Saturday we were at home and I was taking pictures of the girls as they played. MDF had set out her tea set, and was organizing a picnic or a tea party on the green footstool.
CEF was playing nearby on her mat. She has started cooing and “talking” more. She’s figured out how to make noises with her pacifier as well. She is very funny.
Last Saturday we went up to the park for a family day. It was the first time we had been to this park, but from the website, it looked like a good place to hike. To get there we went along I-40 to I-95 and then went west through Dunn, Erwin, and Lillington. The park was in the piedmont area and was on the Cape Fear river.
We decided to take the Raven Rock trail to the river, a 2.6 mile walk, because we thought it would be the most interesting. Along the way we saw a stream that MDF and CDF played in a little. There were a bunch of other hikers, many with dogs. One couple had a greyhound that they had “rescued” from retirement (often permanent).
The path down to Raven Rock was steep and had lots of steps along the way. The final descent was down wooden stairs that had been built beside a small waterfall. I say waterfall, but it was more like a “water-drip.”
The Raven Rock was a long stretch of rock where ravens used to nest. It had been carved out by the river a long time ago. We had fun looking around at the rocks and walking under the overhang.
We walked along the riverbank for a little, but it was a dead-end, so we soon turned back and continued along the trail that would eventually loop back to the parking lot. MDF walked by herself almost halfway around the 2.6 mile hike, and I only had to carry her on the last stretch back.
This past Sunday we were having breakfast when I took a couple of pictures. The first came about when MDF left her stuffed dog on the floor. She often calls the stuffed dog “Dixie,” though she is quite clear that it is not the real Dixie.
Last night CDF went to a party at a friends house. MDF asked me, “are you going keep an eye on me.” She used to say she would stay home with me.
After supper we went outside and stomped around in puddles — actually just the ditch, since there hadn’t been enough rain for water to accumulate anywhere else.
I took a couple of pictures while were were out.
I did some pruning while we were out. We have four small rose bushes. Two which were there when we moved in, but didn’t bloom last year. They’ve grown a lot, and I’ve managed to prune them enough to keep them blooming. The one in front of the porch has another bud. Then CDF bought one that has finished blooming for the year and was given another, which hasn’t done much of anything.
The cloud cover was pretty constant, but it didn’t start raining until after I put MDF to bed.
Last night we had a big thunderstorm. It actually started around 5 o’clock in Wilmington. I left work with a good view of the lightning working it’s way inland from the ocean. I left just in time too. As I headed up Castle Hayne Rd. the storm was reaching downtown.
It disrupted power in Wilmington, the phones were out at work this morning and my server logs showed the power going on and off repeatedly. Eventually it made it’s way to Burgaw, but it has spent much of it’s fury by then, and we only had heavy rain and some lightning.
Yesterday a couple of big thunderstorms came through the area. I met the second at Rock Point on my way home. After supper it was still raining but the lightning had moved on, so I took MDF outside for a stroll with our boots and umbrella. It didn’t take her long to get ready.
There was still plenty of light (it was about 7:30 PM), and we just walked around the front and back yard looking for puddles to step in. I held the umbrella in one hand and MDF’s hand in the other. She was just happy walking in the water and chattering about whatever came to mind.
I did notice a peculiar smell in the air — I think it was ozone from the lightning — but I never could tell for sure what it was or where it came from. But it certainly had that smell I associate with electrical equipment, and since I didn’t see anything shorted out nearby, I’m thinking it was ozone from the thunderstorm.
Blogged with Flock
This past Sunday, when MDF woke up from her nap, we got out the
sprinkler so she could play in the water. I helped her put on her new
princess bathing suit and we went outside.
It was almost 85 degrees, so it was nice and warm — good weather for
playing in the water. MDF had a ball. She especially liked to
let the water spray her tummy and often tried to sit on the spray as
well. I played with her some, but she mostly danced and played by her
self.
CDF came out and sat on the front porch to watch. She had the
camera and took pictures too. When MDF started getting tired of
playing, CDF suggested we go get some ice cream at Holland’s
Shelter restaurant. Looking at the time we decided to eat supper a
little early and go afterwards, so we wouldn’t spoil MDF’s
appetite.
On the weekend I’ll often cook pancakes or waffles for breakfast — sort of as a Dad’s Special Breakfast kind of thing. Sometimes MDF wakes up early enough to help me. The picture below was actually taken back in August, and since it’s gotten colder she has been sleeping later, so I don’t see her until the pancakes are almost done and it’s time to eat.
Yesterday evening MDF and I went outside to blow off steam while CDF fixed supper. While she was swinging I was looking at our “false Morning Glory” plant and noticed it was attracting lots of butterflies and bugs that were feeding on its flowers.