Soccer boy

I took my camera to Allen's soccer game the other night. I got some pretty good shots. I have such a handsome son.

I never played any sports growing up...so it is interesting to be a soccer mom now. I really enjoy it.

Go number 5!

Timeless Friends

I got a surprise phone call from my friends Amy on Monday. She is a dear friend of mine who moved away from the area 2 years ago. She said, "We're coming into town this weekend and I want to have tea with you." So she came on Friday morning. Her husband was the worship pastor of our church for 11 years...then they moved to Jamestown to work in another church. We were sorry to see them go. I wasn't as sorry as I was a few years earlier when they moved to Cairns, Australia for a year and a half to do ministry there. Atleast Jamestown was reachable (3 hours by car).

So she and her kids came for a visit Friday. Her husband Jeff was somewhere else that morning, but we were able to catch up with him Friday night for dinner. We had a great time laughing and talking. Our friendship is timeless. No matter how much time goes by...we always seem to pick it up right where we left off.

They have just accepted a new position at a church in western Canada. That's a little far away for us...but not as far as Australia! This will be Amy's 5th country to live in (Zaire and Kenya as a child). She's lived on 3 different continents. How interesting how the Lord directs people so differently. I've never lived anywhere but NY state.

A Change of Plans

We were planning on going on a short trip to Long Island to see some family. On the way I was going to visit with Dunja in CT. But all our plans fell through because of several complications. Anyway, my husband had scheduled a few days off from work...so we have been doing family things close by. On Wednesday we took a trip out to Beaver Lake Nature Center near Syracuse.

We did a 3 mile hike around the Lake, had a picnic lunch and also went canoeing for an hour. I didn't take any pictures of us canoeing because I was paranoid that the camera would end up in the Lake...so I locked it in the car during that. Now I kind of regret it...but atleast my camera is safe and sound.

It was a pretty cool place to go. They have a nature building that has a bunch of stuffed and mounted animals in glass cases for people to look at. They also have a bird observing room. It was all very informative and educational.

I think it was worth the trip. They have guided canoe trips to see beaver habitats and other programs that we didn't sign up for. I think it would be particularly interesting and beautiful to go there in the autumn when all the leaves are at their peak.

Fun at a friend's Pond

Every other week I go clean a house out in the country. My friends have a large and beautiful piece of property. I always bring the kids and the dog to hang out and swim in one of the ponds there.

My friend has 3 dogs of her own, so she doesn't mind me bringing Sherman. He stays outside with the other dogs. They have a great time running and swimming. Here is Sherman retrieving an empty water bottle one of the kids threw for him.

We are scheduled to go there again tomorrow. It's been overcast and gloomy...rainy today. If it is like this tomorrow I will probably end up leaving Sherman home and it will be an inside day.

Who knows? Maybe it will clear up and be sunny.

Jamie's Triatholon

He did it! I'm proud of him. He spent over 6 months training hard for this. He successfully completed his first triahtolon. I doubt it will be his last.

My Little Swan

I went to a friend's house the other day and there on her pond...I saw the most beautiful swan!

More Conklin Gully Pictures

The kids skipping stones. I tried to catch a stone in the motion of skipping....but failed to do so. Think back to when you were a kid. What was better than skipping stones in a creek or a pond? Some things are timeless in their entertainment.

Jamie and Audra catch a few minutes of rest at the top. They are sitting just a few yards from a sheer drop off. Hiking at the top of Conklin Gully is a really good work out. Steep climbs on the way up. There are actually two ways of hiking this. Along the top where we went...and through the gully along the creek. There are some impressive waterfalls that can be seen along the creek. I hope to hike that next. I'm not sure what the falls are like being that it has been so dry lately. You can look here to see someone else's pictures of the hike through the gully along the creek.

Another impressive view of the cliffs at the top.

Conklin Gully

We went hiking in the Conklin Gully with some friends last week. Conklin Gully is quite a beautiful place to hike and a workout! Sherman loved the water in the creek.

You can't tell from this photo...but that is a very impressive view of the BIG cliffs at the top. It is kind of scary at the top because there are no guard rails. Just a sheer drop off. Sherman made me nervous because he went right up to the edge! It freaks me out looking at something like that thinking...."Yow! If I fell down there, I would be killed." Not a pleasant thought.

We had a snack and some drinks at the top. It was quite a hot day. Toward the end of the hike, we went down in the gully and it was so pleasantly cool. I'll post more pictures tomorrow. Pictures here from left to right. Allen, Alicia, Elise, Audra, Sherman, and Luc.

Rainy 4th

We had our traditional 4th of July picnic but it was very wet. Taking pictures proved challenging for me without a flash, so I gave up. I know...I need to send in my camera to get fixed, but I'm waiting until after Jamie's Triatholon. I did get a few nice pictures. I just love this one of my niece, Bethany.

I also like the way this one turned out of my nephew, Nathan. That is Beth and Adam's puppy with him. She's so cute. She seemed very timid about all the people at the picnic.

Here's Allen trying out the stilts.