Summer Camp Session FIVE -- Jacob

24th - It's Switchout Day.  I have traded Josh for Jacob and we are on the way home.  We stop and pick Grandpa up from work since I have the car and go get some dinner.  After that, it's a stop at the auction for the evening.

I come home with a vintage quilt that I absolutely love.  Oh so pretty.  I can't wait to put it on my bed.  With the traveling, that's it for today.  The true camp session starts tomorrow.

Josh's Session - Four - Days 4, 5, & 6

22nd -  Hello Beautiful Day!  We are up and moving early this morning as it is ZOO DAY.  That means we need to be there when it opens so that we can see everything and get out before it gets too hot and the animals go into hiding.  Yes, I know -- same old story.  However, today is beautiful and we are off.

When we get to the lemurs, something new has taken place.  There are tortoises in the habitat along with the lemurs and they are not at all sure about those moving rocks.  It is so funny that we watch for a very long time.  They they take to the trees and it's as if they are putting on a show for us today.

Josh's Session - Four - Days 1, 2, & 3

19th -  WOW --- The summer is flying by.  We are on session four of summer camp and this time it is Josh's turn.  With a Sunday morning start, I bet you can guess the morning's agenda.  Yep, we are coffee shop bound.  It's a beautiful day and a walk seems ideal right now.

Hot cocoa and a cinnamon roll always start the day out right.  It still strikes me as funny that ALL of the kids want to sit in the loft and not downstairs where the action is taking place.  Cracks me up.

Making the Switch - Waterpark Day

We are switching kids again today - delivering Jared and collecting Josh for our week with him.  Each year we try and meet at least once at the waterpark, so today is the day.  With the exception of Bekah, who is up in Montana working for Uncle Matt this month, Jen's whole family plus Grandpa and I are playing in the sun and water.

As I walk to find water to drink, I am instantly hit up by a grand wanting permission to do the surf activity.  Well, who am I to say no?  Absolutely I sign him up.  Jen shows up with more requesting the same thing and soon they are off to give it a try.

Summer Session Three -- Jared

11th - Okay - I am going to try and do an entire session in one post.  This is an experiment and it may never happen again, but everything needs to be attempted at least once, right?

Grandpa and I meet Jen halfway to Abilene to switch out kids and this time we have Jared for a week.

As we return to Dallas, we stop in old Weatherford for awhile.  It seems like a good day for some antiquing.  As we park, we notice a garage sale/flea market - small in size - across the street.  Let's go.

Peach Update

They're GROWING --- please let the squirrels and birds let us have at least one this year.

Salmon & Spinach in Phyllo

My grandson is over tonight and wants to make a salmon dish.  I have a tried and true recipe so he is going to give it a whirl.  It is a recipe that I have not shared here so will do a quick share:

Mister and I take a cookbook every so often and work our way through the pages, one right after another to try new things.  In doing so with Cooking For Two by Pampered Chef (no longer available except through resale), we discovered this recipe.  It's truly delish.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Heat 1 teaspoon basil oil (or regular - I used olive) until hot.  Add 4 cups coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach leaves.  Season with salt and pepper.  cook and stir until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.  Remove spinach to paper towel-lined plate.  Squeeze out all excess moisture; set aside. (Yeah I forgot to take pictures of this part)

Lay one sheet of phyllo on large work surface and spray with nonstick cooking spray.  Place second sheet of phyllo over first, pressing sheets together to seal.  Continue laying down and spraying phyllo sheets to create a stack of four sheets of phyllo.  Repeat with another 4 sheets phyllo and additional cooking spray to create a second stack.

Jon's Summer Session - Days 5, 6, & 7

8th  - Good Morning Ya'll.  Today we are baking and cooking.  That means staying home which makes me happy too.  First, however, I have to get him off the computer.  Argh.

Today's Harvest - Yummy Blackberries

A quick stop out at the blackberry vines netted me a wonderful bowl of yumminess.  However, the best part is that there are so many more still ripening.  The rain has certainly been good for these plants.

Jon's Summer Session - Days 1, 2, 3 & 4

4th -  Jon's session starts the way Elena and Malea's ends.  It's a crossover as Jen, Bekah, Jon, and Jared are in town for a variety of reasons and Jon will be staying for his turn with the grandparents.  Our day has been spent working on a project for Jen (which she is almost finished with) and the kids have just kind of hung out with Grandpa, but that is behind us now and everyone except Jen is going swimming.  We have located a recreation center right near our house - I know, go figure.  We have only been to the splash pad by it numerous times, but I had no idea there was a pool there too.  Let's go.

Montana Girls are Back - Days 6, 7 & Travel Home

3rd - We are on day six.  What to do - what to do.  Well, feeding the tribe is usually a good start.  Elena wants biscuits for breakfast, so biscuits it will be.  Two littles in the kitchen gives me ample time to share the work.  They are more than happy to roll out the dough and cut it into circles for us to bake.

Montana Girls are Back - Days 4 & 5

Today we are going to put our purchases to work.  It's SEWING DAY!  I have set up my sweet Featherweight and her table just for little people.  You can't go too fast on these so they are perfect for teaching with.   Notice the step stool for the foot pedal.  Short legs need all the help they can get.

The first thing we are making are dresses and you can read AND WATCH the video by clicking on this Sewing Post Link.  The details are all there and this will just be the highlights.  The moments we have together are just so sweet and the girls do such a great job with their dresses.  I think my favorite picture is of little feet under the table.  So fun.