Welcome to another week of gathering my thoughts. I think I mentioned my nephew and his friend visiting from Virginia. We took them to my friend’s home on the edge of Lake Ontario, bringing pie and whipped cream to share before we sat on her deck to watch the sunset. This is what we saw through the haze that is caused by the smoke from the California fires. It really shows me how inter-connected our nation truly is.

We got to Robert G. Whele New York State park to take the boys fishing a couple afternoons ago. Did I mention 14 & 15-year-olds rarely see the morning hours? Well, the waves were crashing and the water too riled up for the fish to bite, but a good chance to practice casting and pulling seaweed off their lines. Daniel enjoyed taking a picture of the dog cemetery; Mr. Whele bred champion Elehw dogs, Whele spelled backward. We treated Ethan and Daniel to ice cream cones at the Henderson Trolly afterward and all had a good time!

Here are some photos… notice the new bathroom sign the state erected?

This is a baby robin that spent some time with us after supper yesterday. The boys named it Onion because it nestled amid the onions drying on our deck railing. It disappeared before we got back from the sunset, so we hope it got back to its momma. This is about the third set of babies from the nest in our yard this year. What good things God blesses us to see in His creation, up-close and personal!

Here’s some more summer photos from our family.

Our granddaughter were caught getting along, our grandson caught with his new glasses while snuggling with Mom, and a beautiful drive in the country. Oh, and my husband wanted a photo of my short haircut!

The garden is continuing to bless us with produce. I thought I bought Cubanelle peppers, which are sweet, and we planted Hungarian Sweet peppers and bell peppers. Imagine my surprise when I cut up the red one I thought was an immature bell pepper and got a jolt of heat! Apparently, the plants I bought marked Cubanelle are actually Pepper Seeds – Hot – Large Red Cherry Hot. Oh, our cucumbers are doing well; two of our friends’ cukes are not producing at all!

I’d best get this ready to post and wake the boys up to visit my friend Peg and see her peacocks, horses, chickens and gardens before we take them home tomorrow. I hope you are all having a wonderful summer and growing deeper in your relationship with the God who made us!

One last thought:

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Look up, your salvation is near; even on the way!