A Fun Trip South

We went south to visit SM's sister and her family this last weekend. They decided to take us for a hike. We decided to hike up a rock...I guess you could call it a hill or if you are from the East you could call it a mountain. It was very pretty and kind of slippery.

As you can see, I didn't make it to the top of the rock. I was a little bit scared of how steep it was a decided not to try. SM's sister stayed with me while the two guys and two little girls made it to the top. What a sight at the top!!

This part of the rock was a natural walk way...or during any rain, a natural water way. Not the best picture of the back of us...but a cool picture all the same.

Behind me is the rock we went up...and down.

Doesn't that just look cool? Thanks to SM's sister and her family for a great time!

Family Pictures

We had family pictures this week. Enjoy!!

Still keeping busy

As you can see from these following pictures, I am still working on my crocheting. I love keeping busy in the evenings while I watch TV. This burp cloth actually has a new edging that I made up. I took an edging pattern that I've used a whole lot and then I added an extra row of stitches and I love it. I'm not sure I'm the first person ever to do this...but nobody showed me how to do it...I just tried it.

The asters are out! I absolutely love these flowers and they make the backyard so beautiful.

Cucumbers anyone? My mom only wanted to plant one or two cucmber plants but I talked her into planting a half a row. Well, the consequence has been too many cucumbers. Sorry Mom, I just love cucumbers and thought you needed more plants. I forgot that you are the only one in your house that eats cucumbers.

As you can see, these are not typical cucumbers...I think they are called Armanian Cucumbers. They are my mom's favorite cucumber...and very yummy. They also get very large but don't get bitter so you can eat lots of cucumber. The dark green cucumber is a Japanese Long cucumber...and SM actually planted this type in our own garden.

Family times

This last week my brother and his family have been visiting. Which means that all my siblings and their families have gotten together to spend time together. I have to add that I've got a great family and very cute nieces and nephews. We've had a great time together. Here are just a few pictures from our fun times together.

Yep, his shirt does say "I do all my own stunts" and it fits my brothers' personality.

I've had a great time holding cute babies and talking to my brothers, sister-in-laws, and sister...oh don't forget my parents.

We try not to let our silliness overpower all our activities...but we don't always succeed.

Three Days of Rain - A Play

SM is in a play called Three Days of Rain by Richard Greenberg. There are only three actors in the play, which is why in the previous and following photos you only see the three of them. The play is dreary and full of shouting...okay, maybe not exactly all that...but I'm not used to hearing SM shout, and he does a lot of that in this play.

As you can probably guess from the photos, the three characters are in a triangle relationship. In the first act you meet a brother, sister and best friend. During this act they confront each other about certain parts of their past, trying to understand why they are where they are...and how the past has shaped their futures.

In the second act, these same three actors play the father, mother and best friend. The children from the first act came to conclussions about the past and now you (as the audience) get to go back to the past and see if the conclussions are correct.

It was a very interesting play to attend. It didn't leave you feeling joyous and happy, but I don't think it was supposed to. I really enjoyed watching SM on the stage. He loves theatre and used to act more regularly, but once he got married, went to law school, and finished a PhD...well, there really wasn't any time for him to act in the theatre...until now.

Mom's Flowers

Mom has many different kinds of flowers all year long. Some flowers will only come in the spring and others only in the summer and others, like roses, will blossom both spring and summer. Here are some of the summer flowers. Above are some holly-hocks. Mom has many different colors of holly-hocks.

And some blue morning glory. She also has some hot pink morning glory which I tried to take a picture of...but the photo was blurry and the blossom wasn't yet opened all the way and just didn't look very nice.

And here are some four o'clocks. They grow very quickly, very large bush like plants and have beautiful blossoms.

These are California poppies...vibrant oranges! As I'm typing this post I'm surpised that I know some of the names of the flowers. I really never paid attention to the names of flowers until recently. Now it seems more difficult for me to remember them...but apparently some of the names are sticking.

And this is a side view of one of Mom's flower gardens that didn't turn out as nice as I would have liked. Oh well, got to keep practicing with my camera.

Mom's Orchard

I really liked this picture of holly-hock flowers in with the apples. It's pretty.

This spring Mom, Dad and I pruned the fruit orchard. It was a lot of work and we didn't quite get to all the trees before the time ran out for pruning. Mom has something like twenty-three trees and I think we got to all but two. Anyway, above is a picture of some peaches. They aren't ripe yet but we hope they will be in two weeks when my brother and his family come from Seattle to visit.

Here are the Italian prunes...my grandmother all was pronouned them "pru-ens" so that might be the way it's said.

And apples...doesn't that apple has wonderful color?! I love how most of the apples are very green with red "sun-kisses."

And here is another peach picture. I just love the contrast of color...plus the memory of how yummy peaches taste!