Long weekend, Trade Days, pool party

Even though I took off Friday to be at home while Cori and the grandkids were visiting us the weekend seemed to fly by. Friday was a sort of free day. We spent the day at the farm letting the kids play to their hearts content – most of the time was spent on the dirt mountain. Things got a little tenuous a time or two. When you let three very young boys work in a pile of dirt with any type of tool things can get out of control. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt by the flying dirt clods and rocks.

I had to move Mama’s mower and two of my shelves to let the youngest two make a track in my shop for racing the little trikes we bought prior to the last time they were here. I stopped what amounted to a demolition derby several times but other than that they played well together. Grant was a bit of a pill and a couple times I had to run him out of my shop to quell his destructive behavior. But I think he had his fill of catching grasshoppers and toads.

Early Saturday morning we took Cori, Victoria and Connie to Trade Days to set up. We had things pretty much done by 8 a.m. That was a good thing because the temperature got up to 100®F by that afternoon. They had a really good spot – under some shade and in the main walkway through the sale area. They got a lot of attention even if they did not get a lot of sales. Victoria has already claimed the same spot for next month.

Chase and Makaila met us at Trade Days. They wanted to surprise us at the farm but we turned the tables on them - unwittingly – by leaving so early. He and Makaila ended up getting a puppy from one of the sellers there that morning. It is a cute Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix. Once they had the pup in hand we left for the farm. I think it was a little before 10 a.m. Chase spent the rest of the morning replacing the screen on Mama’s phone. That turned out to be a fairly intricate and time consuming process.

That afternoon, while the kids napped, the girls attended their booth and Chase and Makaila outfitted and accessorized the dog, Mama and I made the cake and other food items for a pool party we had scheduled that evening. We did not get to Peggy’s house until well after 5 pm but once we did get there the kids made the most of the pool – starting off by getting in fully clothed.

I had to go to Wal-Mart to get some last minute items and by the time I got back the pool party was in full swing. I grilled the meat we had brought on a gas grill Peggy had by the pool and had the food ready pretty quickly, which was a good thing because everyone was “starved” after all the activities of the day. By the time we ate, had cake and opened presents it was almost 8 pm.

On the drive back to the farm we finished Kung Fu Panda a second time and the mommies rushed around getting the children showered and bathed in preparation for Sunday morning while I set up for fireworks. I do not think we used half of the bag of fireworks Mama and I had bought but the kids had a good time watching the show – humble as it was.

Chase and Makaila left for the hotel, the kids were sent to bed and just like that, the day was over.

Services were wonderful both Sunday morning and Sunday evening. I think everyone was able to rest through the afternoon which was good since Cori and her crew pulled out this morning before 6 a.m.

Life will return to normal at the farm this morning.