Septic and Summer

Tuesday, May 26

 

Well. first let me tell you about Sunday night. Around midnight. Strange clunking and gurgling noises coming from showers and tubs and toilets do not bode well. Dad got up and sleuthed around awhile. He found Jacob doing the same thing. Conclusion was that the septic tank was full and had backed up so that the sewer pipes were also full. A midnight bathroom-user (who will remain anonymous) and a simple flush, and whoops that's a problem. So all day Memorial Day we were septic-less. Meaning we washed dishes in a dishpan and threw the dirty water outside so it wouldn't go down the drain and end up backing up into the shower. Meaning we did not use our trusty dishwasher. Meaning we didn't do our regular six loads of Monday morning laundry. And also meaning we flushed toilets v-e-r-y sparingly.  Not pleasant, I know, but that's how life is sometimes.

 

So---Tuesday morning, Mr. Septic Man pumped us out.

 

But that didn't solve the problem because the sewer pipes were so clogged that nothing was moving. So I headed to the laundromat with my six loads of laundry, and Hero Dad worked on it until it finally loosened and the pipe emptied! I'll spare the details, but suffice it to say it was NOT a pleasant job.

Sooo - - - laundry on washline, Dad back to work,

 

and we headed to the lake until rain again drove us home!

 

This little guy loves the water. Kicks like crazy in his little boat. Adorable.

Beautiful evening walk.

Wednesday, May 27. Littles Day.

 

These two cowboys couldn't get enough of riding.

 

Joelle wouldn't smile although she was super relaxed. Not sure if she'll want to do it again.

 

Horses were put away by the time the Baer cubs arrived, so everyone got 4wheeler rides instead.

 

Aaaannnddd - - - -

 this.

 

 

Sarah shared these snake pictures with me. Idk if the mom of these boys knows they have such a fascination with reptiles. I think we might be to blame for that, yikes.

 

I see no fear.

 

I also see a very patient snake.

 

Enough of that. On to lunchtime.

 

Outside meals are the BEST with littles. Cleanup is such a snap.

Just sayin'

 

 

Was a beautiful summer day for a precious crowd of littles.

 

Thursday afternoon these three little guys really enjoyed their sno-cones while Lola got a piano lesson.

 

That's Josh doing an evening ride with Kate!

And that brings us to yesterday.

I've noticed that sno-cones bring smiles to all ages. Another sweet sign of summer.

 

 

Humidity was gone and it was downright breezy in my book, but these three had a blast on this waterslide that the kids rigged up. Clay quit pretty early on as his energy seemed to be waning and it was a little cool for him; but Cason climbed up and slid down again and again without stopping. I'm suspecting he slept well last night.

 

 

Littlest man was really cold and tired...

 

but popsicles always make everything better :)

 

So yes, it finally finally finally feels like summer.

And we're all loving it!!

Congratulations Ben

Sunday May 24

 

Finally a nice day to listen to church outside. Beautiful to enjoy God's word and creation simultaneously, but will be way better to be back in church... eventually...

 

A few monkeys were seen.

 

Afternoon walk in Mud Creek. Waayy deeper than I expected but now I know why older kids don't love creek walks. It's a younger kid thing. I still don't understand the attraction, but I also remember enjoying creek walks as a kid...

I guess it's just a kid thing.

 

Not sure why this picture is so poor quality but it's here for the record. Some folks are in the water but I was not. My kayak worked just fine. It was a beautiful afternoon in spite of the humidity.

 

Celebration for Ben's graduation after supper.

 

Excuse the cake décor. Somehow the graduation accessories didn't make it on the cake. But with Walmart's whipped icing over chocolate and marble cake, it was DELICIOUS and leftovers did not last long. Highly recommended.

*if you don't mind the lack of decorations, lol*

 

Congratulations Ben!

 

Six down, three to go :)

 

Memorial Day found another small crowd at the lake again after our morning work was done. It was again humid and water felt fine.

 

Jewel was standing on the paddleboard right before I snapped this px. Not sure how wise that is!!

 

I can't remember if we got rain from those beautiful clouds or not, but by supper time it was nice enough again to eat outside.

And play outside...

 

For awhile!!

Rainy Days and Blue Skies

Newest mower at CIT.

With all the rain and cold (which, incidentally, got a lot of our tomatoes, which were replaced, and apples, which were not **sob**), farmers have been concerned. Ben has helped Grandpa check on the corn a few times. It has since come up and looks.... ok (from my perspective anyway).

 

I'm completely not thrilled with the trampoline without its net but I seem to be the only one who cares. So Josh has learned this flip and I don't like to watch this video but here it is for the advancement of your gray hair.

 

Sunday night, May 17.

Wednesday May 20. Littles day. Anya is quite studious at times.

 

 

These two second cousins are just checking each other out.

 

These three keep pretty busy doing boy stuff. Idk what they were up to here.

 

Cloudy or sunny, this girl will ride.

 

And then we got to take care of this little guy awhile Thursday morning.

Friday May 22. A new-to-me activity: goo sticks. 

Get the fire good and hot and then melt plastic onto a stick. Drip the molten plastic goo onto the cardboard (Sodom/Gomorrah) until the cardboard catches fire and burns a lovely black spot in the yard. 

Last Saturday was a work day at Levi & Echo's. They've had water in their basement so, with a lot of help, installed perimeter tile in the basement. Hopefully the problem is solved.

Girls and I were home doing kp all morning; we came in time to bring a couple of strawberry pies for lunch. You know what they say, "when strawberries are on sale, make pies." I think we made 6 pies in 3 days. And ate them all :)

So I didn't help much on the basement project, although after lunch I did join a bucket-cleaning crew in a race with the storm. As it got darker and grayer, and the sound of thunder grew louder and louder...

 ...by the time we got home it was ominously gorgeous.

All girls were looking north, which is the picture I should've grabbed, but I asked them to turn around instead. 

I like it fine. My girls are just beautiful, inside and out.

Older kids were with young group that night, so it was just Jewel and Josh here with Dad and me. Josh tried a little fishing,

while Jewel did a little riding,

and Dad & I did a little walking.

These peaceful bucolic views bring such calm after the storms of turmoil and politics and tragedies of life. I wonder, would this beauty be possible without the storm earlier? I guess probably, but undoubtedly my appreciation is heightened by the previous rain/gray/cold. 

This splendor points to God. It demands praise to Him Who created it.

When we focus on Him - - perfect peace. When we don't - - unsettled chaos. Like Peter walking on the water, if we keep our eyes on Jesus, we're fine. When the storms/wind/waves draw our eyes off Jesus, we sink. Same as Peter. Why don't I learn that??

I don't know who wrote this but it's good:

Know Jesus, Know peace.

No Jesus, No peace.  

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because He trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 26:3