Last Week of July

July is just a busy month! In some ways it's nice to reach the end of a busy season, but July also spells high summer to me and August points toward fall and a new season and new seasons always bring a little bittersweet with them.

As usual, my week began at the flower shop.

Tuesday found me in my front yard enjoying a visit from my friend Christy who came all the way from NYC! Incidentally, I was to have been there this weekend but of course covid changed all that. Instead Christy was at my house.

Wednesday we got together with extended family to celebrate my mom's birthday. Chocolate cake was in order!

Yay for cousin time!

The chocolate cake was quite a treat!

We said hello to Job the donkey.

And we checked out the gardens at Grandma's house.

And we even got a safe selfie.

Thursday I was back at flowers.

And Friday David turned 14!

Two of my monarchs went into chrysalis (and as of today I have 5 in chrysalis!).

Friday evening Drew finally had the chance to graduate high school! Way to go Drew! We are so proud of you!

Drew begins at IUPUI for Business and Education next month!

By Saturday I needed a little alone time and took myself off to Eagle Creek for a hike and some painting.

David had a friend over to celebrate his birthday.

And I took some pictures of my garden, which is finally getting back to capacity after many years of fighting voles.

The side garden looks so pretty right now with all the hydrangeas and the purple phlox and hostas.

And now we are waiting to find out if the kids will go to school this week as planned or if the start of school will be pushed back. Such is life.

And That Was July

Summer was July. 

Our weather has been mild this year. The grass is still green and naturally watered.  

The warm weather will continue at least another two and a half months, but when the school bell tolls real summer comes to an end.

We had a quiet July 4th this year, having just returned from our travels. We met friends and neighbors at our local parade. It's tradition now.

I love the miniature ponies!

We went downtown to see fireworks that evening. Some of them were up close and personal like this lighted lantern.

I do make a point of trying to get the kids to our neighborhood pool regularly. It seems like "just another thing to do." I forget that I feel so relaxed once I go and it's also a chance to sneak in a bit of reading time.

My gardens are suffering terribly from the vole problems. But the back patio is putting up a pretty good fight and looks so inviting. Just three weeks after this picture was taken and the garden seems nearly double this size with the black-eyed susans in bloom and morning glories taking over the sunflower.

Our electricity went out one stormy day and we had four extra mouths to feed. I just happened to check instagram and discovered it was Dress Like a Cow Day at Chikfila (a.k.a. free dinner). We snapped those costumes together and carpooled everyone down the road. Dinner solved!

Rachel had the time of her life this July returning to the land of her birth (Pittsburgh) for a three week intensive theological training program. She went with her school buddy, Miriam. The poor girls were not happy to leave their mountaintop experience and return to normal life.

We celebrated my mom's birthday with an all cousin swim party at a friend's house.

It's always fun to see baby Olivia!

Not to mention enjoy the food that all the sisters cobbled together! YUM!

Yay for cousins and cupcakes and funny faces!!

Laura makes sure I take lots of tea breaks. She sends me little cards and notes all the time with suggestions that we "have a tea party." I'm glad she enjoys them!

My mom had a show with other Indiana children's book illustrators so we went up to have a look and celebrate.

Andrew enjoyed hanging out with his Bible study friends for a day at Kentucky Kingdom.

While Andrew was messing about on rollercoasters we were attending an Indians baseball game. The weather was perfect and it was such an enjoyable evening.

The cotton candy was delicious too.

I went painting with my mom on her birthday. We found a spot on the canal below the art museum until a thunder shower came up and we had to abandon it.

But the sun came out again and we found another spot to paint flowers.

Another day and another tea party with Laura.

David turned 11 last week!

We decided on a kayak adventure to celebrate his birthday.

It was our first time out on the water this summer. It's always fun, beautiful, and relaxing, even if we are worn out afterwards.

Finally the movie we had been waiting for for years was made available on Amazon: the newly made Swallows and Amazons movie!!!!!!! I couldn't believe we were finally, truly, actually watching it! The scenery was lovely and it's a real "gentle" movie. It's not overly exciting but neither is the book, really. I highly recommend it!

We often had a few extra friends around to play with -- neighborhood kids for computer time and friends for the afternoon.

And then on the very last day of July was were BACK TO SCHOOL! Crazy, I know. The high schoolers started several days before us. This is what comes of the "balanced calendar." But I do love the two week fall, winter, and spring breaks. This is James' last year at home before he heads to high school next year. David is entering middle school in 6th grade now and Laura is in second grade.

So we've left July but are bringing with us some lovely summer memories and looking forward a year of growth and development ahead.

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July

July has been a full month! Rachel headed back to high school today, beginning her sophomore year. In some ways, that means summer is over. At least the rest of us have one more week before we start our schooling.

The month began with a trip to the Indianapolis Museum of Art with some of the high schoolers from church for a picnic and tour.

Mom came along and, as always, got the young kids going on fairy houses:

The gardens always help me to feel a million miles away:

This was a new flower to me:

Everywhere you look there is beauty:

Then came the Fourth of July and the town's parade:

And a picnic in our backyard:

 The kids had a fabulous time and had some sort of game involving shields going on:

Andrew and Michael made it up to the roof to make some repairs. This was a fun adventure for Andrew:

Laura is my little tag-along. She loves to be out in the garden with me. Here's the garden at the beginning of the month:

James had the privilege of taking a week-long art camp. Every morning I got to drive him through adorable Zionsville, oohing and aahing at these houses all the way. James made pottery and used all kinds of mediums to make art creations throughout the week. Definitely a highlight of the summer for him.

We had lots and lots and lots of rain! We tried to visit our secret beach and instead found this: (and the kids couldn't understand why I wouldn't let them go in!!)

College Park VBS is a family tradition. Like last year, I spent most of that time shopping at Goodwill Outlet. It's the best chance of the year for me to do that. More on my finds in another post.....

Andrew and I spent hours and hours on genealogy, getting ready for 4h. This is our fourth year to do this and, of course, each year gets more and more involved. This year we made the surprising discovery that Michael and I are seventh cousins once removed!!! Who could have guessed! Our mother's both descend from the same set of Cady grandparents in Connecticut in the late 1600's! (This is a picture of Gen. William T. Clark):

VBS:

Cousin John went to VBS too and at the end of the week we went up the street to mom's for lunch!

We also ended VBS week with 4h project turn in:

This was David's first year in 4h proper:

James entered his adorable muskrat painting:

And that same day Michael and I celebrated our 16th anniversary:

The next morning we were back to 4h to turn in James' medieval knight:

The following week we celebrated mom and Davids' birthdays with a picnic at Eagle Creek:

Laura had her yearly MRI and the report looks good! She can repeat it again next year.

James cleaned up the boys' room. Too bad I don't have a before picture. It was epic. This room is where all their creating takes place.

One evening we headed out to the 4h fair to have a look at all the kids' projects and to be amazed by Galaxy Girl who climbed up 127 feet without any safety devices.

Oh yes, we were all amazed and quite scared.

Andrew was excited to win Reserve Champion on his genealogy

Milkshakes at the fair:

And the horse pull -- we never cease to be amazed at these incredibly powerful horses:

And we made it back to our secret beach. Quite a transformation from two weeks previous.

Our last week was spent at Covfamikoi, our church presbytery's family conference, held in Kentucky. It's a great week of fellowship (without having to cook!), good teaching, classes for the kids, and lots of sports activities.

We always love the talent night and the funny little extras that get added in, like the "churches challenge":

The best part of all is forging friendships for the children which will hopefully continue on into adulthood. This volleyball court is one of the favorite activities for the kids!

Here is Laura with her class:

And this is how everyone feels at the end of camp week:

And now that July is nearly over, you can see the amazing progress the garden has made! I think I better get out and pick beans!

Enjoy your weekend!