Enjoying being home

A last minute decision and some fast packing was the start of another road trip two weeks ago. We decided to accompany Rob to Reno and then to Lake Almanor for a familky reunion on Rob's Mom's side. His parents took the kids home with them after the weekend so I could drive to Tucson with Rob for a Habitat for Humanity service project a few days later... ah... freedom! After a whole lot of driving, some sunburns & sore muscles, and a fun getaway with my favorite person in the world, we are home again - there's no place like home! I'll post pictures soon.

This cactus resides by our front porch. It's generally a huge eye sore and a hazzard to the kids who like to ride their bikes dangerously close to it. What a pleasant surprise to find it in full bloom for the second time since we moved in almost a year ago.

Kids awaiting Sunday morning Dutch Babies. This was not staged, but true anticipation.



Sycamore Canyon

We took a drive up Sycamore Canyon yesterday. We can see the beautiful red rocked mountains from Cottonwood, but have never gone there. We thought perhaps we'd get out of the heat in a "canyon" but it turned out to be about 10 degrees hotter than home. We opted not to take the 3.7 mile hike down to the river even though it looked like paradise down there.

 

Part of the herd standing in the road, through which we had to drive. Audrey was certain she could lasso one of them and ride it home.



S'mores, the easy way!

A great end to a day all together. We toasted strawberry mallows that turned to a gooey cream and tasted like heaven. I like being able to clean up the stickiness right away in the convenience of our own backyard!