Favorite Invention Friday!!!

TGIF, Everybody!! I'm so glad that Friday is here because I get to celebrate some convenience in my...er, I mean...our life. This week's honoree is...drumroll please...the hospital gown!!!

You see...I had my annual doctor's visit this week and they provide a paper shirt, meant for a petite tween, and a paper sheet. Then, I had to sit on an examining table that was viewable when the door opens. In a gallent effort to use my paper wardrobe strategically, in the pursuit of modesty, I ripped a corner and I can't explain the horror that it caused because...well, it could have been worse and the worse could still happen.

Let's just say that by the time the appointment had ended, I had started my personal wish list for Christmas and the very first item is my own personal hospital gown...one that I can bring with me next year.

And for me too...

I was reminded this week that Jesus came for Nicodemus (John 3)-- a wealthy, educated religious leader -- and for the woman at the well in Samaria (John 4)-- a non-Jewish, sinful, probably ostracized and barely educated woman. He came for all of us...regardless of race, gender, education, socio-economic status.

Favorite Invention Friday!!!

I always loved that precious week or two in gym class, during the elementary school years, where they would bring out the trampoline. Remember having to stand around the outside while someone was jumping off of it...for their safety...in case they flew off? That part always scared me...what was I going to do if they came flying off in my direction? The only way that I would have somehow caught them or cushioned their landing would be if I wasn't looking and didn't see 'em coming. But I loved it when it was my turn. And I would have never dreamed that we would have our own someday.

It is a special day when the trampoline comes out of storage and is set up. As you can see in the picture, the kids can't even wait for the sides to be put up...or for warmer weather. And once it's up...it will be visited regularly...sometimes with a sprinkler underneath it when it finally does warm up. And the kids have a special memory of their dad halting dinner during a pretty good downpour outside, so that they could all go jump in the rain. It's a sad day when it is put back into storage, because that means summer has departed and winter weather is on the way.

Now I know that there have been many a child injured on trampolines. A co-honoree with the trampoline, has to be the tall side wall-thingies. I could never find enough third graders in the neighborhood to stand around it any time my kids wanted to jump. And we already know that I wouldn't have been very useful. Thankfully, we have been able to avoid anything major...just my husband being a bit sore after having overdone it when bouncing with the kids.

Kid Art

The four-year-old created this this very morning with markers and crayons. She titled it A LEAF MACHINE FOR FALL. Love it!!

Kid's Eye

I love that the nine-year-old's term for spaghetti straps is "noodle handles".

It's the Little Things

Don't you love the little unexpected things in life that will bring about a celebration in your children? Never fails to make me smile.

The celebration early this afternoon was led by the four-year-old. I heard her run from one bathroom to the other, followed shortly by one of those breathy exclamations of "Yes!" (I even imagine a fist pump)...because she found a roll of toilet paper for the other bathroom...as if she has had many a TP crisis in her young bathroom-using career.

I share her jubilation because there was extra TP to be found.

Wouldn't it be great if everyone was so easy to please?

Favorite Invention Friday!!!

You thought I had forgotten, hadn't you, dear readers? But, I had not. As I thought about what wonder I would celebrate today...I decided to wait. You see...I knew we were going to the orchard.

I knew that we were going to buy apples.

I knew that I had thought about canning applesauce (a Rachael Ray recipe that I love...warm in the fall and cold in the summer).

I knew this would take quite a few apples.

I knew that I would not like peeling the said apples.

I knew that I would love one of those tool bench peelers (Jeff had even suggested one when I casually mentioned trying my hand at canning the applesauce).

So, I waited...

And we did go to the orchard.

We did buy apples (2 for 1 on McIntosh today...PERFECT!).

And I did buy one of those peelers. It took two trips into the store, but I found one on the second trip in. (I do realize that there have probably been 58 of those available at garage sales within two miles of my home for the last four months for the very reasonable price of $1.)

And I love it!! It PEELS, it SLICES and it CORES! A little piece of heaven on earth. And I received lots of assistance preparing the apple sauce tonight...all because there was a toy/tool/machine involved.

Favorite Invention Friday!!!

Here it is! Favorite Invention Friday!!! This week's honoree is very similar to last week's...it is relevant to HEAT!!!

As you may realize, it is October in Michigan...a chill is in the air. Early this week, I was treated with such a treat by my husband. While I was away from the house running errands, he connected the mattress heating pad. That night I crawled into bed and the flannel sheets were toasty!!! Aaaahhhh...

So, this week I would like to honor the mattress heating pad. Now that I have had the privilege of enjoying one for a few years, I would put it right up there with food, clothing and shelter during the chilly mid-western autumn and frigid winter. I turn it on about thirty minutes before going to bed and it is sufficiently pre-heated when I manage to fall in to it. Did I say "Aaaahhh..." yet? I recommend that you put one of these on your Christmas list.

Favorite Invention Friday!!!

After camping over a late September weekend...on the shores of the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan's upper peninsula...this was an obvious choice. Thank you, portable heater...thank you.