Friday, July 31, 2009

firsts

Giselle went to her first funeral yesterday with me while Paul stayed home with a sitter. We skipped the burial but the 3 of us went to the reception afterwards. It was just like the ones I went to as a kid minus the drinking that accompanied the Irish ones I attended. Although a family member of The Widow hinted that the bundt cake might have real rum in it, not just flavoring; based on the nap I took afterwards I'm inclined to believe her.
No pictures.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Dick Nichols Pool


Another time

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Ben's Pool


I forgot to take a picture while we were there but here's one of the kids riding from the pool to the house in the back of the pickup.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Lakeway Swim Center


Ben Franklin

Today in school we learned about Benjamin Franklin and some of the things that he is famous for.
We learned about the Franklin Stove. Previously, all houses were heated by fireplaces only but Ben saw that it could be better and safer. He invented a fireplace made out of cast iron that could be placed anywhere in a house. They are still in use today over 250 years later. Google Images has some good examples of what Franklin Stoves look like. The amazing thing about many (if not all) of Franklin's inventions is that he didn't patent any of them - he felt that it was better to share his knowledge with the world so that everyone could profit rather than keep the knowledge to himself for personal profit.

We also learned about his annual pamphlet called Poor Richard's Almanac. It was like a normal almanac with reports of the weather and some demographics but it also included numerous sayings that Ben came up with on his own and borrowed from other writers. Many popular writers in later years have made slight of Ben's sayings but I ask you this "Who can you quote from: Nathaniel Hawthorne or Ben Franklin?" I know "Early to bed and early to rise, Keeps a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." but I'm not even sure if Mr Hawthorne wrote The Crucible or The Scarlet Letter without checking. BTW, he wrote The Scarlet Letter.

Here are some quotes from Poor Richard's Almanac that I liked today:
* Many dishes - many diseases, Many medicines - few cures.
* A Lie stands on 1 leg, Truth on 2.
* Without justice, courage is weak.
* Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things.
* Some are weatherwise, some are otherwise.
* To be humble to Superiors is Duty, to Equals Courtesy, to Inferiors Nobleness.
* Mary’s mouth costs her nothing, for she never opens it but at others expense.
* Where there’s Marriage without Love, there will be Love without Marriage.
* Don’t value a man for the Quality he is of, but for the Qualities he possesses.
* Love, Cough, & a Smoke, can’t well be hid.
* Well done is better than well said.
* Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices.

Enough for now, I'm off to oversee division of 3 digits by one digit with remainders.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Round Rock N River


rain

It's been raining for the last 3 hours!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Monday, July 20, 2009

Dick Nichols Pool


Africa comes to Texas

Monday 7/20/09
If there is enough afternoon sunshine, ozone could reach moderate or possibly higher levels on the north side of the Houston metro area. Saharan dust with "Moderate" fine particulate levels is covering most of South Texas and Central Texas this morning and should spread north and northwest into North Central Texas and eastern and southern portions of West Texas this afternoon and evening. Rain may help to locally reduce the dust levels in parts of North Central Texas and eastern West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.

Tuesday 7/21/09
Saharan dust should cover most of the middle of the state with "Moderate" or possibly higher fine particulate levels, including South, Southeast, Central, and North Central Texas and eastern and southern portions of West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.

Wednesday 7/22/09 - Outlook
Saharan dust should continue over much of the southern half of the state with "Moderate" or possibly higher fine particulate levels, including South, Southeast, and Central Texas, and and southern portions of West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.

Thursday 7/23/09 - Outlook
Saharan dust with "Moderate" fine particulate levels may continue over much of South and Central Texas and southern portions of West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.

http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html

Real Simple Magazine Daily Thought

"A life without love is like a year without summer."
—Swedish Proverb

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Pool Tour

This summer, a bunch of us homeschoolers have been doing a pool tour. Actually there are 2 separate homeschool groups doing 2 separate pool tours that I know of, there may be more. We are only participating in one of them.
In the last 2 months the group has gone to West Enfield Pool, Dick Nichols Pool, Lakeway Swim Center, Round Rock N River, Deep Eddy Pool, Krause Springs, and this week was planning on going tubing on the San Marcos River. Still to come are Hamilton Pool, Reed Pool, Barton Springs Pool, Milburn Pool and Northwest District Pool.
We've done some additional pool hopping on our own and we've been taking pictures most of the time. It's been a lot of fun so far!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Macro

Sometimes I'm very happy with my macro lens











Friday, July 17, 2009

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Real Simple Magazine Daily Quote

"I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends."
—Nancie J. Carmody

Friday, July 10, 2009

Friday, July 03, 2009

fireworks

Our old dog is almost fully deaf as of last summer so it will be interesting to see if she notices the fireworks this year. She hears claps and sometimes loud noises so it's possible.