EEYORE TAKES A WALK

Sometime after we wished Matt farewell, Matt, David, Rachel and I went camping.  On the way there I determined that a milkshake would really hit the spot, and bingo! There was the Dairy Keen with perfect milkshakes for all.  I am a milkshake conjurer!

I was not quite as good at the instant conjuring of the perfect campsite. It took us a while, bumping over dirt roads in Telemachus, Rachel and David's Volvo wagon, to find it. First there was the site in the state park that was over-civilized. Then there was the perfect spot, five miles up a bumpy dirt track, but it was occupied by about 200 Mormons, reenacting the pioneer experience.  We had to turn around.

And then we found a lovely campsite beside the creek.

David, scout leader extraordinaire, built a leaf-stick boat.

It was a swift little ship, but it tipped over.

I call this my Winnie-the-Pooh shot.

The next day we looked for a good hike, but found a lot of watercress and a brief paved trail through some strangely terraced wetlands.

Such a lovely time, though.

And on our way back to town we saw the pioneers again. I took this one out the window as we drove past. The kids looked miserable, but one of the adults even waved at us. Handcarts away!

ONCE, THERE WERE POPPIES

In June, there were poppies.

I was broke, and had time to go to the park with Esther and Catie.

And they had time, too. Even Kaylana had time.

And Rachel thought it was a good idea to have a goodbye party for herself and Matt, even though they weren't officially abandoning us until August. I made my very first batch of funeral potatoes. They were a tremendous hit (my not-so-secret-ingredient: green chiles).  I passed the first test on my trajectory to successful Mormon housewife...

Rachel and I tried to look mean.

And for some reason I no longer recall, other than the memory of childhood blanket forts, I thought it was a good idea for Rachel and Matt to get under the table. They were quite amenable. I didn't have to work hard to convince them, and they stayed there for at least an hour.

Catie even joined them at some point

So long ago! They have moved away now, to Missouri and Georgia.  Good thing my blog is two months behind my life.