Candy Factory!!!!

I have been aware of this Candy Factory over near Merrillville and have wanted to take the kids there for quite some time. I read an article on the net that indicated it might be closed, so I sent an email inquiring and received word back that they are in fact open and bigger and better than ever! My kids are getting to the age where all of their interests are very diverse from one another, but come on, a candy factory???? Doesn't that just bring out the kid in everyone? This place boasts a chocolate waterfall! I am planning on making a Saturday trip over with the kiddos sometime in the near future, of course I will have to wait for the Tippy Dance Hall to close for the season before I can convince my oldest son to go on such an adventure!

Tuesday, August 22

Did you ever notice....

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to think and to talk once you come to terms with what your heart is telling you? Once you do that, everything seems to be so clear and matter of fact. Things might not always go the way that you want, but at least you know what it is you want.

First Day Of School

Whew! All three kids are off to their first day of school. No one missed the bus and its on the same schedule as last year. So all is well on that front.

My daughter is a junior and my son is a freshman so this was his first day of high school. He was very calm, cool and collected. We went shopping for their school supplies last night, and it was $150! Besides the regular supplies they now have to have memory sticks and "scientific" calculators. Geeze o' pete.....

My youngest son is now a big bad third grader! And the big bad third grader had me meet him at school after he rode the bus and go in with him to find his class and meet his new teacher. It does a heart good to still be needed. Now his teacher is going to have a major challenge this year, he has two Koles and and Kolt in his class. hehehe.

I always like it when the kids go back to school, its time to get back into a normal routine and have dinner at a normal time again. In the summer we are all just here and there and everywhere. I have a doctor appointment this afternoon and the kids have an early release from school. My daughter is going to cook dinner tonight and we shopped for all of her ingredients last night....so yay! We are getting back to normal.

The accidental gourd

The gourd that ate my house...

From Sunday, August 5:

Tuesday, August 14:

The gourd that ate my house...

Three days since the last pictures. This isn't quite like watching a slab of cheese age online, but close!

It's heading over to my tree that is dying, I expect it will start climbing up it soon....

And it is starting to obscure the view out of my living room window!

The gourd that ate my house...

The neighbors are stopping by, the kids are intrigued with it, and it just keeps growing and growing!

The life of a cat

This is Mercedes taking one of her afternoon naps in her favorite "throne" of sorts. I think she sleeps 80 percent of her time and spends the other 20 percent being one of the oddest cats I have ever seen. She chases the laser light around the house, falls from the bookcase and the balcony. One evening I witnessed her trying to jump from the organ to the tv, a distance of less than a foot and she did a slow motion fall to the ground. What a silly girl. She loves her family, but she is not a very snuggly cat. You can maybe get a minute and a half of cuddle time before she slaps you across the face.

Another day in the life of a gigantic gourd plant

I awoke this morning to the sound of thunder cracking and I swear I could hear the vines on this thing creeping further around my house. I went out this afternoon and did some more redirecting and am amazed at the amount of gourds on this thing.

This is a group of the gourds that are hanging in the bush the vine is enveloping.

This one to the right is hanging from my front window. It was a blossom on Sunday, and this is Thursday so you can see how quickly they are growing!

I am really glad that AWB has talked me into journaling this little escapade. Hopefully you all will enjoy the progess of the "accidental gourd" too!

I cannot believe this

Tuesday, August 21st will be the first day of school for my kids. I took my two oldest to the high school for registration yesterday and registered my youngest one at the elementary school this morning. Summer is coming to a close and I've not yet ridden the jet skis. My oh my.

I was informed today at registration that the first day of school will be an early dismissal. You've got to be kidding me, talk about creating more chaos than necessary. I asked the reasoning behind this and it seems the school system installed new computer databases over the summer. They have offered training all summer long to the employees of the school system, but for various reasons, vacations, summer school, etc., not all were able to attend. SO.........Since attendance, grades, everything is kept on these computers, they have to complete the training the first day to get everyone up to speed. My opinion? Perhaps the teachers shoud have their first day of school on Monday, before school starts. Duh!

The accidental gourd

The accidental gourd is alive and doing quite well. The rains the last couple of nights are really helping it along. I am trying very hard to guide it off of the sidewalk, but it is now taking over another bush in the landscaping and getting so large that by week's end I will probably guide it into making the curve around the house.

My boys spent all of last week at their dad's and were very surprised at how large it had gotten when they returned Sunday evening. My youngest son is absolutely delighted and my oldest is exasperated. He does several mowing jobs in the neighborhood and I have stressed to him the importance of keeping our lawn looking nice because it basically is his business card. He feels this "accidental gourd" is a poor representation of his work and wants to tear it out. I have explained that it has now become quite entertaining for all of us, many of the neighbors included and we just have to see it through until this fall.

I don't know, we may even have to spend Halloween in our "gourd patch" and await the appearance of the "Great Gourd"!

No matter what, the blooms on this thing, and there are many, are very pretty in the early morning hours.