July...

Mountain... Still shedding her winter coat!

Water Play...

Cute sprinkler passed along from Matt...Willing uncle...
Boys...
Warm summer day...
And a laundry tub for rinsing off the grass...
FUN!!

Sand Play...

It's a pile of sand...Enclosed in a box...
In the back yard...
Playtime...
And sand = JOY!!!

Sunday Drive...

Took Mom & Patsy up the mountain to visit old memories...The Gilbert Cabin in Brightwood...
Familiar old road...
Many changes...cabin become house...
The river changed as well...
Beautiful in a different place.
The Pfaender Cabin just above Rhododendron...
Reburbished...but still so like we remember...
Log steps & railing leading up to the loft bedroom...
River rock fireplace handcrafted by my grandparents...Kitchen definitely upgraded a bit...Outdoor fireplace still in the yard...The Zigzag River still a stone's throw away.... Beautiful!!

Friends...

Watching the day...Virgil & Taylor

Isaacs....

Gathering...My bliss!!!!
Grands!!!! All of them together!Caroline, Elsie, Jayde, Spike, Colin, Grace, Thayen, Esther, Huck, Brook, Isabel & Reuben!!!!
My Kids!!!! All of them together!!
Taunia, Tami, Tara, TJ, Talia, Travis, Taylor & Todd
Girls self picture taking...
So much fun!!!!

Introductions...

Thayen, Virgil & Elsie...Virgil & Dave...Brook, Elsie & Reuben... Great Grama Donna & Brook...Brook & Grace... Family!!!!

Sunshine...

A lovely day for the Montavilla Farmer's Market...My girl, Taunia, selling cheese making kits...And illuminating the mountain...
Perfect!!!

Bales...

Gracing our field...Tractor waiting...
Boys playing...
Signs of summer!!!

Virgil...

Gets fed...Kissed...
A ride...
He's lovin' it!

Fireworks...And Memories

We sat on the deck, Mom & I...As the waxing crescent moon danced with the lights of the of 4th of July Celebrations across the valley. "I remember," she said..."The summer we were building this house, your dad and I. There was no deck...just the shell of a house. We put two lawn chairs in front of the livingroom window and watched the firework displays just like now. It was the summer of 1972."

Her tender smile reached her eyes...she passed it to me.

Independence Day!!!

O beautiful for spacious skies...For amber waves of grain...For purple mountains majesties... Freedom!!!!

Soaring...

Under clear blue skies...Watching from her favorite tree...
Taking flight...
Harriet...
Is hunting!!!