The Singing Elephant

Necessity Is...

the mother of invention. Witness, Dad's snow shovel.

Calling all Creative Types

I said I was available to sub in Primary on Sundays, because now that I'm in my new ward, I'm kind of bored just going to Sunday School and Relief Society (I know, I shouldn't be bored, but I am). They took me up on my offer right away and I'm leading Primary music this week and next. It's been a while since I haven't been behind the piano.

I want to make a conducting poster. The idea is to sandwich the leg from a pair of tights between two pieces of decorated posterboard. I've seen one a that's a worm coming out of an apple and one that's an elephant's head with a trunk. The child who is helping puts her arm into the tight leg and waves the trunk or worm as she is conducting. I have some grey tights and a pattern for an elephant head. Any ideas about how to securely fasten the tights leg into the poster?

I would also like to make a singing thermometer (the temperature reading goes up as the children's singing improves). I made a lame, inadequate one once. If anyone knows of a good way to make an easy to use thermometer, please let me know. I would like one that the children can operate themselves.

Mecca

I just discovered Tractor Supply Company. Where have I been all these years?

I first knew of TSC when I lived in prisontown. TSC was next door to a barbecue joint I frequented, but I don't think I ever ventured inside TSC. I was too busy eating barbecue. Too bad for me.

TSC is close to the new house, so I stopped in after work Friday. I found several items for which I have been hunting lately, including:

• foam drink koozie that doesn't advertise an acoholic beverage
• large metal dustpan for shop and yard work
• sturdy handheld dustbroom for same
• weed pulling tool (I actually hadn't hunted for that yet, but while in TSC I remembered I wanted one)

I'm not too interested in TSC's clothing, equestrian, or livestock supplies, but you never know when you might need to repair a fence, put a new fender on a trailer, or pick up more blasting grit for your sandblaster.

Counting Down

For those who may be wondering, I have begun, but not finished, the Move.

The movers came today and took a fraction of my belongings to the new house. They also took a larger fraction of my pocketbook, but it was worth it to have someone else move the piano, dresser, couch, etc.

Because I'm in forgiving company (I am, right?) I will reveal that it took 8.5 hours to prepare the few items the movers did take. So, I have some work cut out for me in the next 10 days.

If you missed the photos of the (empty) house, they are on Flickr. Check back in a year or two for an updated, decorated view.


photo: Chicago Daily News. 1903. Two men loading household goods into a horse drawn van while a girl stands nearby on moving day [photo]. DN-0000718, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society. From American Memory http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/cdn:@field(NUMBER+@band(ichicdn+n000718))