It’s like this see…
last update: 09/28 @ 21:57

One of the options at Great Farms is the pumpkin cannon.

So, it’s not really a pumpkin cannon, it shoots smaller gourds.

But it’s no less impressive…

… and the sight works pretty well.

We each got several shots.

And managed to hit many of the targets we tried to.

And just the loud strong, thump or twang was great fun.

Nothing like a shooting a huge air cannon to blow off some steam after months in pandemic surroundings.

And, yes, we’re still in a pandemic.

This was outside, socially distant and we were masked gunners.

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Lost in the maze
last update: 09/28 @ 21:56

Sarah found a opening at Great Country Farms yesterday.

After spending most (not all) of the last several months at home, we jumped at the chance.

Not only did we get to pick and bring home a bunch of tasty apples, we got to enjoy a lovely day outside.

Including, getting lost in the maze.

Well not really.

We did split at one turn and Robert and I went left when Sarah went right.

We lost sight of her and she ended up getting much more into the maze than we did. To be truthful, she did it right.

Robert and ended up coming out the entrance, not on purpose, just by accident.

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Continuing Crazy Times
last update: 09/25 @ 10:56

We’re a couple weeks into the new school year. Robert has opted for a green screen background so he can take classes from a variety of locations: star destroyers, McLaren F1 cars and Minecraft villages.

School is clearly less fun at home. But they are buckling down, getting new material covered and the kids are learning.

Truly crazy times!

Of course this graph remains interesting and important. Clearly much better than the spike early on, but it seems very stubborn about dropping much below about 20 news cases a day. I’m sorry that June / July dip didn’t continue down.

Some of the current thinking is that if the positive test rate gets below 5%, it may be time to think about school in person again. We’re not there yet in Alexandria. The city provides that data monthly by zip code: 5.6% to 20.3% in August. (We’re fortunate to be in the 5.6% zip code.)

And democracy can’t stop. This is a presidential election year — fortunately, Virginia has lost its swing state status so we’ve been spared much of the advertising.

With questions about how well the Post Office can deliver ballots (and a personal concern over my illegible signature) along with no question in who I’m voting for, I followed Sarah’s lead and voted early, in person and in mask today.

Alexandria has the best “I Voted” stickers!

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First Day!!!
last update: 09/10 @ 17:24

A start of school unlike any other.

No backpack, no notebooks.

But a mask (with a smile behind it).

This year, school is starting virtually with the strong hope that by next semester, the kids will be back in the classroom. For now, Robert’s classroom is back at his desk where last year ended up.

But the school system has had more time to plan out virtual learning and we’re expecting things to be more challenging this year than the end of last year.

And we’re really hoping that by next semester Robert is in school so he can experience culinary arts in the TC kitchen with the instructor and classmates rather than in our kitchen. (While we might get to sample more if they are virtual next semester, it would self-serving to hope for that.)

Here’s the traditional look back:

• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008

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More fun on the river…
last update: 09/07 @ 21:00

… This time, Robert’s school friend Will and his dad and sister took us out on their boat.

A very different affair from our kayaks and canoe.

Rob (a good name), took us north from Belle Haven to the Jefferson memorial where we jumped in the water to cool off.

Squirt guns helped with the cooling off.

Then the tube came out.

It’s a wild ride!

More so on a day with several other boats so more wakes and more waves.

The boys got some good air a couple of times.

And Robert even talked me into going with him on the tube.

Whitewater, but not the kind I’m used to.

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Robert’s learning to roll!!!
last update: 09/07 @ 20:46

Miguel, who Sarah found through Potomac Paddle Sports was great. Robert had a couple rolls — not when I happened to be there, alas.

And he’s feeling better about a hard shell boat. He was saying on Saturday that he thought a hard shell would be more fun to play in the waves with. And now he’s well on his way…

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Fall day on the river
last update: 09/05 @ 22:30

Another beautiful day on the river.

But the new camera is not yet used to us.

Or we’re not used to it.

We’ll see if the self-timer pictures get better over time.

This picture of Robert turned out well.

He’s been having so much fun playing in the wave, surfing this one and a bit at Maryland and Virginia chutes, that he’s talking about getting back into a hard boat to have more fun.

We may be back on the river tomorrow. Maybe the self-timer will work better then….

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