Nature Walk

After hanging out for a few hours at the Wye, we headed up past Tremont to do a hike we've never done before.   It turned out to be more of a nature walk, as usual, but, it was great!  There was a beautiful waterfall and so much interesting stuff along the way.   The kids were so excited and declared this their favorite place to go!  We climbed down to the waterfall, which was not easy.  I took a pretty hard fall and my camera slammed on the rocks.  I was so surprised that it still worked!  The waterfall was really unique, nothing huge or spectacular...just different.  The kids think we're going to bring our tube and tube down it!  They caught so many salamanders.  Beautiful butterflies were everywhere.   We heard lots of different birds but only spotted one...we're not sure what it was.     We spotted Caddisflies mating, an empty dragonfly nymph skin, lots of flowers we've never seen before, what we think was some kind of slime mold, and much more.     The kids wanted to go drive through the loop after that, but, it was already after 6pm and we're going back tomorrow morning for bird banding.   I think the mountains...or just being out in creation....is our happy place.   What a great day.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Pipevine Swallowtail, and Red Spotted Purple.

Caddisflies

Shovel-Nosed Salamander (pretty sure?)

Blue Ridge Two-Lined Salamander

Shovel-Nosed Salamander

Spirobolid Millipede (or two?)

Would love to find out what this stuff was growing on this vine.  Looks like some type of slime mold?

Ethan is all about anything to do with survival, hunting, trapping, etc.   He read a book about making shelters and spent all Sunday afternoon making this shelter out of a tarp.   All the kids wanted to sleep in it.  Since I knew they wouldn't stay out all night, I said that was fine.  Well...Christy and Moses were inside before too long.  Ethan and Luke, however, proved me wrong.   It got down in the 40's but they just bundled up and went right to sleep after reading and chatting.   I, on the hand, didn't sleep a wink because I was so worried about them.   I went out 5 or 6 times throughout the night to make sure they were still there (Luke has a tendency to sleep walk).  I kept telling myself they were fine and nothing would get them, but, I couldn't help but worry.   I really was so proud of them, though and I think they were proud of themselves.  

We got our two new packages of small cell bees installed.  I'm really praying they will do well.  It's frustrating starting from scratch, but, we've learned some valuable lessons.   Our chicks are all getting so big!  We're ready for one of our hens to go broody so we can hatch some of our own again.

I think the Gold-Laced Wyandottes are so pretty!  Luke's pretty cute too. :)

We've been brewing lots and lots of Kombucha.   The kids and Chad just love it!  This time we tried peach and strawberry.  They all thought it was delicious.

We've been listening to the Wrens singing in our yard.  They are SO loud and have so many different sounds.   They had us fooled for a few weeks.  We couldn't figure out what we were hearing but it turned out to be one of them.   We were excited and thought it might be something new for us!  Oh well.

The baby wrens are gone and the Chickadee eggs hatched yesterday.  They are adorable!  We love watching the mom and dad take such good care of them.   We're now watching a Robin on her nest.  We can't wait to see her babies!

Patience

I think Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons.  Just when I'm getting sick of the heat, Fall brings the needed change.  Just when we're tired of being cooped up and we've eaten the last of the veggies from last year's garden, here comes Spring!  My problem is I'm so impatient.   I can't wait to plant my garden, so I plant things WAY too early.  Then, everyday I go out to check on everything and see if there's anything new.   I keep envisioning how things will look in a month. I can't wait for the chicks to grow up so they'll start laying eggs.   We lost all of our bees this winter, so we're starting from scratch.  It's going to be REALLY hard to wait for honey again!   Those baby wrens in my row cover in the shed are SO cute.  But...when are they going to hurry up and leave the nest so I can clean out the shed and use my row covers on the garden???   I'm trying to stop and live in the moment.  To enjoy things as they are.  I'm realizing that time is going by so fast.   So, I am working on cherishing each moment with my family and seeing the beauty in what's around me...just the way things are.   

Perspective

Lord, help our family to see everything through the filter that we are deeply loved by you.  That everything we go through is an opportunity to grow in you.  That no matter how far away you may seem, the TRUTH is that you are so close.  That you are going to help us through the dark times.   That you are the healer.  You are the savior.  That you can bring peace.  Increase our faith in you.  Let our roots go down deep.  We fail so miserably most days.  Please let your grace be real to us. Help us to see that you can take the ugly, sinful, hurt, and broken and make them whole and beautiful.