Catharsis

Isn't this phenomenal?

My soldier

 

Erm. . . Still figuring out the weapons thing. . .

Blessed relief. . .

Well, I've started school again. I just realized yesterday that this is the last "First Week of School" for me. I'm a senior now. When did that happen?

As for the aforementioned "First Week of School", it had it's ups and downs.

Downs: I'm at a new campus this quarter, and it's been kinda rough on me. I don't like being in big places all by my lonesome. I do have friends there, but I don't see them much. I know, school isn't about friends, but that's just the way I roll. I also don't like waking up early and my temperamental, clenchy, doctor-confusing stomach doesn't like breakfast at 7:00 am.

Ups: I have the funnest professors! One makes lame jokes that we're to laugh at ("C'mon guys, that was a joke. I'm trying to be funny here and wake you up. Laugh.") which is kind of amusing in a sad way. Another has a thick Bulgarian accent and goes off on tangents that are almost as informational as the subject matter, and sometimes more interesting :). The last is a ball of energy who is *really* conversational and pauses quite often for responses. Doesn't always work (awkward silences). The campus, though huge and unfamiliar, is very pretty. But the designers/architects must have thought that Washingtonians like sitting outside in the rain 'cause that's where all the seating is. I'm not one for outdoor lounging in the rain, thanks. 

I've arrived at the weekend. Blessed relief. Yesterday my sister and I visited the youth group that two of our friends go to and we had a great time. :) Today I've kinda been spinning my wheels. I got in two training sessions with the goats, and I'm up to voice commands (yay!). I took the nail polish off of my nails, got some homework done, and I'll probably work on my 1855 wool dress for an upcoming event.

And maybe bake some brownies. Cause it's that kinda day.

Oh, yes. I forgot to mention that since this is a long and picture-deprived post, I did what my little sister often does to brighten up text. 

Duckies!

 

They're all feathered out now. . . Aren't they big?

Ethel escaped - and was caught red-handed! We now let them roam the backyard free range. They're really smart; when it gets dark they try to get inside the house. I found one of them (yeah. . . It was Ethel. . .) running around quacking in the family room the other night.

 

They love the pool on the lawn.

 

They really, really love the pool on the lawn.

I love my duckies. I've gotten them to come to me when I call them, so now I'm moving on to clicker train the goats.

Somehow I think they're going to give me a bit more trouble than the ducks.

Inspiration or desperation?

As you know, I am gluten-free.  This means that I can't have smores. Sniff.

Perhaps I'm not adventurous enough to try and make gluten-free graham crackers (it's on my bucket list), but as I consider smores to be a summer essential, I've come up with my own version.

A layer of toasted walnuts, a layer of toasted marshmallows, and a sprinkling of milk chocolate pieces and toasted unsweetened coconut flakes.

So. . . would you call this inspiration or desperation?

Church Family Camp 2011

 

 Wow, was this really over a week ago? Well, about a fortnight ago, we spent a day at our church's annual family camp. We tried to head out pretty early, though despite our efforts we were a bit late and came during the morning sermon.

After the morning service we went to a nearby lake for the baptisms. On the way back to the campgrounds I was surprised at how close the lake actually was. It had seemed further away since we had gotten lost on the way there - and led a few other cars astray too. :)

And we saw two camels! How awesome is that?

I was cheering for both teams during the ongoing kickball tournament. . . It was super fun to watch and "commentate" from the sidelines. Don't bother asking for the tapes, they were destroyed. :evil laugh:

 

My sis watching the tournament.

There was gluten-free, dairy-free cake and it was ah-mazing. . . Not that I had two slices - one was for a friend. :)

Okay, finally tonight I learn why he is soaking in this pic. . . Apparently the 94* weather merited  dousing with water in between scooter rides. . .

The boy can't smile for a picture!

Before the evening service. . .

Sitting with friends!

 

Before dinner there was an epic parents-versus-children volleyball game. Otherwise known to some as "Oldies" versus "Youth Group". Yeah, um, you didn't hear that from me. . . I took part as a photographer and enthusiastic cheerleader. 

  

 Score for the parents!

Meanwhile, another kickball game was in full swing.

Watching that ball. . .

I happened to look over and see my two little sisters riding friends' bikes like nobody's business! How did their friends teach them in one hour what took me a week to learn? Needless to say, they have fabulous friends and had a fun time on those bikes! They were still whizzing around the parking area when it was time to go. . .

Me watching all the activity

 

I was offered a pen and a friends' feet, so we had fun with that. :) 

Trying to get in a few artsy shots (displaying my pen tattoo work :P). As you can see, my summer henna job is faded (all gone now).

 The moon was hauntingly beautiful, and this shot also includes the bat that was flying overhead during the volleyball game!

A friend let me borrow his gorgeous new guitar and I got to jam (jam with friends - off my bucket list!). Two fiddles, two guitars and a drum. I took this pic just as we were leaving.

The city lights on the water.

 

The ride back home was pretty blurry as I dozed off quite a few times.  Gareth dubbed it, "The ride of many dozings". After a long day we were glad to be home and thankful for warm beds instead of the hard ground. I love faux camping. . . We'll see about next year!

A birthday

 

Gareth had a birthday last week - now he's a teenager!

 The birthday boy!

The ever-amazing mexican chocolate cake. . .

  

Now we have four teenagers in the house!

A Day at the Beach

A few weeks ago we took a day trip to the beach.

The weather was perfect and the clouds so elegant and defined. . .

There were so many logs to walk on, sit on, play on and draw on!

We even found a log fort to play in, occupying most of the day.

My awesome bro, just chillin. . .

Gotta defend that fort!

I love the quiet on the beach when the sun sets.

(To read about our June beach trip which I oh-so-sneakily stuck into my archives, check out this page.)