Getting ready for mini-vacation

We've sort of been a little busy and I haven't gotten to blog. We have some photos from the past weekend too but again - summer calls. BUT, we are leaving for a couple days to go to the beach and I need the R&R to regroup and get refocused. I'm looking forward to just chilling in the sand and throwing rocks in the water.

But like any good crazy family, we needed to get some work done before we leave - Marcus with hammer? Well, we are remodeling the living room and the plaster must go so the boys have been helping dad take it off. Pretty fun as long as they keep the hammer AWAY from the window!

Talk to you all later after a little quiet reflection time by the water.

Butterfly in Waiting

Creation is so cool. I found a monarch caterpillar on one of the milkweed plants on my "trail" and he was just a tiny little guy - now he's getting ready to make his cocoon. The boys have been supplying him with mass amounts of milkweed for the past 10 days so this is pretty neat. I'll have to track his progress as his metamorphosis continues:).

Weekend Wedding

Doug did a few shots at Frank & Katie's wedding this past weekend.

Popcorn

While dad was out at a meeting we sat and watched "Frontier House" one evening last week. Josiah thought we should make popcorn.

Whoa!

I went out for my nightly walk on the meadow path tonight and saw two exciting things. Just as I neared the outer edge of the field I saw this season's first firefly warming up in the twilight. Before that though, just as I got onto the path I was startled by a more thrilling creature - by thrilling I mean I sort of jumped when I saw him (or her) - a baby skunk! I had a camera but by the time I got over my shock he had jumped into the tall grass. Needless to say, I didn't follow!

He was a cute little thing, about the size of a large kitten with a furry tale and the fun little stripe - and apparently they don't smell at that age because I had no warning from my nose of his presence.

It's not like I've never seen a skunk lurking around here but never a baby that small. Too funny. I'm glad I didn't run into his momma. :) Next time I'll try to catch his photo. (maybe)

A little more sand

At the Beach

Spring Valley has a little lake tucked behind the (2nd largest) earthen dam at the north end of town with a little beach for swimming. It was pretty warm today so after church and naps we spend a few hours swimming and playing in the sand.

Ho Hum

I've been working outdoors between rain storms and today it was pretty much rainy and cold all day so I spend the day indoors catching up on some photog work. I'm not really all that caught up but I did redo my blog logo:). Actually I was trying to make my own xml template but I know NOTHING about that stuff and I got the idea that maybe Doug should do it for me if he ever gets a chance. But really it's not all that important.

We've had sort of ho hum week this week, or at least I have. Everyone has been a little extra tired and tonight I feel a little under the weather - so maybe I am?

I did go for a walk on our personal nature trail in the field and took a few photos outdoors. This is actually our unused front porch from the view laying down in the grass. It's good to get different perspectives - in photo at least. I took the photo because I was seeing how badly the porch needs to be replaced so I made the photo look all old too - I guess I've been doing that a lot lately. This apparently is my "old grunge photo overlay" period.:)