Garden Gems plus....

Here is one of the 10+ watermelons from the garden. This one was 35 pounds and had to be carried in the wheelbarrow!

35 pounds of watermelon

It barely fit in the fridge.  We had to invite 3 other families to share it with us.

Dew Sparkles

 Why does some dew gather in small droplets and other times not so small?

Are you at home, Big Ears?

Sept 9, 2012.  Starting to get the fall garden going.

Mustard greens?  I can never keep all the greens straight.

We had the pool to ourselves on the last day it was open!

Huh?

A family of turkeys comes over for a visit.

Our newest Pathfinder: a "Friend".  They went on a campout this weekend.  Thankfully the weather was beautiful.  Didn't get any photos of it, sadly.

Sept 16, 2012.  More stuff in - broccoli, brussel sprouts and collards.

Continuing summary of some super summer activities

Don't you love my tongue twisters?  Anyway, here's more of what we've been up to the last month or so.

Upper Hiwassee on a foggy day

Playing in Lake Ocoee (Parksville to some)

St. Joseph's lighthouse on Lake Michigan

The waves were large on the right and washed over several times. The boys had to jump up the pole to avoid getting their shoes wet.

Braving the frigid waters on Sunday (12th August)

D and K, the happy couple

G, L and R with Uncle and Aunt from RSA

Some of us cousins with uncle E and aunty R.

The reason we were in Michigan - D and K's wedding - beautiful!

At the reception

Indiana Dunes

The canyons of Chicago.  It was foggy and darkish - even though only mid-afternoon

I see they transplanted Jo'burg's Ponte to Chicago!

First day of school.  Missed getting one of S.

One of S's creations on a rainy afternoon

A walking animal of some sort

D and S on the swinging bridge, upper Hiwassee.  We stayed for the siren and opening of the second gate before heading on down to kayak this section.

At the start of the section

Hitting a few minor bumps

We stopped at a teeny island

Shall I get in or not? (he had previously been snorkeling so was prolly a little cold)

At a w/e pathfinder convention at Cohutta.  

What?  I'm at the end of 19 photos?  Well, there are PLENTY more but that's a small snippet of our activities this past month.  Am working 20+ hours a week now which fills up the time very quickly!

Oh, all right! I'll add 3 more:

Some of the rain in our area on August 29

Smile!

First Pathfinders for the year.  These are just Companions - we have about 30!

I'll put some gardening pics in the garden update posts.  Oooh, I hear thunder!  It's been incredibly hot and HUMID today so maybe the rain will cool it off and condense some of the moisture in the air! (and maybe not....)

Summer Activities

A little behind on some of our activities due to our busy-ness.... Here are some pics of what's been happening behind the scenes...

Our private waterfall with deep swimming hole

Did I say private?  Well, we do have some other residents to contend with!  This is the Northern Water Snake.  He seemed bold...shivers!

And we can jump from the top of our little waterfall.

With lots of smooth, flat rock to sunbathe on.

Contending for the floaties!

Bald River falls with friend, D, along.

Ravenous after floating down the Hiwassee

Trying out the mall bungee jumps

Supper after blueberry picking and swimming.  This is at the high point of the Cherohala Skyway.

Melons, tomatoes from the garden, and other delicious food.  Seems like we're always eating!

A few of us went to the "World's Longest Yard Sale" on hwy 127.  This picture in no way expresses the intense, mind-boggling, oppressive and soul-destroying heat and humidity present here!

The Sequatchie valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the world, without a doubt!  Just remove the heat and humidity and this would be paradise!

Playing at the Coolidge Park fountains.  They need to put ice in the water, just saying....

 The summer is still on-going....so look for more updates of various kinds!

New England Contrasts

This is not what you were expecting, but I just wanted to post some pictures of our previous visit to North Bridge in 2011, compared with our visit yesterday.

Winter, 2011

Summer 2012

Winter 2011

Summer 2012

Did you notice a tree, or section of tree was missing?  Here's evidence:

These were lopped off sometime recently.  You can see the trees/limbs in the winter shots leaning WAY out over the path on the other side of the bridge.