Happy 4th plus one!

It will seem like the 4th for quite some time in these parts. Our visiting tourists seem to purchase boat loads of munitions and entertain us all summer. ;) Micah and Adam loaded up the kids and headed into town, twelve miles away, to watch fireworks from their car. I sat in my recliner and saw fireworks across the pasture compliments of the neighbors. That was plenty for me...and NO MOSQUITOS! (Except for the ones that sneak into my house every night.)

Micah and Adam just loaded the kids up again and headed to the beach. Not sure which one. I think they have a favorite that's not well-known, and hence is less crowded. The kids did this for a while...

 You suck up water with these little nerf guns. Good way to cool off for those of us northerners who don't have AC.

I awoke at five yesterday morning and was heading to Nevis for a walk on the trail by six. I had a close encounter with wildlife along the way. I was at the junction of the street our old farm is on and the trail. A county road parallels the trail. I looked to my right and saw a little fawn running across the road in my direction. He ran down through the road ditch and I thought, "Okay, he'll see me soon and stop." But he didn't! He ran up the hill to the trail and ran across about 2 feet in front of me! His mouth was open and he was gasping for air. Then he continued on across the horse trail and disappeared down my old street. I didn't see any mother deer. She may have been way ahead of him. At least, I hope so. If he's an orphan, I hope someone will help him. He's in a populated area, so hopefully someone will take notice. All I could say was, "What in the world!" Poor little guy was running for all he was worth. I think he was coming from the lake where he and his mom probably go to drink.

He was headed that-a-way when last I saw him.

That was my excitement for the weekend! Mostly I'm sitting in front of a fan feeling wilted. I have a little window AC, but it's not really designed to cool a whole house. If worse comes to worse I'll set it up in my bedroom and have one cool room at least. We don't usually have enough really hot weather to justify buying a larger unit. This shall pass.

In art-land I haven't been doing an awfully lot lately. I did finish a 5x7 canvas for the monthly trade. I felt like painting a fish, and just the other day I was pawing through a neighbor's Little Free Library and found a copy of the DK Encyclopedia of Fishing with lots of cool pictures I can use for references. My rainbow trout may be a little chubby, but aren't we all? (Some of us?)

These were for a Trash to Treasure swap. The host sent each player an envelope full of paper scraps and odds and ends, and we had to make cards from what she sent. We could add some of our own, as well.

A friend of mine from church was asking for prayer for her son, who has been suffering terribly with some unidentifiable physical illness. He's had to live in a darkened room at his parent's house, while his wife and kids live at her parents', because he can't bear noise or light. This has gone on for several years. Please send up a prayer. God knows who he is. His wife also included these two scriptures in her plea for prayer, and I think they are needed by all of us right now. Isaiah 40:29-31 and James 1:2-4. Being reminded of these scriptures gave me a lift. I hope they do the same for you.

Stay cool!
Love and shalom to all!