Lawnmowers, Gardens and School

The county has started back to school today and it seems strangely quiet. Not that there were many kids in our neighborhood anyway, but soon the sound of the "cheese wagon" pulling the hills will be heard as it brings the kids back from school. I homeschool my kids but I try and keep my kids "in" during school hours. It is only a hassle when we go to town to run errands or get groceries. We get the "is there a school day today?" question to which my kids always boldly say, "No (mam or sir)we homeschool." Then the person looks at me, sizing me up, trying to figure out if I am trying to undermine the government thru the educational system, a religious nut or what. I guess I am a Jesus freak and firmly believe that "to train up a child in the way that he should go" is the final word and highest calling. What makes people think that I am not equipped with the resources to educate my children? I taught them all how to use a fork and knife, toilet trained them, taught them each to read and write, BEFORE school age. Turn on the news and ask me why I homeschool again. End of subject for now.

My oldest has completed his studies for the day and is getting ready for his board of review with the advancement committee for his scout troop tonight. He will get his Star rank then he will work towards his Life rank, after that is Eagle. He is working on some knots now. I am pretty excited for him. He has accomplished alot and looks to achieve more. He is also working on a scrapbook/photo album for the troop. He was voted the Troop Historian for the year and is working on capturing the year. He has also made slide show set to music and video clips that he will present at the next Court of Honor. That is a week away now. We have it saved in it's finished form to my computer but can't seem to get it saved to a CD. It saves all but the last minute. The audio plays out all the way but the last 5 pics won't. These are 80 minute 700MB CD's but they aren't working. I have no idea why but it is really frustrating me. We think we might need a better quality CD...maybe Memorex?

My garden is beginning to wain. The cucumbers are slowly dieng off but have definitely served us well! The tomatoes are still going good but the green beans are puny. Then the squash is spreading out all over the yard! It's crazy but the squash seems to not be producing fruit. Then last but not least, the cantaloupe and sunflowers are starting to go great. Blossoms are all over the vines and when the fruit starts coming I am going to have to set the fruit on bricks, otherwise they will rot. My friends carrots are slow. She really needed to plant those much earlier, like March. The grass is getting high around the garden and my son was going to mow around where the riding mower couldn't go, but we can't get it started! GRRRRRRRR! Hubby was very patient with our son for not mowing last time but it is too tall to ignore this time and he said "It will be done when I get home." I agreed but dog gone it! What is up with the mower? I have a theory, but maybe it's out there. I wonder if the boy didn't flood the engine when he primed it. I told him to go back out and try again in about 15-20 minutes. *sigh* And the day is getting hotter and muggier with each passing minute. I have no clue about lawn mowers...I am not a mechanic for heaven's sake. LOL

I have pictures of New Mexico! I will post them here. I hope you will enjoy them. I need to go for now. I'll write more tomorrow or later...we have been so busy this past week I haven't had a chance to get on the computer at all. Things are slowing down a bit so I should have much more time. later! ~ katcha