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!

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

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Here’s a little video I took:

 

Snapshots of Summer

Friday, July 25, 2014 –

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Potted flowers really starting to bloom

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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.

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

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The sweet meat squash starting to spread beyond its bed.

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This sunflower seems to smiling.

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A bit of garden bounty.

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Carolina with free time for legos.

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

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

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Cool evenings after the heat of the day is past.

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

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

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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.

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This was the view at 7:21 am

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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Susan and Greg Ramsey

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Brent and Delane Brown

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Nathan and Brent talking cow prices and the weather.

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Laura Davidson and grandson, Trenton

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

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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.

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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.

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Prayer Request

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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?

 

Atlanta’s Birthday

Saturday, July 12, 2014 –

Today is Atlanta’s birthday. I wish she was in Texas so we could spoil her a little today, but I’m sure Jordan will make sure her day is special.

Here she is when she was about 3 and Cimarron was a year old.

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Now she’s a wife and mother to little Marian. We’re so proud of her and Jordan.

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