Saturday morning splendor

The sun is shining, the air is cool, chickens are scavenging, the dog is barking.

The kids are perched on the front steps enjoying a rare morning freezie. The one sits with multiple brets clipped haphazardly in her hair, no shirt covering her little potbelly and underwear that will-with luck-remain dry for hours to come. The elder is dressed, although his underwear are on backwards. We'll roll with that, a little independence in dressing himself is welcome.

On the breeze is the aroma of fresh sawen pine. The buzz of the saw and hum of the tractor fill the air; noise, but yet it is peaceful. It means the mill is up in running-if only for a day or two. A welcome change after too many months of silence.

A wave of cleaning hit the house last night, and it has finally come down from a state of utter chaos to one of manageable proportions. These eyes saw the wee hours of the night-sewing club tends to do that- and 7:30 came early. The coffee's hot and the list of things to do is calling. We'll be off to a tractor show/visiting at camping this afternoon, then on to stay at the cabin for the night.

It promises to be a beautiful day.

What's been happening here lately...August edition.

Summer is flying by...like the wind through your hair. (I crack myself up with these clever sayings.) August so far has been...

Elsa on her way to the garden, all set with her bucket! Although she's not much help, Oliver actually does pick things. I look forward to the years they are real help...

Picky. As in reaping what we sow. Green beans, peas, green beans, cute-mummers (heh. a downs girl I used to work with called 'em that, and I still do.), summer squash, green beans, and, oh yes, green beans have been coming in. The kids and I also made it to Jennifer's to pick raspberries. And now chokecherries are almost ready.

Num-num-num.

I love thinking "what's for supper?"

Than: "let me go look in the garden and see."

My one thought on the garden for next year: Add a little more variety. Despite that, this year's garden has mostly been a roaring success. Yum.

Anyone need green beans?

With August, summer-the heat and humidity, anyhow-finally arrived. We finally had a few days when all you wanted to do was be in the water.

So that's what we did.


But the heat left with a bang Sunday morning. Literally.


This white pine at the cabin was struck by lightning. Again. Yes, again. For as long as I remember, there had been a large black scar all the way down the trunk from it's first encounter with lightening.

This time it lost the fight.




Have you ever seen a tree struck by lightening? Wow. The power of it is impressive. This tree was the largest around our cabin, and it was shattered. Shrapnel flew as far as 200 or so feet down the road, over the cabin into the river...everywhere.

So, we called in the troops.

Fortunately, the only damage to the cabin was a few missing window panes.

For that, we are thankful.

Some more?

No, silly, s'mores!

Ah, munchmunchmunch, said Oliver, that clears that up. gulp.swallow.

Not that I'd mind a little more. Camping was great fun. The turnout was nice, 11 ladies and 30 or so kids. I think only 3 were over age 5. Lots of little heads running around.

Sunday afternoon started with a little rain, enough to make everything good and wet. That cleared up and we ended up with a starry, cool, beautiful-for-a-campfire night. I suspect many little cheeks and fingers went to bed sticky!

Although not everyone was so lucky, the stars were aligned to make my children sleep through the night. I fully embraced the opportunity to stay up too late around the campfire. That is, after all, the whole point of going camping.

Monday dawned bright and beautiful. Swings were in high demand, swimming was invigorating, and the company was enjoyable once again. (That innocent looking little dude there? The one sharing the swing with Elsa? He might have made it a point to see every hour on the clock Sunday night. I'm pretty sure his mom wasn't impressed.)


Little miss Aila was one of our sitemates. Ain't she a cutie?

Judging by Oliver's reaction to leaving, I don't wanna go home, I don't wanna go home, Mom! everyone enjoyed the trip. He also discovered his pyrotechnic side.

I always find camping or other such adventures interesting. Just spending that amount of time with other kids makes you realize how different every single one is. You also see a side of your kids you don't see at home.

Fun, fun, fun.

Summer.

Ahh.

A camping we will go!

The kids and I are headed off to 'ladies camping' once the younger wakes from her nap. Unfortunately, we'll only be for one night, but it should be fun! That's Elsa enjoying the beautiful clear water of Long Lake last year on the same trip.

Here's hoping for no rain and temps above 50 through the night. I am prepared: everything from winter coats and long johns to swimsuits. That's MN camping for you, folks!

The clock on the wall says 3:20

And the hour between 2 and 3 took about 4 by other clock's standards. The one on the wall? I think it was feeling the aura around here and sympathizing. It's been one of those days that drags, one of those days where Miss Elsa seems to think she should be called Yes-your-highness-almighty-princess-what-may-I-do-for-you-now?

But now, two are down for the count, the sun is setting, a cup of tea with strawberry shortcake and my book are calling my name.

So, clock on the wall, despite you telling me it's 3:20, I'm going with 8:32. It's a much more friendly hour.

Happy Birthday!

To my wonderful mother! Traveling back from Alaska, after a week visiting K&R, not a bad way to spend it!



p.s. The dogs are also eagerly awaiting your arrival...so you can save them from the kids.

Just back from a morning run. It feels good to be out running again after so much time filled with good intentions. Up to about 3 miles as many mornings a week as I can make it work. Boo-ya!

Now the coffee's brewing, one kid is waking and fresh (made last night) blueberry muffins are awaiting. The start of another summer day that will be filled with:

• Mowing grass. Our mower was out of commission for a while...now we can't tell where the yard ends and the woods begin!
• Weeding garden.
• Picking blueberries
• Maybe even a trip to the strawberry farm.
• Finishing the chicken coop (that'd be the hubby)
  
• Laundry
• and I'm hoping for some sunshine...

but that might be wishful thinking.

Enjoy!