We are beginning to see hints of fall colors in the trees, though it will be a couple of weeks before the green fades to reveal the trees in all their glory. The mornings are crisp and cool and big brother Ben loves showing Nate how he can see is breath as we wait for the bus. All the farmers have been busy harvesting their corn.
EVENING WALKS. Vicki and I have been trying to find time to do some walking in the evenings. This has been hard to do with all the activities that fill our calendar. We’ve been up to Kilgore Park once where they have a really nice walking trail around the perimeter of the park, but since Bill Chatman (or maybe it was Jackie) ran the bush hog over all the farm roads we’ve enjoyed walking from our house to Mr. Bill’s and back (about a 1.7 mile trip).
DANIEL SMITH DAYS. Daniel Smith (1748-1818) was, among other things, a US Senator from Tennessee in the early days of our nation. His estate, Rock Castle in Hendersonville, exists today as an historical landmark (see the Rock Castle web site). Last weekend we went to Daniel Smith Days at Rock Castle where many people had set up a fair to commemorate the history of our nation as it was some 200 years ago. There was even a re-enactment of the Holston Treaty of 1791. We found many things of interest as we wandered around the grounds. We enjoyed food from the period as well as see how things were done back in that day (like making soap or pewter spoons). We were also introduced to an interesting board game of the time called Shut the Box. Read this article from the Tennessean to learn more about the event.
The really odd thing was that Ben didn’t go with us. He had been invited to Wil Swann’s birthday party last Friday night and the festivities went on for most of Saturday so we went without him. I say it was odd because we all commented several times about how much we missed Ben. I think his absence even hampered Jenna and Nate’s ability to fully enjoy themselves.
We told Ben about how much we missed him later. I think it really pleased him to know because he kept turning his head away so we couldn’t see his face. However, I though I saw a smile from the corner of his mouth.
DINNERTIME HIT. It’s always a struggle to get kids to enjoy healthy food. Heck, its a struggle to get me to eat fruit. But we had a meal the other night, salmon, that seemed to be a hit with Ben. Vicki noticed him shoveling the salmon in like he was starving to death and asked him if he thought it was good. His, “Well, I guess so,” let us know he hated to admit the fish was good but couldn’t deny it ether.
BWOC. Since Jenna is a fifth grader this year she has had several opportunities come her way. Nothing really big, but several things that have made her, and us, feel really good. For example, when the photographers came to take pictures they needed some student helpers. Jenna was one of the students the principal asked to help. She was also elected by her classmates to be the secretary of their class 4-H club. It makes me proud to know that both her peers and the adults at school think so highly of my daughter.
This also reminds me of a comment one of Jenna’s old teacher’s made to me a few weeks ago. All teachers keep a folder in their desk for a substitute teacher. This teacher kept a note in her sub folder that read, “When in doubt about what the class did the day before, ask Jenna Swann.”
A BIT OF A STRETCH. Jenna and Vicki were talking about birthdays today. Jenna said, “You know Nate’s birthday is on a holiday (Valentine’s Day). Well, mine and Benton’s birthdays are on holidays too.”
This got a silent stare from Vicki as April 18 (Jenna) and August 3 (Ben) are not on any holiday’s she could think of.
Jenna went on to explain herself, “My birthday is on the day of Paul Revere’s ride, and Benton’s is on the day Columbus set sail.”
A FORMER STUDENT. I only taught high school for four years, but even at that I am always happy to see a former student. I ran into Charlye Ramsey last fall. She had just returned from serving in the Peace Corps in Zambia and was doing some consulting work at one of our schools. Now she is serving with Volunteer Service Overseas in Papua New Guinea. This is not something I would have predicted Charlye doing when she was in high school. I have enjoyed reading of her adventures in the Robertson County Times, and I thought I share the link to her blog, Looking Through Another’s Eyes, in case you’re interested.
Joe
