It's Apple Pickin' Time again

If you're looking for the giveaway go here





We have one small crabapple tree in the back yard - and the crabapples are ripe...
...so Scout got the ladder out......and started picking...
...and then when the picking seemed to be going too slowly or he couldn't reach an apple even from the top of the ladder - he got out the spring rake and whacked the tree to get some more apples...

...one of Mamaw's pretty baskets holds the pretty harvest...

Shadow Your Student Day

If you're looking for the giveaway go here






I followed Scout to school for 'Shadow Your Student' day - it was a lot of fun (still) for both of us - but he did say that it would be all right with him if I left before lunchtime (apparently it's not so cool to have your Mama in the caf with all your friends - it's OK in class 'though)...

We did some cool experiments in Science class...

involving yeast - sugar - water and a balloon...

Scout of course knows how yeast makes bread rise...

but it was still a lot of fun watching the balloons expand - and using scientific method to record the results...

Then in Math class - we first played with some triangles...

first observing them...

...equilateral...right angles...

...congruent...

...then working together to make a square....

I just loved how often his little hand shot up into the air - he has such a love of learning - and he absolutely loves going to school...

...it seemed like all the teachers called on the students who were being shadowed a little more than the others - I guess so they could show off for their parents...

Blogiversary - Giveaway

...Affectioknit was launched 3 years ago today - so that calls for a little celebration. Originally started as a way to keep in touch with my family so so far away - and to document all my projects and happy times with my family - but it grew (as blogs often do) to include a lot of new friends - people I 'met' just here - whom I value so much - all of the ideas and sweet photos and family times...

...So, wishing I could give you all something more than a virtual hug - I've put together a little package...

...It's a little folder with some handmade note cards and envelopes for some snail mail correspondence (I know a postal worker who takes offence at that phrase - so no offence intended)...

...That's my initial - but the cards will have the initial of the recipient...

...The usual rules apply - just leave a comment and we'll choose a winner on the 1st...

Zinnias

I don't remember a year when we didn't plant Zinnias in the garden...we just always do...I need to get one of the Tupperware Flower arrangers like Mom used to have to arrange them in like we did when I was little...

...Scout picked this little windswept beauty out of the garden - there are still a few Zinnias and Sunflowers...
...I love the sunny little yellow flowers in the center...

Make Your Own Pizza Night

Friday nights are Family Nights around here...

...so we rented the movie 'Coraline' (loved it)...
...and made a Pizza Bar - there's Sheese (mozzarella style) - TVP Chunks - Peppers and Onions - TVP Pepperoni (I brought these back from a co-op in NC) - and green olives...
...just choose your own toppings - and assemble your own pizza...
...pop it into a hot hot oven and then enjoy...

On the Way Home

Of course we stopped at the new Space Alien in Grand Forks on the way home - so that scout could waste have fun with $20 worth of tokens...

His favorite game Jackpot - but he also had a lot of fun and won 200 tickets playing Deal or No Deal...
...A little Wheel of Fortune - reminds me of his Grandma...
...then he had to feed all of his tickets into the ticket machine - that's fun too...
...and once again it was a pile of tickets...
...760 to be exact...

...so $20 worth of tokens buys you just about $20 worth of Space Aliens Junque - and a lot of fun and smiles too...

Around the Pool

I guess in years past we've not spent a lot of time at the pool - it's usually even colder than the lake - but they have an amazing variety of Hollyhocks around the pool at Fair Hills...








...and then one entire side of the fence is covered with Virginia Creeper - this will be a firey orange red in another couple of weeks...

...we've seen this little fellow several times already - he's quite tame...

I love this place...

...I really do...
...this is the view from my knitting perch - which is a swing strung between two large oaks...
...we've been playing a lot of shuffleboard - we just improvise - we should probably actually read the rules one year before we come to play...
...Scout tested the depth of the pool...
...it's labeled as 9 feet and he wanted to make sure that it would be deep enough for him to practice his diving...

...it's deep enough and he's working on his form...
...then he goofs off with a few flips into the pool as well - quite the daredevil - I'm always a little worried he'll hit his head on the pavement for some reason - but I guess the photo really does show that his head is nowhere near the pavement...

World's Largest Pelican

Do you know where the World's Largest Pelican is? It's in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota...
...we took a little side trip to visit the town and see the Big Bird...
...I love the sound of all that rushing water - must visit Niagra sometime...
...Scout threw a twig in and then ran down to see it come out of the spillway...

'L'il Mr. Fix-it'

So here we are - shortly after dawn - pedaling around the lake on our Hydro-Bikes (such fun)...
...when, out in the middle of the lake (Oh No!) Scout's chain comes off - will he have to swim for it???
...I don't think so - he calmly dismounts and re-attaches the chain - there's nothing this boy can't do...