Before we had chickens, we had ducks! I miss them… sort of. They were happy to help themselves to NB’s kiddie pool. Though, this picture is of their tub. So is it LOLDucks or LOLKid?
Nature Boy has participated in the National Novel Writing Month’s Young Writers Program, this month. He’s very excited because he just completed his first draft of his work at over 12,000 words.
He’s been working hard on it, and though I’m not allowed to read it, yet, I can’t wait.
Well done, NB!
The Oathbound by Mercedes Lackey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Finished this last night. I grabbed the Sword and Sorceress III volume from the library in order to read the beginning of the story, and that was very compelling. This volume developed the characters and story arc. I found it less a single novel than a sequence of encounters, but there is an undergirding narrative that connects the separate chapters flowing and coherent. Although I liked this book a lot, I didn’t see the kind of growth and change in the characters that I have seen in other Lackey novels. I will continue reading the the series, though, and see where Tarma and Kethry take me. View all my reviews >>
I improvised a dish with some collard greens, some black beans, and rice, plus onions, carrots, and some dice kielbasa. And I started with two strips of thick-cut Mckenzie bacon.
It came out very well; Beloved Wife had to go back for a second helping! And I got to use my birthday dutch oven again.
A while back, I posted a link on Facebook about the Dungeons & Dragons Limited Edition Spellcasting Sodas from Jones. The mom of a kid who participates in the kids D&D group saw that link, and ordered a case as birthday party favors. And the kid wanted bring some to the gaming group.
Well, I was skeptical. But I had the sneak attack soda; I think it was the best cream soda I’ve ever had. Of course, NatureBoy wants to get our own case so we can have D&D soda bottles that we treasure forever. 
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I just found my original sketches of the chicken coop design, and I have to say that the execution wasn’t too far off the mark. Here’s the sketch…
And here’s the coop…
Not bad.
I haven’t started calling it my precious, but I’m very fond of the enameled cast-iron dutch oven that Beloved Wife got me got my birthday. This weekend, I used it to make a yummy vegetable curry.
Even NatureBoy enjoyed it! I will have to make it again.
One of the major projects of this summer has been the new Chicken Coop.
About five years ago, we got rid of our chickens and our old chicken coop. The urge to keep chickens returned, though, and so we needed to be a new one. There are still a few details that need to be addressed (South door window, back door latches, nesting boxes and trim. But the chickens are out of the house!
Beloved Wife is taking her Occupation Therapy Assistant licensure exam. Best of luck, sweetie. You’ve worked very hard for two years; I know it will pay off.
You are loving, creative, spirited, and lots of fun. I love being your Dad; it’s such an adventure. I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner or behind the locked wooden door.
CraftyMomma has some more cute NB photos. Check them out.
This one is going on my desk:
