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A Pink Bobber and a Hoochie

That got your attention, didn’t it? John’s technique for catching the pink salmon is to use these two items: first the pink bobber and then the hoochie which mimics a squid. If John ever decides to fish for those critters, I’m OUT. They’re creepy, and you have to hunt for them at night. Nope. However, being near or on the water can be excellent when that just involves playing and not fishing! 🙂

My dear friend invited us to her waterfront property to cool off since we’re not used to 94 degrees. She lives in a parklike setting on a busy lake, full of speedboats and those watercraft that sound like a swarm of angry hornets. (seadoos, jet skis?) Sharky’s first question was: are there sharks in there? LOL

Both boys started out timid, which is a good thing around the water. Life jackets before stepping on the deck was a requirement! Then later on, they both got braver, especially Sharky. When it came time to leave, he was resistant reluctant! 

He discovered the joy of “noodling” around. I’m sure Older Daughter wants to get him/them into swimming lessons but it’s tricky when both parents work. With teaching, I had the summers mostly off and could arrange lessons; with so much water around here, I considered proficiency in swimming a must. They had to learn before doing any other sport or activity. Even after they both were decent swimmers, I instilled in them a healthy respect for the water. People drown too frequently because they’re over-confident, don’t understand how cold the water is, and how strong the tides or currents can be. As for me, I sat on the dock and dangled my legs in the water. Obro did shoot me in the face and chest with some kind of water gun which felt quite refreshing! 

Due to the heat, the stagers haven’t done much more at my parents’ house. They’ve added a few small touches but the basement is still empty. The photography is scheduled for today at one and the house may go on the market THIS THURSDAY. I’m nervous about what will happen after that. I have no clue what to expect. 

This was always the kids’ and guest half bathroom, separated from my parents’ full bathroom by a pocket door. Mom had artwork on the walls; I wonder if they’ve completely finished in here. 

The thought of Mom (or Dad) having a glass of wine while sitting in the bathtub makes me laugh. They were not that type! Mom was a lifelong teetotaler, while Dad was a no-nonsense shower guy. 

Today I start my Granny Nannying adventure. I’ll have both boys Tuesday, Wednesday, then only Obro on Thursday. It’ll be Sharky’s first day of kindergarten. He’s a little apprehensive since none of his closest friends are in his class. I’m hoping he adjusts quickly and well to the routine, the new teacher and his classmates. Like his mother, he’s shy yet can also be personable and outgoing once he’s comfortable. There are many of us like that, eh? 

Reading: I’ve gotten more into “The Names” and am intrigued by it. I’ve been impressed with the writing and the characters although I don’t know where the author is going with these three alternate realities. I’ll find out in a couple hundred pages!

Watching: “Unforgotten Season 6” has been enjoyable so far although I do miss DCI Cassie Stuart whom they summarily killed off. I’m looking forward to “The Marlow Murder Club Season 2” and next week, a new season of the Great British Baking Show. Younger Daughter and I have a tradition of getting together to watch the episodes. Then in November, “A Man on the Inside” starts its second season; I loved the show and am excited to see more of Ted Danson. I guess I really am old when I have crushes on old men. 😉

Comments

15 responses to “A Pink Bobber and a Hoochie”

  1. DougM Avatar

    That looked and sounded like a great day in the water! And OD looks really happy, and lovely. :^) I like what the staging people have done with your parents home Margaret, I’ve often wondered if people hire stagers to help with interior decorating. Anyway, your days ahead sound busy but fun–that’s your life! PS I hope Mari is improving..

  2. AC Avatar
    AC

    I love Unforgotten, or did. However, it plays on streams that I don’t get although I hope for it to show up eventually.

  3. Ed Avatar

    Swimming lessons were definitely tough. For our oldest, we tried to put her in public swimming lessons on the weekend but she ended up in a class of about 30 kids with 25 of them being excited boys. She just clung to the edge of the pool and would have nothing to do with lessons and so we pulled her out after that first class. Fortunately my mom knew a lifeguard at a town pool that offered private one on one lessons and both my girls learned from her over the course of many years.

  4. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Your day on the water looks terrific. Sharky seems happy in the water. I suspect he will be very open to swimming lessons and is likely to learn easily. It is the kids that are fearful that have a tough time learning to swim. Small group lessons are ideal.
    A friend rented a home for a month on the water so her 4 grandchildren could take swim lessons. This worked well and her children (due to work schedules) rotated their visits throughout the month.
    The staging looks great. It is a beautiful home and should sell well.

  5. Betty Renfroe Avatar
    Betty Renfroe

    Nothing more fun for kids than water. They need life jackets in water with expanse even if they can swim well. I worked with lessons so my kids learned to swim. Now, Laura has a pool and Siggie swam on the high school team. The girls’ friends came to their house in the summer. Sig swam the butterfly. She did the medley—4 strokes race. Ada is not learning. She a little afraid of deep water. I took Laura and Erin to the pool (after they were good swimmers) and came back 2 hours later in the summer. It was great exercise and fun. Couldn’t do that now. This was 1980’s and we lived in a safer world. I’m a poor swimmer but passed swimming in college. I always wanted more for my girls than what I had or did.
    I think the house will sell fast. They need to get in gear! How big is the lot?
    Your grand boys are lucky you are still young enough to keep up with them. I feel my age when I “have to” do anything.
    It’s cool down south finally. Sorry you’re having a heat wave.

  6. Tonya Avatar

    What gorgeous day at the lake! (Tapps?) A day for the boys to remember.
    So close to having your folks’ house on the market! I know the market is weirder these days, but I’m thinking it will sell quickly. It’ll likely be a whirlwind! Proud of you for herding cats (brother and SIL) and meeting your goal.
    DID YOU RECEIVE THE EMAIL FROM TYPEPAD??!!! Eeegads, we have until the end of September to figure out how to keep, store, and still be able to view 20+ years worth of blog posts. I knew this day was probably coming, but crap. There just doesn’t seem to be practical answers to this problem! I’ve been “storing” those first 22 or so years at Typepad while I switched to WordPress, and I love being able to refer back to posts. I can’t fathom having to give up all those years. There are so many reasons to want to kick something these days…

  7. Steve Avatar

    Well, I would never have guessed a hoochie had anything to do with fishing! My mom felt the same as you about the water — she had us learn to swim as soon as we were able. (Especially since we lived on a lake.) The house staging looks great. I suspect they want to keep the rooms spare (but comfortable) so they’ve avoided having much on the walls.

  8. Maureen Avatar

    What a great way to cool off! I also detest the crazy boating and jet skiing on our very tiny lake. That will end soon so I can get back on the water. I hope your temps have moderated. It’s almost fall like here – I’ll bring a sweater on this evenings outing.

  9. J Avatar

    Oh, a day at the lake sounds like heaven, and it looks like the kids agree.
    The house looks great, I hope it sells quickly for above asking.
    How’s Mari today?

  10. kayak woman Avatar

    We call those jet-skis “water lice” among other things. We don’t have a lot of them here on Lake Superior because the weather can churn up big waves in a millisecond. And I totally agree with you about water safety. Our particular beach is pretty safe but we had strict rules as children that an ADULT (parent) had to LIFEGUARD when we wanted to swim. We could ALWAYS get an adult to lifeguard even though they sometimes had to put on winter jackets to watch us. Snowflakes on Labor Day? Yes…

  11. kayak woman Avatar

    Typepad… I have seen several posts (here and other places) about Typepad ending. First, that SUCKS! But it SHOULD be possible to download your database. I actually do it fairly frequently (my database is since 2006) because searching the downloaded text is a lot easier than searching it from the (useless) box on the user interface. The trick would be to find an alternate service that would ingest your database. Maybe wordpress? I use wordpress but I don’t use the public wordpress. I have a “guru” (long-time friend) who manages my blog using a wordpress platform but he handles all of the behind-the-scenes “stuff”. If he ever gets hit by a beer truck, I will be in the same place as all y’all. (And sorry but I know he does not want new clients at this point in his life.) I know that blogs are kinda passe to some people but I would hate to see them die and hope someone will come in and make it easy to transfer a Typepad blog to a different platform. Love y’all. KW.

  12. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    What a lovely day on the water!
    I hope your Mom and Dad’s house sells quickly. It looks like a beautiful place.
    Good luck with your little ones the rest of the week and good luck to Sharky on his first day of kindergarten.

  13. Pixie Avatar

    Being in or near the water on such a hot day sounds wonderful. Do they have swimming lessons on weekends? Jack has been taking weekend lessons for a few years but in the spring I moved him to an after school one because I thought he was old enough to stay up a little later, and it worked well. He’s usually in bed by 7pm. I think swimming is such an important skill, not just for safety, but because swimming is so enjoyable.
    I’ve just started reading a new book called “Wild Dark Shore”, so far I like it.

  14. Marie Avatar
    Marie

    How nice to be out on the water! I’m sure Sharky will quickly find new friends to play with. It’s amazing how easily they make friends at that age, even being shy. So sorry about losing your platform! I hope there’s a way you can save some of the 20+ years on here. Maybe Owen can help?

  15. Anne@HeadFullofBooks Avatar

    I think the house staging looks nice. They just want people to imagine their own stuff in the space, instead of our old-fashioned treasures. Ha! This will be the first year without babysitting duty at all since Jamie is in pre-kindergarten this year. It has been eight years of grandma duty and I’ll miss my special time with the boys.

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