Cache's 17th birthday was Monday (sniffle). He wanted a day off from his regular schedule. We brainstormed some different places we could go see, and some different things we could go do. But in the end, we chose to stay home and try out a couple of things he'd been curious to try, from a book he checked out in the library. And since it was a beautiful day, why not? If you recall from yesterday's post, I was going to write a book on failed experiments. Here are chapters 2 and 3, respectively.Chapter 2:
Worm Fiddling
We'd seen this on "Dirtiest Jobs," how hard could it be? That's rhetorical by the way.
We tried two different methods, the stake method,
and the sapling method. We prefer the sapling method.
And although it's not as boring as it sounds, or as Maddie appears to be in the picture below,
some of us did choose to look for worms other than those used for fishing... (it was worth the poop encrusted hammer, it kept him very entertained.)
And in the end, he was probably more successful.
This less than flattering picture of Jesse is included because, after two and a half hours of grunting and hunting, we have to show off our bounty. Two slugs and one earthworm. After that much effort, we're claiming anything and everything.
Despite our lack of success, we may end up deleting this chapter later. There's supposed to be a storm tomorrow- and they say that's a better time for hunting. (I know, I know. Worms come out with a storm regardless of grunting- you don't need to deflate an already deflated balloon. Let's just go with it.) With Cache and Calder gone for the weekend, I don't know if I'll get much support, but I'm definitely going to go out for one more try- even if it's just Hydn and me. It is possible that the whole title and theme of the book may have to be altered to, 'The Worm Whistler.' I'll keep you posted.
After that, we needed a little relaxation in the tottering tree house, and lunch.
Then on to experiment chapter 3:
Turtle traps
Bear Grylls easily got one after a whole day of hiking and surviving on "Man Vs. Wild"; surely we could catch one after three sunburned, sweat inducing hours, with more materials than he had. Plus, with the over abundance of them just waiting to be caught, we were bound to be more successful in the afternoon than we had been that morning.
(The turtles plop in the water if you get too close. These that are left are either the brave ones- or the 'Max's' that had their backs broken from being at the bottom of Yertle's pile.)
We weren't setting this trap just for 'fun time' either. Uh-uh, no catch and release for us! We're pretty sure this is the reason for our dwindling fish supply, so we plan on doing something with the turtles more like this
But being the smart reader that you are, you've probably jumped to the conclusion that despite our positive optimism the next day that we had caught one,
and despite the excited cast off to 'check' the trap (gloves included for the 'snapping' variety)
Disappointingly, no such turtle was found.(Did that word disappointingly come across as effectively as it should? How about this, 'Disappointingly... no such turtle was found.')
Because if we had caught one, we'd have our own picture of a turtle roast, instead of lifting one off a poor Peruvian's websight.
The positive end to both chapter's? Seven long hours of family bonding.
