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Only two more weeks of summer! We've made sure to enjoy this one thoroughly. I've uploaded new summer pictures to the pics area. A few highlights...
It has been pretty smoky here for the last few weeks, due to the fire uplake. Here is my hot, dear husband with the smoke in the background. You couldn't even see the other side of the lake!
Naomi became the first Manson kid to complete level 6. I had no idea. I thought kids completed level 6 every year. Apparently they usually stop short of the final test which involves retrieving a 10 lb. rubber block from the bottom of the lake (more than 10 ft. deep) and swimming with it to the dock, a distance of more than 20 ft., while keeping her head and the block above the water. She made it look so easy. So easy, in fact, that adults were lining up to try their own skill. Vicky, the swimming instructor, kept them in shallow water and it was soon clear why. A few people were able to keep the brick above water, but then their heads would go under. Then, they'd get their heads above water but they couldn't lift the brick. When Fletcher tried, he instantly sank to the bottom, completely unable to resurface without standing up. Naomi never gloated, but I thought it was pretty cool for her to see, so clearly demonstrated, what a difficult task she had completed.
Oliver completed level 3, which was something we didn't expect. Naomi worked with him a lot over the summer to teach him new skills and he took to them very quickly. I don't know if it is part of being male, but he is suprisingly aware of his body in space which allows him to pick up on physical activities much more quickly than his sisters. They take this with good humor.
Sophia made great strides in her swimming class, too! It can take many times through level 6 to pass, so she probably has a good 4 more sessions before she can retrieve and swim with the brick. It's kind of a tough place to be because there are so many skills to learn in level 6 in addition to some serious endurance tasks. She's a great swimmer, too!
This week is a momentus one. On friday I will be attending my 20 year High School reunion. It seems sureal. I can't possibly be this old! I feel so immature and youthful! But, I'm sure that most of us feel that way. I'm really looking forward to it, but I'm nervous as heck, too. It has been much too long since I've been in contact with my friends from High School. Back then, I was certain that we would never lose touch, but I am afraid that I have made very few attempts to contact people or keep in touch, so I am the guiltiest in this matter. But, as good old Saint Jerome has said, "The friendship that can cease has never been real." So, I am hoping to rekindle many of those old friendships.
Then, on Saturday, my sister will be getting married to a fantastic guy. I am so happy to welcome him to our family as a brother.
School will begin in 3 short weeks and I have a lot of work to do to prepare for my class of preschool age kids. Eleven of them! It will be a fun year. I'm anxious to be knee deep in it so that the nervousness and self-consciousness will be behind me.
In the meantime, I'm busy knitting. I've been working on the Clessidra sock. Singular. I'm a bit afraid that I won't make it the second one! It is very beautiful, though, and I keep picturing them with my jean skirt and my cool black shoes, so that is motivating me.
I've also taken a bit of a break from the socks to work on a Weasley Sweater from Charmed Knitts. Traditionally this pattern would be worked in a solid color with a big letter on the front, knitted in intarsia. I didn't want to go out and buy new yarn and had been looking for a project for my Pure Wool, 3 ply, in Blauer Reiter. No one else will be able to tell that it is a Weasley Sweater, but I will know and that is all that matters.
Lastly, I've been cooking good foods with the vegetables from our local CSA. This dish was inspired by The Archbishop of Canterbury who, in a recent entry, had photographed his version of baked pasta. We eat this twice a week lately. It's just whole wheat pasta with a sauce of fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, with some salt, a splash of balsamic vinegar that has been cooked up in a bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Then it is combined in a casserole and sprinkled with mozarella and parmesan cheese. Fantastico!
2:33 AM
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