Sunday, September 26, 2010
Good deed Sunday
Payton and Kathleen did a good deed today by picking up trash in the park. We have a nice park right in our own back yard. The park has always been there, but only until recently it was just wooded land. Symmes Township blazed a nice walking trail through it recently. It measures about 2/3 mile and is much like walking through the forest in Switzerland - without the elevation changes.
Check out the two trees bent and crossing one another is the picture above. Back in the mid 90's a tornado came through our neighborhood and bent these trees over. It did the same to many others. Why they didn't break is unknown - some did. You would think they would have straightened back up, but they stayed this way. The branches on the left tree grow vertically like bunch of trees growing out of the ground.
About half way through the trail it was time for a drink, some rest and a snack. The trail has a nice restroom building with drinking fountains. Parker isn't quite tall enough to give himself a drink and needs a little help. The park has even provided drinking facilities for dogs.
Symme's Township Historical Society is reconstructing an 1830's log house within the park. We've been watching the progress. It has been slow and steady. The floor is in and the first floor walls are up. There is still plenty to do. It's a two-story house, so the second floor is still to come. You can see from the pictures what they started with and where they are. Pretty cool eh?
The weather has been much cooler here the past few days. It makes walking our trail so nice. There is still plenty of green on the trees, but leaves are drying out and falling to the ground. It allows more sun light to filter through. To bad that we may be leaving soon.
Check out the two trees bent and crossing one another is the picture above. Back in the mid 90's a tornado came through our neighborhood and bent these trees over. It did the same to many others. Why they didn't break is unknown - some did. You would think they would have straightened back up, but they stayed this way. The branches on the left tree grow vertically like bunch of trees growing out of the ground.
About half way through the trail it was time for a drink, some rest and a snack. The trail has a nice restroom building with drinking fountains. Parker isn't quite tall enough to give himself a drink and needs a little help. The park has even provided drinking facilities for dogs.
Symme's Township Historical Society is reconstructing an 1830's log house within the park. We've been watching the progress. It has been slow and steady. The floor is in and the first floor walls are up. There is still plenty to do. It's a two-story house, so the second floor is still to come. You can see from the pictures what they started with and where they are. Pretty cool eh?
The weather has been much cooler here the past few days. It makes walking our trail so nice. There is still plenty of green on the trees, but leaves are drying out and falling to the ground. It allows more sun light to filter through. To bad that we may be leaving soon.
Friday, September 24, 2010
I got my stripe goin' on...
I just mowed the yard and I have a nice stripe goin' on. The yard doesn't look like a ball diamond, but pretty good none the less. It's been a pretty hot and very dry summer. Even though I water the yard, it was only staying a passable shade of green ahead of brown. I started watering daily and after two weeks it greened up really nice. It takes a stripe real well now. I likey.Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Crossing the Little Miami
Every day to and from school, me and the boys cross over the Little Miami River. After school today we stopped at Nesbit Park and walked down to the river. The water level is down so low that we were able to walk through and across to the other side. I dressed the boys in swim suits and old shoes so they could walk in the water and get wet. I made the page sized poster below so that Payton could share his experience with his class tomorrow.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAYTON!
Payton had a good birthday party yesterday. School friends came. Neighborhood friends came. Kids of mom's co-workers he has met came. It was a great turn out. Kathleen made a fantastic Iron Man cake. All in all it was a great birthday party. We rented a jumping balloon for the kids to play in. The playset got a workout too. We had plenty of dogs and burgers, but the kids just ate cake.
Payton got a lot of presents, Bakugons, Legos, Iron Man, games and more. He loves his birthdays. Happy birthday Payton! And cheers to mom for being a great mom putting it all together.
Monday, September 6, 2010
A trip to the zoo
One the last day of this Labor Day weekend we went to the zoo. It was a nice day to do so. Payton has always liked seeing the animals and Parker enjoyed it too. We got to see a Cheetah run which was pretty cool. Similar to a dog track, the cheetah was trained to chase after an object attached to a line. It moved pretty quick and the cheetah was just as quick chasing it.
Parker pointing at the giraffes.
Payton didn't mind touching the American alligator, Parker not so much.
Payton hugged the bronze elephant for a picture. Parker - always the copier - ran right over to do the same.
A zoo photograph taken as we entered the park.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Striped bed sheets
How's this for something completely different... Ever had striped bed sheets? This is our first set. Sheets are pretty much sheets to me, but I've always hated guessing what is the head, foot and side to solid sheets. Only the brain dead can't put striped sheets on the bed. I like striped sheets.2010 NHRA US Nationals
My neighbor Steve and I traveled to Indianapolis to see the first day of nitro class qualifying in NHRA U.S. Nationals. It has been some 25 years since I last saw a pro drag race. Nitro cars are a site to see and feel. Ashley Force Hood was fast enough to capture the funny car pole after round one of qualifying with a pass of 4.059 at 310.98 MPH. Thats in just 1000 ft. because nitro cars no longer race a quarter mile. She was fast on Friday, but five others were quicker before qualifying ended on Sunday. She started eliminations seeded 6th, but still won the race for the second time in a row. Following is her first qualifying run.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Vacation in Hilton Head
Last week we went drove down to Hilton Head for some R&R and to visit Grandma and Grandpa. The week started out with sweltering hot weather, but by week's end it cooled off due to the hurricanes developing far to the southeast. Kathleen's sister Ashley and her boys joined us for the first few days. Payton and Parker had a good time playing with the 3 year old twins. Kathleen and the boys spent a lot of time at the beach. Me, not so much. I can work in the sun, but to just sit in it isn't my cup of tea.
Above is a favorite picture place of ours. We like getting pictures of the boys on the boardwalk to the beach.
I did not stray far from the air conditioning. While Kathleen and the boys were at the beach, I was mostly in the air conditioning or sitting out on the deck reading with something cold to drink.
One morning we rode our bikes the mile or so to Starbucks. By the time we got there Parker had crashed. We had drinks and treats and did some newspaper reading. Just before we left Parker woke up.
I did go to the beach some. Payton likes getting buried and Parker got a kick out of it too.
For something different, we chartered a catamaran. The day wasn't real windy, but there was enough to sale around Calibogue Sound. Captain Josh was skinny as hell, but he did a fine job piloting the boat. Our trip lasted about 90 minutes. It would have been more fun on a windy day so that we could experience the speed of the boat.
The next to last day I was at the beach for quite a while. I sort of built a castle for the boys; four buckets of packed sand. Parker liked the moat I dug out around the thing. High tide took its toll on it. We stayed around to watch its destruction. Parker really liked the waves. The water was getting kind of rough, but Parker would just stick his chest out and laugh at the waves.
It's always nice to see the grandparents and spend time at the beach.
Above is a favorite picture place of ours. We like getting pictures of the boys on the boardwalk to the beach.
I did not stray far from the air conditioning. While Kathleen and the boys were at the beach, I was mostly in the air conditioning or sitting out on the deck reading with something cold to drink.One morning we rode our bikes the mile or so to Starbucks. By the time we got there Parker had crashed. We had drinks and treats and did some newspaper reading. Just before we left Parker woke up.
I did go to the beach some. Payton likes getting buried and Parker got a kick out of it too.
For something different, we chartered a catamaran. The day wasn't real windy, but there was enough to sale around Calibogue Sound. Captain Josh was skinny as hell, but he did a fine job piloting the boat. Our trip lasted about 90 minutes. It would have been more fun on a windy day so that we could experience the speed of the boat.
The next to last day I was at the beach for quite a while. I sort of built a castle for the boys; four buckets of packed sand. Parker liked the moat I dug out around the thing. High tide took its toll on it. We stayed around to watch its destruction. Parker really liked the waves. The water was getting kind of rough, but Parker would just stick his chest out and laugh at the waves.
It's always nice to see the grandparents and spend time at the beach.
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