The weather could not be more perfect today. It’s the kind you just want to stick in a bottle and save. Tonight I have the privilege of co-hosting the Summer Moon Swim. My sweet baboo is the real host with the most. Feeling extra blessed today.

Yesterday was 102°. Today is supposed to be 99°. It’s been weeks since we got a good soaking rain. The pool is feeling rather warm, but we are so thankful for it nonetheless.

We’ve been spending lots of time in the pool. I love my new underwater camera. What a great deal! It even takes videos. (But I haven’t figured out how to post them here.) I bought some new goggles. Cy chipped in a little extra so that he could get these fancy schmancy reptile-eyes!

This little water bug can nearly swim. She loves to be in the water constantly. She especially gets excited when PopPop comes to swim with her. She’s talking a ton now. Yesterday she was talking about swimming with PopPop, and she specified, “No unnah wawa,” which being translated is “No under water,” i.e. she doesn’t want to be dunked. Funny.

We now have three “deep enders.” This is Angela, permitted to “deep end” if she wears her life jacket. She’s already doggy paddling. She might be a deep ender by the end of summer! Hard to remember she’s still only 3-years-old. Her stature and sense of humor are far beyond that.

“Sometimes we sits and thinks, and sometimes we justs sits.”

~ a quote that I remember from a poster but whose author I don’t remember

(probably an underpaid poster writer somewhere)

My amazing husband has conquered our yard, including this patio.

We now can manage the nature God has blessed us with and still have time to sit and enjoy each other.

Last year I had to face the reality that we are not retired (like the last resident),

and gardening is not one of our top priorities or hobbies (like the last resident).

We do so appreciate all the beauty that the previous resident cultivated on our property.

And now we are overjoyed to have it down to a manageable level for people such as us.

A lesson I am continually learning (truly) is that although so many things are wonderful, I am only human, finite, with only so much time, energy, and money. I constantly struggle (and I have to admit, I’m tired of that struggle, but the lesson continues until the lesson is learned) with “all the great projects” I wish to do.

One of those “projects” is just to get done with my list of projects, sit, and enjoy life with these little cuties.

Struggle.

Constant.

Ugh.

Most days I can’t believe I’m this old and still learning these things that I would guess should have been learned long ago. But I console myself with “as long as I’m still learning, still striving, this must be an encouragement.”

So I strive to put aside my busyness and focus on what really matters. All the while struggling not to ignore the stewardship of my talents nor to become lazy. (struggle, struggle, struggle.) I find inspiration in the way my husband balances life ~ play and work, what wants to be and what needs to be, yeses and nos. I find motivation in my children ~ living with all they’ve got, never giving up on me, never holding a grudge for time I didn’t spend with them (but should have).

And I look to my Savior who loves me for the quiet strength and peace I need to accept from Him.

He provides times of practice for being still and unbusy. Times like camping and times like pretend camping.

Thank you, Lord, for these blessings.

So… I go in spurts. I was keeping up for a while, but now I’m way behind in posting photos.

So… here’s a half-random mishmosh.

Back in May we got together with Grammy Slice for a classic pork and knöedls dinner. Delic!

We’re hoping it’ll be an annual tradition.

Here’s Gram with six of her eight great-grandbabies (one of the eight is “on the way”).

Cousin Jaime’s visit was the inspiration for said dinner. Many folks claim that Josse is Jaime’s little look-alike.

Elle Mae received an amazing haircut from Aunt Jenna.

Mama was sad to see the beautiful goldilocks go, but this ‘do is definitely better for pool weather!

And Mama also could not convince Shelby to keep her long tresses.

Arrived home one day from running errands solo (quite unusual) and discovered this on the driveway.

Had to run and grab my camera to capture such an amazing sight.

Sometimes life hands you unexpected surprises that light up your day.

Like a dual-colored animal cracker, for instance!

Use it up, Wear it out, Make do, Or do without. Here’s Angela demonstrating the “make do” part.

Feeding the kitty using her rain boot as the scoop since she couldn’t find the traditional plastic cup.

Sissies so sweet!

Can you see it? We call it the golden ladybug! oooOOOOooooo. It was beautiful.

(Turns out it’s a beetle, technically, whose shell resembles a tortoise shape.) Very cool.

And we’ve begun enjoying one of our most refreshing blessings!

It took some doin’, but I finally worked through the accumulated junk and treasures in the pot shop (aka clay studio). Now we have begun our play in clay. Before all that happened, we gained some inspiration by going to Eldreth’s annual open house.

I didn’t realize how fun it would be. Shelby, Angela, and Josselyn came along with me. Next year we’ll all go.

They had this throwing station (each child could make a pot for free). Then they had another station where each child could paint some of their signature cobalt slip onto a bowl for free. They fired all the bowls, and we could pick them up the next week.

And what a fire! This is one of their three gas kilns. You can sort of tell how huge they are by the size of the ware all around it. They also had a station for bigger kids (aka me) could decorate (with guidance if needed) some greenware for a fee. Pretty cool stuff. Dave Eldreth was also on the premises for signing pieces. I’d recommend the trip if you’re anywhere even remotely closeby.

Maybe I can make this my final floral post for a while.

Honeysuckle Trumpets.

I called these our “ruffled” Peonies. They’re a little crazy.

Peonies. These ones have a “bleeding” center.

Abundant Koosas.

Another Peony.

I think I counted six different kinds of Columbine in the yard.

I’ll just post two. I love the insides hanging down like a handful of mini pumpkin seeds.

One of the best parts of the beautiful gardens? Beautiful bouquets from my sweeties.

Just when I think I’m reaching the end of my “flower gallery,” I take another stroll through the yard, along with a hundred more photos.

Magnolia. Little details as sweet as her perfume.

Lily of the Valley. I’m told they were my Grammy Slice’s mother’s favorite. (i.e. my Great-Grammy Köenig)

Landscape of Leaves and Dewdrops.

Pretty Pansies from my Mama.

The Rhodie Section (but I think the orange ones are a type of Azalea). I counted at least five different colors of Rhodies while touring around the patio.

Up close with a pale pink Rhodie.

Clematis.

Jack! (in the Pulpit)

More beauty from the yard…

Aren’t these colors AMAZING?! This has been my favorite find thus far this year in the yard. They are the blossoms on one of our blueberry bushes.

Bleeding hearts… of the lacy variety, or something like that.

I just love the young yellow leaves on this tree. (I can’t remember what it is.) Brilliant azaleas behind.

Solomon’s seal. The “painted” leaves are becoming one of my favorites. Some of our hosta is “painted,” too.

Just a silly little photo I felt like snappin’. See those three-leavers? We’d been calling them Trillium, but I discovered they are actually Jack-in-the-Pulpit!

And this one reminds me of Horton and his dust speck.

Our yard is once again bursting forth with beauty, mostly due to the hobby of the previous owner. Although we have been downsizing the flowerbeds to make it more manageable (which is actually working!), there is still plenty to inspire.

My whacking of the grape vines looks like it’s working!

Dogwood

Rhodies (more photos of them later)

This awesome vine with white and green leaves. The more we see it, the more we like it.

Azaleas & the Antique Apple Tree (apparently over 100 years old!)

I am, no doubt, behind in my posts. These photos are from nearly a month ago at our Track and Field day with our homeschool co-op. It was a surprisingly brisk day, but the children had lots of fun with friends and were excited to earn a ribbon for every event they participated in (either 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or participant).

Jumping…

…disguised as flying…

…inspired more jumping.

The shuttle run was a fun one, and Cy got the blue ribbon in his group.

Elle Mae going for the ol’ softball throw.

Shelb and her good friend K, getting ready for the 1/2 mile run.

And they’re off!

Some events they might consider for next year…

Fence scaling!

Seriously, I have a monkey on my hands.

Tree climbing!

Dandelion wishing!

And cereal chomping!