Sooner or Later…

Roundup for the family that is spread out this weekend.

Swimming:  We had out first family outing to the city pool today. Our pool charges .25 per person per 2 hour session and is maybe 4 blocks away. We went once last year & am determined to do better this year.  The goal is every Friday. I was a bit concerned about Little Missey & sunburn, a burnt baby can not be a good thing - second session from 3 to 5. Off to Wally World and a 70spf very, very liberally applied + a baby hat + a long sleeved white shirt = excellent results.

She was not a bit deterred with cold water and spent the entire time splashing or removing her hat. I spent my time putting the hat on and watching the other children. Eventually I did go and apply a heavy coating to her sparsely populated scalp. She spent a lot of time with her eyes shut making me wonder if some of the sunscreen had gotten in her eyes.

The rest of the kids behaved well. I had promised if they had to be gotten on to twice we would leave immediately. We stayed until Little Missey started going to sleep in the pool. If she can sleep in cold water its time to go.

The bad thing- I fell. The pool has a baby pool 12 inches deep but is about an 18 in step-down. I had put one foot in the pool and went to move the other and down I went. All that went through my mind was DONT DROP THE BABY!!! There was a slight pause on my bottom but I still ended up flat on my back. No, I did not drop or land on her.She never made a sound. I am fine but my bottom is sore and the side holding her feels a bit pulled.  Could have been worse. A passerby asked if we were ok–”I am embarrassed but fine.” She didn’t seem to know how to answer. Hopefully a good nights sleep will set things straight.

Garden:  Planted a few more plants and need to do seeds. There is a longish story and perhaps I’ll type it tomorrow. So far:

Tomatoes:  Juliet (2), Sweet 100 (2), Healthkick (5), Early Girl (2), German Pink (4),  Super Fantastic,  Rutgers (3),  Beef Master (2), Big Boy (3), Mr. Stripey (2), Lemon Boy (2), Heartland (4), Unknown (2 think they are Heartland but lost their tags in the sale), Celebrity (2), Bradley (2), Jetstar (2), Yellow Cherry (3). I tried to keep the cherries at the edge of the garden for the kids but found these late, oh well.

Peppers:  Big Bertha (6), Lady Bell (2), Sweet Banana (4), Habanera (5), Serrano (1), Pimento (2), Jalapeno (2), Big Jim (6), Super Heavy (2)

Eggplant:  Icheman (4), Black Beauty (3) In the past we had green & white ones plus a variety called Bride or Fairy tale (grows in bunches) so the color thing isn’t here yet.

Cabbage:  Up to 19 & doing great but the cabbage butterflies have found them so we need to pick up the caterpillar patrol.

Family: DH, Nikos, and grandpa are in Illinois to visit the family before he leaves for basic training (Marines are the only branch that still has bootcamp). Fyah & Mrs are also there but they are house sitting as Sister C is off getting married. He too wants to visit family before he leaves for basic. Both are Air Force–one leaves July 1, the other September 1. I told them to tell the recruiter he has to look elsewhere to fill his quota as I am out of eligible sons. They didn’t think it was funny.

4H:  We went to the new Nature Center in Jonesboro  for conservation day activities. The kids learned about tracking, different habitats, recycling, made stamped bandanas & sun bracelets, and had a good time. We had been just a few weeks before so it was something they looked forward to. The center has a movie describing Crowley’s Ridge history that includes mist, fans, fake lightening, and rumbles in the seats. Very cool.

Did you know there are beads that are uv sensitive and will change color according to how much the wearer is receiving?  If they reach a certain darkness then its time for sunscreen. That is something I want to try with Little Missey at the pool. She can wear it as a bracelet and when the beads go dark I’ll put another layer of sunscreen on.

That’s all folks–hoping to stay home more…ha ha ha.