Crazy Pool Antics

Sunday, July 27, 2014 –

The Phipps kids came over Sunday afternoon to help us slaughter Aspen’s meat chickens. (I’ll link to her post about that when she publishes it) While the boys were doing the dirty work, Stockton and Josiah had the pool to themselves…well almost…

You have to be ready to defend your territory from wasps!

DSC_0943 DSC_0944 DSC_0945 DSC_0946

After the chickens were all dispatched, then the big kids got in on the fun.

DSC_0960 DSC_0962 DSC_0964 DSC_0965 DSC_0966 DSC_0969 DSC_0970 DSC_0971 DSC_0972 DSC_0973 DSC_0974 DSC_0975

Here’s a little video I took:

 

Snapshots of Summer

Friday, July 25, 2014 –

DSC_0928

Potted flowers really starting to bloom

DSC_0929

Some of the peach trees in the foreground have really taken off, while others struggle to stay alive. Beyond the pool you can see the corn growing–or what’s left of it after the horses broke into the yard one night.

DSC_0930

Colorful beach towels hanging out to dry on the back fence.

DSC_0932

The sweet meat squash starting to spread beyond its bed.

DSC_0933

This sunflower seems to smiling.

DSC_0916

A bit of garden bounty.

DSC_0725

Carolina with free time for legos.

DSC_0726

A gathering of toads on the back porch under the air conditioner.

20140724_104027-001

Stockton shows off our first “chocolate” bell pepper. (he still won’t eat them, no matter what they’re called)

DSC_0784

Cool evenings after the heat of the day is past.

DSC_0787

Aspen’s chocolate orpington rooster, Little Don, roosting on the garden box, is nothing but fluff.

DSC_0920

After a long days work, Cimarron, Laredo and Nathan gang up on the mowing.

DSC_1001

When you’re on night duty, you have to catch an early morning nap.

Pink Ball in the Sky

Thursday, July 24, 2014 –

The sunrise and sunset were very similar today.

DSC_0909

This was the view at 7:21 am

DSC_0921

By 9:09 pm it had moved across the sky, but looked about the same.

DSC_0923

 

Horny Toads: Worn Horns and Stubby

Tuesday, July 15, 2014 –

Stockton caught this big guy. He seems pretty old and worn. He let him go after we snapped these pictures.

DSC_0755

He’s caught this one before, but came across him again. He calls him stubby.

DSC_0927

Friends for Supper – Birthday party #3

Sunday, July 13, 2014 –

This afternoon we invited the Phipps family out for supper. Stockton and Carolina had been wanting to see Elaine and Josiah especially since they just had birthdays. I fixed Stockton’s favorite cake, German chocolate with pecan/coconut frosting. Aspen also made a form of red velvet cake colored with beet puree. The color was nice, but we decided it needed more cocoa and sweetening.

DSC_0737 DSC_0738 DSC_0739 DSC_0740

Jordan Jenkins Wedding

Saturday, July 12, 2014 –

We had a nice time attending the beautiful wedding of some of our good friends. I snapped a few pictures on my phone while we were at the reception.

CameraZOOM-20140712200314124

Susan and Greg Ramsey

CameraZOOM-20140712200432907

Brent and Delane Brown

CameraZOOM-20140712200438713

Nathan and Brent talking cow prices and the weather.

CameraZOOM-20140712201514514

Laura Davidson and grandson, Trenton

Look how cute Carolina looked in her Regency-style dress.

DSC_0719 DSC_0720 DSC_0721

I have a fun phone app called magisto. You can put together fun videos really quickly. If you don’t put your own together, the app will create one for you and surprise you with the results. This video was one of those surprise videos. It’s kind of amusing how it was put together and the music chosen. I thought it was kind of funny. You might get a kick out of it, too. Plus, it has pictures of Jordan and her dress which somehow have now gotten deleted off my phone.

A Swim Party

Friday, July 11, 2014 –

We’ve recently gotten acquainted with the Buxton family. There grandfather is the preacher of the church of Christ in Matador. They are here for the summer and then moving to Edmond, OK in the fall. They are also a homeschooling family. Their five girls and one cousin spent the day with us today.

DSC_0710

Pool Duty

Tuesday, July 8, 2014 –

Stockton learned to vacuum the pool today. He did a very good job. We’ve figured out that you can just submerge the vacuum hose, getting all the air out, then cover the end with your hand and pull it out quickly. It starts a strong suction that continues as long as we’re careful not to raise up the end too high. While it sucks water and we run the vacuum head over the sides and bottom of the pool, the dirty water is run into one of the garden beds. No electricity is used at all. It’s so much easier than trying to hook onto the filter pump and changing the filter bag continually.

DSC_0682

Prayer Request

DSC_0904

To everyone who has enjoyed reading of our daily joys and fun times, I ask you now to pray for us. Your prayers are needed. Isn’t it a hard thing when joys are turned to sorrows?