Hoco 26

Yesterday was homecoming at the Trail. 

Harper was spotted early in downtown Overbrook painting up the windows and making the place look festive.  

She and Jaden made my office look fabulous. 

They let the kids out of school at noon.  I had to drive my route and then try to get back in time for the parade at 1.  I only had 3 stops - of course at opposite ends of the country.  Always the way it works.  

But I did make it back in time to ride in with Jim. 

We watched the band go by and then waited to see Saige run back to get on the debate team float.  She was supposed to run back a second time to get on the green team float, but said she decided not to because it was just so hot!  

When you go to a small school and the kids are literally involved in so much stuff, they have to double up in order to have enough people to ride their floats.  Most of the kids are in band, so they march the band through, then the kids run back to the beginning  of the parade and jump on for some other activity!  

The band has worked really hard on their halftime shows this year - with the theme being “boy bands.”  It was a good show. I enjoyed it! 

As a bus driver, I loathe homecoming.  Kids everywhere, nobody really knowing who is going where. Early dismissal meaning it’s questionable on if you will get to see your kids doing their things.  It’s just sort of a chaotic mess.  Happy it’s done! 

Had a few grandkid photos as well. Always makes me happy!  

I think we have waited long enough to officially say we are so excited about Easton becoming a big brother!  He’s going to be an amazing big brother!  We can’t wait! 

Madison and her clan are headed to the state fair this weekend. I can’t wait to hear about that!  

Mallory’s class is studying apples, doing Apple math, Apple crafts, and Apple art projects.  

Cameron and Tatum went to Manhattan to the game and go Tatum’s nephew’s birthday party. 

We are all weekend ready! 

 

Day “off”

This week, Harper competed her driving school and passed her driving test.  We need her to be able to drive herself, and Saige (and possibly Clayton) to the homecoming parade on Friday this week, so I took a day off, the girls took a day off and we spent it at the DMV!  

I very rarely take time off of work. Last time I took off, it was for the county fair.  Today the DMV.  I really need to work on my “vacation” days. Kidding. Only kidding.  

Harper just had to turn in paperwork to get her license today. She is a reluctant driver and really had a lot of nervous days, but she overcame all of the obstacles and I am so proud of her!  Of course she got her license at the same time as gas prices reach record highs, predictions of fuel shortages seem to be flying, and the American economy seems to be swirling the drain.  She may choose to ride the bus, but at least she can drive if she needs or wants to!  

Since we were going to the DMV anyway, Saige decided to ride along and see if she could get her written test done to get her learners permit for her farm permit.  She took the test and failed by 1 question.  Aunt Berta works at the Ottawa DMV. She reviewed Saige’s test with her, walked her through some things to study, gave her the office copy of the book, and told her to come back after the lunch break at 1 and retake it.  She logged her into the system as a retake so all we had to do was walk in and take the test when they reopened after lunch.  Have I mentioned how much I love aunt Berta?  We needed a few things from Walmart so while Harper and I ran inside, Saige sat in the car and studied.  At 1, as promised, we walked in, Saige was handed a code and she took the test again. (For a measly 1.50 retesting fee!).  She passed.  She was very happy. And so am I, because although I will have to go back to the DMV eventually, I won’t have to go for a while!  Which I am always happy about!  

2 happy girls.  One happy mom. I guess that is a good day off!  I had to rush back to drive the bus - there aren’t really days off from that mess.  

And because I can, and because it made me laugh - I have to share this story.  As they were logging Saige into the system, they asked her if she wanted to be an organ donor.  She looked a little worried and said “well maybe someday later- when I’m dead?”  I guess the DMV is a scary enough place she thought they were going to take a kidney right there.  Love you Saige, but that junk is funny. 

 

Easy weekend

We had a weekend with nothing going on.  Always a favorite for me.  I had a few projects I wanted to get done and of course is the laundry ever done? 

One thing I have been wanting to try - making mock pineapple.  Is it good?  I have no idea. But the ex-Amish lady has yet to steer me wrong, so why not?

What is mock pineapple?  It is zucchini, de-seeded and cut into small pieces and then canned in pineapple juice.  Supposedly the zucchini soaks up the juice and after a few days tastes exactly like canned pineapple.  Since it has to set, similar to making pickles, we won’t know if it works for several days.  I will get back to you.  If it’s good, we will make more because we have zucchini. If it doesn’t work, well I will just make zucchini bread like normal! 

We also watched the Cats play!  It was a good game and Easton liked the outcome a lot! 

Mallory went to a concert with Tatum and Cameron. It was an outdoor concert and it was raining but luckily they had tickets on the side that had an awning. 

Easton took his parents to an art show. The weather this weekend was fall like. Rainy and cool enough that we have turned off the air conditioning and done some things outside.  After the last couple of weeks of triple digit, unseasonably hot weather it was a big relief.  I got a few things done to prep for a fall garden.  Every fall, I start out to do these late season vegetables that like cooler weather and every year something crazy happens.  Fingers crossed that I can pull it off.  If I was being honest, I should have worked a lot harder this summer gardening and canning because I believe that things are going to be very bad this winter shortage wise. And/or cost wise. I hope I’ve just been doing too much doomsday scrolling and I am completely wrong.  It doesn’t feel very nice in this country right now.  

Luckily, I have been busy and not had too much time online this weekend.  

It’s also Olive’s birthday. She brought treats to share with all the dogs.  These pupcakea were banana flavor.  Not a favorite of any of the dogs, but the goats really liked them!

Speaking of goats, the girls and I waited for the rain to slow down yesterday before we headed out to do chores.  When we opened the door, we were greeted by all of the goats.  Not what I wanted to see on my Saturday morning.  We patched up the fence and got them all contained.  And that’s when I saw it - those jerks ate the leaves off a bunch of my fruit trees.  I am usually a fairly composed person, but I will admit that I had a few minutes of stomping around and cussing, and if I hadn’t left my phone on the counter inside, I believe I would have called my dad and asked him to come over with a cattle trailer and haul them all to the auction. I have been nursing these apple trees along for 2 years!   I don’t believe they will die, but they no longer have leaves.  They also got my baby cherry trees, but again just ate some of the leaves.  It is just so frustrating. We have acres and acres of junk they could eat. Whyyy do you have to eat my fruit trees.  Bunch of jerks. That’s why. 

Well except Whitney. He was still in the pen!  

Tonight Wrenley asked me if she could go walk Whitey and ask him if he missed her.   He definitely said yes!  

And since it was nice outside, I haltered up Coco pony and forced him to give the girls some rides.  

And then everyone went home and I sat down and thought now where the heck did the weekend go?  Dang that was fast. 

This week is homecoming.  Between that and a few other things, I think it’s going to be a crazy one.  Glad I had a little time at home to prepare!  (I am totally not prepared - I’m faking it til I make it again).