Popcorn

Random life events in our family.

We spent Father's Day weekend down in North Carolina with Ed's sister, Jean. It has been four years since the tragic accident that took Jason. It was hard to remember the past, but always a joy to spend time with them.

On Friday, my girls and I were able to tag along with Jean and her girls as they took their baked goods to a farmer's market. It was fun to meet their regular customers and the other vendors. Within a short time, their table was nearly bare.

On Saturday we visited ocean at Sandbridge, VA. We all had a marvelous day. Our two youngest girls couldn't remember the beach.

The grin says it all. Love at first sight.

We did freak ourselves out every time we saw something dark in the water. This was right in the middle of the shark attacks in North Carolina.

The wild black raspberries in our pasture have produced better than usual - probably because of all the rain. My second son was my side-kick as we pushed through the briers in search of the juicy treasures. I guess I revert to my childhood to think the scratches and poison ivy are worth it.

We brought a bird guide out to the pasture with us when we discovered two small nests with bright blue eggs. We decided that they are catbirds. I don't remember every seeing these drab slate-gray birds before but this year they are frequently in our garden. I enjoy hearing their cheery song and watch them nab insects. Both nests now have baby birds.

On Fourth of July weekend we camped at a State Park in northern Pennsylvania. We spent Friday splashing in the creek, biking,

splitting wood for the campfire,

chilling with our dolls,

listening to Dad's latest read-aloud,

and throwing a line in the water.

Dad was kept busy baiting hooks and untangling lines. We didn't see any fish, not even a tiny nibble but we did see a mother Merganser duck with four ducklings and two bald eagles. And just down from our campsite we watched the park rangers capture a timber rattlesnake. While I hope to never see a rattlesnake in the wild again, I did think it was a good opportunity for the children to see and hear the rattle of one of Pennsylvania's few poisonous reptiles.

It was a good thing we packed in so much fun on Friday. Because Friday night it started to rain. And rain. And rain.

For the first time in many years we were attempting to camp in a tent. I feared we would be up all night with the littlest one. But she slept safe and dry in her crib set up in the bike trailer all night long. Ed and I were also dry in the trailer, but I didn't sleep with the pounding rain on the roof and worry about the children in the tents. The tents were set up at the bottom of a hill and slowly the rain flooded the tents and the children were forced to finish the night in the van.

At daylight it was still raining. Our plan was to spend the day biking the Pine Creek Rail Trail, but we gave up. Ed stomped through several inches of water and started throwing soggy sleeping bags, dripping bikes, and muddy tents into the bike trailer. By 8:00 we were headed down the road toward home.



I'm trying to look at these photos and say that even one day was worth the planning, packing, and clean up work once we got home.

What's up at your house?