Summer Fun and Visits

When summer was first arriving here in Central Oregon (and that's how it is always described by other writers and those of note) I was pretty sure that it was going to pass me by without my having had one adventure or family get-together before fall and winter set in again.
How wonderfully wrong I was! We have had the pleasure of my daughter and grandsons' visits several times and the last one we all shared the visit with my brother and sister-in-law Cathie, who came up from Rio Vista, California. Lots of firsts at this mini family reunion and so much fun. Cathy celebrated her second year cancer free with a jump into a kayak on the water, as well as my brother Pat, the "Oh I'm not getting in one of those things" brother. Not only did they man the boats, but Sara and I did as well with each one of us hosting one of the boys. We didn't venture far from the shore line but just enough to give Evan and Eric the excitement of kayaking--they loved it! The BoyZ were so busy this time that they totally forgot about..THE MOUND. That's good, because when they come next week they'll be able to get down and dirty, jump in the pool and slide down on the park set, too. I am hoping this warm streak stays through for the next visit. Sara is going to go hiking for one of the days so the BoyZ will have Beema and Kpaw all to themselves. Or is it the other way around? Kpaw is excited to have the little guys, too, I can tell when he starts to talk like this;

"Ay, maties, we'll be walkin' the plank with ya thar if ya aren't lissnen to yar elders, arrrrghhh!"
Guess I better make sure all the swords are dull and the yard arm is broken so thar won't be no hangins.

Arrrggghhh!

Schumachers' Preserve for Tots and Critters

Here is a shot of the latest project Kevin has been working on; actually, he's been working on this one along with the other projects he's completed this year; Kevin has been quite the busy rascal!
It all began with a swing set for The BoyZ. Who are The BoyZ? Well, Evan and Eric, our favorite grandsons, of course. In anticipation of the first visit where they could actually play outside, Kevin began construction on a huge play set that consists of two swings, a slide and a 'climbing wall'. That swing set now boasts a gigantic black "Captains' Flag" (it is really a pirate flag but Evan and Eric call pirates captains and pics to follow soon).
Out on the other side of the garage is a little boys' dream; a humongous (is that big enough?) dirt mound with plastic shovels and rakes and hoes and even a big yellow Tonka truck. Their mother tells me that long before they pull up into the driveway, Evan and Eric are talking about "playing in the dirt" and going to the park at Kpaw's and Beema's house. It has been so much fun to show the little guys something new every time they come to visit. The last visit Kpaw had a little three-ring pool set up and ready to go. When they boys came in the house, I took Evan over to the dining room window and told him to look outside. "Ohhhhh! A pool, Beema!! It's a pool for me!" The exclamations, the excitement, the absolute happiness of a 3 and 4 year old are priceless joys.
And this is my opportunity to save and savor all of that.
Now, back to our little chippie there. We seem to have two sizes; large and TINY. The big guy is probably about as big as a cell phone and the TINY guy, who's name now is Tiger, is half that size. They scoot and scamper all about the front deck and all over the property looking for the seeds and peanuts that Kevin puts out for the critters. Tiger has burrowed his way under the house somehow and made himself a little home over in the master bedroom corner. I guess we'll leave him there as long as he doesn't chew himself into the house, he's rather warm and protected where he is.
So yesterday as I was standing on the front deck with Kevin, he was enticing Tiger up close by rattling a peanut. Tiger wasted no time coming in for a treat that is almost as big as he is. I stood very still as he came up and took that peanut right out of Kevin's hand, it was just too cute. And off he ran, rattling down the stairs to his secret lair to stash another prize.
Happy summer!