November 21, 2005

• I had forgotten how boyish
  boys are.  Noah and Jeremy, 8 and 11, spent Saturday here on the
  farm.  It was so much fun having boys around again.  They
  were hired to carry wood into the barn after Pete split it and they did
  a great job of it.  They also managed to discover ways to have fun
  while they were at it.  Their dad came over in the afternoon and
  put the new chain saw to work cutting up the pine tree that came down
  in the lightning and wind, proving once again that men and tools are a
  timeless combination.  The boys piled the boughs and logs in the
  trailer then rode merrily on top of it while their dad pulled with the
  lawn tractor.  Boughs on the head for antlers, broken sticks for
  guns…endless imagination.  They also discovered an ax and a
  hachet in the barn and whacked away at random pieces of wood. 
  Pete wasn’t comfortable with that one but he left it up to Jeff to
  decide on safety!  I fueled the action with cocoa and chocolate
  chip cookies, the only things they seemed to want in their tanks. 
  That is one of the nice things about being a “grandparent” – you don’t
  have to be responsible for the nutritional vagarities of the
  children. 

  I suppose someone might object to our use of child labor.  In
  reality the sunshine, fresh air and exercise were probably the best
  things they could have had that day.  Much better than playing
  video games.  Plus they now have money in their pockets for
  Christmas shopping!  Everyone came out ahead in the deal. 
  And I was reminded of what it was like to have two busy guys running
  around the farm.  Made me homesick for those days.
  

  • 3:06 pm
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