Fun on the Shooting Range

We're back from our gun safety training session. Dad and I both earned a certificate of completion from the pistol orientation class given by the National Rifle Association of America. Yee-hah! We had about three hours of classroom training and approximately an hour on the shooting range. It was windy and kind of cold out there too. We used a semi-automatic 22 and a double action 22 revolver. Then they let us try out the pistols that Dad bought. How do you like my new assault rifle?? No, not really. The guy doing the training had it up there and he let me pose with it. Guess I just like to freak out my kids.

After the training I went out and bought a new winter jacket. Yea! It cost more than I really wanted to pay. I got such a good deal on the last couple of jackets I bought that I somehow expected to do that again. I like this one though. I hope it holds up really well.

New Table

No really big news from here. Aaron is falling asleep on the couch. He spent the day helping Bro. Lewis make a cement foundation for someone. He's worn out. Pres. Wilson is pleased.

The Young Women are working on a Halloween Branch Social. It will be on Oct. 31. More about that later.

Here's a picture of the cool table that Dad found at a resale shop in beautiful downtown Licking, MO. It's called a couch table.

Garden Update

Karen asked how the hydroponic garden was doing. I'm attaching another picture to give you an idea of how it is growing. It looks pretty healthy, although I wonder how some of the plants that are supposed to get pretty bushy will fit in, assuming they continue to do well. This our first try, so we can make changes if we do something wrong.

Young Women is keeping me pretty busy. We have a LOT of activities plus Young Women in Excellence coming up. I know I'm not near as busy as Jeanette is though. Wish we were closer so I could help out. I suppose most of what you are doing you have to do yourself though. (school, work, YW)

Red Hill Dulcimer Festival

Alan, Aaron and I drove to Salem, Illinois Friday evening and spent the night at Jeanette and Jason's. It gave us an opportunity to see their new home. Why I didn't think to take any pictures while we were there I don't know. It is a very nice house though. They have painted all the rooms and it looks great. They also have a large backyard that is fenced in. That is sure a big plus when you have a dog.

The next morning Alan and I drove on over to Sumner, Illinois to attend the Red Hill Dulcimer Festival. It's only the third year for their festival, but it was very well organized. We especially enjoyed classes given by Tull Glazener from Indianapolis, In. He's a very nice guy and an excellent teacher. During lunch we were entertained by a blue grass band called Bales of Hay. They were surprisingly talented. We missed the concert following the classes, as we needed to get on the road and get back to Edwardsville for Dustan's Eagle presentation.

Dustan's Eagle

We went to Edwardsville Saturday for Dustan's Eagle presentation. There was a nice program with some good speakers and a few other badge presentations too. Dustan is a great grandson; we are very proud of him.

Hydroponics

Somehow we never do have very good luck with gardens. We are giving hydroponics a try. I'm not too sure about our plants. We let them get a little too leggy before getting the frames built to plant them in. But they are growing! Hopefully we will be able to have some fresh vegetables in the wintertime. At least that is the plan.