"What's Going On Around Here Anyway?"

That's exactly what I wanted to know when I walked into the kitchen and found Timmy and Caleb industriously doing the supper dishes. Well, they weren't exactly 'doing' them. They were more like 'slaughtering' them. Just listen.

There were several washcloths stuffed behind the pot of scraps for the pigs. Little wet mounds of bread crumbs and tomato juice could be seen on the streaked and dirty counter. More tomato juice dribbled down the side of the counter and was making a little pool on the linoluem floor. Somebody had obviously started to sweep the floor, but now the broom was lying in a pile of crumbs, dirt, pens, and jar lids. On the counter was a jar of mayonaise, half-covered with a loose plastic bag. And that is only the beginning. I won't mention the over-flowing scrap-pail, the precariously-stacked dishes, or the dirty scrubbers behind the door. Think I'm exaggerating? Then you haven't seen my little brothers doing dishes!

So, what's going on around here, anyway? Why are 8- and 10-year-old's doing dishes? Well, for one, we (or, more accurately, Mom and Dad) believe in work around here. For another, the REAL help is gone. You see, Beka, as I've mentioned before, is currently employed in hair-raising escapades on a steep roof. In other words, she is helping Dad repair our roof. And since she's not here to do her normal work, the rest of us pick up the slack.

Timmy washing the supper dishes. Photo by me.

But Timmy and Caleb aren't the only ones doing things that they don't know how to do, or can't do right. Just take me for example. I know I've mentioned my various trials making meals before, but it's a totally different thing to watch me. When Timmy sees me rushing around the kitchen, a spoon in one hand and a pot-holder in the other, he always shakes his head and says, "What does it matter if lunch is ten minutes late?" When Caleb sees me doing it, he grins and comments, "What on earth are you doing?" I sometimes wonder that myself.

But I am learning lots of things. For example: Never trust rice. It may be watery and bubbling, but when you lift the lid again two seconds later, it has already burnt and is beginning to scorch the bottom of the pan. I've made three batches of rice so far, and I have faithfully burned every one. Just remember: there's a thin line (very thin) between raw and scorched.

"What's going on around here anyway?" That's what my cat seems to be asking as she peeks around the curtains! Photo by Caleb.

Here's another thing I've learned: When you are cooking, COOK! Don't try to solve the problems of the universe while you're grilling chicken and frying potatoes. I learned this through painful personal experience, but I'm still learning to practice it. Just yesterday, for instance, I was preoccupied while making sweet-and-sour-meatballs, and my meal was burned and half-an-hour late. (Thankfully, Beka and Dad don't mind a few late meals. They are always busy working on the roof at lunch-time, and a few extra minutes are always appreciated.)

And since we're talking about things people don't know how to do, lets talk about Matthew! He started school later than the rest of us, and you should see it! (I'm afraid he's very dramatic.) Sometimes he yells, sometimes he yodels, most of the time he just sings off-key. At the moment he is in his bedroom doing math (triangles with funny names and things), and I can hear terrifying screams coming from his room. I think he's yelling something like, "I CAN'T DO IT! I WON'T DO IT! I CAN'T! I WON'T! I SHOULDN'T!"

You probably think from all of this that house-keeping trials are the ONLY kinds of trials we have. But think again! You should just hear Beka and Dad working on the roof.

"Okay, Dad, I think we're ready to screw this down."

"Alright. Check and make sure it fits."

"Oh, okay.....Uh, Dad? Was that 34 inches you said or 36?"

"Why?"

"Because this board appears to be 2 inches short."

"Oh-h-h-h boy."

Our fully tar-papered roof. Beka is carrying a drill up the ladder while Timmy and Buddy look on. (How do you like our porch roof, by the way?) Photo by Mom.

Yup, they're having tons of fun up there on the roof. Probably even more then we're having inside, because every time I walk out there I say, "Having fun?" And Dad always says, "Oh, just unimaginable fun." And Beka adds, "In fact, I don't think we're even going to stop tonight. We're just going to keep on working because we're having too much fun to stop." And I have to say, from how hard they laugh over some of their silly mistakes, that maybe they do have a little fun every now and again.

The Weekly Bible Verse

Psalm 91:1-2: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust."

Bits and Pieces

You should just see the stuff we've gotten done on our roof. We've put on new insulation, new ply-wood, and new tar-paper! We are all very excited, except for Dad and Beka, who are doing all the work. We plan to put the burgundy roofing on next week. You can be sure that I'll put in lots of pictures once the 'real' work starts!

A Word About The Weather

Very dry, very cool. Those four words describe our weather this week completely. It's also been very still and calm (most of the time), excellent weather for the work on the roof.

A Bit Of Humor

Recently, Timmy has tried reading some of the King James Version of the Bible. As he usually uses an easily-understood kid Bible, I was wondering what he thought about the KJV. Before I could ask him, though, he came up to me and said, "Rachel, what does 'lo and behold' mean, anyway?"