The Summer

Seeing as how summer is officially over, I figured it's safe to come out of hiding. Yes, a cold front has blown through our urban homestead. The windows and doors are open to catch the breeze, and I'm comfortably in my favorite jeans and long sleeves. Life is good. It could be a little better if I were sipping a cup of hot tea, but that would mean I'd have to leave you all. The risk of being distracted by a household something-or-another might mean the end of this blog as we know it. So for now, no tea for me.

To fill y'all in on where I've been the past few months, let me begin by saying that this summer was FAR busier than I'd imagined. It was filled to the brim with wonderful things, but until recently (okay, like 5 minutes ago), it's felt like I'd never catch up. Our summer included many hours splashing around in a small blow-up pool, and travels to NW Washington State and God's country. For those of you in doubt of the location of God's Country, that would be the great state of Texas. Glad to clear things up.

While in WA, we enjoyed a break from the heat and got to hang out with our family. It's such a neat thing when God relates you to people you'd have chosen as friends anyway. Olivia loved running around with her cousins while we grown ups discussed everything from football to the making of kombucha. We had adventures that included picnics, evening fires, wild blackberry brambles, the salty sea and Dungeoness crabs. It was a delightful time and if you can ever escape that far north, do so!

On one of our days in the Puget Sound, we were able to go crabbing. Since I went along for the last crab-pot-pick-up of the season, Andrew designated me as the muscle to reel the pots onto the boat. (Thanks, babe. **cough**) The water was cold, and the crabs weren't very happy that we'd robbed them of their chicken dinner in order to make them ours. They snapped at us with their claws, and made clicking noises once measured and wedged together in large plastic buckets. When we got back onto the dock, I planned to watch Andrew and our brother-in-law clean the crabs. Again, I was wrong about being a spectator.

To clean a crab, one must gather all four wriggling legs and wildly swinging claw in one hand, and grasp firmly under their shell with the other. After that, you forcibly rip their shell off, break them in half, then rinse their innards into the water. It's quite violent. I was petrified and exhilarated all in the same moment when Andrew told me it was my turn to clean a crab. After a few tries, I managed to grip the legs and the evasive claw in my left hand, and secured the shell in my right. I gave a mighty heave, and....nothing. No shell flying off into the water. Just a REALLY ANGRY crab grappling with the dock, desperate to pinch me or get away. I regained my grip, gave it a little more *umph*, and hooray! I had successfully decapitated a crab! I was so excited that once that sucker was cleaned, I went for another one. Ripping crab heads off is a rather gratifying thing; especially since they've tried to take your fingers off. **That'll be one to add to, and check off my bucket list.**

Our visits to Texas were sprinkled with seeing dear friends and family, shooting guns, gathering our favorite Texas food and beverages, and on one day, even stopping into a tattoo parlor. Yes, you heard that right! After a lengthy discussion about legalism and freedom in Christ, my dear friend Rachel and I put aside our apprehensions, and got our noses pierced! It certainly wasn't on the trip's agenda, but is such a fun memory, with a rather cute result.

The past few months have developed a lot of changes in Olivia. We are seeing more teeth poke through her gums, hair that needs to be pulled back, and several pairs of shoes that no longer fit. More importantly, each day reveals such a happy and interactive toddler emerging from what's left of her baby-ness. I never quite understood the phrase "They grow up so quickly", but believe I'm getting the idea in a hurry.

A few weeks ago our family picked up colds and sneezes and "Bless you's" were flying all over the place. Now that we are well, if anyone so much as wiggles their nose near a napkin, Olivia is quick to offer a "Bess you!". She may be an independent little soul, but she's still quite a peach.

Recently, as I was weeding the garden, I found an earthworm and brought Olivia over for an introduction. At first she acted disgusted that Mommy would ever touch such a dirt-covered, squirmy creature, but she eventually decided she wanted to "Touch?" the worm. Not too long after that, she was okay to hold one in her hand to observe up-close. She's seen us give worms to the hens, so I shouldn't have been too surprised when one day she found a wiggler and headed straight for the coop. The ladies certainly loved her for it, and my heart was glad to see her wanting to care for them.

There are so many other stories that I will have to catch you up on (including a few rather hilarious ones), but will end here for now. It may have been a record-hot summer, but not so hot that it kept us from having our adventures. The changing of the weather is always a good reminder to me that there are seasons in the year, and in life as well. Here's to hoping this next season finds us living life a little slower, and perhaps consuming a good quantity of hot tea.