Made It!

And Papa is happy! Last year, Luci would have nothing to do with Papa. She's making up for it on this visit. So far, in one afternoon, she's told jokes, been read to, and fed the squirrels with Papa.

Katie and JT playing checkers.

Luci with Laura and Katie,playing piano, making sure both girls are following her plans.
We almost didn't make it. We had to stop several times. Luci was sure she had to go potty NOW...in places far away from plumbing, so we pulled out the kiddy-port-a-potty. Neat invention, but it did not help Luci. She's an Army kid for three more weeks, until Daddy retires--so I'm calling her not going a Dereliction of Doo-dy.

Papa Remembered What Nana Was Wearing When He Met Her

My grandfather, Papa, told me this story decades after meeting his wife...and gave me some advice.

I was a young schoolteacher at the time, just like Nana was when she married Papa. Papa told me that when he first met Nana, she was wearing a red wool jacket. He told me (a spinster at 26!) to get a red wool jacket, too. He thought that might make a difference. So I did, and before long I met John, and the rest is history, as they say.

Nana must have known something:

story: Red on Women Drives Men Wild

Thanks, Dad!

The gas station has gas priced at a reasonable rate today, and is open--yesterday lights were on but no one was there, not even a vehicle from those operating the shop. So I'm not sure if it was even open yesterday. Usually it's packed.

I called Dad and told him the latest on the gas station. He called back a little later with this riddle for me:

What's the difference between a Homeschool Mom and a Pit Bull?

Lipstick!


Pretty high praise from a Democrat!

Doin' Stuff with Papa

JT talked about helping Papa with his grandfather clock even before we got to Idaho. For some reason, this is a really big deal to the kids. Maybe because they aren't allowed to touch it at any other time. Luci got in on the act, too.
Another fun job was loading the squirrel feeder. After our trials and tribulations with squirrels at our house in Alabama, I find it pretty funny that Mom and Dad encourage the little beasts. (The squirrels, I mean. They also keep feeding the grandchildren, and they keep showing up, too.)

Luci wanted to help but ran off before the job was finished. JT loved this chore, too.

Look! I'm Papa!

Can you see her "moustache?" She stuck the tape on and told me that she was Papa. Funny!

and look...she also has carrot cake on her mouth. Sorry I didn't catch that.

Dad, You Lost an Ally

Today Luci found a little spider crawling around, and John had her take care of it herself. She wadded it up, in wonderful fashion, inside a napkin.

I said to her, "I thought spiders are our friends."

Her reply:

They're not!