Pow Wow

My scouts went to a pow wow last weekend to earn the Indian Lore merit badge. Does this batch look like a bunch of braves in training?

Here's our personal trainer, a Florida Muskogee Creek

One option for the merit badge was to make an item of Indian clothing. The scouts thought that this outfit that the Indians wore when they met the Pilgrims in Massachusetts might be the easiest, though the scouts opted not to wear it in public.

They learned how to cook, how to hunt and gather food and how to build houses. The picky eaters in the bunch were glad to see that the foods the Indians added to our diet are just good old American potatoes, corn, squash, tomatoes, and beans. Alligator shown here might be more of a Florida specialty.

They also saw a demonstration of the cracker horses the Indians in Florida rode.

Here two scouts are being challenged to join the Indians in their dancing,

I didn't get a picture of them dancing but the audience loved it--best of the show they said.

The scouts loved showing off their marksmanship as they perfected their blow dart, hatchet and javelin throwing, and archery skills.  They were inspired by the things they could make out of animal skins if they developed their tanning skills, especially the disguises they used when hunting or going to war. They had so much fun I think they were ready to join the tribe by the tine we finished, We'll see what new skills they show off at our next camp out.

Tempting Peter Rabbit

Now that the garden is fenced to keep out Peter Rabbit, we're preparing and planting the garden.

 Of course you can't see the seeds in the ground. but you can see the red stepping stones separating the various sections of the garden. Since it is still February, there is still time to plant winter crops such as potatoes, peas, carrots, cabbage, and broccoli. March1 we can plant everything else but since this winter has been so warm we may get a head start and plant now. Just imagine the corn and melon patches, the tomato paradise (if you click on a picture you may be able to see the many wire cages awaiting the tomato plants we are starting in our kitchen), the bean and squash patch, the potato hills, and the veggie sections with chard, lettuce, cilantro, onions and other great things to eat. I'll show another picture in a month or two to show that we've been able to help Peter Rabbit resist temptation.

Peter Rabbit. Stay out of the garden!!

The wild bunnies ate most of our fall garden as soon as the vegetable leaves popped out of the ground. Only the onions and Swiss chard survived. We hope this new garden fence will keep Peter Rabbit and his buddies out so we'll have lots of great veggies this coming year after our March planting.

Yes, Dreams Come True.

When I was dating my wife, she said that her dream was to be carried away to Wyoming in the arms of a cowboy. Instead she was carried away to Florida in a Volkswagen driven by a college professor.

But dreams do come true to those who are patient. Yesterday she was carried away by a 17 year old birthday boy grandson cowboy showing off his new boots and cowboy hat. But she will be staying in Florida.

Three Kings Day Surprise!

 Is this Choco coming to remind Grandpa that after the Christmas fun of get-to-gethers, bonfires, engagement announcements,and exchanging presents, you need to do something special for Three Kings Day on January 6 to top things off? Grandma thinks so.

She doesn't want Grandpa to part rivers, lakes, or seas like Moses (though he seems to be doing a good job in this practice run) ...

or melt snowmen to protect our papaya trees (remember, this is sunny Florida!!) 

 How about learning a new skill more appropriate for Florida? Her suggestion: plumbing to replace the kitchen sink faucet so water comes out?

Grandma and the Three Kings all approve of the new building skill--though Grandpa still thinks that being a college professor was a better career choice than becoming a plumber.

Another Talented Grandchild

Our granddaughter Maren is another talented actor and singer in the family. She was the star of the school play--best of the show by far!! It was a comedy romance set in Old England.

Sad News!!

Hay Hay is gone--eaten up by a hungry hawk!!

Would this be a good replacement?

Christmas Hawaiian Style

This year the church decided to have a Hawaiian instead of a Florida style Christmas dinner. This included cooking a whole pig wrapped in some banana leaves that our family donated. However, it rained 5 inches the day before so we couldn't dig a pit to cook the pig underground for 8 hours. The pit would have been a swimming pool and we didn't have the faith of the Prophet Ezekiel who could build a fire after soaking the wood in water. Instead it was cooked in a traditional Florida style barrel smoker. I guess that makes the roasted pig Hawaiian/Floridian. Here are some pictures of us bringing in the pig and carving it up. It was delicious.

Did Mikulas visit you?

December 6 is a special day in Hungary. It's when good boys and girls wake up to find that Mikulas or the Hungarian Saint Nick or Santa has climbed through their window the previous night to put candy and perhaps a small present in their shoes.

But he knows that American children also await a visit. However, his sack can only carry so much and America is a much larger country with many more children.  He knows too that American children expect more than just candy and a small present. So he takes advantage of the six hour time difference between Hungary and Florida to dash over to check on what they want him to bring when he returns to Florida in about three weeks with a bigger sack of surprises.

This year in Flagler Beach, Florida, Santa parachuted to the beach and rode a firetruck into town while being protected from the evil Grinch by police on horseback and cops with machine guns.  A marching band heralded his coming with "Jingle Bells" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" while his helpers tossed candy canes and chocolate bars to the children. One of the most enthusiastic trumpeters was our granddaughter.

 By the way, a little birdie told me that Santa will find lots of sweet boys and girls in Florida awaiting his wonderful Christmas surprises!

Thanksgiving Report 2018

Half our family, 26 people, were here to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, between having fun with the grandkids and fixing and eating tons of food (8 pies, turkey and dressing, lots of heavenly rolls, 8 side dishes, frog-eye and fruit salad, and our Thompson traditional shrimp cocktail appetizer) we forgot to take pictures, except for these of the grandkids riding horses and playing video games and soccer. Don't forget to click on the pictures for a closer look.

 After a great ride on Ginger, David thinks he might follow the rodeo circuit to earn money for college. His Mom doesn't think so!

 Benji thinks swinging on a tractor is more for him.

 Four can play at a time on this game.

 You might think that the boys vs girls soccer match would favor the much larger boys--but the girls won.