This Woman Needs Grandchildren, People

A year ago, I had casually mentioned to our friend Mim that Frances wanted to learn to knit and that she was in charge of that project.  I don't knit.

This summer, Mim and her friend Lindi came to stay with us for a couple nights.  And what does Mim do?  She shows up with a knitting kit - yarn, needles, instruction book, scissors.  I could have wept with gratitude for the wonderful women in my girls' lives.  And Mim taught Frances to knit!  Patience of Job, people.

And Gorilla looked on, because Frances wanted him to learn to knit, too.

I'll explain opposable thumbs next summer, when Frances matures and stops worrying about possibly hurting her stuffties feelings if she were to leave them behind when she goes to college.  She'll stop worrying about that soon, right?

Anyway, all hail Mim!

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Not really.  The lyric just popped in my head.

We did watch the eclipse from a local library that was way more organized than I was, i.e. the librarians had purchased viewing glasses.  The girls were suitably impressed, if not blown away with the disappearing sun act.

While at that library, I saw a notice of a party for rising kindergarteners at our local library.  This was very handy, as I'd completely forgotten the upcoming party and another party at our other local library.  (It was such an odd summer; have I mentioned that?  Lots of forgetting.)  We made it to that party and Chandler received her yellow "I'm going to Kindergarten" shirt.

On our way home from the party, we bumped into the JP Honk band, practicing outside the train station.  One of the musicians noticed the girls standing around and gave the girls egg shakers so they could participate.

(I love JP; have I mentioned that, either?)

It was a great way to finish a hectic day.  Nothing like live music in the open air at the end of a long summer's day.

Like The Wind, Almost

I was training for a half-marathon and needed to go for a four mile run.  Frances wanted to go with me.  I didn't feel I could say "no" - who says "no" to an offspring asking for physical activity? - but I didn't think I'd get my run in either.  Leisurely chat, I thought.

Boy, was I wrong!

This kid ran four miles:

Talking the whole time, first we went a bit, and then a bit farther and a bit farther still.  I was blown away.

She hasn't exactly begged for more runs, but I will take what I can get.

She Does What She Does

Chandler does her own hats.

Here you see her wearing her bonnet backwards.

She's further modified the bonnet by chewing off and disappearing one of its snaps.

In my next life, when I'm wise, I'm going to get all my kids' clothing at the Goodwill.

Scenes from the Nuthouse, August 19, 2017

Sourdough cinnamon rolls, because why not add another layer of complexity to a recipe I swore I'd never make because it was too complex.

And, Chandler in pink, because I don't know why either.

Stupid Pinterest

Pinterest told me that if the girls mixed dirt and water, the dirt would separate out into distinct, interesting layers, visible through a clear container.

Pinterest lied.

Maybe the dirt from our garden is too unnatural, too much augmenting from our industrious downstairs neighbor, but after several days of sitting we had a whole lot of non-sedimentation going on.

Nevermind, the girls kept themselves occupied for at least 30 minutes.  A win for all.

Mass Audubon to the rescue, again

The girls and I had to take the "new" car in for some work (I believe we'd broken a seatbelt; our mechanic said he'd never seen that particular problem before, but it was a summer full of specialness.)  To salvage the day, we had snacks and a run-around at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, MA.

It's an old farm site, so there are plenty of stone walls around to admire, but there's also a bog.  The girls had a great time squelching their way through there, looking for fairies.  Moose Hill completely came through for us, saving the day from the Braintree strip.