Friday, June 29

Can't believe June is almost gone. Even though with the heat the last few days it seems more like August weather.  The storm that came through earlier today brought some much needed rain, we got about .6 inch.  The winds that came with the rain were not needed and I certainly hope that no one had any serious damage as a result. Our garden, the one I have been weeding and watering daily, was flattened.  Andy thinks the corn will be able to straighten back up and I was able to get his tomato plants stood up again.  I noticed that he has about a million little green cherry tomatoes so I think he will be eating tomatoes for the rest of the summer once they ripen.

We are watching the Olympic Trials and I am so excited for the Olympics to begin.  The women's gymnastics are on right now and it looks like we have some great talent.  The swimming teams are looking good also. I just love watching the Olympic games.  In another life, I want to be an Olympian!

Monday, June 25

What a wonderful change in weather.  Nice cool breeze, high of 75 and great for getting all of the outdoor chores finished.  Today we finished planting the grass seed in the spot where the well was drilled and around the circle in our driveway.  Got the straw down and watered all of it.  I also cut down one of the cedar trees that was too close to our house.  Then I started the blower and blew off the driveway, sidewalks and the deck next too the pool.  I also hung the swing out on the deck and after lunch I weeded the garden and screwed down all of the loose boards on the deck.  Then Molly and I took a walk in the woods.  I think she is finally getting comfortable being outside.  She actually walked the entire trail (no leash) without turning back and running to the house.  Good job, Molly! The last two evenings I have been observing the birds around the yard, thought you might like to see as well.

 New baby house wrens, looks like he is asking the other to "PIPE" down over there!

 I thought this little guy was going to fall out, I think he may have gotten a little push from his nest mate.

 There are two separate nests in this apartment complex.  The middle appears to be available to rent

 Home from a hard days work, cleaning up the road ways.  Turkey vultures are one of my favorites.

 Of course they are prettier when they are soaring above us.  He thinks she is beautiful.

 Not a bird but he sure is cute.  Love the zoom on my Canon camera.

 A view down the Little Darby creek, late afternoon.

 An Eastern Phoebe nest built on the light above our Ford tractor.  Made of moss, mud, grass & hair.

 At the other end of the light is a Barn Swallow nest.  Both nests have hatchlings. See photo below.

 I am thrilled that the Red-headed woodpecker have returned the last two years.

 This is the lamp, Phoebe nest on the left and barn swallow on the right

 Eastern Phoebe, adult.

Friday, June 22

  I just finished a great book this week. It's titled Molokai by Alan Brennert which is a fictional novel based on the leper colony on the Hawaiian island, Molokai.  The colony, Kalaupapa, actually existed on the island just 27 miles from  Oahu from the mid 1800's and was active until 1969. The health department arrested anyone who showed signs of leprosy and then sent them to the isolated colony on Moloka'i.  Some were as young as 4 years old. Much as in the biblical times, being a leper was shameful for both the individual and for the family. The disease is now called Hansen's Disease for the man who first identified a way to arrest the bacteria that caused the disfiguring damage to both nerves and skin.  Kalaupapa just recently became a National Historic Park and can be visited if you are willing to hike or ride a mule down the steep switchback trail the 3.2 miles to the bottom.  We have been contemplating whether we want to add this adventure to our itinerary when we go back to Hawaii.  Anyway, the book ranks right up there with Hunger Games. I would highly recommend it, very well written and an easy read.

Saturday, June 16

while I was taking a break this little red squirrel came up on the deck to visit!

It has been a pretty productive few days as I have been checking things off my "to do list".  Yesterday I finished the mulching in all of the flower beds.  Also got the garden tilled so I can now tell the vegetables from the weeds.  Although I do still see the ground hog periodically, the green beans have survived and are looking good. Today I vacuumed the pool and power washed the house and lawn furniture.  Mr. B did some mowing and it is finally looking like we may be getting caught up.

Sunday, June 10

 Pony rides at the zoo, it was a little hot here.  Check out Peg in the background, wilting.

 Luke was a little unhappy that he was not tall enough to ride the big pony

 Lily was driving the Tundra Buggy at the playground in Polar Frontier.

 The animal show is lots of fun at the Pavilion.  Lots of action from the animal participants.

 Can't go to the zoo without riding the merry to round.

 How did that siamang get so high in that tree?

 We decided it probably was not a good idea to put all 3 adults on the same side of the boat.

 Luke monkeying around

Luke and Mylee on the hammerhead shark, Lily has finally fallen asleep.
I know, I know.  It has been over a week since my last post.  I did try several times to upload a video of Andy giving his touching talk about Gary but for whatever reason it just would not work.  I really have been pretty busy and I am still way behind on all my yard work.  I have one out of three flower beds mulched, the smallest one.  I do have an excuse or at least I will use it as one.  Trish, Chad, Luke and Lily came in late Tuesday evening for Ed and Peg's surprise 40th Anniversary party.  We have been to the zoo, the metro park, the movies and just hanging out.  This morning I had been asked to give the message at church while Pastor Pat is on vacation with her family.  It went really well and everyone seemed to enjoy both services.  The Childrens Sermon is the scariest part and I was getting really excited when I looked out and did not see any children.  But before long, the sound of tiny foot steps running towards the sanctuary let me know that I was not off the hook.  I lost them soon after my opening statement.  I just don't understand, for years I had complete control of 30 middle school students in a gym setting for 40 minutes and now I can't even get more than 4 words out  before 5 toddlers are running wildly around the altar.  Oh well, it was rather entertaining and perhaps my children's message did catch the attention of some of the adults. Our handbell choir auditioned for a wedding gig following the service.  I am a little excited because the wedding is going to be at the Darby Dan Farms and I have heard that it is a beautiful venue.  Luckily I will be home from Hawaii for the September wedding.  Following our bell practice I picked up several pizzas from Flyer's and scooted home to spend a few hours with the grandkids before they headed back to Dover.  Ed and Peg came over and we all enjoyed the kids until it was time for them to leave.

 Swimming at Pop Ed's and Grandma Peg's 40th Anniversary Party.

 Mylee doing a head first slide.

 Luke looks like he is walking on water.

 Trish taking the kids and Grandma and Pop Foulk on a jungle ride through the woods.

Oh, my....was that a Big Foot?  No it was Grandma Bichler hiding in the woods.  Later we ran out of gas and daddy had to bring gas to the end of the road and save us.

Saturday, June 2

 Andy talked of how Gary's life was a lot like the meanders that were restored to the Big Darby in this project. "Gary meandered through life and always took time to smell the roses"

 I should have taken a picture of the scissors that we were using, they were huge.

 Mark reading the signage along the trail.

 I think I am the only one in this picture that did not have Gary in class. Mark, Debbie and Sharon all have pretty good Gary stories to tell.

 This is the outlook platform at the end of Gary's trail. We are standing at the waters edge.

Ohhhhhhhh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day!  Today was the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for Gary's trail at the Big Darby Headwaters.  I think I mentioned in another post that Gary's estate left a sizable amount to The Nature Conservancy.  With the donation came naming rights.  The Big Darby Headwaters restoration seemed a pretty good fit for Gary so the trail that leads to the headwaters has been named the Gary J. Jainshig Trail.  Today was the official opening of that trail.  The weather was perfect and the ceremony was very nice.  Andy gave a very heart-felt speech about Gary and then we both cut the giant green ribbon with equally giant scissors to open the trail.  Several teachers, former students and friends of Gary's were in attendance to show their support.  After the ceremony we walked the 2 mile trail, all except Mr. B who had already been to the outlook. We finished up the morning with lunch at Der Dutchman.  Tonight we are attending a retirement party for a friend that we taught with.