King Snake?

This guy slithered up along the front walk just as our friends were arriving for dinner. We haven’t seen many snakes around here since we first moved in. We I killed three in the first several months. None was very big. I bludgeoned one to death with my weed bucket (the only implement at hand). I trapped one on the deck by stepping on it (I had on shoes) while one of the kids ran in for a pair of scissors. (I’ll leave the rest to your imagination, but will just mention it was a very tiny snake trying to slither back down between the planks. I assumed it was heading home to its much larger mother and many siblings, and I wanted to send them a message.) I don’t remember how I finished off the third one, but maybe that’s just as well. Supposedly, this species eats other snakes, so that’s a step in the right direction. The boys had hours of fun monitoring that hole and hypothesizing what small rodents might slip into it only to meet their doom.

And, Here’s George

Kate’s first pet.

He is a cute little guy.

Kate Turns Eight!

Good Morning precious Kate!

 

Gerbil supplies…(Gerbil to be picked out later.)

 

Getting ready for an Art Party:

 

Friends. (I guess Ilsa thought this was the funny face picture.)

 

Let the creativity begin.

 

Kate singing to herself.

 

The girls made their own favors. Clever, huh?

 

Family supper at Mary Macs’ downtown.

Birthday blessings, Kate. You are a joy!

School’s Out!

Truck Wash

Woodworker Nate

For several years I have wanted Nate to learn some kind of craft, the way Meg is learning to cook and sew. Legos and forts are fun and a good use of a child’s free time, but it seems that a 10-year-old boy is old enough to make something worthwhile that lasts. You can imagine my delight when when he was able to take a woodworking course from a friend and fellow church member who excels at the art. I hope Nate will have many opportunities to develop more skills to go in that “toolbox.”

Ballerina Kate

Picture Day

 

Recital Day

Engine Project

What do you do if you finish your math books two months before the end of the school year?

How about build an engine…

Let’s start with a plastic model:

 

Plastic model, check.

 

Now let’s move on to the real thing:

Real thing: check.

 

Now let’s buy a truck to put it in:

Buy truck and put in engine, check.

Now let’s start it up:

 

Start it up, check!

 

Now let’s replace the hubcaps, seat covers, headliner, cracked windshield and rear-view mirror: Oh, wait, it’s not that kind of project.

 

Way to go Erik, Meg, Nate and Kate!!
(And thanks to our neighbor, Matt, for some valuable expert-amateur advice.)