... The Humble Bee

This morning we got a visit from the Humble Bee!  So earlier in the week we were thinking of a skit that focused on the Beatitudes, at which point we had a thought about having someone in a bee costume to help along with learning the Bee-atittudes.  But as the week went on, we shifted in focus for Sunday, heading more towards the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector and the concept of humility.  Distraught that I wouldn't have someone in a bee costume, the idea popped up:  why not have a "HUMBLE BEE."  And so we wrote out a song to tell the story of these two Bible figures, and we made it into a "circus rap" song that came out really fun.  The kids - and adults - loved it! 

I started the Yellowstone virtual walk today, and that was a great beginning for one of these trails, as I did a few different POV videos of the Black Dragon Cauldron trail there.  I haven't seen these springs and features in decades, and it was amazing how each and every one came back to me vividly, even Grizzly Fumarole.  Seriously, I have it memorized from the Black Dragon Springs to Mud Volcano to Grizzly Fumarole, up past Sour Lake to the Dragon Cauldron and then the really awesome Churning Cauldron, and then back down again past Mud Geyser.  I first did that little mini-trail back in the 80's, a part of the larger tour.  Some skip that to go on to the heavy-hitting destinations in Yellowstone, but I love the small trails just as much, especially this one.

Anyway, we watched a Braves game, as they completed a four-game sweep of the Nationals.  Mom was packing today, and I was too - we're getting ready for a small trip north for a few days to a familiar destination.  Tonight we watched "Masters of the Universe," which had some really fun moments in it, but I think there were probably places that could be trimmed.  

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Maddie spent the day with Nate after church, and got home to celebrate a big day with us.  Yes, it's National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!  All of us had a bit of ice cream sandwich today, although Mom and I had ours earlier. 

We got to bed later tonight, but we said our prayers and eventually got some sleep.  It was a good day!

Maddie goes to a Baby Shower

Welp, I finished the virtual walk this afternoon, walking from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore - virtually, of course.  It's been fun as always watching all kinds of material along the way, POV walks in the area with visits to the Badlands, Wall Drug, Crazy Horse, Custer, Needles Highway, Deadwood, and watching documentaries about Mount Rushmore.  Oh, and movies too - "National Treasure 2" and I closed things out today finishing off "North by Northwest," which is such a great old school movie.  

So what was Maddie up to today?  We started out with Team Edge this morning, but after that she was off to a baby shower! 

She was with Nate's family again - just the girls' side though, as Nate stayed with Team Edge and Maddie brought some gifts and celebrated with the girls.

And while she was there, we were out grocery shopping and doing some packing.  And look what we found in the mailbox when we got home:

Nana and Ye-Ye are back, but the post card came a little later from Alaska.  They had a really good time - we were on the phone with them for quite some time, listening to the adventures up there.

It was a quiet day otherwise.  We saw the Braves game, and they won again.  And we got things ready for tomorrow the best we could.  KidPak should be fun tomorrow.  One thing we did was set up a hummingbird feeder on the back deck again, and amazingly, two hummingbirds came right away.  That was a nice moment.

Maddie got home and we read a little from "Soul Music."  And after that, it was time for prayers, and some sleep.

...

 

... Braselton, harvesting our lettuce and eating salad!, Cracker Barrel lunch, Braves win, taekwondo... updates coming soon...

UNG College Orientation

Maddie had her college orientation today, and I was there too - but so was someone else!

Nate was there too!  The two of them are seen here doing the "Hawk" gesture, a sort of official college hand gesture.  We learned that earlier today, pretty much the first thing covered in a long, long day.  It was a good day though.  We went to a few sessions - the parents and family went in one direction while the students spent time in another.  Maddie and Nate were in classes about navigating the first year, and then a more practical one about student IDs, parking and dining plans.  They also were in some other ones that pretty much covered ground the two had heard before with core classes and so on.  

There was a bit of swag here too.  I "won" a t-shirt, but I gave that one to Nate.  He and Maddie later got another college shirt too.  Plus they got some other items, including some cans of one of their favorite beverages.

Then came the walking tour.  Again, the parents were going at a different time - the students went at another time, and it was nice out there today.  

Here's our student guide after walking around with us for a bit, we made our way back to the Nesbitt building, which of course is hilarious.  Why?  

See the hat?  I'm Ms. Nesbitt!  But seriously, this is a really great piece of architecture on campus, both inside and out.  We spent a lot of our time here today, and I snapped a few photos during some of the breaks.

And then... it was time for lunch.  They had some nice food choices there for all of us, and we enjoyed that food.

There were other sessions afterwards, and a bit of a set-up with tables to visit that had different clubs and informative stations for the students to visit.  Maddie and Nate got a few more items, drinks, and those college t-shirts here.

It was a nice time, and Maddie's looking forward to this first semester.  Still a few steps to go, but school is starting soon!

I went off to work after this, and after that, it was time to head home.  I got my walking in, and I'm almost done on the treadmill with this virtual Mount Rushmore route.  What better way to finish off this walk by starting "North by Northwest."  I forgot how great this movie is.  

Back upstairs, it was time to listen to the Braves game tonight - it's not on BravesVision, but we're listening on the radio via the MLB channel.  Afterwards, it was time for reading, some prayers, and some sleep.

Tomatoes and a Pepper

We harvested a bit today, at least another tomato from the garden outside, but also a mammoth pepper from down there.  I think we're approaching time to harvest some of that lettuce from the hydroponic garden and make ourselves a salad.

We were writing today for our upcoming spy-themed series, and we had a fun idea to do a message that has a bit of a "Kim Possible" theme with the wording.  I'll have to share that one later, but it's been fun writing.  

Each day I've been getting pictures of Alaska on my phone - the reason is that Nana and Ye-Ye have been having an incredible vacation up there.  It's pretty much over, but the last week has been fun getting these images.  They've gotten to do just about everything they've wanted to do up there, and I'm so glad of that favor.

Our new Discworld book is "Soul Music," which means we'll be visiting with the characters DEATH and Susan Sto Helit for this novel, and then probably after this we'll revisit "Thief of Time" as well, hopefully finishing that in time for another reading of "Hogfather" too.  The Discworld is a fun place!  I've read these before, but these adventures with Susan will be new for Maddie (except for "Hogfather" of course).  She's an interesting character, as are all the others that populate the Discworld.  

Still walking on my virtual march towards Mount Rushmore.  We've taken to watching a fun vlogger online, one who visits all the places I wish I could visit across the country.  Many I have visited, and it's neat to see some of these locations again - it's all roadside America sort of stuff, largely, places you visit along the way to the iconic destinations.  Like Carhenge, for example.  You're really on your way to Badlands and Mount Rushmore and the Needles Canyon, but a recreation of Stonehenge created with cars in the middle of the prairie is just too hard for me to resist.  I've been there once, and it was a fun stop.  Tonight I was back there virtually with a visit, and then off to Keystone, South Dakota for a visit to a wax museum and then Mount Rushmore at the end there.  Fun walk, and I'm almost done with this one, about to earn another medal.

The Braves had a double header today, dropping the first game to the Mets, but winning the second one.  both games were tense, one-run difference games.  It'd be nice to have a game we won where they won by more than one run, as we've had a lot of these nail biters lately.  But a win is a win, and we'll take it!

Tonight after reading, we said our prayers of course.  Then it was time for some sleep!

Puzzles and Megalodonut

Maddie is closing out the summer just chilling - today she finished a puzzle with a nice summer beach theme to it.  It's Mickey and Minnie in Hawaii.  We have an ornament of this one.  This puzzle didn't take too long because it's only a mere 500 pieces.  Maddie is really quick with these puzzles!

We were working on our next series today, a return to SPY GAMES.  Should be fun!  Lots of writing, deadlines, etc.

It's Shark Week, and Mom got us some Megalodonut Coffee, a giant shark meets doughnuts themed coffees.  Really fun, and delicious.  That might be as far as we go to celebrate Shark Week, as we generally don't like shark movies, unless it's "Finding Nemo," of course.  As for the coffee, we've been going through it and it's nearly gone, if that gives you any idea of the flavor.  We're enjoying it.  That shark looks like one from the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, doesn't it?

Big storms rolled through tonight.  Loud here, but damaging elsewhere.   Jasper had a monument struck by lightning, bursting marble into exploding shattered remains.  There was a tornado up there too.

Tonight we finished "Unseen Academicals," which was fun.  The big soccer match is over, and there's a happy ending for all, we except Andy Shank, perhaps.   Now on to the next book!

We prayed,  and now time for rest!

Pacific Rim

We went to eye doctor this morning to get Maddie better prescription.   She was thinking it was time, and with school around the corner it's a good idea.

We ate at Mellow Mushroom after that  a nice meal together,  and quiet too.  I love the Alice in Wonderland framed mirror there at the entrance - the mushroom theme is always fun.  Anyway, it was a good meal as always.  Mom and I usually get the gluten-free Pacific Rim (basically a Hawaiian pizza), while Maddie got wings.  Yummy!

Maybe Maddie should get some glasses from the Oceanic area.  They could call them.... Pacific Rims.

Back to taekwondo tonight.  Quite a few fellow students were returning from Little Rock,  where there was a big national championship.   They had fun and there were some winners too.  The Edges moved up in rank themselves,  and it was fun for the students trying to remember Mrs. Edge's new rank before addressing her.

Quiet day.  Not feeling great.  We read tonight,  we prayed, and got some sleep.