Summer Fun

We actually got the pool set up this year...

we missed out on this fun last year.

The boys absolutely couldn't wait to get in,

despite the fact that the water temperature

was still pretty cold,

not to mention that the air temps weren't quite

hot enough yet either.

But they insisted....

They huddled together in the sun, trying to not look so cold.

For Father's Day, Steve wanted to go for a hike.

So we headed out to Pisgah National Forest.

We stopped at the Ranger's Station to get some suggestions

for an easy-moderate, easy-to-get-to hike.

There was a short, easy trail directly behind the station that we did first.

It only took about 30 minutes, but it had a cool swinging bridge....

Then we drove up 276 toward Looking Glass and the Fish Hatchery.

One of the rangers told us about a waterfall that was a short hike

from the parking area.

It was only a matter of yards!

We noticed that the trail went on further, so we continued on.

And on....and on...and on...

We were hoping to pass someone coming down the trail,

so we could ask them where the trail lead.

We could hear voices, but saw no one.

We trudged on.

Finally, after about 45 minutes since we left the waterfall,

we met up with some other hikers.

They said we had only about a couple hundred yards to go.

(Well, that's a relief.  But...)

Straight up.

(Well, almost.)

Climbing over boulders.

(Literally.)

Until we finally reached our unknown destination.

The base of the South Face of Looking Glass.

Uhhhh....okay.

The hikers we had passed had on some serious looking backpacks,

that looked to be full of some sort of gear.

Climbing gear?  Repelling gear?

They must've thought we were nuts!

We didn't even bring our water bottles!!

But at least I had the camera!! 

LOL!

After all that hiking, we had an early supper at one of our

favorite restaurants....  

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And here is our little garden, at least in the beginning.

It looked so nice, and neat, and orderly.

Now, everything had gone wild!!

I don't know if Steve over-fertilized this year,

or if the weather has just been good to us,

but everything is doing so good, overly good. 

We've had over 30 zucchini squash to date,

some of which I've frozen, some has been given away.

And I've tried all kinds of recipes for it.

Our favorite so far is fried like pancakes,

with onions and cheddar cheese.

I've canned 12 quarts of green beans already,

not to mention what we've already eaten.

Cucumbers?  Don't even get me started!

Last year we may have had 4 or 5.

This year, 4 or 5 DOZEN!

But the darned squirrels have eaten over half the corn.

And not a single tomato has ripened yet.

Lots of GREEN tomatoes.

And we have three different types:  Better Boy,

Roma, and an unknown type that my mom gave me.

This little garden is keeping us quite busy this year.

(G: If you want any veggies, come on over

and help yourself!  ;)  )

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Stay tuned for more "Summer Fun,"

coming soon.

(I hope.  There's a birthday happening in just a couple of days...
more fun...

that might slow me down....we'll see....)

Thanks for stopping by.

:)