First Week of July 2017

 Moving pipe.  Every day and every evening.  That is the beauty of this job.  They had to move a lot in the safflower this week, and it is a mean little plant.  It has prickly spines on it, and it is extremely sticky.  Sammy doesn't have pipe boots, so the flowers poke her through her knees.

 We decided to escape the heat (just a little) today, and head East toward the mountains nearby.  We took a hike up High Creek Canyon nearby.  The wildflowers were gorgeous and the butterflies were incredible.  It must be mating season because those butterflies were everywhere-- and all types, swallow tails, variegated fritillary,  American Ladies,  cabbage whites, and a large black and white one that we couldn't identify.

 We also found this ugly little green snake that looks like a giant earthworm.  The only thing I could find is that it is named "smooth green snake".  How original.

 We finally made it to the falls, and Luke was furious with me for making us hike all that distance.  This is a very forced smile, but he survived.  It was quite high up and no one had the energy to hike up just a little further to see the top of the falls and the beaver dam as well.  Next time, I'll take anther go at it and whoever wants to can come.  Spencer's little legs were tired, and he wanted to stop every two minutes and eat about three or four starbursts.  In all we hiked well over 5 miles.

 It was nice and cool by the falls.  We made it home, rested a while, then of course the boys had to go and catch minnows at the creek.  We rode bikes out to the creek and only stayed for a little while before a huge summer thunder storm swept in.  There was lightening and thunder and lots of heavy rain-- even hail.  When the hail started, I said out loud while I was fixing dinner"well we better pray our corn isn't destroyed and our garden!"  I turn around to see both the boys bowing their heads and praying right then and there.  I meant it mostly as an expression-- but they did exactly that.  The hail stopped and we had just rain after that.