GETTING A FIRE GOING!


One of the major chores we face each fall is the gathering of the leaves and burning them away.  We had picked up all the leaves a couple weeks earlier, but the rains had prevented us from burning them. Then, to get the fire really going, Becca went around and picked up as many sticks as she could. We had to start a regular fire on one side to get the leaves dried out enough so they would burn.

It took all day, but the pile of leaves burned down to nothing but ash.

JUST ANOTHER DAY ON THE JOB!


Last week it rained so hard that I had to finally break out the rain gear. I had been wearing the rain coat from time to time, but it was so wet last week I was afraid I would get soaked.

Let me back-up, I go outside in the mornings before school and help with walker-pick up/drop off duty. This means that I help with traffic control as cars come through the drop off zone and let kids off before school. This is a duty that I and the six other specials teachers have been assigned to for the duration of the school year. Three of us work mornings, three of us work afternoons. I work mornings. Every day. 180 days of the school year.

I let Becca use my camera phone and she snapped this picture of me getting ready to head out the door. It's amazing what a 7-year-old can do when given the technology.

All I can say is that I'm dreading the coming of winter when I have to go out in the zero degree weather for duty. All you teachers in Arizona, just be glad you've got the weather you have. Have fun!

 

A DAY AT THE ZOO!

Late last month, we spent a couple of days in Indianapolis when Bizzy had to attend a school safety conference. Becca and I took the first day and went to the zoo. Here, Becca shows us the danger of sitting too close to the dolphin pool. During the show, Becca was splashed - numerous times - to the delight of all the kids there who were also splashed.

Later, after she dried, we took a ride on the train, which cirumnavigated the park.  Becca and I enjoyed our day together. The only thing missing was having Bizzy along as well.

HALLOWEEN IN KNOX

Becca shows off her 'witch' costume. Just before going trick-or-treating Becca and Bizzy walked the back part of the lot at Yellow House and took some pictures. She also brought along her friend, the jack-o-lantern.

 I CAN RIDE A GO CART

Becca rides the pedal-powered go carts at the Pumkinfest.  This was really hard as the track consisted mostly of mud. After trying two or three of the different carts, she finally found one that would allow her to pedal through the mud. After riding the go carts, she took a ride on the cow train, a series of drums cut to allow riders and painted a cow theme.

Slide

I WANT TO LIVE ON A FARM!

Becca enjoyed the fun part of Pumkinfest, that is, play-acting the role of what life would be like on the farm. Life-like models of cows with udders attached to bottles of water allowed kids the opportunity to "milk".

Not only that, she "rode" a farm horse, and lassoed her dad with a rope. Anything that imitates riding a horse, Becca truly loves. If she had her way, she'd have a horse on the property at Yellow House. Our little acre, however, is too small to keep a horse.

A HAYRIDE IN ZIONSVILLE

Corn is the grain of life. We eat corn with nearly every meal. Corn is the backbone of the midwest. 

Becca and I nearly sat on a cob while on the hay ride. Mommy told her to toss it aside, but Becca wanted to scrutinize it.  You know fall is at its height when the cornstalks all turn brown. 

These pictures were also from the Pumpkinfest in Zionsville. Below, Becca plays in the corn pit, just like the one she and her classmates participated in at Guse's in Wanatah.

A Brief Respite on a Bridge

 We found this bridge while visiting the Zionsville Country Market Pumpkinfest on Sunday, Oct. 23.  Located just north of Indianapolis, we stopped while on our way home.

Here, I stopped for a momentary respite on a tiny bridge across a tiny creek (if you can call it that) and leaned against the railing. Bizzy caught me with her new camera.

Then (below) Becca came along and rested with her dad.  Bizzy caught us both in great repose!

Who's That Behind Me?

At the Zionsville Country Market Pumpkinfest, Becca finds, yet again, a pony to ride. After Daddy had to help her into the saddle, Becca took a couple of trips around the pen. While riding, Mommy took this picture with her new Canon digital EOS Rebel. What a great shot!

After her ride, Daddy went back in and helped Becca get down.

Speaking of Pumpkins

After riding the pony, Becca went straight to the tiny pie pumpkin patch for her free pumpkin. From here, she went to the decorating tent to decorate her pumpkin.

To say that Becca loves pumpkins is putting it mildly.

PUTTING MY NAME ON THE PUMPKIN!


We were at Guse's Corn Maze for the second grade field trip this week and, after a harrowing 90 minutes traversing the very confusing corn maze, Becca and I and her whole class took a hay ride to the pumpkin patch.

After searching for 20 minutes, Becca found the perfect pumpkin. Here, her teacher, Mr. Masson, lends Becca a sharpie so she can put her name on it.

Oh, and for the first week of October, the temperature rose to a record-breaking 87 degrees that day!

We had so much fun. This was Becca's second trip to Guse's; her first grade class went there last year. This was my first field trip with my daughter. I, too, had so much fun!

SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER!


You can tell when summer is almost over. Bizzy and Charles goes back to work. Becca heads back to school (a second grader this year! Wow, is the time flying or what?) The temperature starts to dip below 60 degrees. The boats come out of the water after Labor Day Weekend.  The piers come in by the end of September. . .

And, Grandma and Grandpa leave for Arizona.:(

We know we all will miss Grandma and Grandpa, but Becca says she will miss them more.  By the time our lake residents were ready to leave, Becca was riding the bus to their lake house nearly every day just to get that much more time with them.

We helped them get the houses shut down (the one to Grandpa's right - on his left as you look at the picture, and the one in the background behind Grandpa) and ready for the winter.  Our lake house remains ready for whenever we wish to head to the lake on a long weekend for some much needed relaxation.

--

Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff

Knox High School Principal

Piano Going Well For Becca

Becca shows us her skills after only two lessons.  She is absolutely having fun learning the keys, practicing notes, reading music and conducting her Hanon scales.  Enjoy!

AT THE BAND COMPETITION

Knox High School's marching band, the Red Brigade, competed at Goshen Sept. 9, and placed second overall (a first top three at their first meet in several years) and also earned Best Overall General Effect.

While waiting for the band to take the field, we sat in the stands and goofed off.  Here Becca shows her excitement while waiting to hear the band's latest production.  We asked her to show us how to prepare for the flute and this is what we got!

 AT THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL


Becca loves riding horses.  Whenever we hit a festival or fair, Becca heads straight for the pony rides.  Whenever she rides, however, she rides pony-sized horses.

This year, at the Marshall County Blueberry Festival, Labor Day Weekend, Becca found the big horses.  Here, she's being led around the ring.  After about a 10-minute ride, she gets off . . . then proceeds to ask for a horse - for the next 3 days!

We love her, but have no room for a horse right now.  Besides, we know a few people who have horses, so invitations to ride with them come from time to time.

After the ride, Becca thanks the man who helped her and takes off her helmet.

TO THE FOOTBALL GAME WE GO!


High School football season has begun. While on the way to the first game of the season, Bizzy snapped this picture of Charles driving.

Our beloved Knox Redskins got off to a great start, trouncing the Winamac Warriors 55-6.  Then things got a little hectic, with the Redskins losing the next three games against powerhosue opponents North Judson, John Glenn and Jimtown.  Looking at 1-3, Knox traveled to LaVille Friday, Sept. 16, and snagged another convincing win, defeating the Lancers 41-16.

Five weeks in and we still have Homecoming at the end of the month and away games the first two weekends in October.

Wish us luck!

HARVEST FESTIVAL IN KNOX

Whenver there's a festival in the area, Becca loves hitting the carnival rides. Here she's riding the giant swing that goes around, and tilts at the same time.  The girl gets carsick whenever we go to town, but put her on a merry-go-around or a swing and a way she goest!

The Knox Harvest Festival occurs on the last weekend in August.

PIANO LESSONS BEGIN!

Becca began Piano lessons this week.  We were hoping to start her at the beginning of the summer, but, as you know, fun gets in the way.  Not to say that playing piano isn't fun; it is!  

Bizzy's assistant band director at the high school got married over the summer and his wife was a band director at a major high school in South Bend, that is until she moved to Bass Lake to get married.

She offered to teach Becca and leaped at the chance. Charles got the piano tuned and Becca began her Hanon scales.  She's loving every minute of it!

COLTON'S BIRTHDAY


For Colton's 17th Birthday we all went to Pablano's Mexican Restaurant for a taste of home.  While there, the employee's all sang "Happy Birthday" (the American version) to Colton and placed a huge plate of fried ice cream in front of him.  It was so delicious, Becca stole a couple of bites.

A few days later, Colton headed for home.