Kind of Like a Tom Sawyer Adventure
Nature has a way of leveling the most arrogantly prideful. So, it can do the same with a “know-it-all-teenager.” Well, maybe nature isn’t that powerful, because none of these boys really were that cocky… but I saw nature grip them just enough to silence them. For these teenagers, nature showed her power, and the boys [...]
And We Got Candy and a Frog
We put the Happy Father’s Day banner on Friday. Then, we made a brand new set of sailboats for the lake, and used the sails to write letters to dad about our favorite memory. My favorite was the day we got “candy and a frog.”
In this world of unpredictably and chaos, a good detective show brings a good dose of security
Morning thunderstorms are rare. But, on the odd chance there was one, the streaks of lighting that broke up the gray sky would only enhance our summer morning ritual: Perry Mason; Black and white; 10 a.m; mom and me, with tea. As a little girl, I delighted in in the comfort of knowing that [...]
On The Way Home From The ER
On the way home from the Emergency Room, we were starving. Let me back up — after he returned home from his internship, he started playing a good solid round of kickball with his brothers, and he ran his chin into the neighbor’s flagstone fire pit. After a tetanus shot, and a script for oral [...]
We’ll Try a Little Harder to Keep Quiet
That turtle from yesterday, finally did make it to our step, (Look, just at the top of the step, you can see his head sticking up) and into the sand. Not sure if there are eggs planted there — trying not to disturb them, and staying quiet, (HA!) so as not to disturb nature.
Only The Photos I’ve Had Time To Take
Within 15 minutes of our arrival, Fun Size dropped four quarters on the counter, and said, “These are mine. I just got paid.” So this is how the stories have been rolling since we arrived at the lake, less than 24 hours ago. The little wakeboarder Still doesn’t “like his knees to show.” [...]
Point of No Return
This is it. It’s payday. The day planned months in advance… the day we cash in our lottery ticket and send all four boys to camp: SAME PLACE: SAME TIME. The packing stage went on for days. The process was more like doing one of those tedious puzzles where you slide the pieces around, up [...]
Flaxseed Crackers: You Can Do This At Home
Have you had them yet? Those crunchy, nutty flaxseed crackers in those fancy packages with the high price tag? They are savory, and taste, OH, SO GOOD with goat cheese. I have been rationing my box of crackers — the boys don’t even know I have them. These crackers not only taste good, but they have [...]
Holy Unidentified Ending Batman
I asked them questions all the way through the movie, and the experts, my boys, patiently doled out character names, villians, and even character histories under the hush of the soundtrack of the movie. How I missed Bane, as the villian in the series, is a mystery to me. Since 1998, Batman, in some form [...]
How I Ended up With Two Birthday Cakes… and only got to eat one
They’ve seen me do this over a dozen times. As soon as the hot Angel Food cake pan comes out of the oven, I immediately set it on top of a bottle to cool — whatever bottle is available. So, when my kids pulled the hot chocolate Devil’s food cake out of the oven — [...]
Hot Nights in the Cabin
At night, I love how the bright white of the sun is replaced by the warm incandescent light bulbs that glow inside the cabins, the cottages and the houses. The sun soaked skin has left its mark on the backs of necks, and elbows — revealing the spots we missed with sunscreen. The grill has [...]
Pure Love Lavished on the Frogs
There are less turtles appearing in the metal washtub. We’ve moved on to frogs. More and more frogs ending up in the metal tub, their hands, legs and shoulders. By the way… this is a tree frog. He changes his colors to adapt to his surroundings. How the boys actually spot them, and point [...]
What To Do with Newspaper Route Money
Arthur Spangler earned $450 from his paper route. He did not buy an Ipod with it, or spend it on an Xbox live subscription – not because those things weren’t available in 1916, but because he bought a factory instead. He bought a little factory in a small town that made baking powder. Too mundane [...]
