Temperature Extremes

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the Swann Family News. I have expressed this before, but I am completely astonished that I have kept this project up this long. I'm glad because we have eight years of the happenings of our family written down that we wouldn't have otherwise. So, not knowing where things will go from here, I'll plan to continue writing as I can to keep you up-to-date and leave a paper trail of our lives as we go.

ONE BUSY WEEK. I am always glad to get to Labor Day weekend as it marks the end of the first month of school. By now many of the start of school activities at work and in our family life are over and we are settling into a routine. This past week, however, was most challenging.

I don't think I mentioned it, but the Fairest of the Fair was a week ago Saturday (the 27th). Then every night last week had something going on. Monday was Scouts. Tuesday I had a workshop to teach and then I took Ben to visit a Boy Scout Troop meeting. Awana was Wednesday and I had another workshop on Thursday.

Vicki has also had a full plate. She's been working hard to get Awana running smoothly and also volunteered to work a PTO fund raiser at school. Our Awana Club has really grown. Last week we had 111 in attendance (this includes the adult helpers). This is quite a few more people than last year which brings new challenges to running the club.

A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER. Last week started out nice, but the temps kept getting hotter and hotter each day (of course, those in Texas would say we have nothing to complain about). We had planned to go to the fair Friday evening but the thermometer read 100°F at 4:00 when I got off work so we decided to see the Smurf movie instead. This wasn't such a great decision either as the computer that runs the projector crashed and they had to refund all tickets. We wound up eating out and going home (and seeing the movie on Monday which we enjoyed).

By Sunday the rain started to move in -- the first rain we've seen in a long time. This weather system is the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. So far we've gotten about 3.5 inches of rain. The rain also brought much cooler temperatures. Today's high of 58°F was the coldest high temperature on record. Sort of odd to think that within 72 hours our high temps have gone from 15° above average to 15° below average.

SPIDER UPDATE. We've had a lot of fun continuing to watch the spiders that have built webs in the yard. One built her web under the eave of the shed where we park so all the action has been at or near eye level. She had a real prime spot for catching prey as we saw her happily sipping away at some unfortunate bee, butterfly, or other bug that strayed into her web.

She's also made an egg sack above her web so we're keeping an eye on that too. From what we've read these should hatch this fall. With the cold snap we're having I'm not so sure momma spider will be alive to see her spiderlings emerge.

FISHING. Ben has been after me to take him and Nate fishing for a long time. I have always put them off because Uncle Ed was the only one who ever took me fishing with any regularity -- and that was only when he was visiting from Arizona. To be honest, I just haven't wanted to appear completely inept in front of my boys.

Since we didn't go to the fair Friday night I took them over to Jackie's pond Saturday morning to do a little fishing, and lo and behold they caught five fish! Ben caught two and Nate caught three -- all bass. One of Nate's fish was the largest by far, measuring as long as my forearm from elbow to fingertips (about 18 inches). Vicki refuses to believe this because there are no pictures (and all fishermen come home with their tales). I didn't even bother to take a pole for myself, much less a camera, because I knew I would be the only one tying on the hooks, baiting the hooks, and taking the fish (should we happen to catch any) off the hooks.

At any rate, this is our story and we're sticking to it. Whether you believe us or not is your business. We have our own skeptic to put up with.

Joe