Sunday, June 5, 2016

May 26-31 Hammocks, Trampolines, Vehicle Repairs ...

We were busy with a lot of things but didn't take many photos:

Scott has been admiring hammocks lately.  We had an old one set up out by the little cabin so we took it down from there and put it up near the playground.  Then he found this one so we put it up for him to try out.

It obviously has more potential because not only can you sleep in it, you can hide in it and...

You can use it for a swing. (Why does everything Scott likes eventually become a swing of some sort!)

Meet Bat Man (or Boy).

This is an old photo from our archives.  When we first moved out here we had no electricity so I'd charge up an automotive battery at work and bring it home then we'd plug an inverter into it to run our laptop computer.  Because we wanted the power to last as long as possible we'd use our kerosene lamps for lighting blending both old and new technology.

Susan putting pizza crust in the oven to let the dough rise.

Susan putting pizza on the table for us to eat!

We had to run some errands in Eureka so we stopped for awhile to let Scott play at the playground with some other kids.  I used the opportunity to make some long distance calls since we had cell service in town.

Tristan (our youngest son) needed to replace the tie rod on his car so he brought it over here.  As usual Scott is there to help.  It turned out that we needed the inner tie rod end also so we put it back together.  We'll replace both when the new part comes in.

Tristan stayed for dinner.  Afterward he played with Scott on his photo program.  Scott likes the special effects it has

But with Scott passive entertainment is not his favorite way to play so he coerced Tristan to play on the trampoline with him.

I made some more bow strings.  Two were twisted strings (one is installed on the bow) and the other was an endless string (that's what the string jug is for).

Wrapping the loop.

I made the string jig out of old bed rails and it will adjust to make a string for my long bow (at 72 inches long) down to my crossbows (27 inch length).  

Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

MAY 19-25, 2016 Bald Eagles, Pizza Hut, Hot Tubs, Electronic Spiders, and More ...

Try again ..... I just lost the entire blog when I hit the wrong button!  Grrr!  So this is my second attempt.

Scott loves putting together models and puzzles.

We got this one in Nevada but Susan and Scott are just now putting it together.

Naturally, you spend money on toys then the kids have more fun with the boxes they keep the toys in.

Scott coping with another rainy day!

Susan's birthday was this week.  We'd planned on going to the hot springs but the weather had different ideas so we compromised by renting a motel room for the night.  The major requirement was that it have a heated pool and a functioning hot tub.  This one also had tubs in the bathroom so we could take hot soaking Epsom salt baths.

Susan decided to buy this remote control spider for Scott instead of getting something for herself.

Scott was delighted, of course, and couldn't wait to try it out while we were at Pizza Hut for dinner.

It moves pretty fast!

Our endless rains left the creeks and rivers running with their banks full.

Scott sitting on the deck railing at his Uncle Tristan's house.

We did some yard leveling last year with the tiller.  This section grew a bumper crop of thistles which Susan is digging out with a trowel.

I've had a ground squirrel tormenting me for about a week now.  Every time I got lined up for a shot he'd go down his burrow.  I waited patiently in a light rain for him to show himself again but after about twenty minutes I went back inside.  On the 30th Susan stayed on the swing outside and talked to Odie when the squirrel showed up.  He didn't notice me getting into position.  It was his last mistake.  

Supper time!  Most of the veggies in the stew were grown in the garden.  The meat came from a deer I shot.

Our neighbors had some visitors in their field.

Close-up from the photo above.

Meanwhile a mile down the road we saw another feathered visitor.

It was one of the largest eagles I've ever seen.  I really need to begin taking my better camera with us.  It has a much better telephoto lens on it.