Future Drivers of America!

This old Harley Davidson has taught children to drive in the past . . . and it will be teaching children to drive in the future. At its top speed of about 7 MPH, it is just right for little ones wanting to steer . . . and, okay, to drive too. After using this cart for about a year, I have determined that you have to be approximately 7 years old before you can sit behind the wheel all on your own. Before that you have to sit on a Nana's lap and just steer. By the time you are 7 years old, your legs might be long enough to reach the pedals.

This past trip, the children begged and begged to drive. Finally, while the younger four were occupied, I took Morghan out and put her behind the wheel. She did very, very well! Pretty soon it was time to take two little boys out. Jack did very well too and his legs were long enough to run the pedals too. Joey had to sit on my lap. He steered, and took his full turn from one end of the lake road to the other, but I think he would rather practice on his own without anyone else around to watch and I definitely know that is Gabrielle's point of view. She just tried steering a little bit then said, You do it, Nana. but I bet if it was just her and me she would have had a longer turn. Maddie Mae enjoyed steering too and took almost her full turn.
It was cool and windy and we had to pull a blanket around us to stay even half warm -- but the children didn't mind and bit and look forward to another visit and another drive. Me too!

Spring Break, part Too

The children found something dead in the lake. One guessed rat? one guessed otter?

These boys are working hard!

Muskrat, Nana told them but only because I know there are muskrats in the lake. Otherwise, Nana couldn't tell a muskrat from an Otter. Gabby said, let's touch it. Nana, said "absolutely not!"

These girls are playing hard!

Boy, we had a good time!

Spring break

Windy and chilly but the industrious ones were busy digging, moving, carrying and planning!

Don't get in the way! The children have assignments and purposes. Let them do their jobs!

HOT running water

Look! Hot water!

Hot Water Maker

And this little wizzard can make hot water for both the bathroom and kitchen sinks at the same time -- as much as we want, as long as we want! Well, until the propane tank was empty anyway. And someday, it will heat the water for a shower. Watch for a future episode . . . "Hot Water at Too!"

HOT WATER HAS ARRIVED-03/20/2009

Finally, after years of constant pressure, abuse, kidding, and torture, we now have running hot water at II. I finally succumbed, gave in, relented, and bowed to the powers that be. I purchased a "tankless" hot water heater that uses propane gas. I spent Friday afternoon hooking up the faucets to the pex line and into the main water supply, added batteries for ignition, checked for leaks, both gas and water, turned the hot faucet knob on, and presto, hot water. The heater senses the cold water flowing through it, and ignites the heater. So simple. Now the pressure will be to install a shower, as always, one advancement leads to another, and i'm sure to another. Anyway this portion of the project is done and will eagerlly await the pressure to start another.
BOI

Contest III

Looks as tho we will be "at home" again this weekend as the preliminary forecast called for lows in the 20s. Might not be that drastic, now. But we'll stay here. I'll do more spring cleaning and Himself will start packing . . . hopefully, for next weekend.

Meanwhile, here's a contest. This was used well before my time.

Any ideas? Let's see. The winner gets any framed photo in my house that they want . . . (oh wait. any but that big one with the curved glass of Grampa and Aunt Eva -- and, oh hey, there might be 1 or 2 others . . . but still plenty to choose from!)

Wherefore art thou, Spring?

Well. Really. I shouldn't complain. We had a record setting day on Thursday -- 70+ degrees and today was very nice too but not quite as warm. Tomorrow and Sunday, the weather gurus are predicting rain. Rain. More Rain! So Himself and I have kept to home. That red Missouri clay is slick and slimey when it is wet. It will be wet this weekend what with the frost coming out of the ground and rain falling from the sky, if those weather forecasters are even half right.

Two years ago, it was muddy. In fact, March 10, ought seven, the ol' Jeep was splattered to high heaven with that Missouri Mud. When it dries, it is tarnantion to get off the car. Himself has some on the garage floor from last trip down and it just sort of slips and slides around like mercury on a table top; it hasn't set up yet. (You young ones haven't played with mercury from a broken thermometer. Mercury is a hazardous substance now but we didn't know that when I was a kid and if ever you got some Mercury, kids played with it and passed it around. It was pure entertainment!)

Anyway, one more weekend at home won't hurt me. I have house to clean and papers to sort. Blogs to write. Babies to kiss. I have more things to do than time to do them -- or common sense. More things than I can shake a stick at.

Still. Spring calls. The open road calls . . .

Contest Two -- Whatsitcalled?

What is this type of cookware called?

Any of you have a name for it?

Johanna gave me the white, with red trim pans.

That little cream colored one -- I've had it for a number of years.

My Little Garden

It was really too cold to go stay at the cabin but there might have been enough snow for skiing this past weekend. There was here, anyway, as we got 3 or 4" Friday night into Saturday morning.


Just this past Thursday it was warm enough I planted lettuce and Swiss Chard in the cold frame and radish and green onions in the ground. Now look at my little garden . . .