Fall Break 2021

 Our grandsons had fall break from school giving them a nice four day weekend. On Friday the boys were over for the day, the weather forecast called for rain all day, so what could we do that would be fun but keep us dry. I spent a little time on Google first thing in the morning and came up with a plan.  We headed for downtown Fort Wayne and paid a visit to the Firefighters Museum and then headed next door to the main branch of the Allen County Library, a favorite place all the boys like to visit. We wandered around the library, unfortunately due to Covid restrictions the play room and a few other child friendly attractions are still not allowed, but they looked at the giant globe and we rode up and down elevators and went up and down stairs and picked out a few movies to borrow. Next up was lunch, we drove to Fort Wayne's famous Coney Island, in business, in the same location since 1907. The boys all had hotdogs, a bag of potato chips and the favorite small glass bottle of Coca Cola with a straw. When we left we went out the back door, you get to walk through a very small kitchen area with a giant vat of chili cooking and always a man washing dishes. 

On Monday the weather was perfect, a chilly start to the day but abundant sunshine and a high expected in the low sixties. Everyone piled into the van at nine and we got on the highway to drive about for about an hour to Pokagon State Park near Angola, Indiana. We arrived at the park, parked at the Potawatami Inn and headed to hiking trail. Our goal was to walk to Hell's Point, the highest point in the park, and I believe in Steuben county. We ambled along, the best pace to go when the youngest walker is only four, and enjoyed a truly glorious morning. After a while we reached Hell's Point and they all enjoyed a snack of trail mix, we then descended, there are 84 steps to go down and this was a cause of great excitement. On we continued and then took another trail to walk up to Blue Bird Hill, such a pretty, tranquil spot in the park as the trail is not a main loop through the woods. Then it was time to head back to the van, and head home for a late lunch, their favorite rigatoni and bread and butter.

I really enjoy our day trips out, probably more so than the kids, it is a good excuse to get out and about and the boys are always good company.

A Little Project for a Little Guy

This past June Dave and I drove to Florida to visit with my parents. While there my mom had a clear out of all the leftover yarn from her many, many knitting projects and sent a trash bag full of yarn home with me. There were several skeins of light blue yarn and I thought it would make a lovely sweater for our youngest grandson Harrison. I had the sweater knitted and only had to finish the neck, I went off to get my size 5 circular knitting needles and could find them no where, I found a packet for them, so know I owned a pair at some point in time. I had circular knitting needles in many sizes, but no size 5, I thought perhaps double pointed needles would work, but needed five and only had four. Dreading a trip to JoAnne Fabrics, I decided to order the needles online. So, Sunday evening I placed my order on Amazon, and by lunchtime Monday the needles arrived, amazingly quick delivery. I finished up the sweater on Monday evening and was able to give it to Harrison on Tuesday evening at our oldest grandsons football game. I think Harrison looks adorable in his blue sweater, now we need some cooler weather so he can wear it without feeling like a boiled lobster.

Henry is #31, center of the picture

Yesterday, when Patrick and Charles arrived home from school Charles helped mix up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I put a batch of cookies in the oven to bake and ran out to check the mailbox, when I returned to the kitchen I was amused to find Charles waiting patiently in front of the oven. The boys really enjoyed their afternoon snack.