July

 We've all been adjusting to loosing our sweet Loch.  These two lost their buddy, and time keeper/scheduler.  They're still figuring out what to do during the day.

Afternoon storms & lots of humidity at least gave us some beautiful sunsets.

The blackberries had a late start.  Between the deer, birds, squirrels, & rabbits our "share" was quite a bit smaller this year.  But still delicious.

One afternoon I went out to pick some and saw this guy leaving the yard with his own afternoon snack.

A 2 foot long black snake with a skink in it's mouth.

Keenan picked out this 3000 piece puzzle back in June.  After we got home from vacation, we set it up and got to work.

This guy has been keep a close eye on the ripening apples..... and caught pulling some directly off the tree to "sample."

Peaches have been fresh & in season.  

And I finally figured the best (and easiest) fresh peach cobbler.

We've enjoyed quite a few.

We finally got to see Toad the Wet Sproket, Gin Blossoms, & Barenaked Ladies in concert.... the show was scheduled for summer of 2020.  Despite a bit of a shower, it was worth the wait.  And both the boys enjoyed it.

Keenan completed the classroom portion of drivers ed.  

A few times after he finished, he joined me in grocery shopping.  He had sticker shock at some prices for food & meat in particular.

But he did pick out some delicious ice cream flavors.

And in just a few weeks, we completed the 3000 piece puzzle.

It's a montage of 100 Beatles songs and really cool.

And after a couple of days of enjoying it, we took it apart and began another.

We've since completed two more and begun a third.

Keenan and I have been volunteering at two local non-profits.

One has involved quite a bit of sorting and organized (something we both excel at), and the other has involved working at mobile food markets.  

In the NC July heat.

We've been happy to help, but the last one we did was rough, and super sweaty.

After one of our shifts, we decided to stop & try a new dessert place & it was amazing!

We only got three because Kevin was on a ten day trip to Wyoming.

For the better part of a year, he and two other Dad's from school have been planning this trip.

A 70 mile stretch of the Continental Divide trail over six days was mapped out, with a few days in Yellowstone at the end of their time on the trail.

They would be backcountry camping from Saturday until Friday.  We knew the cell service would be spotty-if there was any at all.  The altitude began at right under 9k and for most of their trip be around 10-11k feet.

We got word from them on Sunday, but that was it until Wednesday afternoon when we got a text saying they were off the trail, altitude was rough, and they were all ok (just had some sore feet).

Whew.

I was so relieved to see that text, then get a call from Kevin once cell service.

They got a ride back to their car, camped there then the next morning headed to Yellowstone via the Tetons.

All in all it sounds like they had a great time, despite the change in plans, and the ridiculous mosquitoes in the backcountry.

At the start of their back country adventure,

and along the high trail.

After five nights of backcountry camping and six on trails, they made it to a KOA in West Yellowstone, 

rented a Kamp Kabin for the night, showered, did laundry, and enjoyed a non-camp meal dinner.

Cell service and texts continued to be intermittent while they were in Yellowstone for the next few days.

Kevin was in his happy place.

He said it was mating season with the bison and they were out in the park and loud.

Finally on Sunday they started home.  An eight hour car ride to Denver, three flights (including a red eye), and Kevin finally returned home.

We were all thrilled to have him home, especially this guy.