After the Harvest

I have thoroughly enjoyed driving around the last couple of weeks. Not only because the leaves are turning, but also because the fields are squared away for the winter and all the farms have that “cleaned off” look in preparation for a winter’s rest. The corn stubble has been mowed down and wheat sown, and the soybean fields are bare and smooth and waiting for corn to be planted next spring. Even though I have no crops of my own, this time of year always gives me a sense of completion.

ODE TO THE SWING SET
It was a bit of a sad moment to watch our old swing set leave the back yard week before last. We gave it to a neighbor for their kids to play on. It was time. Our kids stopped playing on it years ago and it was beginning to fall into disrepair, and there was no reason for me to keep it up until grandkids come along. It served us well, and our kids have a lot of happy memories playing on it.

That swing set was the first construction project I had tackled since high school. We purchased the Swing-n-Slide kit from 84 Lumber and they delivered all the lumber and hardware to the house. I worked really hard to have it ready for either Jenna’s second or third birthday party. I was able to get the tower and slide done in time, but not the swings. I remember having to bore a lot of large holes—something like four or five dozen—in the 4x4 posts and 2x8 rails for all the bolts that held it together. As I recall, I burned up the motor in my corded drill and the cordless drill I had at the time was so puny I could only drill 3-4 holes on a single charge of the battery. I think I finally borrowed a drill from Mr. Jimmie to finish up.

There’s no telling where the kids’ imaginations took them while sitting in the elevated “tree house” part of the swing set. I can only tell what I have observed in the last year or so as our cat, Fluffy, has been the only one to sit up there. Sometimes I would catch her using the slide to come down when I came out to get on the bus. One morning I looked over and caught her sliding down the canvas roof. She must have been enjoying the view from the ridge beam when I came out. I watched her as she slid down to the swing beam, jumped into the “tree house,” and then took the slide the rest of the way down. Fluffy had a look of disbelief as the swing set was being loaded on the trailer. At least all of us (except Fluffy) can appreciate the pictures our neighbors shared with us of kids playing on it once again.

COMING OF AGE
The back yard may be empty, but life is still full with the kids’ activities. Jenna sent us several pictures of her and her friends all dressed up for Trevecca’s homecoming parade. The theme for their parade was story book characters. Jenna dressed as Waldo. She was a bit easier to find than the original.

Vicki, Nate, and I took Jenna and her friends out for supper at Baja Burrito Saturday night. Then we headed back to campus to see their excellent production of The Little Mermaid. It was a fun evening. Ben did not go with us because he went to Davidson Academy’s Fall Ball.

Sometimes it’s hard to get a read on Ben, but I think he was pretty excited about going. An interesting personality quirk to see was that Ben chose to wear an old Daffy Duck tie that I have. Before the dance he and a big group of his friends (and a few parents) went out to eat at the Spaghetti Factory. He came home saying he’d had a really good time this year, and even danced to a slow song (after a girl asked him to).

Nate has not had quite as many social opportunities yet but is still enjoying his middle school days. Vicki and I worked the concession stand at Friday’s football game and he enjoyed hanging out with his friends.

THE BLUE HAIR CHOIR
Vicki has joined a gospel choir. They practice for an hour every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 in Springfield. Mrs. Glenda, Lori’s mom, asked Vicki if she’d be interested in joining. When Mrs. Glenda was giving Vicki the details she told her that several folks of all ages from all across the county were part of it. Then she admitted that she might be the youngest one in it. Vicki has now claimed that title by at least 25 years now that she’s taking part. They are practicing Christmas music and will perform at all of the nursing homes between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m glad to see her doing something fun like this.

Joe