July 31, 2012

A storm cloud appeared, dumped rain, and left a clear sky.  Strange thing was, it didn't really rain until the cloud was almost past us- you can see the end of the cloud in this picture.

July 30, 2012

July 29, 2012

You never know what might go trotting down the road.

July 28, 2012

Another neighborhood fireworks show.  By sheer dumb luck I got this shot, which I thought turned out looking like a flower (green leaves on the bottom, red poofy flower on top).

July 27, 2012

We went out to pick green beans today before a storm came.

July 26, 2012

Today I worked on the cucumbers, and this is what is left after I cut the smaller ones up for pickles.

July 25, 2012

One of the perils of vacation: oversized zucchini.  We cut out the big seeds, grated it and ended up with 19 cups to freeze.  By the time the garden is done, I think I'll be able to make a zucchini bread every week next year and not run out of zucchini.

July 24, 2012

On the way back home we traveled a bit on Skyline Drive.  I'm not sure how we can go on vacation when half the country is in a bad drought, and it rains on us most of the time.  Our van got more rain on it's roof the last few days than our house has had the last 4 months.  But we enjoyed the trip anyway.

July 23, 2012

We got to swim at Virginia Beach.

July 22, 2012

This was at Colonial Williamsburg.  They make bricks from this clay that needs to be kneaded.  It was really sticky, but my younger son enjoyed it. 

July 21, 2012

Evening at the hotel.  We visited a historical miniatures convention today.

July 20, 2012

Our first day of vacation.  We stopped in Cumberland, Maryland.  We visited a canal museum.

July 19, 2012

My physical therapy instructions and band.

July 18, 2012

We could see the storm, hear the thunder... but it was all to the north/east, didn't get a single drop of rain.

July 17, 2012

Hot Wheels backup at blanket hill.

July 16, 2012

Jumping into the pool.  We had the solar cover on, and the pump off, and the top 6 inches or so of water got to 103°.  But after we started the pump back up, the overall temperature was only about 80°.  Still, I was impressed by how much heat the solar cover (pretty much just blue bubble wrap) would create.

July 15, 2012

July 14. 2012

We're trying to get her to ride without training wheels.  No luck yet.

July 13, 2012

July 12, 2012

July 11, 2012

July 10, 2012

Sunflower

July 9, 2012

July 8, 2012

Snapping the first batch of green beans.

July 7, 2012

More fireworks, from across the road this time.

July 6, 2012

Some miniature figures I painted. 

July 5, 2012

We set up a new pool filter today.  The old one just wasn't cleaning the pool enough.  This one is stronger and uses sand as a filter, so we won't have to buy white felty filters anymore.  My son was funny, he obsessed about the filter, looking up videos and info on the web about the filter when it came.  Then he taped us setting it up.  It's on a tripod behind him in this photo.

July 4, 2012

My stalker paparazzi telephoto picture, a result of my sprained ankle (I couldn't go out there with them).  Haymaking this year turned into an impromptu firewood venture when a severe storm blew through with high winds knocking down lots of trees...and my brother's camper.  By the time I got down there, the hay was done and they were still working on trees.  This is the clean up crew heading for home after an afternoon throwing branches back into the woods.

July 3, 2012

Someone nearby set off a decent amount of fireworks as a thunderstorm approached.  The sky in the background is lit up slightly by lightning.  About 5 minutes after they stopped we had a storm roll through with quite a bit of lightning (and some much needed rain!).

July 2, 2012

Apparently, weeds need significantly less rainwater to thrive than grass does.  Most of our grass is dead, but the weeds had gotten tall enough we had to mow.

July 1, 2012

Storms came through the state again.  The storm was pretty much the width of the state.  Yet, as it approached us, it split and went around us.  This is how much we got... not even enough to get the deck completely wet.

June 30, 2012

Someone surveying along the road.  I have no idea what for though.

June 29, 2012

Saw a bluebird in the birdbath today.  He doesn't look too happy.