Seriously...

There's just not that much to blog about. For the past couple weeks, we've been doing a little bit of school every morning. We usually do a few weeks in summer to keep us in shape for the school year. Not even piano lessons are scheduled in the summer, our teacher just calls us for a pickup lesson every few weeks. Mama has continued with some gardening in the back yard, and we've gotten some good rain recently. It seems strange to be planning a vacation when we're clearly on one already, but shopping lists are started for our trip to Pisgah next month. A new tent was purchased and set up a few weeks ago and today all the sleeping bags are piled up to be counted in the living room. We've been spending some time over at our friend Ashley's house while we finish the filming of our latest movie, Search for the Lost Ruby II. We've had to hurry up the filming since Jesse will be starting college life August 25th! He's been buying books and setting up a schedule and is very excited. The rest of us don't start until the day after Labor Day.

I'll post again as soon as there is something post-worthy! Right now, we're pretty comfortable just enjoying the summer. (yawn!)

Blueberries!

Don't you love summer? Last week we visited a nearby farm to pick blueberries! I must say that we only paid for about half of the berries we left the farm with, considering how much we ate as we picked! Mama suggested that the farmer should weigh people before and after their visit and charge them by the weight they gained while picking! How can you resist?

 

One of several buckets! We left with three gallons!

 

And now for blueberry pies, cakes, cobblers, pancakes, muffins...

Grand Finale

Here is the promised video, the grand finale of the Birmingham Thunder on the Mountain fireworks show! It translates to video much better than I expected! Enjoy!

Independence Day

We had a wonderful fourth! It was a pretty quiet day until five o'clock when our good friends, the Heinss, showed up. We had a bratwurst dinner, then Daddy read the Declaration of Independence. Even when politics and war are driving me crazy, hearing those words always fills me with the joy of being an American! Let us never forget what a blessing that is.

After that, it was off to the fireworks! Thunder on the Mountain is the name of the Birmingham fireworks show, and they are set off right over the Vulcan! This year, we stopped right outside of Vulcan Park to watch the show and it was spectacular, we could even hear the sound of the fireworks launching! After we arrived home, we set off several of our own in the driveway before heading to bed!

We have very few pictures, but I will try to post a short video of the fireworks show!

 

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Landscaping

The Kawell Landscaping and Lawn Service Company has visited again!

Mama's been planting stepping-stones!

Here is a video of the area we're calling the upper deck. Isn't it lovely? (And yes, our neighbors do have a pack of dogs, how could you tell?)

We'll be having our Fourth of July BBQ up here on Friday, so I'll be sure to get some pictures of the upper deck in use!

What's up

Last week was Jesse's senior piano recital!

His cake, quite appropriately, was purchased from Publix (where he works), but Mama wasn't sure what message to have put on it. Play well? Great job? This is your last recital, make it your best? She decided on Congratulations, but is still not sure what we're congratulating him for!

She also prepared a lovely spread of other treats for his reception.

Jesse and Sam opened with a Bach duet...

Then Jesse played the 'Pathetique', an entire Beethoven sonata... from memory, of course!

Sam played several pieces during what he referred to as the "intermission", before Jesse came out again to finish with Debussy and Rachmaninoff. Beautifully done, boys!

Little Evie (you knew I couldn't get through a post without mentioning her!) sat through the whole performance like a little angel, most of the time in Granny's lap!

It was a busy day for the Kawells, since we had also had some guests visiting that morning. Andre and Angela, cousins from Tennessee, dropped by with their sweet babies: four-year-old Claire and two-year-old Cade.

Only a couple pictures, we were having too much fun!

Father's day! (really)

Although we celebrated Father's day the day before (see the earlier posts) we spent the actual holiday at our friends' lake house. It has become tradition for our good friends the Harpers to invite the church to their lake house to celebrate Father's day and even have the service lake-side.

The ladies finish laying out the food.

A few people are still finishing dessert.

Jesse helps Sam onto the Jet-Ski.

Chris and Nathan on The Tube!

A less dramatic picture!

I guess this picture sums up the overall success of mine (Abby) and Sam's skiing lessons.

Although we did get up several times!

Blow this picture up to see how beautiful it is! Daddy's the one on skis.

Samuel dunks!

Gorgeous sunset!

Thank you Harpers, and happy Father's Day!