Herman's Humble Happenings: The Family Splits Up

Monday, September 26, 2016

The Family Splits Up

Almost two weeks ago Russ, Nicolas, and Lydia flew to Iowa to visit Caleb and see family. They were able to catch Caleb's soccer game and his orchestra pops concert. Nicolas was also able to make college visits to both Dordt and Northwestern. As a bonus they were also able to see Farmer Paul and Laurina. They were passing through on their way to the Black Hills and also stayed with my parents over the weekend.

Russ stopped to visit former colleagues at MOC-FV and also had lunch with a college friend. On Saturday morning he took the CURC Dordt students to Casey's Bakery for breakfast. He also preached Sunday evening in our former church, Harvest PCA. (Can't quite take the weekend off:)

Lydia's highlights were eating lunch with Caleb, meeting some of his friends, seeing the cancer cells he was growing for a biology lab, spending time with Grandpa and Grandma and cousins, playing with puppies, picking up her new viola from Gary Vander Hart, and buying a cool Dordt t-shirt. I'm not sure flying was that great of an experience for her. They had significant turbulence on their way to Iowa causing her to be airsick. On the way back to Boise loud, inebriated, middle-aged men sat behind them. Need I say more?

Seth, Anna, and I kept busy at home. Anna had school most days, so it was just Seth and I hanging out. We took Anna out for lunch one day, walked the river with Zoe in Eagle, ate tacos and frozen yogurt at the Village, visited the Lego store, participated in our Casual Co-op leaf walk, watched a tree climbing competition at a downtown park, and did just a little bit of homeschool.

The Pacific Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho) International Society of Arboriculture had their tree climbing competition at their annual training conference in Julia Davis park in downtown Boise. Seth and I saw part of the competition when we were with the co-op for the tree walk and were so intrigued that we came back on Friday morning to watch the master's challenge.

The time has started! They have 20-some minutes to go in, make safety check, set their lines, get in the tree, and make it to five (I think) stations in the tree, get back out of the tree, and retrieve their lines. Judges on the ground are watching every detail and giving scores. Much of what is scored has to do with safety techniques.

Setting a line. The guy that went after her was able to just swing his weighted rope into the tree rather than use the sling shot thingy.

Lines are set and it is time to get in the tree!

In the tree, trying to get around safely to all the stations.

In this particular station she had to move out very lightly on the branch and ring the bell. The ball at the end of the string above the bucket could not touch the bucket or is was a fail--too much weight on the branch to be safe. She did not do it, but the guy after her did a great job.