Yesterday evening my son-in-law, Matt, took Bethany and Benjamin to the local watering hole () for a time-honored summer activity, i.e. fishing:

Isn't that just the picture of peace?

One of several fish he caught.  According to his father, Benjamin pretty much got a bite each time he cast his line.

Bethany didn't find the fish to be quite as accomodating, but she still managed to snag herself a good-sized catfish:

The community pond has a catch-and-release policy, so the catfish escaped a date with the frying pan. 

Who knew there's such a critter as a black chicken?  

There is, however....the Silkie, an Asian bird, with a "silky" plumage and black flesh and bones. 

The black flesh and bones isn't the only unusual feature of this bird, as it also sports blue earlobes and five toes (most chickens apparently make do with four).

Chickens have earlobes?  I didn't know that, either. 

According to the article in Wikipedia (what did we ever do without Wikipedia?), the Silkie not only has feathers that feel like silk, black flesh and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes, but it also has been blessed with a pleasant, cheerful disposition, making it a wonderful pet. 

Be the first on your block! 

Since one of the chefs is using one in tonight's Iron Chef competition, t'would appear they're also pretty tasty. 

Ours was quiet, with Don and me staying home, mostly, Dan and Joe first out at the Stockyards (where they found a store selling Russian soda, can you imagine?  Dan said he did a double-take once he realized he was seeing Cyrillic) then at Viktor's house, and Dmitry spending the day with Carolyn.

Watched fireworks from the front porch, as usual. 

Around midnight Dan came into the living room to proudly announce that he was buying a car today!  A Firebird he'd found on eBay.  Needs some work, naturally, but it runs and will be most useful, as sometimes he and Joe want to work different shifts.

He just arrived home with it:

Dig the cool hat, BTW!  That was purchased yesterday down in the Stockyards, as was - I'm guessing - the "Texas" t-shirt he's wearing.  I think he looks very slick, indeed. 

The boys amuse me considerably, both intentionally and un-.  When Joe went to fetch Max, I made a comment about that being one sweet set of wheels.

To which he seriously replied, "Actually the wheels are underinflated." 

"I was speaking figuratively, dear!"

"Oh.  Right." 

Videos are running over posts below, and obscuring them.  Very strange!

Here's one, anyway, and a link to the folder at Motionbox with the rest, for anyone who'd care to view them:

Yesterday was her 8th birthday, and to celebrate the occasion she had a party at Incredible Pizza in Euless, which not only offers pizza but a full range of activities, such as indoor go-karts, bumper cars, arcade games, miniature golf, skeeball, etc.  Here's Brianna with the ribbon she won for being first in her group at go-karts:

She was very pleased.  Dmitry and Carolyn were with us, and Brianna quickly snagged the latter for a rousing game of whatever it is this game's called:

Then it was on to shoot a few hoops:

After a bit it was time for supper and an ice cream cake from Carvel's; here is Bridgette examining a green bean:

Then it was back to the fun!

There was also face painting;  here's Brianna with the butterfly she requested, and her father, Jason, behind her (who is holding one of the goodie bags for the attendees; there's one for Hannah that I'll get in the mail soon):

The above photo is of Jessica and Brianna, who's holding the megaphone pinata they'd hit (unfortunately I wasn't in the room while that was going on).  Brianna and one of her friends, Cheyenne, wanted another turn on the go-karts, and while waiting for them to go (which took, BTW, a full 50 minutes as the older people kept being allowed to go ahead of them, and they'd smash into each other, causing their cars to stop working and have to be fixed....we were quite annoyed) Don and Bridgette entertained each other:

At last, however, their patience was rewarded, and it was off to the races: