7QT: "It's been raining (almost) all week" Edition!

Please keep Dwija and her family in your prayers today as they say goodbye and lay to rest their little Nicholas Robert at 11am (EST).

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Sorry everyone, but I had to turn anonymous commenting back off because my inbox was being flooded with notices of spam comments. Let me know if that's a big problem for you. You can always send an email, if you can't comment.

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There was something I was going to write here. In fact, when I started typing this post yesterday, I intentionally left this spot blank and now... I can't remember what it was. That's probably thanks to the horrible headache I have this morning thanks to the baby who has refused to go to bed before 11pm for the last three nights (two year molars are evil!) or the party that was going on at a neighbor's house at 11:30pm, 1am, and 3am. Thankfully, we don't have anything to do today so I can be zombie mom. If I ever remember what was supposed to go here, I'll let you know. Hah!

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It's been raining almost all week. Seriously! It's wonderfully wet outside but that means we've been hanging out inside. Which is normal for us in July, but it's usually not this cloudy and dark. We've been having fun exploring some videos on Vimeo. I don't know much about Vimeo but it seems so much more refined than YouTube. This series is called Makers of Things. It's wonderful. Here is their self description:

Who we are is intrinsically connected to what we do and the things we build. So what does a lifetime of making things look like?

The Makers of Things - a short film collection by Anne Hollowday - documents the work and workshops of the Society for Model and Experimental Engineers, a sprawling organisation with members all over the world. Their common tools and methods mask a huge array of interests and skills, from experimental tinkerers to woodworkers and librarians, all brought together under the roof of their South London headquarters.

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Another video that my boys especially loved was this one that you can watch online and is also on Netflix instant watch right now: NOVA Secrets of the Viking Sword.

I must admit I got goosebumps as the blacksmith went through the final stages of making one of these swords that hasn't been made for hundreds of years. There is a point during the quenching where an audible ping tells you if the blade has cracked and you have to start all over again. I found myself squinting and praying there wouldn't be a ping. And then the acid wash! Ack... OK, maybe it wasn't just the boys who liked it. Totally cool!

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This week, The Professor's memes (that I slipped into his lunch bag) included...

(He's a big Thorin fan!)

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And...

When I told the younger kids about this one, one of them said "Walking home...backwards. To a birthday party."

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And just in case you need a serious infusion of cuteness in your life (and you just can't wait any longer for Sarah to post pictures of her sweet Huck and Dewy), go check out the kitten who was saved by crochet. Guaranteed to make you smile!