scenes of summer

Summer started out lush and cool allowing breeze to blow through the house. It was a gardener's dream watching plants and vegetables thrive without standing there with a garden hose.

We were ready for school to end and the non-routine days of summer to begin. 

We enjoyed visiting with company from Holland, family and friend get-togethers and having lots of people stop by. 

We were able to host a family picnic and it was wonderful to catch up with  aunts, uncles, and cousins that we haven't seen in a long time.

Frog catching with a fun friend/cousin is a great memory for a four year old!

This spring Adam built me raised boxes for the vegetable garden and it was GREAT! For years we  battled clay in the garden and now with the help of  top soil, the vegetables have given  us a rewarding bumper crop.

We spent a week working on the pond. It was drained and then dug out some more with the excavators. We lined it with fresh clay to stop the leaking and rebuilt the rock wall. The boys loved the action and the noise.

What can I say? The boys are now riding the pigs....it is like watching a scene from the Swiss Family Robinson with their hollering and cheering. I can hardly take a picture from laughing so hard;)

Andrew started his "Lip-smacking Egg Business" at the beginning of summer and showed us his budding salesmanship character. He made his own badge and with confidence delivered his eggs to the customers.

At the beginning of summer I watched this baby robin climb out of its nest and settle on the top of the evergreen tree. Three little birds continued to chirp away as this daring robin took in the sights of a new world awaiting him. The robin did not rest long but instead plunged forward, furiously flapping its tender little wings. I was surprised at how well the robin did on its first try, eventually making its way into the safety of a tall bush. During the whole ordeal the mother bird chirped and hovered close by cheering her baby robin on. As she flew around she stayed  close by,  keeping her eyes on her young one.

I felt deeply for that mother robin. Its hard to see your little ones grow up and let them step out on their own. The temptation to "do it for them" instead of cheering from the sidelines is strong, maybe even lasting. I am just thankful that we were given another summer together as a family with my young ones still in the nest!