Woodpecker

 

Usually I see woodpeckers on the feeder, but this one had to check out my deck railing first.

 

 

 

Quechee Gorge

On the last few day of my family's visit, we hiked down to the bottom of Quechee Gorge.

 

The views are amazing and it was a wonderful way to spend the last day of their visit.

 

The water was a bit too wet and wild to play in it today, but the kids had fun on the rocks anyway.

 

Every time we went on hikes like this it reminded me of what a wonderful location we live. I used to have to go on vacation far away to find spots like this. It was good to be able to share it with my mom and my cousin.

 

Raptors

We visited our local raptor center. They rehabilitate many birds (more than 400 last year) and the ones they can't release in the wild are used for education.

 

It is a lot easier to figure out which raptor is which if there is a sign right next to them and they sit still to let one admire them.

 

We saw a demonstration about raptors and learned that 'birds of prey' is not a full description of raptors, since robins eat worms and woodpeckers eat insects but they are not raptors.

 

This family visit is very much like a whirlwind, we do tons of stuff every day and are having a blast.

 

Family Fun

 

We have been busy trying to fit as many activities as possible into the short time span we have. A popular activity has been hiking, since it is an excellent way to be outside, talk a lot and enjoy the natural beauty.

 

Being out with my family reminds me that it often still feels like I am on vacation here, not in a 'I am not settled here' way, but in a 'Wow! this is such an awesome place and there are woods and mountains and streams and everything, this has to be a vacation, it just cannot be daily life!' kind of way.

 

I feel blessed that I get to share this with my family.

 

The biggest complaint oma has is 'How can there be so many dishes to wash!?! And didn't we just DO the dishes?!' ^^

Girl and Leopard

 

 

 

Guess Who is Here?

 

My mother and my cousin are visiting for nine days! We are having a blast.

 

More pictures later but wanted to tell the great news of their visit.

 

The kids love having them around and I love having them around. Life is good!

 

Rainy Day

Today is very stormy and rainy. It almost feels like fall! I started out getting some outdoors stuff cleaned up until I decided it was too cold and rainy and I could very well do this another day and be just fine.

 

I baked bread and did indoors chores instead, and looked at summer pictures. It is a day filled with appointments so it is nice that I managed to get bread baked not to mention that it makes the house smell really good.

 

I wish I could spend my day reading in bed though, but somehow that doesn't seem to fit in my current life.

 

Oh well, at least my life is not boring in any sense of the word.

 

More Fort Pictures

 

Totally unrelated: only four days till my mom comes to visit us!

 

It has been years since she was here, so we are all very much looking forward to her visit.

 

 

Driving

 

It is so much fun to drive a car!

 

Of course, they don't drive umpteen daily miles to and from schools, appointments, stores, etc.

 

 

Fall

 

 

 

 

Doomsday Prophet and Sensible Mom

Tim warned everyone of the demise of mankind.

 

Jane on the other hand changed from her evening dress into Sensible Mom costume. She even brought scarves and hats for all the trick or treaters who weren't as sensible.

 

 

Darkness ignored it all ^^