The Kohlmans

We are on the downhill slide into "back to school" days. As much as I'm not ready to go back, I think I'd better start preparing - while we do our best to soak up what's left of a lazy summer. Yesterday for lunch we went to a local drive-in, where Brad has apparently been a few times. We walked up to the window to order, and the college girl who works there (her family owns it) saw Brad and asked, "Do you want what you always have?" "Yep," he replied with a grin. She wrote down his order, complete with the "ketchup and mustard only" directive for the hamburger. In my disbelief, I could barely order. He informed me later that, when he calls his order in he doesn't have to give his name - they just know. So either he goes there too often or they need a few more customers... Or maybe he's just that famous around here?! Nah. Slice of Life Tuesday!

We watched the clouds roll in last night at the lake. (Brad was fishing. I was photog-ing) They brought a brief cold front with them - and a tiny bit of rain. It was amazing.

When we were growing up, my dad always planted a few rows of sweet corn (and by a few rows, I mean a couple acres). The field that he devoted a corner of migrated from year to year, but we almost always had a great crop. We would pick it, shuck it, and sell it by the baker's dozen to neighbors, family, mom's coworkers, and anyone who happened to drive by when we set up the card table by the road (and, as you can imagine, we didn't have many drive-bys, out in the boondocks). I clearly remember (dreading) the wake-up call, the hot, dusty field, the sticky kernels, the fat worms, the fights over which radio station to listen to. I won't try to glamorize this; I disliked every moment - until we devoured the corn at dinner each night... and mostly until the end of the season came and we sat down to add up and divide the profits. This past several years have been hit or miss with the sweet corn. Too hot, too dry, didn't plant it, etc... But this year my dad chose a ...

It's slice of life Tuesday! So the city of Atown, as of the city council meeting last night, is on mandatory water restriction. Outdoor watering is limited to two days a week (which days depend on your house number - we get Tuesday and Friday), from 6-9 a.m. or 7-10 p.m. *Side note: last night on the news, the weatherman told us that the average number of 100*+ days in Wichita is 11. The record is 21 100*+ days. So far this year, we've had 19 100*+ days, and there are at least four more, just in the 10-day forecast. Yikes. Add in the fact that we've kind of been in an on-again, off-again drought for the past couple of years, more on than off... And you get a severe water shortage in a place that gets its water from two rather dried-up, man-made lakes.* Anyway, this is not a HUGE deal to us, mainly because we're not huge lawn water-ers, especially since our dog chewed on the wiring for the sprinkler system and we haven't had it fixed yet... (We just ...

My second summer reading update - just as thrilling as the first. I'm now finished with the list of William Allen White nominees. In fact, my list of books to read is getting pretty darn short. Couldn't put it down Nickel and Dimed by Ehrenreich (surprisingly, since it is nonfiction...) The Rest of her Life by Moriarty  (thanks to sister Hannah for this suggestion - great book by a KS author) The Stormchasers by Blum Diamonds in the Shadow by Cooney Shine by Myracle All the Broken Pieces by Burg (WAW)   The Great Death by Smelcer (WAW)   Return to Sender by Alvarez (WAW) The Amaranth Enchantment by Berry (WAW) (cute ending) Sing You Home by Picoult Double Eagle by Collard (WAW) Heart of a Shepherd by Parry (WAW) The Center of Everything by Moriarty  Very good reads Faith, Hope, & Ivy June by Naylor (WAW) Anything But Typical by Baskin (WAW) Operation Yes by Holmes (WAW) My Name is Phillis Wheatley by Cooper (WAW)  Notes...

My dog eats zucchini. Devours might actually be a better word for it. We give her the ones that shrivel before they are big enough to pick. It's hilarious... It's slice of life Tuesday.

My friend Sarah came over yesterday. We made strawberry jam. Homemade strawberry jam is my favorite. At one point in my childhood I gave up eating jam/jelly because we ran out of homemade strawberry jam - for about three years. I'll now eat peach, too. :) And occasionally some others, when I'm feeling really grown up. We only made 2 batches. I think last year I made 4. Or 5? I lost track. Either way, it's almost all gone, which is a pretty big accomplishment for two people. Well, we gave a bunch away. (Okay, so I've decided that homemade jam is the best Christmas present - everyone is amazed that you made it, even though it's not that hard , just hot and sticky.) I might have to make some more... especially since it froze at weird times in KS this spring and there probably won't be peaches to go pick... :( So if you want to come make some jam with me, just let me know! (I also just realized that I still have cherries in my freezer from last summer....

I forgot to ask yesterday... Do you name your vehicles? What do you name your car? Is it weird to name your car? Just curious. Please answer. (I love comments.)

Long story short: today we bought a car. A nice, pretty new car.  I feel all grown up... It's the first car I've gotten to pick out (along with that comes the first car I'll have to pay off - oh well) . Long story... My 1999 Nissan Altima was on its last leg. We had it in the shop two weeks in a row, and the second week's bill was going to be more than it was worth (seriously, more than what we traded it in for). And, there was no guarantee that once we fixed those things it would be okay for a while. So we decided to look for a new (to us) car over the summer (while we borrowed Sarah's car, thankfully!). There were certain requirements - low mileage, reliable, pretty good mpg... it wasn't a very long list, but basically we wanted something reliable that would last us quite a while - even after it's paid off. Sunday we were in Newton for lunch. We decided to stop at Conklin Cars to browse the lot (with no salespeople). And there it was... a 2009 Kia Op...

Here's the update you've all been waiting for with bated breath, I'm sure (with my highly detailed assessments... ha! But really, if you want to know about a book just ask.) Couldn't put it down Nickel and Dimed by Ehrenreich (surprisingly, since it is nonfiction...) The Rest of her Life by Moriarty  (thanks to sister Hannah for this suggestion - great book by a KS author) The Stormchasers by Blum Diamonds in the Shadow by Cooney Shine by Myracle All the Broken Pieces by Burg (WAW)   The Great Death by Smelcer (WAW)   Return to Sender by Alvarez (WAW) Very good reads Faith, Hope, & Ivy June by Naylor (WAW) Anything But Typical by Baskin (WAW) Operation Yes by Holmes (WAW) My Name is Phillis Wheatley by Cooper (WAW) Was okay Phoenix Rising by Hesse Confetti Girl by Lopez (WAW) Should have abandoned it Peace Like a River by Enger Did abandon it n/a... yet Yet to read (in no particular order): Sing You Home by Picoult Do...

A day in my (summertime) life... (I left out the pictures of cleaning and cooking... those aren't quite as much fun. This is not exactly all-inclusive but it's a pretty good break-down of my time.)  2.5 miles of this with Jazzy (working up to 3.1... slowly, but surely. yep, I'm a running wimp now.) waiting impatiently for lots of these while weeding! (we have 6 tomato plants... got a little carried away) spending about 2.5 hours a day here...  working on this (among other fun cataloging & classification/reference & user services things - seriously, I am enjoying my classes this summer) chipping away at this fun list (not very quickly, I might add) spending quality time with my summer reading list... and just hanging out, taking it easy, not doing too much that I don't feel like doing.

This is a pretty typical sight around here in the evenings - Brad & Jazzy, sitting on the deck, "listening." (Usually Jazz is the only one with the tongue sticking out, though. I hope.)

I made a comment the other day to some friends (my language arts teacher friends, no less!) that I would rather read a book than watch a movie - they don't necessarily feel the same way. It's true, and it's why they love me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the mindless entertainment provided by my TV on a regular basis. But most of the time I'd rather be reading. (Maybe I need one of these t-shirts?! ) So here's what I'm working on for the next few months... My summertime reading list in no particular order: Phoenix Rising by Hesse Sing You Home by Picoult Confetti Girl by Lopez All the Broken Pieces by Burg Anything But Typical by Baskin Double Eagle by Collard Faith, Hope, & Ivy June by Naylor The Great Death by Smelcer Heart of a Shepherd by Parry Operation Yes by Holmes Return to Sender by Alvarez Wild Things by Carmichael Years of Dust by Marrin Perfect Match by Picoult ? (I'm not sure if I've read this one or not) Ever...

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job." ~Donald D. Quinn It's finally, officially that wonderful time of year that we call summer. I'm breathing a sigh of relief that this school year is over - it was difficult... that's been no secret to anyone around me - and crossing my fingers that soon I'll be posting on a more regular basis.