Summer Sunday

We spent a lovely, perfect summer day with our friends enjoying the Flat River.  We kayaked for about five miles, enjoyed a delicious alfresco lunch at a nearby restaurant along the river, and then hiked over to the area's covered bridge.  To round out a great adventure (and a reward for all the calories we burned), we stopped for some ice cream on the way home. (Once again, my love of the color pink was noticed...this time at the ice cream shop.  An elderly couple stopped me to ask about my pretty ice cream cone and decided to copy my pretty pink choice of Cotton Candy Confetti. Yum!)

We put our kayaks in the river at Whites Covered Bridge...but unfortunately, it was burned by arsonists last year.
Matt and I had fortunately visited it last year, so we are lucky to have some pictures of the historical bridge.  

Fallasburg Covered Bridge

Another New Sign

I bought a new chalkboard sign and my husband wrote the first message.  I especially like that he wrote it in pink chalk!

My Garden

Sometimes I think I'm Snow White or Cinderella...really any Disney princess who has animals following her around.  I have rabbits, squirrels, birds, tree frogs, ground squirrels, a raccoon, cats, and dogs who all visit my backyard regularly...even when I'm out in it.  (I've named the ones who come to visit me regularly.) Now, I have a turkey that comes to visit me in my backyard. (Disclaimer:  I don't live in the country.  I live in a house in a neighborhood about one mile from the nearest expressway.)  Maybe they visit me because they know I won't harm them.  (I never, ever kill spiders...I relocate them outside.)  Maybe they visit me because I name them. Maybe they visit me because I talk to them.  Maybe they visit me because they know I'd be a vegetarian if I wasn't too lazy to make two meals...one for me and one for meat-loving Matt.  Maybe I should start wearing gowns and sing to them.

Meet Thomas...the latest addition to my backyard brood.

Because of the animal farm I seem to be creating, I didn't want to plant a garden and have it turn into a litter box or a snack bar for the animals.  So, while searching online for some different planting options, I came across this gem:  a vertical herb garden.  Matt built it for me and put in lots of herbs and a few small plants.  I just hope the next animal to join my menagerie isn't a deer or a giraffe...yet.

The Latest Addition

Yesterday, Matt and I headed over to explore St. Joseph.  We stumbled upon an art fair and it was pretty incredible to see what people can create. (I can't even draw a straight line with a ruler.) We enjoyed wandering through the exhibits and then did some shopping in the downtown area. While window shopping, I found a shop with the funny signs I love and couldn't resist this one.  It will go nicely with my collection.

Morning Workout

This morning's workout consisted of me pulling out the dryer and washing machine to rescue the dog who decided that hiding behind them would somehow help keep him safe during this morning's thunderstorm. And pulling them out is no easy feat.  They each have to come up and over a wood strip on the floor and have to be pulled out carefully so I don't disconnect the vent hose.  Oh, and it's a tight squeeze because the dryer and washing machine are tucked away in a closet.  It's a good thing he's so darn cute.

This is before he decided to get himself stuck behind the dryer.