Pool Time

We told them that "This Shot is for Grandma!"

CANNONBALL!!!!

Catching Up... Not Quite

We're here! We haven't fallen off the face of the earth. All is well. We're having a terrific summer.

During most of June I took some pictures here and there, not too many. But never seemed to have a story to tell here on the blog. No big adventures.

Then we spent the first two weeks of July at the Sanders' lake house in Florida. I have a bunch of pictures from all the fun we had during that wonderful visit!

It is my intention to get back on the blog train, and I figured I'd start with today's fun - while it is still fresh, and go back and fill in the missing days, weeks and months, as I get an opportunity! Sooner the better, I know!!

I love you all, thank you for your kindnesses, support, and affection. :)

Casa de Fruta

Casa de Fruta is a (ahem) produce stand in Pacheco Pass about an hour's drive from home. It is a hundred-year old produce stand/restaurant/gas station/deli/winery/rv park/hotel/amusement park/animal sanctuary/and...  on the route between the valley and Monterrey Bay. 

Kristen and Summer are here visiting for the week, and this was our first major excursion. And what a good time we had! 

We got to play on the retired steam engine...

 And ride the two-mile-long narrow gauge rail.

We saw many interesting things on our train ride, not the least of which was "Kevin." Named after the rare bird from Pixar's "UP", Kevin is the name we gave to each of the many peacocks we saw during our visit. 

We took a few moments to smell the roses, while we waited...

and waited...

...more or less patiently

For our carousel ride
on a beautiful double-decker carousel.

These little girls are each so packed full of personality. 

They are keeping us on our toes!! 

silly! silly! silly! 

Then it was time for our Sluicing Adventure, as dusty ol' crusty ol' prospectors!

"It's Gold, I Tell Ye! GOLD!"

Bella's R.O.U.S.

The other morning, as Jeff was leaving for work, I heard him, out on the patio, yelling to Bella: "Bella, Over Here!" "Bella, No." "Bella, Aagh, Here!" 

I HAD to go see. There was a largish "Rodent-Of-Unusual-Size" under the grill, and they were trying get it. They did at last flush it from under the grill cover, and corner the doomed varmint by the patio step. 

Before the corpse was buried, I let Bella check it out.

Venus in Transit

Jeff brought home a couple welding lenses for us to observe with! 

He was even able to use them with the camera.

Can you see Venus between the 2 and 3 o'clock position? 

and our feast of fresh picked fruit, nuts and cheese. 

A Little Exploring

We decided that looked a bit steep - especially considering the dry, loose surface debris.

but we found something else to climb!

we watched the deer, the roadrunners, the clouds, and had a little snack 

Mimi even got to ride a pony! ;-)

God Spark

God Spark

So that's what I've been calling it. 

The god spark in every living thing. 

A couple days ago, Liv told her sister not to put a fence around it  - "you need to open the gate and let it shine out" "don't be mad, let your heart be shiny and glowy." 

I encourage them to foster a "Happy Heart"

I ask them how they feel inside when they've done something generous or loving, what color their spark is? Is it dull or shiny? It's a bit fascinating to listen to their responses.

This morning we got terrible news that one families in our MOMS had their new baby in the hospital (and later in the day that she was gone). I asked the girls to come together with me and we would feel our bright shiny god spark, and send loving energy to Baby Mia. 

It's as close as I can get to teaching them to pray....

~~~~*~~~~

Last night at dinner Liv asked, "Did God made the clouds?" 

me: "What do you think?"

"I think God made the clouds." pause... "How did God make the clouds?"

"How would you make a cloud?"

pause... "I would use fog."

"That's a great idea!" "I bet that would work!"