One Sunday in July

It's gotten hot here, so yesterday we headed into the mountains. Tim had hoped to scout an area for elk hunting this fall. After a crazy bumpy drive up a teeny four-wheel-drive road (which made the dog giddy with excitement and put Hayden right to sleep), we reached a lovely flowery meadow. We parked the truck, got ourselves and the dog and the baby out and ready for a day of hiking...and were very nearly carried away by mosquitoes. No lie! So we packed right back up and headed right back down the hill. Bumpity bumpity bump. We ended up at Fiddlers Lake and had a little frontcountry picnic. Hayden did a little bouldering and met his first chipmunk, a bold one clearly accustomed to the likes of weekend picnickers. Then last evening we went to a farewell barbecue for our dear friends Brendan and Lindsey and two-month-old Clare, who are off to Vermont in a few weeks. While we hate (HATE) to see them go, I am looking forward to one more excuse to visit New England. Thank goodness they're not moving to New Jersey.
Deaf dog goes one way, toddler goes another.

Look, Ma! New Carhartts! (Thanks, Aunt Polly.)


Clare, Aimee, Yet-to-be-born-or-named Baby, Brendan

Clare, Brendan, and Karly

Ooh, Karly lets me play with sunglasses!