THE VIEW FROM HERE

What a morning. Since school doesn't start until next week, I still have opportunities to wake up slowly, enjoy a cup of coffee and take in some some quiet time before getting busy. (Some days during the summer I never get busy!)
This morning I'm sitting at the kitchen table in a house of sleepers, listening to the rain and reading a great devotional through Christian Women Today (http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/devotionalforwomen/). The devo is about Paul's prayer in Ephesians for the eyes of the heart to be enlightened...something I've been talking over with God all week. And this morning, in the backyard, are a few creatures I enjoy watching. I thought I would share pictures.

The view through the slats of the kitchen blinds.

A momma and her babies.

The three settled have settled down on the grass and I hope they stay for awhile!

If the sun comes out they may stay all day.

FUN WITH FRIENDS

It's time to enter the blast zone! That's what we do when friends from out of state come to visit.



My good friend, Linda, arrived Sunday with mom and aunt in tow and on Monday we took at drive to Johnston Ridge to view Mt. St. Helens.


I doubt that there is such a thing as having too much fun with friends, but I was willing to push the envelope in this regard.

It was pretty windy at Johnston Ridge...that's dust blowing about the volcano.

Mt. St. Helens was pretty cool when we arrived at Johnston Ridge. Here we're at about 4300' elevation and a distance of 5 miles from the volcano.
Inside the Johnston Ridge Observatory are two seismographs on which are recorded movements within Mt. St. Helens. The seismometer set in the center of the volcano's crater sent no movement messages to its seismograph, but another was active. I enjoyed watching the needle wiggle forth and back across the paper leaving a thick path of ink as it recorded movement of the earth just about 4 miles away. I couldn't feel a thing so I suspect these movements would have itty-bitty numbers on the Richter scale. (whew)

While driving about, we kept our eyes open for wildlife, DB Cooper and Big Foot. Here Linda poses with Big Foot. I have no idea how tall this thing is. I have no idea what it's made of. I have no idea why Linda would stand right there. (We were hungry and on the verge of delirium?)


I got Linda's mom and aunt to stay still long enough for me to snatch this picture. These two Swedes are a hoot!


My family and I were so glad to have Linda and the Swedish Sisters in our home. August weather in Washington is the best and we enjoyed lots of time in the back yard...eating meals, making s'mores, chatting online and hanging out! God blessed us!