Clean the Stalls, We've Got Company!

The weeks are flying by, and we are trying to get in as much as possible.

The big highlight was having Katie and Ken and their eight kids drop in for an overnight stay.  They were on the California coast for a wedding and family vacation.

They are big on HUGE GROUP SELFIES.

 We were all decked out with hair nets, hard hats and ear plugs for a tour of the nut processing plant.    Following the tour we drove to a pistachio field to watch the machines shaking trees, then we picked some huge grapes and small asian pears.



This the the whole crew together at our home in McFarland, CA.

We were also able to get away for a great Saturday trip to the Sequoia National Forest. This isn't the tallest tree in the world, but it has the biggest circumference at the base. It's called the General Sherman tree.

This is the school where I volunteer with ninety 2nd grade students.  Note the typical California style building where the hallways are outside and the lunchroom tables are under the trees.

Because I service 4 classes, I only get to read with each child once a week.  My second week at the school one student commented, "Why are you STILL old?"  I guess they noticed I was old the first week and thought I'd get over it by the second week.....Nope, it didn't happen.

We were displaced from our home for two nights while the field across the street from us was being fumigated prior to planting.  The Best Western was a huge step up from the last hotel we stayed in.  We had a king sized bed, free breakfast, and fancy towels.  They fanned our towels, the kleenex and the toilet paper.  

Unfortunately, while at the hotel, our car was in dire need of a new alternator, so while enduring triple-digit temperatures, Elder Fillmore and Elder Smith replaced the alternator.  Sister Fillmore helped by holding two umbrellas up to give them a little shade.

When I shop locally in McFarland people generally stare at me when I walk into the store.  I don't know if it's because of my missionary tag or the fact that I'm the only caucasian person in the store.  I am  trying to be more environmentally friendly, so I took my cloth bags to put the groceries in.  When I got to the checkout, the poor bagger didn't know how to load the bags.  He told the checker, "This wasn't in the video they showed me at training."

Another funny e-mail conversation between our daughter Jan and her dad.

Jan: I went into Harbor Freight the other day and it smelled like you!

Bruce:  I hate the Harbor Freight smell.  I think it's the chemicals they use to fumigate the stuff coming in from China.

Jan:  But all the shiny sockets and saw blades are fun to look at.

Bruce:  Once you get past the smell, it's great! 

 (Isn't it fun when we consider the memories our kids will remember us by!)

Adios until next time.  Stay comfy, dry and happy!