Waiting

We are waiting just a couple more days for Gib to return from the Boundary Waters Canoe Trip. It feels like he's been gone a really long time and the house is too quiet, too empty! I miss him. He needs to know his report card arrived and it's safe to come home! He got all A's & B's. I wish there was some word on the group but the older Scouts chose to hit the back country. I am sure they are having a great adventure.

Here is the dude before he left

Aussie misses Indie. As do we all. Indie is now in Phase 2 of the trip. No more well digging and now at the orphanage. I know she was really looking forward to this part of going to Ethiopia. I wish we could have heard from her personally, but I was very excited to get word from the professor that all is well.

To give Indie's kitty a little new excitement, we introduced Aussie to Gib's room! Wooooow. Cool window. In the evenings, on some days just to spice things up, Aussie gets window time in Gib's leather chair! The girls wheel it up close to the window and Aussie curls up in it and watches the birds outside. Also of great interest is the dog next door, or the cats on the driveway, or the cars coming and going. I tell you, this is one happening window!! Last night he discovered there was a robin's nest on a branch next to the window. Aussie is waiting for someone he loves to drive up outside that window!

It's a whole new world!

We are waiting to see if ColtonPython, the coolest toad ever, will be spotted in his very own Toad Spa. It's a work in progress.

And the moment YOU have all been waiting for. A photo from career camp of Mariah!
The school camp for girls in the 8th grade finished with each girl going up in a group to give a little spiel about a poster they had made from one of the day's studies, and concluding with their favorite career ideas, and what they learned and liked most. Mariah and her team presented Web Design. But Mariah most like the Vet guest speaker, Media Communications, and Graphic Arts. She enjoyed the guest speakers they had at lunch time each day - there was one on technology, an emergency room dr, a city attorney, the vet, and contractor (construction) for Nashville public schools. Mariah said she ruled out a future career in architecture and technology as well, even though she enjoyed the speakers. I think most girls really liked the ER presentation as they all got to create fake burns, cuts, punctures, etc., with special effects sticker like stuff and then take photos...very life like photos! It was rather gross. What I liked most about the camp was each day they provided a very nice lunch and Mariah had several friends she looked forward to seeing. It was a nice break in the middle of summer to reconnect. And, look at how many college majors we have crossed off the list, with a couple of contenders still staying strong. Seriously though, next year she has to choose what they call a FOCUS and it's better to get an idea now what that is. If she gets in Technical Career now she is in for all 4 yrs, but if she decides as a 10th grader that she wants to take CAD or something, she probably wouldn't be able to. It's a pain. If you choose Math & Science, you have to take 7 courses, 3 additional to the required 4. It doesn't leave any room, nor are you likely to get, say a Fashion Design or Health Services class even if you have space in your electives. It's better to try it for a year and change your mind, even putting off your foreign language if needed. So I learned something too.

Waiting to see if this sunflower will grow tall and bring birds in the fall to eat the seeds! I saw this sunflower and couldn't resist! We love sunflowers! It is going to the right of the bird bath you see behind it.

And here are the coneflowers. I am loving them! They are by the firepit, which we have used several times already. Don't even wait for an excuse to fire that baby up!

No photo, but Taryn is waiting for her birthday to arrive and hot on the heels of that, her boyfriend is coming to town! They are returning to college together after a short visit. Taryn is going up a bit early to visit with friends before she begins her counselor job at MS & T. Note: most of the time, I am waiting on Taryn to wake up! She has scored a couple of lucrative babysitting jobs down the street, so I think it is time to go shopping!