What are they looking at?

What in the world are Chapin and David looking at?  I wonder which way Will and Jon's heads are facing?  We will never know as they are hidden behind the boys.  This shot was taken on a summer trip to Abua and Dowies in Connecticut, while visiting NYC.  More will be posted soon regarding this visit.

Enjoy!!

Harvesting...

Yummy garlic

Lavendar

The best, biggest, earliest figs ever!

Potatoes

Delicious green beans that are even good overgrown!

Jon prepping tomatoes to dehydrate.

There they are...

Time to get to canning or freezing or something soon!

This year the garden has been good.  Variety is not happen as many pest have taken out certain things...Mainly the squash bore beetle that destroyed all the squash (zucchini, patty pans, butternut, pumpkins,) which is unfortunate.  The squash was to take up at least half the garden that has now been filled in with straw to manage the weeds.  So needless to say the garden looks a bit bare.  We have had much success with tomatoes, beans, peppers and cucumbers.  Even a couple melons that need to be pick, yet we are not sure when to pick them.  Need to google that today.  Next year the plan is to create more raised beds to help manage the garden ever more efficiently.   Gardening lesson...You live and learn with this gardening adventure ever year.  Some years certain things do great, some years not.  One must be patient with the entire process!

Hawley Cow...What a great visit!

The whole gang at White House in DC...

Dave helping cook...So awesome!

Erika helping cook...Thanks for all your help!

Dining on back patio with Scotty Weagle!

Fiona and Chapin heading to the Appalachian trail.

Now were are on the trail!! White blaze above Kaden's head.

Chapin and Jon...Beautiful view!

Tha fam!

Dave, Erika, Kaden & Fiona.

Hail, hail the gangs all here!

One of the best evenings ever up at Raven's Rock...Simply Beautiful!

Jon's soon to be gone Raspberry pie...Yummy.  We are thinking he should enter it in the Clarke County Fair next year.

We had a lovely visit from Jon's college roommate Dave Hawley.  Dave visited with his girlfriend Erika, and kids Kaden (9) and Fiona (7).  The week was action packed with time exploring the Farm, Shenandoah River, Washington DC, Appalachian Trail, and Harpers Ferry.  Dave et al., even managed a day in Gettysburg, PA.  It was a great week of re-connecting and getting to know Erika and the now much older kids.  We really appreciate the visit and look forward to seeing more of each other in the not to distant future!



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Waking this morning, I smile

"Waking this morning, I smile..." part of a little pray Chapin and I said last year as I drove him to school.  A really great way to start the day and today was not just any ol' day.  Today was Chapin''s 1st day of Kindergarten.

Thankful he has been very very excited for this next step in his big beautiful life.  He woke early so that was helpful with getting set to get out the door to catch the bus.  The bus is one of the parts he is really excited about.  So we make our way down five or so minutes early, but I guess not early enough.  We missed the bus!!!!  "Bummer" Chapin remarked.   So,  thankfully I was able to chat with the bus driver and get things situated for getting him off the bus and back on in the morning.  She said things were nuts and would take a bit of time to smooth out.  Then he didn't arrive home till 4:38, when he gets out of school at 3:10.  Started to worry, then he showed up!

Then this afternoon we were surprised with an earth quake.  Like a really shack the ground under your feet type of earth quake.  Biggest earth quake in history!  Boy what a day!


Today's lesson and one that seems to repeat itself with me...Try not to build out to much expectations for when they don't work out it becomes frustrating.  Instead, welcome all situations with open arms and be open to all that life has to offer with joyful arms.  The good the bad and the ugly! 

Water Play