Odds and Ends

Here are the last of the most recent grandchildren pictures. I tried my hand at cropping a few of these. Suggestions, advice, and comments are all welcome.

Aunt Rose, reading "Windy Day Puppy" to the children...and Rocky.The children love bouncing on the trampoline when they are here. Claire is on the other side, watching that Nelly doesn't get too near the edge.Renee, reading "Doctor Dan, the Bandage Man" to the kids. That's been one of the biggest favorites in the book department. I don't know how many times I've read it to them. It's a pretty cute story.Nelly, ready for church.Mona has been kind of short-changed in these posts, so here are a few of her. Isn't she a cutie?Tons of personality!For perspective, here she is, standing next to Rocky. She hasn't had a moment's timidity around him, and Rocky has behaved very well with her. For the most part.
Inge loves roses.

I really like the way this picture turned out, with the natural light from the window. This is one of the ones I cropped.Poor Lewis was suffering from allergies while he was here. You can tell by his eyes in this one, but I think it's a cute picture, none the less.And that ends the pictures from the grandchildren's visit. Not sure what I'll post now :-( Maybe I'll have to go visit them and restock.

River Walk - Part 2

The rest of the river pictures, plus a few more thrown in for good measure. Here is Lewis, still sailing his boat.His other activity was throwing rocks in the water. Some of them were quite large - at least for him. They required two hands and a good deal of effort to throw. He and Anoma were systematically emptying their little parcel of beach of all rocks, large and small. It must have been fun. It kept them busy a good long while.
Patience is a fisherman (or girl), waiting for a bite.
Sweet little feet
Peter and Momo
By the way, today was Peter's birthday. Happy Birthday, dear Peter. We're glad you belong to us!Oh, look! She caught something. Does a stick count?
Time to go home...
While Rose was here, John took her up in a helcopter. Here they are, flying above our house.
Our dear friends, the Hiddens, have planted lots of lavender on their property. Today I got to go visit Naomi, and she sent me home with this wonderful armload of blossoms. I hung a few for drying, but kept the major part out to just enjoy fresh. I *love* lavender! This is English lavender, and it has a fatter flower stalk than most of my plants. I must get some to plant around here.

River Walk - Part 1

One afternoon while the kids were here, we took a walk to the river.
Stopping to examine a horsetail fern.
It's a lovely walk through the woods to the river. Nelly got tired and decided to ride.
Charming little buttercup, dainty little buttercup....is just about to take over the entire property! These were in the woods, but they have spread all over our planted beds and into the lawn. They are vying, at present, with the ladies mantle for top billing on the place. I keep suggesting to Tony that this might not be such a good thing - they are choking other things out - but he remains unconvinced. They look very sweet. Here is our river. It's pretty shallow right now, and those rocks are slippery! Brave Peter spent nearly the entire time out in the middle, walking all around with Momo on his back. I think his crocs must have been particularly good for river walking, because I didn't see him slip once, while I, with my camera slung around my neck, had to take very tentative, cautious steps so that I didn't end up in the drink. But oh, it was fun. And cold!Please note that he is on the *far* side of the river! It gets a bit deeper in the middle and the water runs fast.Inge, among the grasses.
And here is our lovely Rose.
I like this picture. These belong to Nelly.
Sorry that this cut Claire's face off, but it was so cute of Nelly that I wanted to include it.Sittin' and chillin'
Aunt Rose, helping Lewis find a place to sail his little police boat.
Inge, looking for a likely "fishing spot." Her fishing pole was made up of a stick, a string, and an opened paper clip. She didn't catch anything, but not for lack of trying. I think Tappa needs to take her fishing next time she comes.
Claire is such a bright and happy mama. I love it.
I was going to put up a couple more, but my connection is balking, so I'll try to finish tomorrow.