Category: Uncategorized

It was a little crazy to figure out that as a family, between Dad’s family and mine, we’ve been involved in almost every conflict (good and bad) that this country has been in. So, the girls and I are going to go through the stuff brought back by my great-great-grandfather’s brother from The Great War, my mother’s Uncle from World War 2, and even some stuff my Dad brought back from the Invasion of Grenada.

Pictures to follow, hopefully.

Beta wants to go to church tomorrow. Dad is taking her (because I’m pretty sure I’d be struck by lightning or somesuch). Did we mention we are card carrying atheists?

Yeah – I give them 10 minutes before she gets bored and wants to come home.

I am exhausted. Didn’t get to sleep until after 3. Alpha bailed on us around 10, and went back to bed. Beta conked right out not long after. So I was stuck in the tent. All night. The ground was hard. Everything was wet with dew. But you know what? Watching Beta wake up in the morning, all snuggled up next to me was totally worth it.

Now if only I could walk without groaning…

We bought a tent a few months back, with the intention of trying this whole camping thing. I haven’t camped in years, and neither has Quinn. The girls think it is super cool and romantic and cannot WAIT to try it out. The summer is nearing its end, and we haven’t done it yet. We checked the weather, took out the tent, and put it up. As we’re doing this, we feel a couple of little sprinkles, more of a mist, but nothing big. There was nothing on the radar, and there is lovely blue sky above us. Nothing to worry about, right? Right.

The tent was set up. The kids put their blankets and toys in there. I have all the windows open to keep it nice and cool. Suddenly, the sky opens out of nowhere! I managed to get teh windows zipped up before the real rain started, and came inside (not sitting in an untried tent in a downpour). The view down the street was beautiful, with the sun shining brightly through the downpour.

I have been informed that there is now water in the tent from their feet. Yay. So I get to sleep in a muddy tent. Oh, well. Its camping, right? What’s camping with out a little mud? At least I don’t need to go out there until dark-time. I’m already having fun, can you tell?

It took two days, four oak medalions (since the first two didn’t match the second two) that we wound up not using, lots of trips to Home Cheapo, but its done.

The only casualty of the whole business was my toe. I managed to stub it so hard my nail bent backwards and blood everywhere.

Yay.

So, the baby gate is coming off the wall. This is a problem, as the Official Immigration Gate between Dog-ville, and Kitty Haven (which is made up of two neighborhoods, Mel-topia and Oo-land) must be operational at all times to prevent hostilities between the natives.

Obvious solution: get more of those oak medallions, urethane them, and use them to attach the gate to the walls. Well, I got the medallions. Urethaned them (that stuff stinks to high heaven). They are outside drying in the sun as we speak, with several hours to go.

And, lo, what do I see on the horizon? The maw of an angry beast of a storm.  Dammit.

Alpha child has been after us for riding lessons for years. We broke down a couple of years ago, got the helmet and boots. She lost the helmet, and we decided it was going to be a while before we tried again.

Well, here she is:

She is so proud of herself (and well she should be). She payed attention to the horse and her instructor. She backed Chester up (right on cue). And then she insisted on helping out with the barn work afterwards. She got to help take off the saddle, bridle, brush him down, and then (wonder of wonders) CLEAN THE BRIDLE.

Happiest kid on earth. Yup.