Is it July ALREADY?

 Hard to imagine that the summer is just flying by!!

The last two weeks have been busy. .

And the next month will disappear before we know it too!

Thought I would show a few photos from what we have been up to!!

 Tragically, 2 weeks ago. .

My friend and fellow youth group leader took her unborn baby of 31 weeks. .

And made a personal and permanent trip to heaven. .
To live with her Savior and God!!

She left behind her husband (also a fellow youth group leader) and her other two small children.

While her life is now GLORIOUS. .

Ours is a little empty. .

God is Sovereign. .

And He is holding up those that are looking to Him. .

And we are hopeful. .

For a future in His Kingdom. .

And that is really all that matters!

In the middle of those difficult weeks. .

We were able to enjoy a short trip to see our own family. .
And enjoyed several hours at the park playing. .

Where the slides. .

And catching fireflies were big events!!

We've also spent time getting ready for our county fair. .

which is here next week!

Baking. .electrical projects. .woodworking. .

and these. .

CHICKENS!

Unfortunately. .

We didn't realize until the fair books came. .

that one pen of poultry for judging had to include THREE chickens. .

We've had trouble with our chickens since we went to Vegas in March. .

We decided that initially a hawk was picking one off every day. .

And then it was raccoon issues!

We have been keeping them in the cages even during the day again until the past few days.

But still. .

we only have two Rhode Island Reds, one hen that we don't even know the variety of. .

we just call her "road runner chicken" because she is so stinkin fast!!

And our two new Silver barred rocks in the photo above. .

One of which just layed her first little egg last week!

A little over a week ago. .

We got a chirping box from the US postal service. .

Full of tiny chicks!! Devin and I shopped online and bought some black Australorps, Austra Whites, and Gold laced Wyandotte chicks. .These will take up residence with the other 5 girls in the coop.



Last weekend I had FIVE days off from paid working. .

And we enjoyed a few spectacular firework shows. .

Celebrated an early 17th birthday for THIS one. .

And did lots of cleaning and yard work!

Tristan and I landscaped the new flower bed on the north side of the house around the addition. .

And he even added a little "garden whimsy" in the way of this stone sun!

Or sunbathing turtle. .

whichever whimsy you choose to imagine!!

The weather has been HOT and dry again!!  

We had GREAT 80 degree temperatures for about a week. .

and this week we are back to 100 plus.

 Last night I walked into the house about 8:00, thinking it was feeling much cooler.

.and it was still 98 degrees. .

Woof!!

So the flowers are starting to look hot and bothered!!

And frankly, so is the gardener!!

I did a ton of mulching last weekend with some wood chips given to us. .

Since they were from the country, the likelihood that they had herbicides was really low. .

and it made my memory garden look nice and fresh. .

and will help enhance and cool the soil!!

Though I was anything but enhanced OR cooled by the time I was done throwing it down!!

Such is the life though!!

Right??

Anyhoo. .

That's it for us. .Thanks for stopping by!

Have a super week!!