Wonderful Wednesday Without Wrenches??

Whew, I made it through yesterday!

I think today will begin the settling of life for this week. I need it!

Wrenchs of the Week:

Wrench #1:

My minivan began making a whirrrrrr noise. So on Monday I had to take it to the repair shop. Which threw off my day some since I did not have a car for half the day.

Wrench #2

My van was not repaired. The air conditioning compressor died! And they did not have one in stock. So I did get my van back, but it has to go back to the shop on Wednesday (today). Until then, no air conditioning! But on a good/bad note, the compressor was replaced last December, so it is under warranty - Yippee, no fee!

Wrench #3

Still Monday, 20 minutes before the Boy Scout meeting, Bino tells me he has a Social Studies project due Wednesday. A rather hefty project at that. So add trip to store for tri-board and supplies! We work for an hour after the Scout meeting, but did not make much headway.

Wrench #4

It was hot in South Georgia on Tuesday. I should know, no cool air in the van. Humidity and wind are not great for hair!! But I finished shopping for the shop and all that I needed to do so the van can be worked on. But then we come to:

Wrench #5

My food order from the distributed never showed!!! I called and somehow the order did not transmit on Monday. I guess it is lost in cyber space or maybe the atom smasher thingy in Switzerland got it. Anyway, that led to more running because I could not finish two of my orders without that order. So I had to go find it locally!

Wrench #6

Band Practice was canceled for Demolition D, so school pickup arrangements were trashed and we had to regroup . . . again

Which brings us to today -

Van is in the shop getting its cool on ~ kids are safely deposited at school (project included - we gottr done...) ~ I have been delivered to the shop ~ and now I will watch for the delivery of my order and enjoy a peaceful day

Wonderful Wednesday without Wrenches . . . oh I hope!

Atom Smasher?!?

Sorry guys - I am stuck on Andy Griffith lately.
As I watch the Today Show about the "Big Bang" episode scheduled for tomorrow I can't help but post this clip I came across last week.



Granted, more people are taking this a heap lot more serious (very poor grammar) than Andy did . . .I guess we will see tomorrow. Did the guy say in that interview that after the "Big Bang" tomorrow the Earth will only survive 50 months?? hmmmm



Ok, I am now going to stay away from You Tube for awhile . . . Time to put meals together

Oh, and Friar Tuck, I do plan on answering the last post - I have to get my thoughts in order . . . and finish up all the obligations waiting for me today.
Gonna be a busy one!
See you guys soon!

Land Line Lambs (Sheep)

I received an email about old telephones. Here is what someone artistic and creative (I guess that is kinda the same) person did:

Demolition Derby D

My adventures with Demolition Derby D continue. It amazes me how many details with driving that we, adults, handle out of reflex or habit. As DDD continues to learn to drive, I see all the BIG/little details that we were taught, not even realizing all the details we have learned. Now I am having to pick apart driving to be sure he knows and understands what to do and why.

I also see why there are so many advocates pushing to change the driving age to 17 or 18. Don’t get me wrong- Pleeeease don’t change it too soon!?!

This process reminds me so much of the toddler stages (except he argues and fights more now). For example, the struggle and desire to walk but the lack of coordination that has to be built. Or the big, chunky, colorful blocks we try to get them to fit in the puzzle slot. Yup, that is a 15 year old learning to drive. Uncoordinated, and not everything seeming to connect quite yet.

Changing lanes fits this category. He looks in the mirror, check; over his shoulder, check; ahead, too long, ummm . . .ok over his shoulder again, check; then he, somewhat with a jerk, changes lanes. Ahhh and I grin . . . as the gentleman my child pulled in front of us passes on the right and gives a very ugly stare down. Note to self: make sure he remembers being told not to pull in front of another car no matter how many times you look over should.

Diagonal parking spaces are a breeze, naturally and he feels quite accomplished when he gets to park in one of these spots. Bring on the pull in parking spots and that is a different bird. Judging distances and figuring out how to line up the vehicle between the lines is much more of a challenge.

This child of mine that just knew he was an experienced driver before ever getting behind the wheel, “how hard can it be mom, driving is simple!” Now, “can I go, can I go now” and “driving after dark really is different – can we go another way, this way makes me nervous.” I am glad he had sense enough to say he was uncomfortable. And we still have red light issues ~ he actually tried to make a left hand turn at the same red light as before. Ok, this time when I yelled at him to stop, was less fear and more aggrivation.

Is that another gray hair?!? Hmmmm maybe that is another area to add to my list of what I need to learn - whisper stop and smile as I say it . . . yeah, I can do that!

I wonder what other adventures my children will take me on that will show me how much I HAVE learned? I wonder if some of the areas in life that I struggle with now, will one day be handled smoothly without flaw and out of reflex or without thought because the right way has become so much a part of me and who I am?

So what adventures have your kids taken you on that have shown you how you have moved through life and learned, or, like me, not (yep bad drivers still challenge the gracefulness I desire to exhibit)?

Dudant, Dudant, Dudant

I had a good friend call today to chat before she heads to the sunshine state for the next two weeks - TWO WEEKS - wow. Fancy named cocktails, boats, sunshine, tatoo parlors - just kidding! ;)

Ok back to the point, I shared with her that I had finally taken her advise of writing all the hurdles and opportunities that parenting and life has presented to my husband and me. I have recently started a blog!

I did not tell her that I was thinking how life has eased up and is a little more boring, so this blog may not be that interesting.

And then life gave me a funny . . . .

When I came into the shop today I noticed a dark line across the floor. As I came closer to inspect, I realized what I was seeing was moving - a line of hundreds, and thousands of marching fire ants. I really dislike fire ants. Especially when they decide they want to come inside.

I found some ant killer and started spraying both sides of the marching line of ants (felt like I needed them trapped and dying between the lines, as opposed to scattering). Time to clean them up. I started wiping up the floor with a rag and then decided to to sweep up the remaining carcasses into a pile. Before I had a chance to get the dustpan, the 19 year old that helps me came in to work.

I noticed that she looked at the pile as she walked by. This where the day took a comic turn.

After seeing her look at the pile:

I said "we were invaded by ants"

She said "oh {pause} what is that then?" (pointing to the pile)

(sorry about the flash)


I said "Dead Ants" (get the title, dudant, dudant ok, anyway)


She looked puzzled and then


She said "how did you get them to pile up like that?"


I, of course, pause and think through what she has just asked, making sure I just heard the question correctly.



I said "I'm an ant trainer"


She said "oh" and walked back to the kitchen to started working - really believing me!





Not as good as CDW's apple question, but defintely a "what are they thinking" moment.

This is a recipe I found a couple months ago on Group Recipes and it is very SIMPLE and, not healthy, but GOOD.

Butter Pecan Pie


Ingredients

• 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 tub Duncan Hines® Creamy Home-Style Buttercream Frosting
• 1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese
• 1 cup frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
• pecan halves
• 1 9-inch prepared graham cracker crumb pie crust

Directions

1 Place pecans and butter in 10-inch skillet on medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until butter is lightly browned. Pour into heat-proof large bowl.
2 Add frosting and cream cheese. Stir until thoroughly blended. Fold in whipped topping.
3 Pour into prepared crust. Garnish with pecan halves, if desired. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm.

End of Summer

Seems strange that the official end of summer is now ~ school started back about 4 weeks ago, seems like summer was long ago. With hubbies work schedule, kids activities and the shop, fitting in summer trips was a little interesting. But we did fit several days in at the beach . . . .

Fried Scallops at the beach

And we were able to take a few quick day trips to silly places close by . . . like "Old Woody"

The boys were overly excited about posing next to the only confederate wooden flagpole still standing - of course I only did that because I thought it was funny - 3 boys and old woody - haha - ok a little gutter too, but the chance to irritate a 14 year old, who can resist!

A covered bridge

The Habitat for Humanity Global Village

The Rural Telephone Museum

No pictures were allowed inside and they did not have any wonderful telephone icon outside. . . too bad. Maybe I should send a suggestion.

Kayaking


It was nice to get out and about even for a couple hours and we had fun driving around South Georgia and having a chance to visit - even if there was no choice as we drove 55 mph down the road . . . and teenager wore the same shirt for every trip. Things you spot when the pictures are up!