only got 16 of 20 correct. I missed the last four and most difficult questions.

But I am not the only one "out of the know." Apparently many science books still teach the standard taste map of the tongue, even though it has been proven to be wrong. Wow. Just goes to show you that if repeated over and over, these pet theories--(Evolution, anyone?)--will eventually be treated as gospel truth.

Oops, pardon that reference to the Veritas.

Proceeding with more tonguish stuff, check out the newly patented inventions, here.

Well, that's all the time we have today for educational edification. I have a date with some more ragweed this afternoon, as well as a few neglected flower beds.

This is Ma, reminding everyone that not all knowledge comes from books.

Veni, vidi, herba mala vici.
 

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Announcement

It appears the oldest son (that would be Jason) tested out of Computer Science 1 and is starting off in CS2.

Jason, well done ! Now, aren't you glad for all those late hours when we sweated over the keyboards together?

(by the way, what was that you do to get the alt prompts for accents on the laptop, again?)

p.s. I found the missing laundry. It was in the dryer, wherein I placed it after it didn't quite get dry on the clothesline, which I strung up because the dryer was hardly working anymore.

So....yeah....school starts in one week and I obviously need a vacation.

BOY--do--I--need--a--vacation.
 

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The day of rain and forgetfulness

I can't find that basket of laundry I took off the line....

You would think it's rather too large to misplace for long. Just so's I didn't leave it out in the yard...'cause it's RAINING. (great, more encouragement for grass to grow)

But the good news is, I found my missing make-up bag :-) It had traveled down to Texas on the floor of the blue Toyota.

Also, I have found my missing pill compartment, which I assure you, just holds your average OTC vitamins and herbs.

The bad news is, I only got 7 of 13 right on the Star Trek quiz. (go here, quiz is on right side)
____________________________

Today I leave for the great weekly shopping excursion, which I get to experience all by my lil' ol' self. Provided I can remember how to get there and back....

One little task will be to mail Jason his good shoes, which he forgot at home. You know what they say, "Great minds think alike."

Am I sensing a theme, here?

I may be forgetful, but I hope I'm not foolish.
 

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Too old to take afternoon naps....

.....and too young to stay awake for the news....
  

....yet still maintaining an air of sophistication.
 

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Well, well, well.....

....aren't we clever.

I hesitate to draw your attention to this, but it would seem the oldest son, so recently deposited at LeTourneau, has started his own blog. (glance left, under "privileged")

Not only that, but he has hacked into his maman's template to that effect.

I was going to link him, just as soon as he gave me the address....and now I see why he was holding back.

I would have been aware of this EARLIER if:

a) my computer worked
b) my laptop would log on to the wireless, which it's refused to do all afternoon
c) I hadn't been mowing for 135 minutes without stop. Except for two tank fill-ups for the push mower...yes, that's right. I was SWEATING BUCKETS WHILE THIS.....THIS SON OF MINE WAS HACKING MY BLOG!! (nice job, by the way, Jason :-)

Thankfully, I have a dear, sweet daughter still at home, who has allowed me the use of her computer and who, incidentally, enters her senior year of highschool and will be presenting a transcript to some college or other, which JUST MIGHT REFLECT the fact that she has not had the audacity to blog-meddle!

Of course, there are several options. I could change my password...and...I don't know, wipe his blog off the face of the earth or something...

But for now I shall leave things as they stand. Let's allow time for guilt to have its transforming effect on this obviously wayward offspring.

After all, I bear no grudges.

And Jason....if you don't believe that last promise,

just--ask--your--father....
 

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Bunny Sprinkles*

What to do when the cheapo wading pool has developed so many cracks that it can best be used as a colander?

Time to improvise.
 
We have LOTS of these Blue Bunny ice cream buckets. (It's not so much of a "Ma buys too much ice cream" kinda thing, it's more of a "secretive plastic procreative process" that takes place in the cupboards at night. I suspect it also involves missing socks from the dryer but I haven't been able to prove that part, yet)

So, Ma took the hose and nozzle, poked it up through the bottom of an ice cream bucket, braced 'er up with three bricks on the bottom--which not only holds the hose in place, but provides space for the curve of the hose--as well as a few brick remnants in-side the bucket, to prop the nozzle upright. It doesn't have to be perfect, just spray water around for random good water fun-ness.

The boys decided to wear their muscle shirts....
  
...with mixed results.

Another advantage is not having to keep such a close eye on things, since to my knowledge, no one ever drowned in a sprinkler.

*patent pending
 

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In short.....

Another spiritual animal...

and another break for tall people.

Also, rumor has it Jason is registered for classes and even has his books :-)
 

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Further Adventures of Akahbar

by Ali Gaugh Ree

Rue this. Rue that. Akahbar was getting rather tired of it all.

The pillow-making business which had seemed so attractive to the gray goose ten years ago, was now waxing pallid, interspersed with definite wanes of contentment.

It could have been the unrelenting down. Or perhaps the stuffingess wasn't quite so crafty as before. Whatever it was, the fluff had lost its silky charm and pillows now seemed a commonplace lump of puff.

Sadly, Akahbar's choices were slim. From the time he was in the roe his entire life had been plotted out for him.

As the Proprietors often said,

"Geese were made to produce pillows. Anything else is simply a sham. Re-mem-ber...you perform a vital service. Aids to blissful unconsciousness are not to be sneezed at. Besides, knowing you are cheerfully making the pillows leaves Us happily free to do more interesting things."

"Though you do not get to make the rules, you are just as important as those who do. Even so, Rule #1 states you cannot change the rules."

WELL then....who could argue with the Rulereaders? Especially rules forbidding argument.

How the meek gray-one endeavored to do his part and fit into the fowl scheme of things. And for many years he seemed untroubled, experiencing pride in his humble work.

There were times, though, that Akahbar wondered of things apart from fluff. He felt a longing to know of one thing and another, and even this and that. And occasionally, when he was feeling particularly non-compliant, he even felt the urge to search out this, that and the other thing.

Yes, Akahbar yearned for newness of niche.

Friends and relatives could not understand Akahbar's elseful pining. Obviously, there were problems with his whole pond process. As they saw it, it was bad enough that Akahbar had ponderings. But if you added in a process and got it anywhere near to being whole, dangerous results could emerge. For one thing, there was the distinct possibility that something akin to logic might spew forth, inevitably leading to....well....an emergency.

Redemption seemed nowhere NEAR to nigh and that drawing business was hardly an option.

It wasn't long before word got 'round the lochosphere.

Out of propriety the Rulereaders consulted the Job Manual:

"Article 19, section 8, paragraph nine clearly states that you were meant to be a pillow-maker....*snap*.....We have never had a problem with geese devoting long thankless hours to pillow production before. At least, not with the ones that stayed in the gaggle.....say, you haven't been listening to alternative intelligence now, have you? Remember....EVERYTHING you need to know is in the Manual. All information obtained outside the Manual is suspect, doubtful and possibly even ostensible. Any ancillary awareness on your part is only asking for anxiety."

"Have you been feeling anxious, Akahbar? Or even worse, unctuously anxious?"

The disgruntled goose thought long and stiff. He thought about what the Rulereaders would surely say to him:

"Your problem is wrong ponderings, which lead to sore peevings which lead to bad handiwork. If our crafters could just stop their wrong ponders.....or....maybe even stop pondering all to-gether, life would be more manageable. Cinchy, even. Here's what we can do: start intensive re-education sessions, followed by personal visits to your nest, followed by follow-up visits. Visits both divers and multifarious in nature."

The poor bird felt his head begin to spin...

"Well Akahbar? Speak up, goosey sill...ARE--YOU--ANXIOUS?!"

"I confess to feeling unctuous from time to time, but only in the least anxious way. If there is nothing else, I'll be getting back to my craftiness now...."

"Splendid! Your good work is always a creditable reflection on Us. And remember young fellow....just because we are the Proprietors, does not mean we are better than you, it simply means we don't hear as well."

And so the doughty goose set his woolgathering aside and resumed his downy furrow.

Occasionally he still dreamed. Dreamed of this, that and even the other thing.

But mostly he dreamt of uttering his dreams....
 

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The Jim-Bob Report

*heard backstage*

"Okay, this time EVERY-body....."

"The----WHEELS on the bus go ROUND and round,
ALL around the TOWN-o.."

"Hee hee! You guys were GREAT....Okay, settle down...places everyone..."

"Five seconds to air....in three....two.....one...."

"Good evening, everyone. I'm Jim McDonald. Tonight we bring you a new feature, an in-depth look at that story all of America's been following...Countdown to Couric. We've sent our ace reporter, Bob MacCackle, to New York for the details in the upcoming anchor takeover. Bob? Tell us what's going on in the Big Apple..."

"Well Jim, if you can believe it, this city is even bigger than Des Moines ! But I'm not here to.....talk......WOW!...look at that tall building....!"

"Bob....BOB! What about Ms. Couric? Tell us about the preparations for the first woman news anchor..."

"Oh yeah, right....*sound of rustling papers*....Here's the scoop, Jim. Everyone's been wondering about the new studio look and we've got the lowdown. Are you ready for this, Jim?"

"Been ready, Bob....please go ahead."

"Well, the new anchor desk will be made of.....Ginger root maple laminate!"

"Ginger root....Bob? Have you been hitting the rib joints again? That sounds an awful lot like a barbecue glaze..."

"No way, Jim. This will be an incredible innovation, since all the previous anchors have gone with the darker mohagany hues. It's pretty obvious Katie intends to make a bold statement with this choice of desk color. But Jim, there's more. The carpeting will be bright red and blue!"

"Whoa, Bob! Are you sure ?"

"Positive, Jimbo. Everyone's agreed it's a clever tactic to appeal to both conservative and liberal viewers....red AND blue states......it's just...just so balanced and beautiful, man.....*sniff*...."

"Now Bob....get a grip on your psyche, my friend.....What about the competing networks, Bob? Anything of interest going on?"

"Oh fer sure, Jim. As you know, Charles Gibson, formerly known as Charlie, recently went from the morning show to the evening news for ABC. He's being promoted with the slogan 'Your Trusted Source.' So naturally CBS is tossing around a few possible phrases for Katie. To date they've come up with 'I look swell on a bus,' and 'Nyah, nyah, I can wear stilettos and the two other guys can't,' although this last one is being reworked due to length. I'm sure they'll run it by the focus groups, Jim."

"Focus groups, Bob?"

"Oh sure. NO decisions are made these days without focus groups. And that brings up the subject of NBC. Katie's old network has been gathering its executives for regular meetings to guard against complacency. Just because they've been number one, doesn't mean they can afford to become mental couch potatoes. No sirree!"

"Sounds as though you've covered all the bases, Bob. Anything else before we sign off?"

"Just this, Jim. If our bosses ever want to beef up our image, I've got the perfect vehicle for me...."

"Uh....Bob...."

"A Mack truck!"

".....*turns back toward audience*.....AND that's all we have time for, ladies and gentlemen. Tune in next time for our special entitled, 'Outcasts of the Universe: or, The Commonalities of Pluto and Tom Cruise.'

For Bob MacCackle in New York, this is Jim McDonald wishing you, good-night."
 

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The three-day pet

Animal Rule #1....the Hoyts do not keep pets
Animal Rule #2....even if random stray beasts come around, we do not provide an environment that encourages putting down roots, no matter how cute.
 

Animal Rule #3....children are adjured to NOT give attentions to strays, other than attempts to run them off the property....in a humane way, of course.
 

ALLLLLLL right. Enough is enough.
  

So, there's been this occasional cat coming round, which we regularly chase away. Particularly when there are baby birds about. (see, we're not totally heartless)

Until one day, said cat comes strolling out of the cornfield with a couple of kitties. So, having the whole gender issue resolved, it was hoped--by the adults, anyway--that none of the felines would stick around.

The mother didn't, but one of her offspring did. What's more, it showed an abysmal lack of fright when one ran at it making scaresome noises. In fact, it cried most piteously, which grew into a raspy, throaty call that gave one the distinct impression that it might be....well....hungry.

Animal Rule #4....never, NEVER feed a stray animal!!!

After a couple of days it seemed the mother was doing a fine impression of Maizie, from "Horton Hatches an Egg."

And then, it appeared that the younger children, in denial over Rule #3, were giving the kitty rides on the swing set.

"Alright....SOME-thing has to be done!" said Kendra to her maman, who was in denial over a LOT of things...

ANY-way, arrangements were made to take the kitten in a box to prayer meeting where everyone would lay hands on it...and.....no wait....

Arrangements were made to take the kitten in a box to prayer meeting where we would make connections with friends who lived on a farm and had experienced the decimation of 90% of their newborn kitty population due to coons earlier this year. (I think this one's big enough to get along)

In the intervening two days, I temporarily recinded Animal Rule #4 in an effort to assure survival. Since Loren isn't here, I let the kids use his cereal bowl :-D to feed it a small saucer of milk three times per day. I figured it might need to supplement it's diet of crickets, butterflies and grasshoppers. (funny how they didn't feel bad for the bugs....) It was about this time that the poor kitty started purring most harmoniously and rubbing around the legs of the kids, who seemed less than sad at this developement.

It's now on the far side of the county, where I know it will receive tender loving care and midnight walkabouts with Laura Severs. (*waves to Laura* :-)

There were a few tears at bedtime last night, but I trust some day the children--even if they don't agree with me right now--will understand.
 

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Engineer Ma

We've been working with a sluggish dryer.

But last week, instead of just taking twice as long as a normal dryer, it suddenly decided to take four times as long and frankly, I thought 180 minutes to dry a small to moderate load just a tad excessive.

Not sure whose idea it was, but a clothesline was bought and yesterday--after the guys were safely out of the way--Ma went to work.
 
I moved one of the swingsets so it would face one of the large pines ("Swing Tree" for those in the know) and started ropin' her off.

Decided I'd better remove the decrepit glider swing part, that was nothing more than a hazard.
 
The bolts were so rusty that I finally had to use the hacksaw on the last part. At least, I think that's what a hacksaw is for...

The kids thought this was the greatest thing since chocolate pudding. I've never had so many volunteers!
  
Course, they thought the dishwasher was fun for the first week, too.

So yeah, Ma's gettin back in touch with her pioneer side. I'm practically a Prairie Muffin....or maybe we should make that Neo Muffin.

Actually, the manifesto is rather too saccharin and doormattish for my tastes, though I will admit that denim jumpers with pockets are quite handy for holding clothespins.

Now, since I've solved the laundry problem, I'll move on to other matters. My computer did that mysterious "Let's shut down and lose Ma's lengthy, scintillating comment to Ardith's blog" thing, so I'm using the trusty laptop again. The screen makes it hard to adjust the tuning on pictures, but it's not that bad.....so....

Heady with the success of setting up a clothesline I now move on to fixing my computer.

I mean hey, how hard can it be?

Note to Loren: no need to hurry back....everything's under control.
 

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Update on the travelers

Loren, Jason and Derek arrived safely in Sand Springs Ok (suburb of Tulsa) last night around 6:15. I got home from partying....I mean taking the kids to the library, McDonald's and the park....and found this IM on my computer,

"Arrived safely without TOO much trouble..."

O-kay.

I found out a little more on the phone this morning. Loren had to hit the brakes when someone pulled out in front of him and then the car started making a funny noise.

They stopped not long after at McDonald's and looked things over, rotating the front tires several times. At least I think it was rotating. It was either that or levitating....I always get those mixed up.

ANYWAYS, through either natural or supernatural means, the noise subsided.

Loren thought that perhaps a small piece of the brake shoe had broken off when he jammed on the breaks and become lodged in there somewheres, making the noise. Then, with the help of levitational therapy, it was knocked loose.

I'm fairly certain mechanical genius runs in the family. Why, just yesterday I put up a small clothesline between a tree and one of the swing sets. Don't worry, I have pictures of everything....
 

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Too good not to pass along

I think I've alluded to this before, but here it is in a nutshell.

Anyway, I feel I've done MY part...
 

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And then there were seven....

That refers to seven children left at home, but there are seven persons currently in the house, since Loren is driving Jason down to college and Derek is along for the ride and manly conversation.

We appreciate any prayers for their safety. They stop in Sand Springs, OK for the night, then head on down to Tyler, Texas on Wednesday. Thursday morning is registration at the university, which is approximately 40 minutes from our relatives in Tyler.

Jason vainly tries to suppress his glee...not only at being off to college, but not having to climb up on those ladders anymore.
 

But before the menfolk could leave, a little problem with the hood....
 
"Why won't this stupid thing latch?" A broken spring was discovered and another one scrounged up from....some-where.....*goes off to check oven door*

Included in the packing, a portion dug up from "Grandma's Rosebush."
 
I promised my brother-in-law Walter that I would send this down. It came from my maternal Grandmother's flowerbed and is one of those old and hardy types. She died before I was born, but her name was Lizzie Miller and her rosebush lives on. (and that's not short for "Elizabeth," her given name was "Lizzie")

There are two rootings from the plant, Walter. The first one looked a little small, so I dug another. It's a good thing I was mowing around it yesterday, or I would have forgotten completely! Plant and enjoy, O Fellow Tiller of the Soil :-)

The blue Toyota, with a new windshield and repainted hood. It looks like a real car, now.
  
I gotta admit....I will miss the pride in driving an old, beat-up looking vehicle.

Hmmmm....I hope there's enough room for Derek in the back seat.
 

Jason claims to have even less for the front passenger side.....maybe if there were a couple less laptops....
 

Ethan waves goodbye...."Ethan, are those your pajamas??" Nolan all dressed and swearing he put on clean underwear this morning.
  
Trevor smiles at his hero, probably thinking he'll be back in a day or so. Boy, is that kid in for a shock....

So off Jason goes to college, and very glad I am for the opportunity he has to study at LeTourneau.

Will we miss him? Of course, but it wouldn't be right for him to stay.

Besides, there's only so much I can teach him about computer programming...
 

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Ma's News Nuggets

We have a real hodge-podge of subject matter today, highly indicative of the unorganized flow of Ma's mind.

For all you teachers out there, here's an idea to capture your students' attention.

I have NO plans to utilize this for our homeschooling, anytime in the near future.

And speaking of education, will the SAT survive? So far, our oldest three have taken both tests. If they seem to have reasonably similar results, I feel it can reinforce their GPA. In other words, the college admissions panel can know that I've not just been jotting down grades on a whim.

Here's a fellow who may not need to go to college. Would have been nice to have seen his blond hair, though.

On to the animal kingdom!

How's about this for a bridesmaid?

And for those apes unlucky in love, a dating service.

It's just this kinda stuff that makes it hard to believe in evolution. I think it's obvious that a few of the species neglected to evolve. And I'm not necessarily talking about the apes....

And finally, a Pickles Cartoon to give a bounce to your step,

unless you have legs like mine.

Have a real buenos jour, and all that...
 

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On Growing

  

Trevor: "When will I be a caterpillar?"

Ma:....*chuckling*....."You won't ever be a caterpillar. You're a boy. You'll get bigger and bigger--like your brothers--and then someday you'll be a man, like Daddy!"

*thinks*

Trevor: "I wish God would make me gwow fas-toh...."
 

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Hola Argentina!

Yes, 'tis time to learn of the land where daughter Sharon is studying this semester.

Come with Conquistador Ma, as we travel and gain new knowledge, with a few of my own hypotheses thrown in. It'll be your job to decide which facts are true and which ones are somewhat made-up but completely plausible when you think of it from my warped perspective.

Here we go!

*sounds of classical guitar music*

Argentina is located at the bottom of South America, with the Pacific Ocean on the right (east) and that long, skinny, "Why-did-WE-get-stuck-with-the-Andes?" country to the left, (west) Chile. (by the way, ALWAYS remember to spell it with an "e" on the end, otherwise you will google up a LOT of restaurants)

Besides bordering Chili...I mean CHILE, Argentina is neighbor to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay (and get that picture of the LOTR Urukai out of your HEAD, people!).

Those last two countries naturally bring up the question, "What on earth is a 'guay' ?"

Well, for starters, if you type in "Paraguay" at the Online Etymology Dictionary, you will come up with "petunia."

*refers back to Wikipedia*

It comes from an indigenous language--Guaraní--and means "river." So basically, we've got this "river thing" goin' on down in South America.

Now, the name "Argentina" comes from the Latin word argentum, which means "silver."

Huh. We can already see where THIS is going.

Spanish Conquistadors (means "conquerors," if you can be-lieve it)--who humbly referred to themselves as "explorers" when dealing with the natives--got the idea that there was silver 'round about these parts, possibly due to the fact that the Indians were wearing silver ornaments. (BIG mistake, guys...)

Naturally they thought to themselves, "Whoa! A bunch of innocent native types who could very well be corrupted by money and wealth if they ever found out how much this shiny stuff is worth....! We'd better come to their aid and take it off their hands, saving them untold future misery."

Well, it didn't take long for the conquistadors/explorers to discover the "Río de la Plata," which is Spanish for "Silver River." (after the 12th century, the word "plate" came to stand for gold or silver, particularly in Early Middle English--ya just gotta love this whole language/etymology business....I sure do :-)

After following the river up and up and up, the explorers finally reached the source of the silver, only to find that it had been claimed by.....get this, OTHER EXPLORERS!

Boy, were they ever sorry they had not called ahead.

But on a more positive note, Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world. So yes, it is even bigger than Texas. (though frankly, I don't think it's legitimate for Argentina to be placed behind Australia...I mean really, is it fair to be a country and a continent at the same time? Let the Aussies pick one or the other, fer cryin' out loud)

This could go on and on, but time and prudence (not to mention, reason) demand that we call a halt to Fun Argentine Facts for the time being.

Tune in next time when we discover why "Argentina is 'Bi' ."

(don't worry. really.)

Until then,

Hasta la vista
 

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The fun of repairing shingles

Our terrible roof of 3 years ago was rebuilt and reshingled by an Amish roofing crew. Due to it being close to fall/winter, some of the shingles may not have sealed, and it seems the edge shingles were not affixed properly.
 So now Jason is going along, prying up some above the edge, tarring them down as well as replacing the bottom row of shingles that blew off. (You can see where some are missing) Ethan is the ever ready tool-hander-outer.

It is pretty high up, necessitating a steep ladder angle. Jason has wired the ladder with cable around two attic windows.
 

Boy oh boy, will he and I be glad when this is over. Carolyn sits on the bottom as a stabilizer.
 My bulk would be a better weight...but Carolyn is glad to help her big brother. She even volunteered to stay at home on library day.

Hmmmm. It appears the Rugosa Rose--long used as a cloaking device for the heat pump--just....might....be in the way.
  

Bye bye, rose bush.
 Not to worry, these bush types are ex-TREMELY hardy. In two or three years it'll be back where it was. I think. Anyway, I did want to send my son down to college intact.

Sometimes, it's just good to get down from the heights and rest.
  If you think you see something dark on Jason's chin....that is not a soul patch, just good, clean tar.
 

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It's been a mixed day

We arrived at the first library where....

Nolan discovered a new toy animal. Probably a beaver.
 

Trevor demonstrates how the fearless rodent can attack an animal four times its size.
 

Other than that, the dryer is broken down, how-EVER, two out of three cycles still work on the washer.

*sniff*

I think something has died in the basement.....

UNFORTUNATELY, the second library was closed when we got there (who shuts down at three? fer cryin' out loud!) so we drove a half hour for nothing and had to bring those books home since they would have overwhelmed the book drop.

BUT, I got all my homeschool registration papers in to the local school and I now have two rolls of quarters just waiting to be deposited in the awful dryers at the town laundramat.

UT OH, the used transmission on Loren's zippy red car seems to be going out again.....

HOWEVER, Jason did not fall off the ladder while fixing the missing shingles from the three-year-old roofing job. Just one more side of the house to go....

But hey, it's Friday.
  

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Ma's News Nuggets

Today's themes deal with ignorance and gullibility, which pretty much go hand in hand.

You've heard of the Virgin Mary cheese sandwich, and quite possibly the Fish Called Allah, BUT.....what about a chocolate Madonna?

And speaking of people that aren't divine, there's a three million dollar reward for anyone who finds Elvis Presley alive.

There's a slim-to-none chance of spying a supreme court justice on a cheese sandwich, because many Americans' interests are so pathetic that they are more familiar with the seven dwarfs!

Hmmm. I had thought this might be a mildly amusing post, but now it just kinda makes me sad....

Time for something totally outrageous. Be sure and click up the image of the cat in question.

*shudders*

I may have trouble sleeping tonight.

That's all for today's news of the stupid. The kids and I travel to the libraries this afternoon in hopes of keeping ignorance at bay in our little corner of the world.
 

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A Visit Down the Road

We had supper at the Craig's this evening.
 They live about 7 miles down the road on what they affectionately call, "Old MacDonald's Farm."

Eeyore looking cool and gray
 

"Mrs. Jo" likes to decorate her fridge...
 

....and cupboards. She has singlehandedly kept the magnetic photo industry in business.
  Rumor has it that husband Gerry has taken out stock in in Kodak. Is this true, Mr. Gerry?

This decorating motif can be found on the walls, too.

Mrs. Jo has a wide selection of toys in her basement. The guns were a popular item with Trevor, as was the hillbilly hat :-)
 

Nolan demonstrating a look of Christian charity while aiming his six-shooters
 

The cow tries to get up close and personal with Ma.
 "Not the lens, Elsie. NOT THE LENS!!"

One of the big reasons for our visit, to see Owen and Marilyn Cornelius from Indiana.
  They are old friends from our days in Warsaw....of course, I don't mean OLD old, but then again, you are getting a little gray, Owen :-) (It's OK, we all are...just look at Gerry...)

Cornelius's are taking son Joe back out to a Bible Institute in S. Dakota, and now that I think of it, why didn't I get a picture of both boys, Tim and Joe?

Because "Pawpaw" whisked them off (with granddaughter Nikki) to see "Superman," and Ma is getting so absent-minded that she doesn't think of things until it's too late.

We had a great time, and Jo served up her usual sparse table: spaghetti with homemade sauce, homemade applesauce, homemade dinner rolls, homemade cinnamon rolls, real butter (I think she got that from the store....) homemade jellies, fresh sliced peaches, pickled green beans from a neighbor (garlic and dill, YUM!) fresh chocolate cake and apple crisp with ice cream, and then indoors s'mores.....*groan*.....

We pretty much had to roll ourselves home.

*happy sigh*

Now, for those that like to pray for people, you can remember Cornelius's as they continue out to S. Dakota, and then back again to Indiana in a couple of days.

Also, Mrs. Jo's mom is in the hospital with a leg infection--basically, blood poisoning. IV antibiotics and everything. She is 82 and half the reason Jo Craig is the sweet hospitable person that she is. Wish I could remember her name, but GOD DOES, so thanks for praying for Jo's mom :-)
 

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Ma Takes the Easy Way Out....

....and posts more from the offspring. The following comes from Derek....



A Dragon Tale

Once upon a certain and specific time,      1
There was a regular, respectful town.
Each person not owning much more an’-a-dime.
This village stretched the land up and down.

Once upon that time a dragon came nearby.       5
This dragon, he saw that little city.
He saw it afar, with hunger acry,
Where it was, peaceful as a kitty.

He said, quite certain he was to himself,
"Why burn I not this village to the ground?       10
Is it so powerful as to put me on the shelf?
Naw, 'cause I could burn it and scatter it-a-round."

"Thus I will do to this pooor… little place.
I will singe, destroy and devour.
All life here will I erase,      15
Till I have laid the need for its every bower."

So off the dragon slid.
Swiftly to the city he came.
Till of the previous place he was rid.
And to the next place he was in flesh and name.      20

The townspeople screamed in utter terror
At the site of this great monster.
Of which they had thought were much rarer
Now one was come to turn the town to a dumpster.

The few were there indeed,      25
Who stood up to this great beast,
On foot as well as on steed.
They came hurriedly to defend, at least.

"What!" roared the dragon,
"Who dare defy me?!       30
I am stronger than wagon
and weapon can't you see?"

In a flash were they transpired.
Out of this world in a wisp.
The dragon, he towered       35
And made the land crisp.

In a moment or two the town lay in shambles.
The streets with the garbage anew.
The burning buildings in rambles.
The people gone and devoured too.       40

Thus the story ends, now so soon.
The dragon finished the job that he started.
There the birds no more whistled a tune.
The town now with the world, parted.      44


The End

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Nolan Art

It's time, once again, to highlight that 7-year-old budding artist, Nolan Joseph Hoyt.

I came into the kitchen one day and found this taped to the refrigerator.
 As it exhibited the influence of Calvin and Hobbes, I hesitated to ask its meaning. But the watercolor-painter volunteered, "It's me....yelling for cookies."

O-kay.

This one appeared on the table just before breakfast.
 Every once in a while, motherhood pays off :-)

Drawn last night during prayer meeting.
  My photo of it didn't turn out that great, but you get the....uh....picture. One is supposed to start at the left, bottom and read up, followed by reading across the bottom. The "teeht" are pointed out, just in case the viewer might miss them. The artist realized his spelling error, but chose not to correct it.

Indeed, should any of us be accosted by a shark, we can only hope to be on terra firma, so that we actually can run for our lives.
 

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Big day up at the acreage

Despite waking up feeling like a beached tuna with a belly full of mothballs, a fair amount of work got done this day....(make that, yesterday)

• I was able to type up and print out all the curriculum lists for the six children in school this fall. Helpful husband donwloaded another printed form from HSLDA that I have to fill out for each one...."thanks, Dear"....*grimaces*
  
• Loren made a trip to the big city for supplies, also mailing an important package....(note to Ardith: a small box containing globular green specimens from the nightshade family will be arriving in the mail tomorrow or the next day....*checks watch*....make that today or tomorrow, which we've instructed the postman to leave on your porch. Please alert D. of the Neighborhood Watch that this is NOT a bomb....)
  
• Got some mowing done with the help of Kendra, Derek and Melinda
  
• Made bread, which Jason says he is finally starting to appreciate now that he'll be going off to college......*rolls eyes*
  
• In the nick of time, remembered Sharon was doing a presentation on Thursday and desired pictures concerning homeschooling, so I staged the kids with their notebooks from last year and their books for this fall in the living room and instructed them to look busy for a few seconds. Now that I think about it, I really had one more day to get her the stuff.....ah well.
  
• Managed to sleep until one this morning....*makes note to work on that*
  
• With supreme willpower, stayed awake in bed until almost three, when I could stand it NO MORE....*makes note to sneak back into bed so I can turn off alarm at 4:45*
  
• Oh yes, just killed a cricket by my desk a minute ago

Technically, these last two items fall under today's activities, but I say, "Who cares?"

Here we see the finished eaves on the north side. That smooth white stuff perpendicular to the ground is fascia: which comes from Latin, meaning "band."
The panels underneath with the little holes in them are the soffit, coming from Italian: soffito, but ultimately from Latin:suffigere, which means "to fasten beneath."
 Suddenly, this construction stuff is all startin' to make sense.

While out taking pictures around sixish, we noticed many swallows, and then MANY dragonflies swooping in and out, snapping up bugs.
 Jason: "Please let them be eating the hover flies....PLEASE...." The hover flies are annoyingly abundant this year.

Jason consults the boss while working on the last section
 

I thought this was nifty....in order to put a ladder on a slanted roof, they attached a "leg" with clamps to the bottom of one side of the ladder.
 That debris on the roof edge is the last of the sparrow condos that had been located under ALL eaves.

I spied a Red Admiral basking on the west (front) side of the house.
 It looked like a newly minted butterfly, since all of the wings are intact. As you can see, not all of the paint on the original section of the house is intact....

Loren gets in on the act, proving he doesn't make Jason do ALL the work. That's Ethan, peering out the window with helpful supervisory looks.
  (Me to Jason: "It's gonna be a real pleasure goin' off to college, after all the work you've done this summer..." His reply "You have no i-DEA how many times I've thought that same thing...")

*smirk* Man oh man. Sometimes, I think I can read peoples' minds. Fortunately, they can't read mine.

Mellow picture for the end of the day.
  
 

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