Why "old" people don't have children

They say that youth is wasted on the young.  Well, let me tell you that there is one thing that the young can have, and that is raising a family.  I had three children in just under five years, and I don't remember it being such a challenge!  I had both my grandsons and Emma inside the rig today, and it was a circus.  One at a time, they are manageable for me, but not together.  My rig is not childproof, and Seth found every button, knob, and switch to mess with.  That was while his brother, Joseph, started throwing dog toys through the air.  Guess what that did to Emma, the wild child!  I will not comment on how any of my kids raise their children, but suffice it to say that two little boys were escorted out of the rig.  I'm too old for that kind of shenanigans!

My son, Andy, got home from work a little early today, so I snatched him up for a couple of pictures.

He is on active duty with the National Guard.  Such a handsome young man!  (personal bias, of course)

This is his serious Sergeant look.  He is proud to be serving, and I am proud of him.   He and his family are off to a cookout with Kelly's relatives, so Emma and I are just chill-in', and recuperating from the day's onslaught of grandchildren.  :)  By the way, the sun did finally shine today.  Yahoo!

I've been thinking about how I'm going to transfer everything from this rig to the new one, if I decided I like it.  (I know... there's not much doubt about that, but I had to put in a qualifier just in case.)   I plan to ask them if I can drive the new, to me, rig to Andy's driveway and spend a couple of days making the transfer before driving my present rig back to the dealer's.  It's not like I can run off with two vehicles by myself, and I have been a customer of theirs for many moons.  It would also give me a chance to do a thorough cleaning job with my present rig while it's empty.  I hope they go for that idea.  It would sure be a lot easier on me than emptying out this rig to the garage, and then making the transfer.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  :)

Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later,  Judy

First Friday on the refuge

Yesterday was the first Friday of August, so the First Friday family night took place. This month had a variety of activities for all ages. There was a birdwatching 101 class in the visitor's center presented by the local Audubon Club, and a display of decorated duck decoys.

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Outside, there was a climbing wall brought by the Missouri National Guard for anyone over 15 years of age, turtles, archery practice, and a sack race. Around the campfire, where the hotdogs were being grilled, was a demonstration of canine retrieving skills.

These were the two Labrador Retrievers that showed their stuff by retrieving make believe ducks that were shot out over the pond in front of them. They were quite good at it.

There was also a local artisan demonstrating the ancient art of making arrowheads.

And last, but not least, was the dulcimer concert by a famous Missouri dulcimer maker. I learned a few interesting facts about this historic instrument. Originally, women were not allowed to play the fiddle as it was thought not to be ladylike. However, it was alright for them to play a dulcimer because it was held in their laps. This dulcimer has three strings. The left hand holds down the first string while the right hand strums all three strings. Notice that the gentleman is not using a pick to strum, but a feather from the left wing of a wild turkey. Of course, if you are left handed, like my brother Kurt, you would have to have a feather from the right wing of a wild turkey. ;)

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As it turns out, Pam, my fellow volunteer, owns a dulcimer and I just happen to have a couple of feathers from the right wing of a wild turkey. So watch out Missouri, we might just have a real hoe down one of these nights!

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Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later, Judy