The Hannah Family

Sibling rivalry at its purest

Per Claire (verbatim as always):  "Whoever grows up first wins."

Precious growing pains

From an impressed 4-year-old Dave tonight:  I'm growing hair on my legs.  My feet are growing.  Look, they're giant!

We're home

We can't go to the NH lake house this year, as you know, but we did have a fun visit with the in-laws at the NC mountain house.  I'll post some pics this week, and hopefully the video of Matt jumping off the bridge into the lake.  The water was nice and warm there, but the creeks and the water in the gorge were freezing cold!

Every day another nature lesson

Dave:  I don't like raccoons.

Me:  They do make a mess when they get into trashcans.  Wait...  Why don't YOU like raccoons?

Dave:  They'll spray me.

So much for our trip to New Hampshire

High levels of toxic bacteria found in Pearly Pond

RINDGE — A cyanobacteria warning was issued Monday for Pearly Pond, where residents are urged to stay out of the water due to a high concentration of the cyanobacteria Anabaena.

According to Jody Connor, Limnology Center director at the N.H. Department of Environmental Services, a sample taken by the showed a 100 percent concentration of Anabaena. Testers count cells within the sample to find the dominant species and determine their concentration in the water system.

Large masses of the blue-green algae, called blooms, will look like surface scum or blue-green flecks and residents should not come in contact with them. They can produce toxins that cause diarrhea, vomiting, extreme headache and fever. The toxins can also trigger seizures and convulsions.

Connor said Tuesday that children and pets are at risk because they are more prone to swallowing water while swimming.

July 14th 2010 at 07:37:23 PM

Survived the laundromat today

I only go for over-sized comforters and sleeping bags that don't fit in my washing machine, but I dread the experience and put it off as long as possible.  The owner adjusted the thermostat down to 89 degrees Fahrenheit while we were there, but obviously it didn't make us feel any cooler.  Claire parked herself directly in front of the machines to monitor the countdown to freedom (which I always did as a child).  Dave passed the time by begging for the plastic junk and petrified candy in the machines up front (my other old laundromat pastime).  Some things never change.

When you're right, you're right

Claire talking about her big sister:  "Katie is beautiful, but sometimes she is really mean."

Spiderman

Dave:  I saw a spider on the porch with hair on him, it was a tarantula.

Me:  Probably a wolf spider.

Dave:  No, it was a tarantula!

Truth is stranger than fiction

RALEIGH, N.C. — An insider's account of John Edwards' affair and the lengths he went to hide his mistress will be developed into a movie, a former aide to the two-time presidential candidate said Thursday.

On the topic of drownings

I was disturbed by the number of cases I saw in the news here (USA), but apparently there have been 1200 cases of drownings in Russia associated with alcohol intoxication and the heat wave.  It's terrible - 47 adults and 2 children drowned just in the last day.