We are famously hot

Columbia, South Carolina, where we live, has a motto for itself: Famously Hot.

They put it on flags and everything.

Andrew and I have been staying cool mostly but every day, we do go on errands and/or adventures.

On Tuesday, the first full day he was here by himself, I insisted suggested that Andrew let me take his picture out in the front yard.

My grandchildren know better than to demur when I have a camera in my hand. Out we went.

It was a beautiful day. Andrew found a great big stick to carry around.

Our America the Beautiful balloon is still doing great, attached now to the stair railing.

What we do is, we fly our mylar balloons until they can't stay afloat anymore. Then, when we need them again -- like for a birthday or a holiday -- we go to the store and ask for our balloons to be re-inflated with helium.

This costs nothing. And you get to enjoy your big expensive balloons at least twice and maybe three or more times, if you're careful.

But this is a brand-new balloon, just bought last Monday. We hope to use it again on the Fourth of July, and maybe even next Memorial Day.

Yesterday Andrew and I had to visit the AT&T phone store because I shattered my iPhone 4S (ancient in technology years) in a parking lot and had to get a new one. 

Now I have an iPhone 7 and I feel so up-to-the-minute. I know you're wondering what color. It's rose gold, which is to say pink. I got a sparkly protective case.

After the phone store, we went to a local fire station. We had emailed ahead to make sure it was okay.

The fire station was quiet although we had seen Engine 171 out on the road earlier, on a fire call, and it had just been re-backed into its space in the garage.

The Fire Marshal asked Andrew how much water he thought the mountain-sized blaze-red truck held.

A thousand? Andrew guessed.

And he was right! The Fire Marshal said the tank inside the truck holds one thousand gallons. He showed Andrew the hoses and other equipment, and let him stand all over the fire engine.

He also pointed out that they own a special red boat that they take onto rivers and lakes when there are fires to be put out on water craft.

Also there's a rugged miniature fire engine, which they take up into the forests when there are fires in those areas.

Andrew was surprised to learn that the huge fire engine is so full of water and hoses and other stuff, only four people can ride in it.

I was surprised by how big it is when you stand right next to it. (I know it's the same size whether I'm standing next to it or not. But you know what I mean.)

Andrew got to sit in the boat and the mini fire truck and the big fire engine, and had time to look all around the station and ask questions.

He was impressed. The Fire Marshal was so nice, even giving Andrew some parting gifts as we were leaving.

He got a play helmet and a DVD and I don't know what all else was in that bag.

Finally it was time to go because we had other things to do. That was yesterday's activity; today we made moon sand to play with outside by the pool.

Rizzo thinks it's edible; maybe it won't hurt him. It's only flour and baby oil, with Kool-Aid added for a bit of color. Only, the Kool-Aid doesn't work so well for color, especially when it's up against all that white flour.

At least the blueberry lemonade kind doesn't.

And that is all for now.

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Comments

[Luna Crone]

I think the Grand Mother here, is having wayyyyyyyyyy toooooooo much fun!!!!!!

-giggggles-

Hugs, Luna Crone

[Jennifer]

@Luna ... uh-oh! You've caught me out! Haaahahaha xoxo

[Judy]

Andrew, one of my favorite boy's names. He reminds me of my grand son Andrew at that age. Up for anything, except posing for the camera. How nice of the fire station to take the time to let Andrew explore and do all that neat stuff. Enjoy--they grow up so fast and then don't have time for Gramma.

[Jennifer]

@Judy ... I'm going to make him a book of all our pictures so he'll never be able to forget that he used to love hanging out with Mamaw! xoxo

[Mari]

I can see that Grandma and Andrew are having fun. I'm sure he had a great time, seeing those fire trucks!