June was a very busy month! We went as Ma and Pa on the the youth trek for the first time. It was fun. Tiring, not just because of the walking, but interacting with teenagers and their personalities. I have not laughed so hard in a long time. It was fun to remember that time of my life. It also made me remember why I am grateful to be done with that time. There were a lot of jokes, flirting, and insecurities, but all in all it was a good experience. We might do it again. Maybe...
In other news, Manolo is gone. He disappeared randomly one night. It makes me sad to not know what happened to him. I hope he just go taken in by another family and is happy, but we do have a lot of predators and mean cats around this neighborhood, so it's possible he was eaten. He was the best cat, with the best personality and temperament. I don't think we will have another as good as him. Jamir told me I had to find another that looked just like him (I think as a way to discourage me from finding another so quickly). Little does Jamir know how easy it is to find kittens, and I found Smokey (Smokey's extras), a little grey Manolo look-alike. Grandma Steflik got the privilege of looking after him while we went to trek (right after his neuter appointment too). Thanks Grandma!
Hopefully he is as good a cat as Manolo. He eats table scraps and is a little more independent than Manolo. And he got stuck up our tree once already (Jamir had to get the tall latter out and get him down; an experience neither wants to repeat). But I'm hoping the longer he is around, the more he will turn into another great cat.
Lastly, the garden is going crazy! I'm so happy with it this year. I'm a little afraid the gourds are growing too quickly and might overtake everything...I'm excited for next year already when we can expand!
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| gourd flowers |
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| breakfast on the deck |
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| first tomato about the 2nd week of June. |
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| the solution to the wall being to uneven. This bathroom cannot be finished entirely until the master is so we can use it while we work on the tub. |
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| middle of June garden |
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| "let's see what paint tastes like" Can't do anything with this kid |
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| danger, Danny |
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| one day I got the urge to haul all our rocks over to cover this section up...I was so sore and tired that day |
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| much better, and no weeds now! |
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| Smokey, the cat. He had fleas when we first got him. So I gave him a few baths. It was a bit traumatic for us both. (thankfully the neuter place also had flea treatment too) |
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| winning Jamir over by sitting on his foot |
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| clearance rose blooming |
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| he likes the skylights |
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| Our trek family. We are missing one boy. They took professional pics on the trail. Ill add those when we get them. |
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| this tent has been used so much. |
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| first campsite |
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| the second day. I didn't take that many pictures because I wanted to save my battery to ask how the boys were doing. |
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| little Smokey out in the garden |
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| it collapsed from all the weight |
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| I hope to make a more stable structure in the future and add more beds |
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| Danny loves the kitty. A little too much |
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| 4th of July. I didn't realize Ben had another Shark shirt that was patriotic. |
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| prepping the bath for tile. |
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| taking a break at the splash pad |
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| Benji wanted to wear the coat on top of his dinosaur outfit to make him look strong |
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| we are not professionals. But the vanity will go over the less perfect parts and it's much better than before. |
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| Lake Applegate with some friends from Jacksonville |
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| Benji and Brooks. 4 days apart. But they wouldn't turn around for a picture |
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| Trying to get at Smokey...not sure how Smokey likes it, but he keeps coming back. |
