Briggs' awesome summer

This week Briggs lost another tooth...

learned to swim better...

and learned to ride on two wheels.

Not a bad week for a six-year-old.

Two- (or four-) wheeling fun

One of the nice things about "no-TV" days the past couple of weeks has been that the boys have gotten reacquainted with some old friend-toys. This evening it was bikes.

You can't enjoy the best part of this image: Calvin making his own sound effects!

Briggs started working on riding without training wheels a couple of months ago, but claimed he wasn't quite ready. Tonight it all came together for him. A few times around the yard built up his confidence to add his helmet and move onto the street.

Eli was very nice and sacrificed his own riding (for a while) and pushed Calvin around the yard.

What a difference a haircut makes.

Everyone got haircuts this weekend; here's one example of the improvement!

Thursday evening................................................

Sunday evening....................................................

Doing what boys do...

Three boys...

Quarters everywhere

I finally have 99% of the state quarter that I wanted. I have one complete set issued from the Philadelphia mint. I have 49 of a second set that I hope to trade somehow for a complete set of Denver mint quarters. (All I need is an Arizona (P) coin to complete the second set.) Along the way I've managed to pick up on my own 3-4 Denver mint examples.

Then late last year I encountered an American Samoa quarter, and learned that there was an additional set of six quarters for DC and five US territories. Checking just now I have two of those (including US Virgin Islands).

Now, over the weekend I encountered something else new: the obverse of the quarter reads "Hot Springs." I thought I had been gypped with some sort of token. But no: come to find out beginning this year there is a new set of 56 quarters commemorating National Parks and Historic Sites. One each from the 50 states, plus DC and plus the five US territories. It's a multi-year project, much like the state quarter series. NC will have its issued in 2015, noting the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Quick trip to SC

While Eli was at Massanetta this week, the rest of us scooted to Columbia, SC overnight. (Eli's been before, so he didn't miss anything.)

We got a nice deal on a room with dinner included, plus two free passes for the zoo. (I figured since it was a family package, they'd comp us one child and one adult, but they comped us two adults, saving us $24; we of course spent the savings on souvenirs, something we usually forego save for a magnet.)

We went to Edventure on Saturday evening. Calvin found it overwhelming and only wanted to watch. It was a little young for Briggs. So, not the greatest experience, but okay.

We were at the Radisson, and the restaurant was Columbo's. Not the most family-oriented place, but they were nice enough. The pool was a big hit with the boys.

Sunday we went to Riverbanks Zoo before it got too hot. Lots of fun for all. Above, Briggs is milking a pretend cow in the petting farm area.

We finished the trip with Libby's friend Meg and 2/3 of her family for lunch. We bolted when a crowd of Spaniards descended on the place (compete with vevuzulas) to watch the World Cup final game.

Drive time from Black Mountain was 3 hours going down and 2:45 coming back (via Interstates), mostly because I dared to go faster on the way home.

Diary of a green bean

Growing verdantly in the garden...

Having been cleaned and sorted...

Having been tipped...

Having been cut into delectable bite-sized pieces...

Eli engaged in said cutting...(we know: they're "snap beans" and you're supposed to snap them into pieces. Well, Eli had a lot to do, and needed to work on his vegetable prep skills. And he's a Scout after all. Scouts must use equipment.)

Simmering fragrantly in the pot along with bacon (of course), salt, pepper, onion, sugar, water and vinegar...

After one hour of cooking, with some diced potatoes added...

Having been eaten by bean-boy...

A short but happy and fulfilling life.

Photo op

Eli's middle school was awarded a grant for a solar power installation by our electric utility. The system was installed at the end of the year. On their last Saturday-make-up day the school had a celebration. The press was there and took this photo to accompany the article. The caption in the paper mentioned Eli discussing "the intricacies of solar energy" with his teacher. That's one way to describe it!