Almost There!!!

It started off being a dark cloud day.
But as the trusses went up, so did the temperature.

By afternoon the sky was bright blue.

Will putting up the sides.

Dad helping out again - thanks Dad!!

The sun became very warm as it became time to put on the roof.

By supper time the boards were all nailed in and the tar paper was all on to

water proof against the rain that

was expected to come at some point

in the next while.

These shots were taken the next day, on Sunday - notice how the sky is

even more blue.

Left to do...shingles, sealer, fix stairs abit, put in railings, sofets (splg??), and some inspections

all the way in there somewhere.

As far as I'm concerned, it's pretty much finished!!! We've already spent some time on Sunday drinking tea partly in the shade and partly basking in the sun. I am very thankful firstly to God for such a blessing that we will enjoy for many years to come. I would like to especially thank Will who has worked very hard at planning and building - you are the best!! As well, a big thank you to Will's Dad for all of his extra help - we wouldn't be this far if you hadn't helped. This sounds like the end, but it's not - I'll post more pictures as we go along but from here on I think the progress will slow down substantially.

Take care and don't forget to wash your hands well and good!!!

Mommy's Monumental Mistake

Can you imagine this cute muffin cake doing something naughty,

something that he knows, just knows, he

shouldn't do?

Well, he did and when he started to do it this is what I said

"Oh Peter that's so nice, you are giving Mommy a massage,

yup that feels so nice, don't stop

what a nice boy you are" and on and on with the like.

Next thing I know the eldest gasps "Mom, did you know Peter has a

permanent marker and is drawing on your back with it!".

I stand up, and I need to twist my mind to reality.

You mean to tell me dear daughter that my relaxing massage was instead a

Monumental Mommy Mistake?

I punish the wicked wretch to the dreaded stairs but soon relent

because he sneaks up to my room, takes another shirt from my drawer,

brings it to me with a contrite face and says

"I torry Mommy, 'give me?"

How can I not?

How can I stay MAD that it was my favorite Curves shirt,

"A strong woman, has a strong heart" shirt.?

How can I even care when those two blue-brown eyes saucers

are beaming up at me with love and hope for forgiveness?

Now doesn't that look like a great massage?
This shirt is now relegated to my pajama drawer.
oh well,
a strong woman, has a strong heart.
Making mistakes and laughing about it
is not for sissies :).

Dedicated Drummer

Would you like to buy a ticket to my show?

"Here Maam, I know that you need these"

(I am presented with Will's industrial ear muffs).

Our son knows his mother quite well

after only five years - he's doing pretty good

to know that I get sensory overload easily.

Will thinks it's just hilarious.

It had been one of those last hot days of summer.

And we were treated to quite an energetic show.

The tribal yells and drum sounds can only be compared to memories of Africa.

I was very happy for my ear muffs :).

We were even given snacks to "eat" and I'm
still not sure what they were suppose to be.

Ethan had a small part in the finale.
We were sad to leave the dedicated drummer

but alas the cooler house was calling.

Powerful Pivots and Shifting Shadufs

Last Monday, we studied powerful pivots, fulcrums, levers

and how to make a shaduf.

Here we are in the backyard discovering that if one moves the fulcrum, they can use the

use the board as a simple machine to move heavy objects.

Now, you may be asking yourself ...what's a shaduf?

It was a simple machine built by ancient Egyptians to move heavy loads such as buckets of water.

The farmers would use a shaduf to transport the water from the Nile River to a ditch or a water cistern.

As you can see the board, balanced on the fulcrum can handle heavier loads than our human arms ever could!! The idea is to pivot the board around - ummm maybe we can use ours to

transfer that pile of dirt into the back gardens?

Oh No! The Shaduf was shafted!!

I guess using rope to connect wood is not constructive but rather distructive.

Nails were a good invention!!!

Trial and error, try and try again.

It worked better with nails but I didn't take pictures of that for some reason ????

All in all, it was fun and a great way to learn!!

In Glad Adoration!!

Praise to the LORD, the Almighty the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him,

for He is thy health

and salvation!

All ye who hear,

Now to His temple draw near,

Join me

in glad adoration.

In glad adoration!!!

Little Sluggers, Slugs and Slippery Sluff

Some one came to visit us!!

We think he's really fun.

He's something like this hedgehog... (very cute!)

but sometimes get's overdone.

Everyone admires

and oogles him for hours.

He smiles for everyone and

has them in his powers.

Here's our little slug, a slimy visitor for sure.

Would you rather come to this kitchen these morsels to endure?.

You would get to eat with these folk...

As scary as they be...

Ahoy Matie!!! Here's somethin' found growin' in our garden

(surprise to us all) that starts with a "c"!!

Deck Update

Here are the stairs - Ta Da!!!
It was impossible to get these two little boys to sit still for even a moment!!

Making stairs is no easy business.

Here is Will showing the sides of the stairs.

This the area where the stairs are going to be placed.

These are shots from last week when the floor boards were lain down.

Dad helping again - thanks Dad!!

Things are coming together

Someone must have been under the deck - well, it wasn't me!!

Too bad no one will get to see the nice gravel - I really liked the color!