Sunday Diary - Feb. 6, 2011

After serving as a substitute organist at a local church (where I was forced at gunpoint to play "Gather Us In"), the family headed up to my parents' house for a short Sunday afternoon visit.  We were blessed with an overcast day that makes driving easier and riding more comfortable for the kids.

Since I had a music history exam last Friday, it was time to put in the CD with the new listening examples for the next test.  The sounds of Handel and Bach filled the van, and no one complained.  There was the occasional plea for Wendy's new Sea Salt French Fries, to which I eventually capitulated.

A discussion focused around how we're going to handle the upcoming regional mock trial competition.  Since husband will be out of town that week, and the all-day competition is 1 1/2 hours away, we're hoping his parents will be able to stay with the Little Ones (who aren't so little anymore) and also get Celestine to her classes.  Perhaps I forgot to mention that Four was awarded Outstanding Witness for his trial at the district competition.  :-)

Five has taken to watching Little House on the Prairie reruns, and was just a little fascinated--thrilled, actually--with the renewed discovery that her grandparents' house is, at its core....a log cabin.

The house has been added onto four times over the years.  The middle part of the house--living room and curved stairway leading upstairs--is the original log cabin structure and is about 175 years old.   The kids had noticed the tiny "doorway" in the bathroom ceiling, but had never known what lay beyond until today.  Here you can see the original structure on the right.

 And now on the left.

When my parents had a bay window installed in the living room, part of the log structure had to be cut away.  Here's a portion of it; note the original wallpaper.

Here's another picture of the same half-log, with my hand next to it for scale. (We brought this one home!  You never know when you'll need one. *shifts gaze sideways*)

Finally, here's my dad holding an entire log segment. The wood is poplar, by the way.

Mom packed up some of the wonderful food she made for us to take home, and we headed back to the domicile.  Along the way, we discussed family issues.  We all have those, don't we?  Anyway, it was terrific to be there, if only for a short time.  I really love my mom and dad.