8th Grade

 Bode started 8th grade a couple weeks ago; I started back to school this week, and I guess with not being used to having to work, I forgot to post some pictures.  It is hard to believe how old Bode looks.

Bode has been very busy with swimming, band, orchestra, and studying (well, the last doesn't happen all that often, but he has been doing geometry homework every night).  We are amazed that just three years ago, Ashely towered over him :-)

The dogs are doing well (per the usual, I won't say much so as not to jinx anything :-)  Pleasant day to all.

The Rankin Visit

 David, Teddy, and Charlie flew in from Colorado on Thursday and stayed with us.  The three boys stayed in Bode's bedroom (scary), while Uncle Dave stayed out in the carriage house.   We had a very nice visit--probably ate too much, but I guess we can work it off this week.  We went to lunch, dinner, played Goofy-golf, and visited with Nana and Papa.  This marked the first time the four Rankin-blooded grandchildren were together; they even managed to take a nice picture.

I didn't bring my camera out for the first couple of days.  I did snap a few pictures when we were out to dinner Saturday night--nothing spectacular, but there are some good ones.  First is an action shot of Ashley drinking some water.

Next we have three photos from the parking lot.  I'm including these because I don't know how Bode managed to have the same look on his face in all three shots.

The boys have all gotten big--definitely not the cute little fellas we used to juggle on our knees.  I did try to get a good one of the three boys, but below is the best I could do.

We spent a lot of time in the water, and we even put the waverunners in.  Here's Uncle Dave and Charlie zooming by.

Next we have Bode and Charlie in our "private pool."

A boy and his dog...need I say more?

Even Ashley got in the water; Bode tried to pull her around the lagoon.

Teddy amazed us all with his flipping prowess.

And here's a cute one of Bode and his mother.  Note the clouds were starting to roll in, so we had to cut the water activities short.

We had a wonderful visit with Uncle Dave et. al.  Sadly, it ended too soon, but we did get one final picture before they headed to the airport.  Charlie was going to be in this picture, but he had to return to the house to get his toothbrush.

Nothing much going on here now.  No more Olympics, and it is still four weeks until football season.  I guess we could read? :-)  Bode starts school on Tuesday.  He's thrilled.

Pleasant week to everyone.

MCU Phase II

As many of you know, we have been doing a lot of work on our house.  The carriage house (McGuirk Construction Universe Phase I) is all done and has hosted a number of visitors.  The first project of MCU Phase II has been converting the old garage to a nice den.  We are almost done, and it looks amazing.  When you look at these pictures, recall this used to be where we parked our cars.  First up shows the windows all trimmed and ready for final painting.

Next, the same room but from the other side.  Note the bookshelves are all installed.  They need to be painted, and in the middle, we are having a nice piece of quartz installed for a desktop.

We've also installed a mud-sink and some shelves in our new hallway.

I think the painting is supposed to happen this week.  We also need some trim around a door and some minor touch-ups as well as the installation of the air conditioner.  But we think it should be complete by the end of August (knock on wood).  

I haven't talked much about the dogs because I don't want to jinx anything.  I will simply say Joey and Barkley are doing great.  Here are some shots of them in the yard.

Next, here is Joey trying to be a water dog.

And finally, one of both dogs walking on the dock.

All is well here in Florida--hot and humid.  Bode has some time off from swimming, so the two of us are spending some quality time together (yard work--he hates it :-)  Pleasant week to all. 

Final Summer Swim Part 2

Yesterday was the final swim meet of the summer season.  Ashley wanted to do some selfies with her phone, and they turned out pretty well.  First, me and the 50-year old.

Next, a nice one of Bode and his mother.

Ashley tried to get a surreptitious picture of Bode with his friends; we didn't think he'd be amused if we tried to get them all to pose for a picture.  Thus, below was the best she could do.  From left to right, you see Madden, Jai, Sawyer, and Bode.

Bode swam great yesterday.  First up was the 100-yard freestyle.  He finished in 59.8 seconds, which was a personal best...but he also said he died at the end :-)

He also swam the 100-fly.  I took some still photos (hoping to get them Sports Illustrated, but they'll probably be using pictures from the Olympics this week).

He swam the 100-fly in 1:05, which means he is four seconds from a southeaster short-course championship qualifying time.  He has until March to obtain a faster time, so we'll see if it's something he shoots for.  Bode also swam the 200-free, and he had another personal best of 2:15.  I won't show the video, as it's not very exciting.  He also anchored the 200-medley IM race.  I took from starting shots, which I think turned out pretty good.  In the first picture, you see Bode waiting for Sawyer to finish, and then it's like he's shot out of a cannon :-)

Here is a movie of the swim.

We are very proud of how hard Bode has worked this summer.  The team has two weeks off, but Bode has already asked if I will take him swimming.  I think he just likes zooming past me :-)  Pleasant week to all.

Final Summer Swim Part 1

 Bode has been doing nothing but swimming this summer.  Five days a week, he is up at 0630 and is in the water by 0730 for a two-hour practice over in Destin (good thing he has some chauffeurs that will drive him).  He has been very focused on working on his swimming, and this weekend was the final swim meet of the summer season.  We arrived early and ready.  Note he is a lot taller than Ashley and no longer has that boyish look about him.

The little prince was kind enough to pose with old Dad for a picture; I still have him by a couple inches.

Ashley and I also took a picture together

The team warmed up before the start of the meet.  There is a nice group of boys with whom Bode swims--pictured are Sawyer and Madden (I don't think Jai was here for the warm up).

The first race was the 200-IM.  Bode is out in lane 7, while his buddy Jai is in lane 2.  The two boys in lanes 5 and 6 are a little older than Bode, so it was no shock they swam as fast as they did.  Bode finished two seconds ahead of Jai, and he also beat Sawyer by a second (Sawyer swam in the previous heat).

Bode was feeling pretty good about himself...which is when problems happen :-)  His next event was the 50-free, and afterwards, he said he forgot it was only a 50.  I think going into the 200-IM he was very concerned about pacing himself.  He carried this same mentality into the 50-free, which is a full-blown spring end-to-end.  Hence, he started swimming hard too late and finished in 27.6, and he was not very happy with this time because both Sawyer and Jai beat him.

Fortunately he got a shot at redemption.  Bode swam the anchor leg of the 200-free relay, and his split time was 26.1.  Thus, he felt much better with this swim.

Ashley and I are both exhausted from being out in the sun for five hours; fortunately we get to do it again tomorrow :-)  Pleasant day to all.

Auburn Swim Meet

 This past weekend, Ashley and Bode were up in Auburn for a swim meet.  This was Bode's first meet in a 50-meter pool.  He swam four events--the 100-free, the 50-free, the 50-fly, and the 100-fly.  The 100-fly is the most impressive to me; just doing 25 yards of butterfly is a real pain (literally).  Ashley was sure to snap some pictures of her and the little man; of course, she had to get the emblem in the background.

She also took a picture of the pool--it's hard to tell, but the pool is 50 meters long.

She also snapped a photo of Bode with his teammates before they warmed up.

Bode's first event was the 100 free.  As always, you can hear Ashley vigorously cheering him on.

Next, we have the 50-fly (Ashley messed up the 50-free video).  Bode is in Lane 2 in the white cap--he ripped his Coast Aquatics cap at some point during the meet, so he had to borrow the white one.

Finally, we have the 100 fly; I get tired just watching it.  He is in Lane 3 in the white cap.

Bode has his best time ever in each event...but it was also his first time swimming these distances in a long-course pool :-)  Still, he has really dedicated himself to swimming this summer.  He practices every day from 0730 - 0930 (weekends are off), and they swim 2 - 3 miles each day.  He's also stopped eating ice cream for dessert...either he's really getting into swimming or he's trying to impress the ladies :-)  Pleasant week to all.

Garden Update

 There is not much to report on the garden front.  The birds likely got all of our blackberries despite some very dense mesh we put up.  Next year, we will have to look into doing some type of greenhouse structure.  The corn all died, likely due to the heat, but I really don't know why.  I don't think I will try corn again here because I simply have not had any luck.

I do have some honeydew melons growing...but it might be only a matter of time before they get attacked.

I also have plucked a lot of cherry tomatoes over the past couple weeks.  And as a surprise, when I was digging in the garden, I found three potatoes.

Amazingly, the broccoli is still going and going well.  No stalks yet, but a lot of plants.

I also have a lot of basil.  I didn't grow these from seed, but they seem to love the heat.

It is almost the end of June, and it is very warm here.  I might try to plant some okra and maybe some pumpkins--only four months until Halloween :-)