Return to the mountains.

 After 6 weeks of sweltering heat, it finally cooled off enough to go for a hike Saturday.  We headed to Butterfield Canyon where there wasn't another person to be seen.

Looking west.

Skyler and Altair.  Look how tall he is!

The old dog.

Skyler taking photos with her phone.

Still green despite the heat.

Looking east.

He kept finding wild turkey feathers.  His plan is to make a pen with one.

More from Monday.

 

LONG train!

Here comes another, the local.

Former Southern Pacific caboose on the local.  Now used as a "shoving platform" for the conductor to stand on during reverse moves.

A big day.

 Skyler got to mow the lawn for the first time Tuesday evening!

Mommy helped him around the edges and he did really great going back and forth.  I'm afraid I'm going to lose my favorite yard task soon.

A train day.

 He wanted to watch trains Monday before the schoolyear started the next day.  He also got to see Grandpa and run model trains.

Possibly the best photo I've taken of him all year!  (The train was stopped, he's much further away than it appears)

We did it!

 We made it through the first day of online school!!  Mommy had the great idea to drive over to his school to document the first day.

First day of (online) school!

 He had his work completed in an hour.  We have a daily Zoom call with his teacher at 2:00.

If I could upload just one photo, I would!  Damn you Blogger.

The mantis is back.

 Skyler got to see the praying mantis again yesterday.  It's much bigger now!

He was thrilled to see it again.

A super helper.

 Skyler helped Mommy clean the floors yesterday.

Pretty good!

73!

 Today is my Dad's 73rd birthday!  Happy Birthday Dad!  One of the highlights of Covid lockdown is that I get to call him every day and talk.  Skyler really enjoys talking on the phone with him too each day.  The last year and a half has been hard since Mom passed, but, I think we've all gotten closer as a family.

Thanks for everything you do Dad.

Down.

 You can probably tell that Blogger isn't working anymore.  I'm not sure what to do, 9 years of blogging and now it's impossible to upload photos.

Chill.

 Skyler got to swim yesterday.

He was splashing everywhere.

Chilling on a floaty.

Problems.

 Google can't get their shit together with their updated Blogger.  I'm having major troubles uploading photos and content.  Hopefully it's resolved sooner rather than later.

Hawk.

 Spotted on our walk earlier today.

He was dangerously close to shorting his tail it appeared.

Groundhog day.

I swear every day is the same anymore.  I'm kind of excited for his online school to start just so we have something different.  The motorhome is still 2.5 weeks out until delivery.

BIG sunflower!

This grew voluntarily where I took out a ravena grass earlier this year.  Maybe the biggest sunflower we have ever grown in the 17 years of living here.

Gorgeous!

The fence is 6 feet tall.  The sunflower is probably 9 feet tall!

Eighteen.

18 years ago I married my best friend and soulmate.  What a journey!  It feels like our wedding was yesterday.

Happy Anniversary Altair, I love you!!

The canal gives!

So far this year we've found cherries, blackberries, and grapes!  Not too bad for just walking along the canal roads.

He got some really sweet grapes yesterday.

Some cemetery maintenance.

Skyler wanted to go "take care of Grandma's grave" and watch trains last Tuesday.  So we did.  I brought the edger and blower along as well as some weed spray to control the dandelions.

I found him reflecting when I got back from the truck.  :(

Last week's project

We are in the process of purchasing a motorhome!  I never thought we could own one but for some reason it just feels "right".

This meant making space to park it next to the garage.  Sod removal (with my own sod cutter) and spreading 6 tons of gravel.

(I can't get the captions to work for each picture so just look at the progression instead.)

75 years ago.

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.  August 6, 1945.  Look at what Beirut is going through now and try to imagine an entire city flattened and burned.

Pure joy.

Skyler got the hammock out Sunday and was joined by a praying mantis.  He was delighted the entire day, spending his time with the mantis.

Under the shade of the Catalpa Tree.

Mantis!

Still down.

I have no way to upload photos.  AGAIN!!!  Grrr...

Again.

No way to upload photos today.  Grr...

Nature boy.

"I just love being outside".  He said last weekend while hiking.  Agreed.

Wheeler Canyon will make for an excellent Fall hike.  We will be back.

Sunday adventure part 2.

Babbling brook.

Thunderheads building over the Uinta Mountains.

The water was cool and refreshing.

Snowbasin ski resort behind the dead tree.

Grassy meadow.

Another view of Snowbasin.  Can you spot Skyler?