Family Mellmann

Today is Katherine's first day at Trinity. There will be many firsts for her here. It's the first time she's ever had her own desk. No more group tables (except for group activities), and it's the first time that the kids have been on the same schedule at the school - YEAH! Katherine will (hopefully) learn proper posture, how to sit like a lady (girls must wear dresses), and LOTS of good knowledge stuff and reading.We are hopeful that it will be a great place for her to learn.  Oh, and her class of second and third graders has only five kids in it.  In the afternoon, when they are joined by first graders, they grow to a staggering nine kids. :)

Patrick and Katherine will be on the same school schedule for the first time EVER. This is great! Katherine is a little nervous about starting a new school, but she knows that her big brother is in the room across the hall, and the teachers at Trinity are awesome.

Today, on our way home from motorcycle training class, we were struck by what we presume was a rock kicked up by a passing car. The driver's window "exploded" into a gazillion pieces and then proceeded to rain down on Joerg as he continued to drive us home. After a half hour with the shop vac, the car is cleaned up and the driveway is free of glass. Now I just have to get the window replaced.

Day 1 of our motorcycle training class has gone well. It was super hot, but it's going well. (Yes, Joerg is mostly taking this class to show solidarity with inexperienced me.)

This is a Barred Owl. Patrick feeds about seven of them at the rescue where he works. And for the past few nights, we have been hearing one calling out in our back yard and forest. Last night he was busy from about 9:00 until well past midnight. I'd like to have a couple more mouse-eating owls in the yard to help keep the inside-my-house mouse population down. :)

Tonight's dinner included Finnish Parsnip Casserole and these fresh-caught (caught by Patrick and Opa, cleaned by a neighbor) perch.

It’s a couple days late, but Jörg got his birthday “cake”. It’s actually called the “Mountain of Meatloaf” at Vermont Sports Grill, but he said it was really good.

Outreach For Earth Stewardship Live Bird Demonstration Patrick, and his partner Owen, are presenting the Barred Owl at the end of raptor camp.