Homecoming

We had a fun and interesting homecoming weekend. We all went to the game and enjoyed the first half and during the half time show got a strange text from Sophie. Both of our kids go sit in the student section with friends while we hang out with our friends. Apparently, at the past couple of games, unknown to us and our kids, a fairly large group kids embraced stupidity in a major way. They all start running and yelling about gun shots and sweep up a bunch of panicked people and race out of the stadium. Basically they create a mob. Apparently it didn't happen at the games we had attended or it happened away from us. This doesn't happen in the stands but up by concessions and such. Well, the administrators had their fill and put a plan in place. 

 So at half time, Sophie and a friend are in a concession line when they get swept up in the same scenario and are pushed along and out of the stadium. To which the security, backed by police officer's locked the gates and refused to let anyone back in. Period. So we found out this had been a thing, collected Rhys, and had to leave.  At first, Sophie was in tears because she didn't know if Rhys was okay. Then she was in tears because she had been caught up in it and the consequence. Then by the time we figured out what was going on and exited, she was fine. Well, now we know.

The next day was the homecoming dance and Sophie and some girlfriends participated. Neal and I hosted a steak dinner. I made the table all fancy and was sous chef and server while Neal cooked and plated.  Some of the other parents stepped in with dessert, photography, and transportation. It was a lot of fun for both parents and kids. Got the full report of her wonderful evening when she returned home. 

High School is Fun

 I don't know about my kids but Neal and I have decided that high school is fun. Way more fun than when we were in it. Without the burden of academics we get to go to games, plays, participate in our kids' interests. Busy? Yes. Fun? Yes. It has taken our family about a month to figure out what extracuricular activities are non-negotiable for our kids, and then to calendar and get used to the who needs to be where when and who's driving. 

It seems pretty solid at this point that Rhys had decided to return this year to Robotic's club and continue private music lessons. Sophie has chosen to sing in Millennial Chior and Orchestra (MCO) as a saprano and was excepted into Explorers, a law enforcement organization that works in partnership with our local police department to provide hands on experience. Both kids, after trying out shooting and liking it, have given up their Saturdays to be on the Allen Eagles Competitive Shooting Team.

You think our kids are busy? They don't drive yet and two of these activities are held an hour away from school. Instead of sitting and waiting, we are jumping in to volunteer. Neal is being trained as a shooting coach and Keri is volunteering with the shooting team, as needed, and MCO. 

Not only that but we are enjoying all that Texas high school football is by attending games and have taken in a high school play of Charlotte's Web. 

The world has been spinning so fast, we're just trying to not fly off!

A Taste of High School Band

 Rhys joined his 8th grade band members for a Tailgate Dinner at the High School where they not only performed but interacted with the high school band in a big way. After their performance the high school band joined in their fun and then 8th grade and high school band members brook into groups by instrument and crazy fun followed. Rhys had a huge smile on his face when the trombone wasn't up to it. All that elbow rubbing with the crazy high school trombone players may have leaned Rhys in a very fun direction for his high school years. We shall see!

Look What the Cat Brought In

 No, really. Look. 

A cute little rough earth snake. No injuries. Removed to the front yard, as Wall-E brought it in from the backyard where we let him roam since he's too fat to jump a fence.

Sophie's First Concert

For her birthday we gifted Sophie tickets to her first concert. Her Dad was her date for the evening and they saw Imagine Dragons with Kings Elliot opening at Fair Park in Dallas. 

Visiting Mom for her Birthday!

Mom turned 77! I flew out to WA for a short visit to celebrate mom. She's getting older so I'm just about able to keep up with her now. Shopped, hiked Spruce Railroad Trail along Lake Crescent, played a few mean games of cards, watched the Golden Girls every night, and foraged blackberries, stink currant, evergreen huckleberry, and red huckleberry in the forest by her home while taking her dog out. She is doing well and I am happy for her!

Meet the Teacher and Football

 Having a kid at the high school is fun. Sophie had chosen to attend the Young Women's church activity the night of Meet the Teacher so Neal and I went and had a blast putting faces to names we were still trying to get to know. To give Sophie a hard time we took selfies with all her teachers and the principal but she wasn't embarrassed--She loved it! Some teachers mentioned it the next day and she shared the photos with them! 

Her principal, Mr. Russell

That Friday, we decided to try out our first Texas high school football game and it poured buckets at half-time and the band didn't get to take the field or any of that but we just sat there and watched our kids come and go and have fun. It was a bad game for us and we knew it would be but it was fun even being soggy.

On it's way!

Sophie, Parker, Lily

Cracked Toilet

You know how that trip to home improvement store is never really one trip and that project is never as quick or simple as you think it will be. Yep, still holds true. We noticed a small hairline crack in the kids toilet tank and hard water streaks indicated it was slowly headed in the wrong direction. We purchased a new toilet and our kids and a friend decided to fully participate in helping until I noticed a crack in what I later learned was the flange. Enter Brent, plumber extraordinaire. Bye money. Hello fixed toilet and flange! Always worth it.

Mingling with Quilters

My quilting needs relationships with real people to continue to progress so I decided to support the local quilting guild by volunteering at their annual quilt show. It's a fairly sizable guild, I learned. I got to meet leaders and a few great everyday quilters like myself. I just did security during set up for a couple of shifts and saw how it all works. And it got me into the show for free. They even invited me to the sneak peak even though I wasn't a member because I helped as asked lots of good questions. Not a bad deal and I was happy to learn this is the next best step for me. Now just to time that around the increasing craziness of my kids lives and I may have something. Sooner or later it will happen.

I loved the vendors and learning all that was out their and why a quilter might choose one thing over another. I bought some fabric to practice free motion quilting on as my next one or two projects. I loved seeing the different styles and techniques used. Here are some of my favorites. That cheetah used foundation paper piecing--extremely tedious with amazing results which is why quilter tolerate it.

First Day of School

 And they're off!!! Sophie to her sophomore year, Rhys to 8th, and Neal to collect his things from the office. Though he's been working remotely, it's now official! The kids had a great start. Sophie is at the high school campus now which is like a small college campus and that's just the sophomores through seniors. Rhys really pushed for Advanced English this year to be surrounded by students that worked harder and distracted him less. We supported him in that choice. It's going to be a fun and challenging year.

This year I started up my Mother's Rejoicing Party again year after a few years of funk due to an eclipse, COVID-19, and parenting older kids. We chatted like crazy about a lot of topics and it was great! In attendance were Anna Kenworthy with one of my nursery friends, Leslie Huntzinger who was kind enough to share her friend Hiya with us, Ashley Rogers with one of my nursery friends, Lisa Strebeck, Anjuli Hancock, Kari Garvin, and Xela Wilson.

 

Fellow Drivers Be Warned

Sophie got her learner's permit today!Her appointment was in Paris--Paris , TX that is! The 1.5 hour drive out there cut off an additional 2 months of wait time for something closer (due to the Covid-19 backup and understaffed offices). Now the scary part begins, for her parents anyway.

 

Junior Police Academy

 This week the kids joined Junior Police Academy here in our city and had lots of fun and interesting experiences. They learned all about driving while intoxicated while attempting to maneuver a golf cart around cones while wearing "intoxication" goggles. They learned what SWAT and K-9 units are busy doing and got to love on a furry friend. They solved cases, made arrests, and practiced CPR. They participated in a high speed chase using a simulator. It was a great educational time with some very cool officers. Everyday they were excited to share what they did.

Why They Call it WORKING the Bees

If the harvest is the high of beekeeping, then right after that is the low. It's Texas people. It's hot and humid! Like a hundred degrees with a feels like of 108! And we are suited up and three hives to manage through. I know hobbyist with many more hives are laughing at us but it doesn't make you sweat any less. 

Then there's the mite fight. We have to test and treat using a variety of methods to keep the mite count down so the bees can have a shot at making it though winter. 

Then running out to check the DIY solar heater and changing out the gunk that is left over after the wax has melted without burning yourself. 

And then there is the occasional causality. Poor Neal got stung on the nose while wearing his new bee suit. The veil pressed up against his face and some worker bee took aim. 

And just when North Texas gives you a bit a hope with false fall, it comes down hard with second summer.  It can be rough. We don't "get free honey" and as kind as someone is to purchase our honey, they are getting a deal.

Just look at my sweet man! No he is not that close to the camera. That is a swollen nose and lip. His nose was so swollen he sounded hypo-nasal. Thank goodness for Benedryl, ibuprofen, and ice. That was Saturday morning. 

On Sunday, I got a pinched nerve in my back getting ready for church of all things and Neal with is puffy face went to church with the kids. While there I got a text from the Wilson family that Brother Morris, a fellow church goer and beekeeper, had been in a head on collision Saturday night while moving his bees to his new residence. He was in the hospital with broken vertebrae, ribs, and more. The bees had been left on the side of the road as he was driven to the hospital. The Wilsons were coaxing this gentleman's car to a shop the morning after and asked if we could help recover the bees so they would not get stolen--it being a rural area with many beekeepers and an established colony and hardware being worth hundreds of dollars.

I was bummed I could not physically help but texted Neal. After sacrament meeting, as he was setting up to care for the toddlers, he saw the text, arranged for toddler coverage (thanks you, Bone family), arranged for the kids to be taken home by a friend (thank you, Huntzinger family), enlisted another friend (thank you, Carter) , and texted that he was on his way home. I got the necessary tools, suits, and drinks in the van so we could leave almost as soon as arriving. He jumped in the van and was off. On the way there he talked through the possible scenarios and what they would need to do. At this point Carter shared he was allergic to bees but he wanted to do it and he did.

The bees had not been taken. Though their entrance had been blocked for transport, the hive boxes had shifted in the accident or when being place roadside and they were able to get in and out and have air. Not good for loss of forager bees, but it did keep the colony from overheating and baking the bees in the Texas heat. they got it in the van, covered it with a light sheet, continued to wear their suits, and situated it at the new residence.

I am sorry that our friend is in such poor circumstances at the time. I am grateful that he has a congregation family to minister to his needs, and I am glad my husband with his serving heart was able to do so in a unique way, despite a tender nose.

Weave Me Alone!

 My sweet family were kind enough to weave me alone so I could finish my baskets this month. I made a potato basket and an egg basket. The egg basket was the reason I got into basket weaving. I had seen a community that promotes homestead trades and offered basket weaving classes up until the pandemic. When we got the chickens, I wanted to make an egg basket so I started snooping around and now I'm in a guild which sounds pretty fancy but so far is a whole lot of fun. Besides since most are way more gray than me, I feel young hanging out with them.  They do crack me up though. 

Honey Harvest Time!

 We had set our extraction date almost as early as they offered because typically July 4th is a sure indicator that the honey flow is over in North Texas. When we started pulling frames, the bees had already started eating into the honey stores. We took off supers from our two strongest hives as the third hive was a struggling rescue colony. Neal took frames out and did the shake test if there were any open comb and Sophie and I brushed and shook bees off, then I would walk it over to a bin with a lid while he pulled the next. We estimated that we had between 60-90 pounds, though we don't have much experience in estimating this. 

Then the fun part! We headed over to the John and Skip Talbert's facility to extract the honey. It is always fun and we enjoy catching up with our old instructors. We ended up with just over 60 pounds. This is much better than our first two extractions.

Our honey was sweet but not overly so, and had clover and possibly a mint, such as horse mint, because it had a bit of a zing at the end. I tasted mint but Skip Talbert was the one to suggest it may be horse mint though it usually blooms at it's peak in July and August. 

We were excited to expand our customer base this year because of the larger harvest. We used Facebook to get the word out about our hobby and available honey and had to print labels that affixed to the jar this year to continue to abide by the laws. We sold the 1, 2, and 4 pound bottles. We were out of honey in a couple weeks. Because of the economy being rough right now, we were glad we had bought bottles a couple months early because not only were they hard to come by, but the price shot up nearly double for some bottles. We were very pleased with the bee's work and proud and excited to share our honey with our customers.

Celebrating More Birthdays

 Sophie celebrated her 15th birthday at home for once since we vacationed earlier in the month. She decided to call up some gal pals and hit the local city pool. For a big surprise we gifted her tickets to her first concert--Imagine Dragons. She enjoyed burgers and ice cream for treats.

Neal had his birthday soon after and went out for sushi's during his lunch break. He was gifted his own full bee suit. We were planning to have key lime pie after the lasagna he requested but a friend brought a homemade Swiss apple pie over so we saved the key lime for another time.

On his birthday, because he was working he was fine with me getting out to celebrate one of my best friend's birthday. Kate and I headed to Frisco in which I surprised her with a tour of indoor and outdoor art before we headed over to create our own masterpieces at a local art shop.

Berries!

 Our summer tradition with the Hancock family and we even got the McCreas in on it. I love this picture. Not everyone is in it. Everyone in the front is squinting and everyone in the back is barely viable. Skills!