Work As Well As Play

I've got another post up, everybody. You could correctly call this my first late post. Don't take me wrong: I'm not apologizing! If you were with me back when I started this blog, you will recall that I said that my time means more to me than this blog. As it happens, lack of time really wasn't the problem, but I had the best reason I could possibly have: computer trouble. Our family's ancient laptop is, as was long anticipated, dying. Even though the problem isn't completely resolved, I am able to do this post using Dad's business laptop. Thank you to those who haven't abandoned my blog in it's first small unpunctuality. Your patience is appreciated and may be required frequently:).

Processing Corn (Work)

Corn. To anyone who has ever processed corn, that

word should speak volumes. It should bring to mind

stickiness, sweat, and exhaustion. But

on a more positive note, it should also remind you of cool showers,

delicious corn-on-the-cob, and satisfaction over a freezer

full of corn! To those of you who have never experienced

doing corn, the following pictures of our experience may give

you some insights, but, until you do it yourself, you won't

fully understand what it is like.

Just look at ALL that corn!

Candace the early riser gets started first, as usual.
(Don't even mention that we need a new silk-brush;
I have eyes- I can see.)



Rudely awakened, bunny wonders what is going on at this

unearthly hour.

Definitely an unenthusiastic recruit!

(It's blurry, but what isn't at that time of morning?)

Conrad, rebelling against the situation.

Look at him: he's still in a state of denial.

It looks as if corn is going to their heads.

Snack time! "Would you care for some Sara Lee
Cheesecake Bites?"

Candace, what are you back there smiling about? Don't you remember that that was about the third dessert we had that day in opposition to our one-dessert-per-day policy?!

"Sure, I'll have one and I won't even suffer from guilt like my sisters do."

Victorious huskers and brushers.

The pro at all things "corn."

We always dump the husks over the fence, and, if the cows are

nowhere in sight as is the case above, we call "Here Hommi, Hommi,

Hommi!" You are incredulous, right: "You say what?!" As far as the

origin of the call is concerned, all I can tell you is that Mom taught it

to us, and it is supposed to be Pennsylvania Dutch (unrecognizable
Pennsylvania Dutch, I am sure.)

It worked...about half an hour after we called them.

The corn actually fell into this pattern unaided when I was
getting it out of the boiling water.

Cream it...

...then bag it for the freezer.

Last, but certainly not least, comes eating fresh corn-on-the-cob!
We don't just eat it with the traditional butter and salt; we love it
best with - prepare to be shocked - mayonnaise! I don't doubt you are
horrified - most folks are. Apparently it is unheard of, as I have never met anyone besides relatives who do it. If you eat it this way or know of anyone who does, please let me know. I still haven't given up on finding somebody who sympathizes with our peculiar tastes.

Boating at Middlecreek (Play)

Clayton's request for sometime had been to go boating. We finally

went on his birthday, two days before Middlecreek's lake closed to boating.

The Birthday boy.....

.....sets out on his first voyage.

Two very tame ducks were hounded by Charity and Faith and even given two
sets of names. Charity named them Andy and Angela, while Faith named them Theodore and Francis. (At the time I said "Remember those names until I ask you," and now a few weeks later they still do.)

Phantom Ducks - Candace gets the credit for this picture.
I like it well enough to wish I would:).

Candace's obsession with attempting to take art photos that evening,

seemed to be focused primarily on feet. Here are some of her "feet closeups."

Self "feet"rait
(Anybody get it? I was afraid you wouldn't.)

Candace immortalized my legendary flip flops. I've had a pair of these exact flip flops ever since I can remember and, until recently, I would wear them year round. You can't beat them for comfort. If you need a pair, they sell them at Good's store (free advertisement for Good's store:).

Deserted footwear? Well, yes, though they weren't deserted in such
a picturesque position by the owner.

We girls set out on a voyage, in which I (the captain) attempt

to instruct Faith on rowing.

Faith, don't capsize us!

It's scary to have someone else holding your camera out in the
middle of a lake.

"Carmen, we want to touch the buoys! You must take us!"

My other passenger isn't so sure.

Conrad sets out on a solo voyage.

Bon Voyage!

Conrad returns from a solo voyage.

Spreading a tablecloth boy-fashion

He was puzzled that the tablecloth didn't cover the whole table
until we sisters informed him that "you have to unfold it all the way."
I love the look of enlightenment on his face.

Just for old times' sake I decided to post some pictures of our

family boating at Middlecreek eight years ago.

Times have changed. That's Candace at age six!

And Conrad must have been only four.

Back to the present, which finds our boat drawn up on the shore.
It's the end of our journey, passengers. Thanks for taking the voyage.
Farewell!

~Captain Carmen~