Summer Times

Summer always brings fun things to do. Here are a few.

Tasker was all ready for the round-up. Trouble is, those toys just don't round-up with a shoo like the cows do. I missed when he had the blade of grass in his mouth.

Some new critters joined the home stead. There had been some larger ones but they got too hard to handle.

There was a session of summer school. It was given for all ages in a one room school house.
The desks were from a few years in the past, but they fit the building.

Recess was enjoyed by all of the students.

Some of us even took a train ride. It was scenic and approved by Mom who had to point out where her kids were sitting.

We thought that the military could use some help, so Leah and the kids did tank maneuvers with them.

Trinceton and his co-pilot also helped the navy with their jet flying. They had visitors and pictures before take off.

After all the work, it was time for summer fun of cherry seed spitting. Trinceton took first for his age group with 17 feet.
Tasker took lessons and did well also. He went all the way to the end of their paper measure.
Kiana had desire, but "girls don't spit!"
Beginners didn't have a category, but should have. "Darn, is that all the further it went?"
After all that work and spitting it was time to relax and watch some boat racing, do some swimming,
and play a game of peek-a-boo.

How has your summer been going?

Happy Fourth

I hope that you had a good Fourth of July. We got to take do the traditional Fourth activities.

First we went to the parade in town.

We didn't have a band but there was lots of candy that found it's way into the kids hands. Note Trinceton's hand. He got a hamburger, with all the toppings, from one of the floats.
Some candy was a little sour.
There were some floats.
Some of which squirted water onto the hot observers. I didn't get the fire truck that really let loose. The theme was children's stories. This is Noah and the Whale.
After the parade it was home for naps and to have a barbecue. Then in the evening, it was back to town for the fire works.

The truck back was a good observation place to take in the fireworks going off around the area, and the main show when it started.I got to try our my 'fireworks' setting on my camera.

The Wave

When one is in rural territory, and travels the rural roads, there is some etiquette that one SHOULD follow. This was observed while in Tennessee and more so since being in Montana. I was slow to do this while on my morning walk, but realized I needed to follow area customs of etiquette. While walking with Leah one morning, I noted that she was sure to follow it.

This custom is carried out when you meet someone along the road, usually when they are traveling in a vehicle in the opposite direction. Some may accuse us of being unfriendly, but that is not true. There is a wave of greeting extended to all.

How this wave is extended is the interesting part.

First there is the one finger lifted from the wheel. This is usually given by an older gentleman in a pickup or a truck. The two finger lift is very similar and also given by the driver of a truck or pickup but of younger age. Maybe arthritis hasn't set in yet.

Then there is the four fingers up. This is sometimes also given with a nod. The driver is usually male and is driving any vehicle. At times you will also see this delivered by a female, but it is rare.

The whole hand wave with a gentle up down motion always is delivered by a female. She may be driving a truck or a car. Related to this is the whole hand wave, delivered with many quick up and down motions, like a child just learning to wave. Definitely a female, usually driving a car or sometime a van.

Then there is the Queen Elizabeth wave. It is done with a short side to side motion and can be delivered by either male or female. The road should be straight before delivering this as it requires more time for the hand to be away from the steering wheel.

Last but not least is the parade wave, the one that you see on floats at parades. This is only given by a female.

Then there is the passenger wave. These can be omitted if the driver waves, or it can be delivered along with the driver's wave. It can be any version of the above listed waves.

Now, if you are walking as I am, all you have to do is throw up your hand, bending your arm at the elbow. It is much easier to execute than any of the driving waves. You also don't have to worry about what you are driving or your gender.

I hope that this will be of help if any of you find yourself on a rural road, either walking or driving.