Birthday

We surprised Blaze and showed up at camp

on her 19th Birthday!

We found her busy in the kitchen

and it was great fun getting to

work alongside her.

(Hero washed dishes

and I served "dinner rolls"--

until I realized that the kids

better understood "Buns").
The campers bellowed the 
Happy Birthday song to her
after beating on the tables 
in rhythm to her name.
After three strait days of rain
on junior camp, the noise level
was phenomenal!

We heard her sing with the

staff at chapel, then went

for a walk before heading home.

      Life guard duty happens here in the afternoons.

     What a lovely place to play!

Goodnight, Blaze...She still has a night game to hide in

and a cabin of girls to check on, as their prayer partner.

Blessings,
Zinnia Girl!

firemen's parade

Tradition here runs deep,
as well as dedication
and pride; 
All good things when it pours rain
on the Firemen's Parade.















Neighbors crowded on porches
and under umbrellas,
there was plenty of candy to scramble for.




But the Firemen's festival that always follows this parade
was pretty much spoiled by the deluge.
I couldn't help but notice that those left
to stand dripping in the food line or
crowd under the eaves and in the truck bays to eat,
were all our own firefighters...
visiting firefighters...
fire-police...
EMTs...
Volunteers...

They work hard
they show up
they protect their community
they line up for parades with huge bags of candy...
in the rain...
then they buy a hamburger
for the sake of the brotherhood.


What do you do to support
your First Responders?

Blessings
Zinnia Girl!

p.s. it was a fabulous parade
& we came home rather soaked--
We had a hot cup of tea
before bed even though it is July!

summer morning joys

Cool breezes

Prism splashes

Just one more 

surprisingly sweet

lessons 

no limit



curls

Savor the wonder of this day!
Zinnia Girl!

tuesday yardsale finds

--deliciously coordinated!

our road

It really feels like ours, this road out front.
After all, for two years, it's been our 4:30 am alarm clock,
the rattle in the windows,
the shotgun sound that sends us running to look outside--
just to make sure there wasn't an accident!
Eventually we learned to shrug;
"Oh, the potholes."
But they could never be ignored.



Last spring, we watched hopefully as the State paved Main Street.
They stopped less then a block from our place...
and left the potholes to grow.



Hero called the Road Department.
"People are veering into the middle of the road to miss them--
there's going to be an accident, " He'd complain.
The answer was always the same:
There's no money.
But someone would show up the next day and
throw some patch in the holes.



So Hero went higher.
He called our County Commissioner.
Yes, he knew that road well, it's in bad shape,
but there is no money.
Call your Representative.



I was excited to take the return call from 
our very own Representative.  Well, his secretary.
She informed me they would consider repair
in the next season.  Since it was winter
I said happily, "Oh, come Spring?"
She patiently informed me that next
season means next year. As in 2019.
Because there's no money.



After a while, we started a hobby,
lining up the hubcaps that flew
off vehicles into our yard.
Getting the mail might be
hazardous to your health but it's a 
great conversation starter!
Hero started dialing again.
He was professional at all times
but he let them know what was needed.
After several rounds of phone calls,
the Commissioner began
to speak for us.



One day we learned that our Representitive
sent several people out to examine our road.
And then these white lines showed up!
Before long, Hero was shaking hands
with our County Commissioner
and there were smiles all around; our road would be added
to an already planned project just on the other side of town.
Thankyou, Thankyou!



Tuesday, July 11--Good bye potholes, goodbye!



The length of the trouble, properly patched.




We now have a sizzling new road-- two layers 
of blacktop, even and rolled and bright--
tires sing now, past our house. 
And mumlings and rumors, as this valley
would have it,  "How'd they come to do that little stretch?"
None of the neighbors wonder why it was completed
for obviously it was needed.
But this girl believes she knows how it was accomplished.

Zinnia Girl!