Easy come, Easy go

The black spot in the tree is the swarm of honey bees.

The front yard with the tree with the honey bees (dark spot).

Sunday after mowing the lawn and saving Sabrina from her escape into the rhodies, we discovered a swarm of honey bees in a tree in our front yard. Not knowing for sure what type of bee they were, we had a neighbor who is an entomologist identify the swarm. He noted they would be gone soon. Sure enough their visit was for less than 24 hours!

Gray Hair

Usually during Sabrina's nap time is when the lawn in mowed and other household tasks are completed. Today while mowing the lawn, I noted that I was being watched by Sabrina. We had enlarged her windows but have not had a chance to enlarge the curtains so she can see out underneath the old curtains. Not only that but with the assistance of her rocking chair she can pull herself up to the window. This would normally not be a huge thing, but she managed to remove the screen from the window and was leaning out of the window when I just "happened" to walk in her room during her nap. Usually, I walk in to make sure she is still in her clothing and pull-ups. However, this time I was greeted by her naked bum in the air with her body on the window sill and her head hanging out over the shrubs.... moments like this make me gray faster and wonder if she will survive to three.

Vacation to Charleston

At Poogin's Porch in Charleston for lunch.

On a bouncing bench on the porch of Edmonston-Alston house. This house is the house where General Beauregard watched the bombing of Fr. Sumter at the start of the Civil War. The story is that there actually was a party on this porch and on some of the other porches of East Battery of the wealthy southern families. In the house was a sign document of families who backed the secession from the Union.


Near the beginning of May, we used our vacation time and airline credits to fly to Charleston and see friends and places we hadn't seen in over a year. For both of us, the highlight of the trip was spending time with friends from Daniel Island and catching up on the year's news. Apart from those visits, it was nice to take in the slower pace of a vacation and walk on our old favorite walking paths and stroll around downtown Charleston and take in the homes and imagine the history that had formed in the city. If bricks could talk....The Catholic church that just last year (2010) had its steeple put on top. The Civil War set it back and other finacial times from completing its building.

One new adventure we had was taking an eco tour to the Barrier Islands north of Island of Palms. This morning adventure was guided by a former school teacher who brought varying levels of explanations of the plant and animal life in the region. We docked for about an hour at the Atlantic side of an island which was literally eroding into the ocean. The old forest is slowly washing to sea and then the new part of the island is being deposited on the west side. On our stroll down the beach we saw tiny shelled animals (maybe small clams?) at the bases of the standing trees. Unfortunately, on this island our camera fell into the sand and then jammed up so we have limited picturesof our trip from that point on.The photo taken by timer right before the camera fell into the sand.

Photos from Father's Day

Reading about band-aides at Grandpa's house

Walking with Dad to brunch.

Lunch with Dad on Saturday!

Breakfast and snuggle time with Dad first thing in the morning.

Sabrina loved having time with Randy Father's Day! Actually, she loves every weekend he is home and snuggles with him for breakfast, lunch and any time in between. Walking down the street is much more fun holding onto Daddy's hand.

Random Easter photo with Yogurt Sister

If any alliance could be productive it the one between Sabrina and Annie. On Easter, Sabrina would find the jelly beans and then feed them to Annie. If Annie needs out, Sabrina grabs her leash and hands to an adult or she just opens the door to let Annie out for exercise. Food is also "accidentally" dropped and then Annie the clean up crew goes to work. Best of friends....a girl and her grandpa's dog.

Opening and modeling gifts-photos

Trying on Grandma Joyce's visor!

Opening the play birthday cake set.

Peter Rabbit dish set! Yeah!

Sun glasses and frog raincoat for Oregon Spring/ Summer/ Fall and Winter!

Sabrina enjoyed the process of opening her gifts this year. Each item she would play with or try on and wear a while before removing.

Belated birthday pictures

Sabrina celebrated her birthday with a tea party with all three grandparents and then a joint party with her dad, uncles and cousin.

Reading in Bed

Sabrina has taken to reading her books in our big bed.

Presidential Birthday party

We are behind in posting, but a few weekends ago we went to our nephew's presidential birthday party. Grandpa dressed up as George Washington while our nephew was Teddy R.

Happy Father's Day

This weekend has been wonderful having Sabrina hang out with Randy and after last week that is just what we all needed. During the week we had our windows replaced and stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's house while our house was in transition with dangerous pieces of glass and metal around the windows before the deep vacuuming. Ironically, Sabrina found a box of stored items in the closet at the grandparents' house and cut her hands on an old Tigger watch that was in a box with broken glass over the face. Luckily, the lessons on band-aide wearing have sunk in and she allowed the bandages to stay on her fingers. In fact, the next morning she was actually drumming her fingers on every surface.

Friday, Randy showed up with twelve rhodies in the truck. After planting them on Saturday, our yard now has forty plants he has planted along the road. A great improvement to our back yard. So, needless to say, Sunday was a slow moving morning but we managed to prepare our contributions for the brunch at the grandparents' house. To work off the calories, we took the tandem out for about a fifteen mile bike ride. Unfortunately, the driving chain snapped while we were climbing the hill and almost home. This is the second time this has happened in the last mile of climbing before we reach home. Time for a new chain. The weather was a perfect 70ish and there was a nice breeze, so Randy had a great ride for Father's Day!