The blog usually slows down in the summer, but only one post in July is a bit lazy. I think it's time to push through my guilt and get something on A Pocket for Charlotte.
Here's the tiny home that we rented in Keystone, SD. It was two stories tall, but only had 300 square feet.
The step leading upstairs were more like a ladder.
We have watched shows on TV about living in a tiny home, and I was curious what it would be like. If I was only allowed one word to describe the experience I would say, "cramped." It was fun to try for awhile, though.
I had a birthday on July 2nd. We had BBQ for lunch at Smoky D's.
Char and Daphne made me a meat bouquet using origami and meat sticks. It's like they know me or something.
Then Daphne threw me a surprise birthday party at Flix. She's awesome.
Turning 50 doesn't bother me. Yes, I am getting older, and my body is creakier than it used to be. But I don't feel old, and I still laugh at fart jokes. The only physical evidence of my age is in the mirrors, so I avoid those. Getting older beats the alternative, and I'm just happy to be here with my girls.
For the Fourth of July, the parents in our neighborhood all chipped in and rented a slip-n-slide for the kids.
Here's Char finding out that water from the hose can be pretty cold.
We live near a country club, and we can watch their fireworks show from our driveway.
Mini golf is still a good time.
So is the family programing at Flix. (Pop quiz: The antagonist in Matilda is Principal Truchbull. Can you name the character Pam Ferris played in the third Harry Potter film?)
In 2015 I bought Char a bicycle from the Des Moines Bike Collective. She refused to learn how to ride it.
This year I tried again. Same shop, older girl.
She started coasting with the seat all the way down and the pedals removed from the bike. Then she coasted with her feet on the pedals. We slightly raised the seat a bit each afternoon, and the rest is history. Now she rides around the neighborhood with her friends like a champ.
I'll pass along two quotes from Charlotte. 1) "I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you told me biking is fun. It's the best thing ever!" 2) "Go for a walk with you? Why would I walk when I can sit here [points at her bike seat] and go anywhere I want?"
Seemingly out of the blue, Char asked if she could start playing softball. We thought, Why not? Daphne found a skills clinic offered by the YMCA, and Char has been practicing for an hour and a half on Saturday mornings. It is very low key, and that's perfect for us. I think she likes everything about the clinic except for me taking pictures of her.
Oh well, her back is turned...
Since she's learning the ropes around the softball field, Char's more interested in watching the Iowa Cubs at Principal Park. It's a bit of work to get to an I Cubs game, but we have so much fun. Daphne and I always ask ourselves, "Why don't be do this more often?"
Another benefit of learning how to play softball is that Charlotte is now open to watching classic movies like The Sandlot, Rookie of the Year, and Little Big League. I said no to The Bench Warmers, though.
Speaking of bench warmers, I built this bench for Daphne as a surprise gift (see what I did there?).
The previous owners of our first house left this board under our deck. We've used it several times over the years for various projects, but I thought I could repurpose it. Neither of us grew up on farms, so this is the only wood we have that has a family history.
I still love lunch at Tasty Tacos. Dang.
Question: French Dip Pizza, where have you been my entire life? Answer: "I've been at Truman's waiting for you with my friends Au Jus and Bacon Cheese Burger Pizza."
Char also went bowling with some of her friends. (She didn't make that spare.)
When Maggie stopped eating and drinking last May, we knew we going to lose her. On a Monday we decided we would probably have to put her down before the end of the week. Mags loves riding in the car, and we thought she might enjoy a ride or two during her final days. I wrote a post about that, but I had to revert that to a draft.
I'm not saying riding in the car fixed her. She might have stopped eating and drinking because she had a stomach bug. But after the second ride, her disposition picked up. She ate some and drank some. By that Friday she was cleaning her plate and looking at me expectantly when I'd walk to the garage. Our vet suggested that maybe the rides give her something to live for.
With the exception of our trip to South Dakota, I have taken Mags for a ride in the car every morning this summer. Our route takes 35 minutes, and she sits up and is alert for the entire trip.
She takes it easy and hangs out with her friends during the rest of the day.
Since Maggie was too frail to make the trip to St. Louis, I stayed home with her while Charlotte and Daphne spent a few days with Grandpa and Grandma. Daphne sent me some pictures from the City Museum. Char hadn't been on their roof before, and she had a blast.
Clover Kids is the precursor to 4-H, and Char received her diploma in the 4-H building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Clover Kids won't continue at Char's school next year, so we're lucky Charlotte was in the pilot program. She really enjoyed CK, and I think she'll participate in 4-H.
Whew. I feel better. The blog is alive.
I start jury duty next week, so we'll see what that's like...
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