Until the day dawns...2 Peter 1:19

The hot air balloon fair came to town. In previous years I have found out about it as I see the balloons up in the air, but this year I saw the announcement in the paper a few weeks ahead of time. The kids were excited and wanted to go see the balloons lifting off at dawn. Great. Dawn comes kind of early in the morning.

Since the paper didn't give an exact time and I didn't know how long it would take for the balloons to be set up prior to lift off, we left early last Friday morning. By 4:30 a.m. the kids and I were on our way to the field 40 minutes away. We followed the signs and found the launch site. It seemed rather empty, so I asked the older couple coming out of their RV if I was at the right place. Yes, I was, but they were in charge of parking the cars, and they weren't going to start doing that until 5:30. At 5:30 we parked and walked over to listen in on the pilots' briefing. About 6:30 the crews started laying out the tarps and unrolling the balloons.

It was cold, but exciting as the kids watched the process of the balloons being set up, filled with air (J got to help one of the crews with this), be rolled back up, and put away. Huh? As the sun was coming up the wind picked up, and the mass launch was scratched.

Disappointed, we piled back in the truck and returned home to take care of the critters and have a mandatory nap time since everyone was a bit cold and cranky.

Sunday morning we tried again. This time we dressed in many layers that included winter coats and mittens, opened the chicken coop before we left, fixed some breakfast sandwiches to eat on the way, and didn't pull out of the driveway until 5:40 a.m. Sunday morning was quite a bit more eventful and happy since the launch actually happened and the kids were fed and warm. By 8:00 we were on our way home. The boys spent the rest of the day with plastic groceries bags and hair dryers.

Yesterday morning we again got up early to visit the Sheep Dog Finals. It was fascinating to watch a dog herd four sheep through a series of gates with the master simply blowing on a whistle. We met up with some friends from med school who live in the area and went to their house for lunch. They have 2 little girls, so A was thrilled to play girl stuff for the afternoon. The Dog was also thrilled to have a few doggie playmates for the afternoon. The Dog got to attend the competition with us, leashed, of course. But he was able to run around and play in the afternoon. We decided to make a side trip on the way home to visit Costco and the discount grocery store, so after 13 hours, 298 miles, and half a tank a fuel, we returned home. Whew.

On a sad note, the friend who celebrated her 100th birthday a few weeks ago died this week. S still sleeps with the huge stuffed bear she gave him last year. He was pretty sad about it even though, at 100, it wasn't a huge shock. We are all looking forward to that new day dawning.

They washed their clothes...Exodus 19:14

It has been very busy around here the past few weeks. The hay needed to be cut, but The Man was occupied with more important things. I decided that I was perfectly capable of cutting hay, so The Man took the equipment to the field for me. The cutting was fairly boring and uneventful...except for the irrigation line wheel that I got a bit too close to and the broken bushing. We do have a spare wheel that we can swap for the one I munched and the bushing was only $14 to replace (that was probably due to the old equipment and not my driving). I had noticed the mower started making a louder-than-normal banging noise, but since it always makes noise, I didn't stop to investigate until the cutting-thingie quit cutting.

So, while trying to catch up on all the laundry from the recent backpacking trip I noticed the dryer was making a weird noise. Suspecting rocks left in little boys' pockets, I emptied the dryer of clothes and rocks. Even running empty, the dryer was still making noise. Since I had to make a trip to the local Fluff & Fold to wash the sleeping bags in the commercial washers, last weekend the kids and I loaded up every piece of laundry and $30 in quarters and set off to the laundromat. Three hours later we were home with many baskets full of clean, folded clothes.

One of the sleeping bags was unwashed and one load of clothes wasn't dried since my quarters ran out and the coin machine at the Fluff & Fold was empty. As I was showing M how to hang his clothes on the clothesline at home M handed me the quarters left over from when he was helping load the machines. I thought my $30 had disappeared very quickly!

I washed 12 loads of laundry, but the little machines only hold about 1/3 of what my machine can handle, and there were only 3 functional dryers. After spending 3 hours there with four kids, I was inspired to take apart my dryer later that day. More rocks were found. The dryer only makes drying noises now. I hope to never return to the Fluff & Fold. Although the lady that runs the place did tell me that Coca-Cola will remove oil from clothing. It has to be the real stuff, not generic or some other cola. I probably never would have discovered that on my own. Now I know!

After spending the morning in the laundromat with the kids I spent a quiet afternoon in the field raking the hay I'd already cut. I got most of that done before the rake started making a horribly squeaky noise. Given my recent history with the equipment, I quit while it was still functional. The Man & S greased all greasable parts yesterday, so I hope to get the remainder raked today. The kids are all doing well. Above is one A's favorite drawings. She's been drawing quite a few of the example on the left. "This is you, Mommy, when you get out of the shower, before you get dressed." I finally asked if she could draw one with clothes. I find it fascinating that not only does my body and hair change color when I am dried and dressed, but I look taller also.

As a...charging bear...Prov. 28:15

The Man and boys returned safely from their backpacking trip on Sunday. Yesterday we went to a Labor Day picnic at some church members' house. That's A with the "Look Ma, no hands" pose on the tire swing. I didn't take any pictures of the boys on the swing...I couldn't bear to watch.

Speaking of bears...The Man called as soon as he got to work this morning. I'm not to let the kids outside unattended today. It has something to do with the big pile of something The Man saw at the end of our driveway this morning. Yes, he's sure it is from a bear...or a HUGE dog that eats lots of berries. Maybe I'll go take a picture of it...or not.

My peace I give unto you...John 14:27

Total Weights: The Man—238 lbs., S—64 lbs., J—70 lbs., M—91 lbs.

It seems so still. The Man and boys went backpacking. We were all going to go, but since I still don't feel up to walking long distances, all the boys went and A stayed home with me. The dog misses them all greatly. I'm sure I will also once the long weekend is over, but right now I'm enjoying the stillness.

It isn't quiet here. A talks a lot. I never realized before how much she talks. Maybe she's just not used to the quietness and she's trying to compensate for it. She enjoyed playing with J's legos for awhile, but her favorite thing to do has been reading her Bible.

She can't read, but she thinks if she puts her finger on the words and talks really slow, it sounds like she is reading. She is very good at it. If it wasn't for the fact that I was following her finger I might think she was really reading. Today she asked me to read some verses to her from the first part of Luke 8. I did and she promptly told me I was wrong. "It act-u-ally says, 'My peaceness I give unto you.'"

Tomorrow she and I are going to attend the 100th birthday celebration for one of our church members. The boys will probably be home on Sunday. We've been out to collect eggs several times today. A enjoys doing that and M doesn't let her do it often. We need to go out now and top off the water for the horse and chickens. Have a wonderful weekend!

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered...Matt. 10:30

Game: Laundry Relay

Equipment: 3 empty laundry baskets and 2 loads of clothes belonging to J, S, and A (M does all of his own laundry by himself)

Rules: Start at empty baskets. When Mom says "Go," walk quickly down the hallway to the pile of clean clothes. Remove an item that belongs to you, fold it, and place neatly in your basket. If you cannot find one of your items because there are too many of your siblings' items on top of yours, fold and put away siblings' items until you find another one of yours. Earn double points by placing matching shirts/pants in basket together.

Winner: Everybody!

I thought it was a fun game, but the kids haven't asked to play it since I invented it last week.

Here are the dirt babies the kids made at the county fair a few weeks ago...

Back row, from left to right, the ones made by J, S (hidden, up close pic below), and M. A's is on the plate in front. It is smaller than the others and the face is hidden when she is in the cup. They are made from a length of stocking tied at one end, grass seed added, then dirt, other end tied off, and decorated by the kids with wiggly eyes and foam pieces.

They've been sitting in their cups of water on the kitchen window sill for the past few weeks growing their hair. J has been begging to give his a haircut, so today is the day. We may even try to extract the weed growing up the front of M's baby's face. eww.

For some reason S's grass seed didn't sprout on top yet...just on the top of ear and around the back of the head. I think it is because the person at the fair put in too much seed. It is well-loved in spite of the pattern baldness. He will probably get a haircut today also.
Foot update...sore but functional. Since I only have 2 pairs of sandals that I can comfortably wear, I'll just be grateful it is still summer.

School update...going along quite well. We are still gradually easing into everything. I saw this morning that the company that I ordered most of our new books from charged the credit card, so I'm hoping that means the order has been shipped and is on the way to our post office. I can't wait!

From the sole of the foot [there are] wounds and bruises...Isaiah 1:6

We're making history here...this is the very first blog post written from the laptop. I did one of those things yesterday that, in retrospect, seems rather stupid. I would explain exactly what happened, but I'm not quite sure exactly what happened. Either the branch was a lot longer than I thought it was, or it was heavier than it looked, or maybe I'm just not as strong as I think I am. What I do know is the branch than I meant to toss off the hill and over the retaining wall into the backyard didn't quite make it and ended up on my foot. I managed to hobble back inside the house. I took something for the pain while a child retrieved an icepack from the freezer. I spent the remainder of the day in bed.

A enjoyed playing nurse. She made me several smoothies in her play kitchen. Banana smoothie...yum. Oatmeal smoothie...(I'm glad these were all imaginary). After a bit she decided her foot had an owie also. J retrieved an icepack for her foot and she spent the rest of the day with her foot propped up beside me.

The Man says it probably isn't broken, although we can't tell for sure without an x-ray. Since knowing whether or not it is broken won't make any difference, and since the out-of-pocket expense for the x-ray would pay for several books, I'll just keep it propped up until the swelling disappears.

The pain is completely gone today, unless I try to walk on it. The top of the foot and toe look a lot better than I was expecting it to. Down below is a picture of my feet that I took last night (you'll have to scroll down, I won't make anyone look at my feet unless they want to). You can see that the left foot is a bit swollen and bruised. It looks about the same now. I was surprised at how swollen and bruised the bottom of the foot is this morning.

So, of course, yesterday was the day that we were going to ease back into school. HA! We did get quite a bit done prior to my mishap, and we accomplished just as much this morning from my bed. We're mostly continuing things that were started last year. I need to place orders for the remainder of the books and supplies for this year.

Yesterday while sitting in bed with nothing else to do I finally compiled a list of what I needed to order from all the dog-eared, sticky-noted catalogs. The good news: I'm going to qualify for free shipping.

~nothing more but the picture

~it really isn't that exciting

~just a picture to fill space

~do you really want to see it?

~ok

~here it is...

~

~

Seek, and you will find...Matt. 7:7

We’ve had an adventuresome time at the fair this week. Several fair-goers who are seeking a relationship with God have stopped by our booth to pick up some materials.

In the booth right next to ours is a very nice lady who is selling personalized VeggieTales books and CDs. CDs. CDs that play over…and over…and over…all…day…long. It could be a lot worse; that I will admit. The lady also sells personalized Barney CDs. Really, though, would you like to hear Larry sing: "Oh, where is my hairbrush? Oh where is my hairbrush? Oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where oh, where ... is my hairbrush?" about 250 times a day? Maybe it’s payback for my childhood renditions of “99 Bottles.”

I would like to tell Larry exactly what he can do with his hairbrush when he finds it...or at least give him another so he doesn’t have to share with the Peach. The Hairbrush Song

Since The Man didn’t have to go to work today, he is staffing the booth so I don’t need to be there. I’ll get to catch up on all the stuff that didn’t get done this week and prepare for the weekend.

I did get to venture out into the garden this morning. These are my kinds of tomatoes and cucumbers…and they don’t have names.