Out of Order

Shortly after I made the last post, our home computer died. Dan returned from his work week in San Francisco, did an online analysis and later confirmed with a local computer repair company that the iMac's logic board failed. Fixing the problem would cost hundreds of dollars. More disturbing was that after the fix, the same problem would likely strike again.

We decided to order a new computer and hope to salvage what I didn't back up on the hard drive. A lesson in diligence learned. For nearly two weeks, I've been electronics free. Yipee. (I do confess to checking emails while visiting my in-laws or when - as today - Dan brings home his laptop.) Our new computer is due to arrive the first week of August.

Meanwhile - in between regular summer vacation duties - I'm busy scrubbing, priming and painting window frames and the back porch. And for a real brain teaser, I'm trying to figure out a proper drainage system and Scandinavian landscape design for the hill and road behind our Nordic house-in-the-re-making. This engineering situation reminds where to look:

I lift my eyes up to the hills. Where shall my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1

Any ideas, let me know. Until next week - at least - this blogger will be Out of Order.

Boys Will Be Boys

After weeks
of drought,

violent
thunder-
storms

gushed
this
afternoon.


A power outage opened up new channels of creativity.


First the boys built toothpick boats.

That energy was redirected during the second storm wave.

Heavy rains running down our hill caused pooling behind the house. The boys and I performed emergency ditching to drain the trouble.

For added fun,
the boys filled and dumped buckets numerous times throughout the afternoon.


Following

the third

storm wave,

we

ventured

outdoors,





found

a
giant
washout

at
the
end

of
our
driveway,







gravel and sand

from the road

deposited
in our ditch

en route
to the swamp




and
checked
out the
new "lake"
in our
front yard.


During the storm's height,

Isaac reported sighting "white caps" on this waterbody.




Following

the storm,


we exercised

neighborhood

dogs.




And the boys,

being boys,

spent the rest

of their energy


s
p
l
a
s
h
i
n
g




w
r
e
s
t
l
i
n
g


and

c
o
o
l
i
n
g

off.


On this day, keeping their clothes on!

Some things change. (No Mom harping: "Keep your clothes clean.")
While others stay the same.

It's taken almost 15 years, but I've learned BOYS WILL BE BOYS!

Irish Blessing

“May flowers
always line your path
and sunshine light
your day.

May songbirds
serenade you
every step
along the way.









May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.”



Inspired by another summer morning Along Life's Road.

Friday Findings

Rise and Shine. Walk with Me. Come Discover. Look and See.




Dew

drops

on

oats.









An

insect

on

tall

grass.






New

shoots

on

a

spruce.



Call these: FRIDAY FINDINGS.

Time Away

Ever wish for time away with your parents? For four days this week, the boys and I got that chance: me with my folks, the boys with me – all of us together.




At

the

lake,






Grandpa
Curt
taught
the boys
how to
operate
an
outboard
motor.



Grandma Sue
paddled
a canoe

while

Noah

rode
along

to
fish


and I

steered

in search of

photo

opportun-
ities




a
m
i
d
s
t


the
lily
pads







just


before


sunset.



Back inside, Cousin Drew sided up on the lounge chair to join Aaron reading a new book.



(Drew stayed up to 12:30 AM to finish the story before his morning departure!) Meanwhile Isaac, Grandma Sue and Noah played "Go Fish." The following days, the boys caught FISH!


Noah

got

his

first

BIG

bass.





Isaac

stretched
his
arm

to
make

his
bass

LOOK
big.



But

Noah's

topped!






Aaron lured in

a northern pike

on a Mepps.




(One of his couple dozen landings! Yes...

The boy CAN fish.)


Best of all, the boys manned their own fishing tours – freeing up time for my parents and me to reflect about the new waves underway.


Later
Isaac
took
his
mom
for
an evening
boat ride





where
we
spotted


three
adult
loons.




The
next
morning
Isaac
hurriedly
returned
for
the
camera



to capture
other creatures
who seemed
to wish for
TIME AWAY.



Giving thanks for passing down a sixth-generation family tradition on Lake Carnelian.

Let Freedom Ring

Oh say
does that

star-spangled
banner yet wave

O'er the land
of the free

and the home
of the brave.



Happy Independence Day from Along Life's Road.

Fish Too Much?

Like Aaron's t-shirt says:

Can't
Be
Done!





Although
Isaac
insists:

Next summer
we're
sending
him
to rehab.

Boys' Bonfire

Growing up in a family of all girls,
my three sisters and I held tea parties.


Now

our

sons

gather...






and

hold

bonfires.






Thanks for the fun
Cousin Drew.