8-3-10
Hi there!
Well, summer, according to the school calendar, may almost be over. But summer, according to the weather outside, has hit its peak. Whew! It's hot! Hot enough that a portion of the highway just east of town actually buckled. Hot enough that the air conditioners don't stop running. Hot enough that instead of being asked 'how are you' when you're out and about, you're asked 'hot enough for you?' I know we've been setting records all across the U.S. with these temperatures, but, frankly, I'm too hot to look it up.Definitely Dog Days of Summer. . .
We've been taking advantage of this definite summer-like weather and going to the lake for some water sports. Javyn's got this wake boarding thing nearly mastered, and it's amazing how different everybody does it. Typically, Javyn'll bring a buddy with him (that's one in the picture).
It seems there are as many styles of wakeboarding as there are shapes and sizes of people. And some are naturals and look like pros the first time they ever try it and others are happy just to get up on the board after the umpteenth try. All I can say is Way To Go! Because that's not something Hubster or I will be trying to do anytime soon:-)
So where all has Troy been since the last time I wrote? Umm. . . Let's see, Baltimore, Maryland; Greensboro, NC; Leoti (Kansas , that is), and Kearney, NE. . . He'll be heading to Albuquerque later this month for yet another meeting - and to spend time with some family. . . Javyn and I can't go because that's the first week of school. . . . bad timing. Darn it!
The Kearney trip was a very unexpected and required Javyn and Troy to take quite a detour home - four hours out of their way. But it was worth it. One of our friends was in a serious car accident that weekend and had been air-flighted to the south-central Nebraska hospital in Kearney from Hill City in Northwest Kansas. He's doing much better now, a bit more than two weeks later, but it was a very worrisome situation. We're hoping to go and visit him again this next week.
We've been enjoying our new patio immensely! Saturday night's Blues, Booze, and Blazes has become a casual tradition with no invitations necessary. It's a great time to get together with friends and just relax.
My little Garden of Pots is holding its own - I've been getting a handful of tomatoes and another of peppers on a consistent basis. Considering their conditions - they're doing great!
We've been collecting so much water from our air conditioners' condensation (at least 10 gallons on one day is the record in) that I have not had to turn on my self-installed sprinkler system in the flower beds but just a couple times - despite the dry-hot weather. As an added benefit, I'm getting muscles from hauling water around to give the various plants a drink. Win-win-win. . . what a GREAT thing!
Troy's Manland is now ready for production with all of the ammunition reloaders mounted and waiting for someone to come use them.
It certainly does get hot in the garage. . . and even hotter on the second floor, where ManLand is located, though the window air conditioner does help. A person can only really work up there in the mornings and evenings after the sun has gone down. No complaints, mind you, but I've been told how this is slowing up production.
Jori's gearing up to get back to class. . . she'll be starting just right after Javyn. Going to be a heavier load with quite a few classes, but I have no doubt that the she can handle it AND pull off some awesome grades too! She's really been enjoying her job at the decorating store, such a nice thing to be able to like your job.
One Friday found The Chanutians and The Lawrenceites meeting at Clinton Lake for the day. What a GREAT time! Javyn brought a friend and Jori had two with her - so it was a boatful. I stayed on land at our 'daycamp' and enjoyed walking to the beach and watching the geese parade around.
Javyn brought a 3-wheeler home from The Farm as a souvenir and has he been having fun! He has a great place to ride at some friends' farm just outside of town. They've got a dirt track, and fields and plenty of space to ride. He's been going out there at nearly every chance - thank goodness they have ponds and a swimming pool for the boys to jump in and cool off once in awhile.
The summer went so fast that he and I never did get to our golfing and bowling goals. . . but there's still time. Well, I mean, the goals will have to be modified to include a different season. . .
I've been pretty focused on my jewelry-making as a friend of mine has convinced me to participate in Chanute's Artist Alley at the end of September.
She and I will be sharing a booth space, but boy! So much to think about! I'm not sure how it will go, but things have been picking up in my ksyardbird shop and keeping me doubly busy. So many things I want to make and so many 'other' things that keep me away from my workbench.
A new-found friend took me on a bit of an adventure last week to a quilt shop in Independence, KS (45 minutes south of us). What a wonderfully inspiring shop it was!
What's coming up? School for Jori and Javyn, more travel for Troy, and more jewelry-making for me. Oh, let's not forget the rest of that landscape project and as many Saturday nights as possible on that back patio.
How's your summer winding down?
Robin
