Sawdust

One of the things that always excited me about this time of year is watching the combines lumbering around the fields picking corn. I enjoyed riding combines as a kid and spent many hours in the cab with Mr. Harry Wilson when he was in the field across from home. Most of the corn is in now and it won’t be too long before farmers begin to harvest soybeans.

FALL BREAK. We are on fall break this week. Vicki and the kids left immediately after church to spend a few days in Georgia (they return this evening). I had a chore to do at work and fall break was the best time to do it so I stayed behind.

I had great intentions of writing a week ago but life got crazy as we approached the end of the first grading period. (I don’t say this as an apology, but as a lament for the stories I didn’t write down and have now forgotten--life happens.) We had projects to make and tests to study for. Poor Jenna lives in her biology textbook. I keep telling her four years from now when she comes back to visit her high school teachers she will thank Mrs. Lyons for being so tough. At any rate, we’ve all been ready for the break.

Jenna texted a picture to me while they were on the road to the Jones’ house. Vicki told the boys they needed to make birthday cards for Cameron so they go busy in the back of the van. Ben knew something didn’t look right and handed his card up front for Vicki and Jenna to read. He had misspelled his own name -- “Bention.” His only defense was that his brain had already turned to mush now that he was on “spring” break.

Fall break, son. You’re on fall break. Spring break happens in March.

SHOP TIME. One nice thing about some time off is I get to work in my shop. Rick and Sharon Robinson asked me to make a picnic table for them and I have been plugging away at it when I can. This table is one of the square, four bench type so it’s a little more involved than building a typical table. I was able to make a major push forward this week and the frame is done. All I lack now are the bench seats and table top. When that’s done I can get started on an outdoor nativity scene.

A FUN VISIT. My cousins Sarah and Jason visited this weekend. They stayed with the Dees in Ashland City and did several fun things around Nashville including a visit to the Grand Ole Opry and the Hermitage. We were honored that they wanted to spend part of their time visiting us as well.

Everyone drove over from Ashland City on Saturday and we ate lunch together at Mom’s. It was such a beautiful day that we ate outside. After lunch Sarah wanted to see a few sites in the area where our family lived so we took a driving tour to show her some of the houses, churches, and school campuses that had played a part in her family history. They all came back Sunday morning for church and we ate once again outside at Mom’s. We had a great time catching up with Sarah and getting to know Jason. It’s hard to believe they’ve been married two years now.

Joe