We've also got a couple of large spiders to set up web here in the yard. We get these spiders each year, but they seem a tad early to me this time. They spin really pretty webs that are about three feet across and have a zipper pattern right down the middle. We noticed one of them had caught what appears to have been a bee and was enjoying her feast today.
THE WIZARDING WORLD. Ben and Nate are really into reading the Harry Potter series now. Even Aunt Mar is working on the first Potter book. She says it’s “right good” but “different.”
Of course, when the boys aren't reading it they are now pretending it in their play (which isn't much different from me pretending to be a Jedi when Star Wars first came out). Whenever the boys wave a “wand” to do something to Vicki she just reminds them that they are Muggles and therefore powerless.
The other day I came up behind Ben and put him in a head lock. He had a drumstick in his hand and using it as a wand he waved it at me and said, "Expelliarmus," which is used the Harry Potter world to disarm another wizard.
"Sorry, Ben. That won't work on me because I don't have a drumstick."
Next he waved his wand and said, "Stupefy," which is used to stun an opponent in the Potter series.
"Sorry, Ben. It will take more than you for that to affect me." (In the books it takes several wizards working together to stun a large opponent so I figured I qualified as large.)
As a last ditch effort he tapped me with the drumstick and said, "Uncle!"
I had to let him go with that. It's the old magic that works best.
BIKE LESSONS. I am embarrassed to say that my eight year old son does not know how to ride a bike. Since he has a bike safety lesson coming up in scouts I figured I need to get him up to speed on one.
This evening we took supper over to Aunt Mar's and afterwards I took Nate and an old bike we have to the lower part of the yard (the old strawberry patch). This section has no trees and just enough slope that I can push him off and jog alongside.
He actually did pretty well, but he has a ways to go to build up his confidence. I hope I can report some success next time.
FITNESS. Monday night I was helping with Nate’s Den in Cub Scouts. They had a lesson on fitness and the boys had to do several exercises. We are recording the results to see how they do over four weeks. Poor Nate couldn’t do any push-up and had a hard time with sit-ups. I was holding his feet on the sit-up and became concerned as he struggled so much that he passed gas. (I was planning my escape should something more than gas come out.) At least he saw it as amusing and could laugh at himself.
By the time it was over I told the mom who was recording the boys’ results to put Nate down for two sit-ups and three farts. She lost all control right then and there.
CLEANING OUT. Aunt Mar has decided it is time to do some cleaning. We've been through her closet and helped her get rid of clothes she no longer wears and I have shredded a bunch of canceled checks from the 70s, 80, and 90s.
This evening we started going through Aunt Carrie's old desk. This is something she's never wanted to do alone. It has been interesting to read old letters and see things Aunt Carrie stored away in there. I’ll share one paper we found below. It was written by Aunt Mar to Aunt Carrie.
A Typical Day for UsWe're thinking a good project for this winter would be to put some of these things in a scrapbook and share when relatives come to visit. It has been really fun to catch glimpses of life from years ago.
June 22 [mid-1980s]
Got up and ate breakfast
Washed clothes, swept garage and mopped it
Went to Roy Cole’s and picked beans and squash
Fixed lunch
Hoed out garden
Went to Nashville with Anne to see Dr. Goldner
Went to Parkview [Hospital] to see Alice [Payne, we think]
Went to Memorial [Hospital] to see Robert [not sure which Robert]
Went to Rivergate to get tie for David [not sure which David]
We met Joe in Springfield to eat supper
We all went to the [Jessie Holman Jones] hospital to see Lillie Belle [Norwood]
Came home and strung beans
Took bath, folded clothes
Twenty till twelve, ready for bed
Joe
