Woes of home ownership

Okay , about a week and a half ago our new washing machine stopped working. This one replaced the one we had for over 30 years. They just don't make them like they used to. It went through a wash cycle but would never spin. I did some diagnoses and Internet searches. I could force a spin if I was in the diagnostic mode of the washer so the motor and transmission were okay, I thought. In that mode the pump does not come on. There is nothing to these machines anymore - a motor, pump, transmission and control board. Everything looked brand new yet and nothing was burned or smelled burnt. So I ordered a control board assembly and put it in. Did not help. We went to the laundromat. While Judy was in Rugby, I did more troubleshooting. I removed the hose to the fill pressure switch and noticed some wet dirty lint was in the line. I carefully dug it out and tried it. It WORKED! I did a small empty load and the washer worked perfectly. So next I did a extra large load of towels and that worked just as well. So then I took the new control board out and put the old one back in and did three more loads of wash. Who knew that a bit of lint would ruin your week. I have 30 days to return the $100 part for my money back. I learned something new last week. That is one less thing I need to learn in the next life. I am ahead of the game.

Joe's school concert

Since Tana said that the batteries were dead in her camera, I thought I would add a couple items. I just had the small Canon camera and could not zoom in and get just Joe because it was too dark. So I just got the whole 1st grade just as the concert was starting. Joe, you did a wonderful job. I captured a bit of video of one song so take a listen.

The Oakdale Raiders

Since I was alone for a couple days, because Judy went to Rugby to visit her mom, Kirstin invited me to come over for dinner. At my arrival two Indiana Joneses came out whipping their Indiana Jones whips, whipping noise and everything (I don't know how to spell the whipping noise - Wa-cheee!). Honestly, if it is made, they probably have it. The dudes love all the super heroes and adventurers.
This is Liam Jones
And this is Logan Jones
Then it was outside to play on the new backyard play set that mom and dad put together last weekend. There are at least 512 screws that hold that thing together. The boys needed to show me how it was done. So take a look.




The time for a little adventure came alone in the middle of play set demonstration. They found some worms but shoving them into the camera lens made for some unfocused photos, so you will need to use your imagination.
Back to the new thing.
You can see that sometimes they play really good together and don't take each others toys.





Daddy still needed to put the climbing wall on so that was accomplished before supper. The slide was attached afterwards.

Liam was first to try it and he mastered it right away using the hand and foot holds.

Then it was Logan's turn.
He did it his own way, just like he was climbing up a slide. His hands were on the hand holds but for the most part his feet did not tough the foot holds. With just brute strength he made it to the top.
Superman has a great smile;
and his buddy Batman has a great smile also.

Thanks for dinner and for letting me play with the dudes.

Roll Model

Well a few days ago I emailed a question to KSTP's Larry Pharr about gardening, not thinking anything of it because I got an email answer. Then yesterday during the 4:30PM early news, something caught my attention when I heard "Ron from Minneapolis". It was my question and it was answered on the air. I was called a "Roll Model Gardener". Yeppie. Here is the link to the news clip:
KSTP'S video clip

By the way, there are now 21 confirmed cases of the "This Little Piggy" flu in MN.