It's Been a Hard Day's Night

262. The Land of I Cooketh Not. I love love love love love summer. Because it means I cook only one or two times a week. Everyone takes a day of the week to cook. We award points for various categories and whoever wins for the week doesn't have to do dishes the next week. They are doing a great job! Last year no dishes was enough motivation. This year they are really getting into presentation. Our nectarines were arranged and our potato salad was garnished with oregano, thanks to Sue. Our ants on logs marched in pretty circles, thanks to Lou. My dinner is even smiling at me!

263. Working Children. The girls are mowing lawns now. And taking care of the neighborhood animal arsenal. This weekend we have three cats and a dog to take care of. (We almost had a special plant too, but then its owners decided not to go out of town.) (and yes, it was going to be Mr. C's baby, because we all knew that then it would have a fighting chance.)



As for lawns, the father of a boy in Lou's class saw her out there mowing. "Lou's mowing! Wow. We need to get 'George' out there mowing too!" I wonder how George feels about Lou mowing lawns?

(And are any of you out there noticing Mr. C's invention? He blended an old lawn mower frame with a trash can. What you can't see is the ingenious board and hinge system underneath the trash can. It allows him to lift the can full of lawn clippings up and dump it onto the garden or compost heap, while still being attached to the base that gives it stability while he drives it around. So much creativity up there it can't be contained!)

264. Cleaning together. Chores look like they might be manageable this summer as well. Ownership and personal responsibility are a marvelous thing.