Techno Man Grandpa

I thought when my classes had finished at the college I would have free time. Like I might actually be bored or something. I was wrong. Music Theory was less work than being home. It's amazing how much effort the house takes just to survive, honestly I had forgotten just how much time everything takes to do. Last Wednesday we celebrated my grandpa's 90th birthday! It was great; Darlene and Wayne wanted to talk to him on Skype and he did. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks! They even sung happy birthday to him and watched him blow out the candles.

Not too much else is new. Luke has a mountain man thing this weekend, so I sewed Luke and Christian a Capote (which is a wool jacket) and I got all my grades in for the semester 4.0, YEAH!!!

I filmed myself signing my ASL song that I did for class and I thought it was so funny I would share it with you all. Don't judge please, I know my dancing sucks!

I got my beach fix

Well, we got back from camping a few hours ago. I'm wrapped up in my fuzzy robe, my wet hair up in a clip, my legs smooth from a good, way over due shave, and my eyes tired from smoke burn.

We left for camping on Thursday. After a two hour drive to Lake Koocanusa and we finished setting up camp, we, actually I don't really remember what we did, but it most likely involved sitting around a fire, talking, maybe a bike ride to the lake, and roasting marshmallows.

Friday was the really fun. Because Koocanusa is so close to Eureka we have a girls day. Hannah, Mrs. Vestal, Rachel, my mom and I first went to a little thrift store. I got a really cute yellow summer dress (it will need modifications). Next we went to this woman's resale clothing store, and then to The Sunflower Moose. Lastly we went to the same wonderful place we went to last year for lunch. I think I had the best sandwich I've ever had, but then I think I said that last time.

Saturday was long. We drove a hour away to go to the Amish auction. For lack of seating reasons I was in Eric's truck with Mitch, Tara, and Eric. Like most trucks it really is only supposed to be for two, maybe three people. So needless to say we were very squished. The auction was smaller that usual, so we didn't stay long. On the way back we stopped at the swinging rope bridge. That is so much fun! If you know me I have a thing for heights. Most people are afraid of heights, I'm afraid of lowness. So of course I love rope bridges. Rachel and I climbed on rocks and even my 89 year old grandpa made it to the bridge, and it is a little bit of a hike. Christian, Lucy, Luke, and ShelbyMeRidge and HannahMrs. Vestal, my Grandpa, and Mom

Later that night Rachel and I rode our bikes down to the lake. Lake koocanusa's beach is so wonderful. It has fine sand so it's more like a beach than a lake. We did cartwheels, built sand castles, basically got our beach fix for the next year.

Even later we went canoeing across the lake, and even later than that went on a walk around the beach bare foot. Well, Rachel and I were barefoot. It felt so good to walk in the mud. Oh, that's another fact about me I love mud, if you didn't already know.

Eric, Tara, me, and Rachel

Today we picked up camp and came home. So wer'e back where I started, except my hair is a little dryer now.

a froth provoking experience

First I give you all permission to laugh at my ignorance.

Well, today I went to a coffee shop for the first time ever. My grandpa is staying with us for two and a half weeks while my grandma is in New York. He had a dermatologist appointment today because he had skin cancer on his face removed and went to have stitches out. When he was there they said that his glasses were leaking copper into his face and that they needed the nose part to be replaced. We took him over to fix his glasses (which they also sonically cleaned) and they said it would be about 20 minutes. My mom suggested walking over to City Brew across the street, so we went.
We walked in and it looked cool. Very what I would expect a coffee shop to look like. My mom and grandpa ordered just a coffee, but if you know me I'm more of the sweet type. My experience with coffee is limited to Costco Latte' Freeze, those Starbucks cold sweet things you can get at supermarkets, and embarrassingly McDonald's iced coffee. So I look at their board and feel overwhelmed. I know I want something sweet, but what is the difference between a cappuccino or a frappucino, and will it taste anything like what I'm used too?
I'm feeling on the spot, the nice looking girl is starting to look not quite so nice and the person behind me is getting impatient. I suck up my pride and ask her "what is the difference between a Latte' and a cappuccino?" She says something about frothed milk in the cappuccino, so I say I'll take that. She asks what name to call and my mom says "Megan". I ask why. Dumb question, let's just say I get um..... blonde in stressful situations. So we all go sit down and I'm seeing these people walking around with these really yummy looking coffee, whipped cream, very light and sugary looking goodness. I get kind of excited. Maybe it will be really good? The lady calls my name. I don't hear her, she starts walking over to the table, I see her and stand up to get it. Humm, it's in a foam cup not a clear plastic one. First clue. I open it up and see all this frothy stuff, of course being me I dip in my finger and try it. It taste like... nothing. I try again and it barely taste like milk. I put the lid back on and take a sip and burns my tongue. So, I let it cool, wondering about what it might taste like.
My mom asks to try mine and after taking a sip proclaims "It tastes like dirt". At this point I'm feeling protective of my cup of unwonderfullness, and tell mom that it does not taste like dirt and she just has to let it cool. We sit there awhile and then leave. I still really haven't tried it yet. By the time we get grandpa's glasses and head for the car it has finally cooled enough to drink. It tasted like coffee, not really the flavor I was looking for. I drank the cup but I am unimpressed (the flavor did resemble that of dirt).

Overall I went into my first coffee shop, had my first "real" coffee, and next time I think I will just ask for the sweetest thing they've got.

China from Japan

My mom, while cleaning out her closet, found some old china that my grandpa brought back from WW2, from the various places he went.

This is my grandpa Howard in France he's the one on the left. There is a whole tea set from Japan, including saki cups! Every piece is just so interesting, they are made of glass and have like unglazed dragons on them, even the tiniest little cups. These are my favorite. There are two of each. The vase and candle holder, also from Japan. they are made of a metal of sort and have a gorgeous sketching on them embossed in gold. The cherry blossoms are so cute on this um... dish of some sort? It says it was hand made in Imperial Nippon on the back so I think that means occupied Japan This plate, my grandpa brought back from Germany. It says, Father lion grinned, "you young rogues!" said he. "come along".

I'm not sure why it's not written in German. It's kinda cute, kinda creepy, and just strange for a child's plate. I mean try to eat your food on a plate that has a lion about to eat baby elephants and kittens on it. Well, I think that's what about to take place.