Baking in Picture, Today....

Brownie Bites

Sour Cream Poppy Seed Muffins (I usually use yogurt.)

My All-Time-Favorite Banana Nut Muffins

In addition:

Pumpkin Breads

The Birds and Critters of Old City Lake + more

Sometimes, even if it's rainy, you just want to be outside.

After church, we took the long way home yesterday and indulged in some of the local beauty.

We also played a little game of "Wonder Where This Road Goes" on the way home.

Old City Lake and it's beautiful birds lured us first.

Meet Mr. Black Vulture. 

Quite a wingspan on this beastie!

On to the quackers:

I'm thinking he's a domestic duck.

Kyler said; "Look Mom! They're drowning themselves!"  :)

Not only are there birds- but big turtles! See them?

Mallards!

This was my favorite. He was a beautiful charcoal grey. Anyone know what he is?

Beautiful!

See the chipmunk? A rare thing to catch more than a glimpse of here.

Hints of fall colors!

Look at his little feet paddling!

For some it's bubble baths... for me.....it's a place like this! 

My girl.

The falls were a little slow but beautiful!

We stumbled on this place too. I guess you would call it a sand quarry? Doesn't it look cool?!?!

There was a No Trespassing sign so we didn't go any further. The dangers are obvious, but boy did it look super cool!

When we got home, it started raining...so....we ran in the rain!
...and we all lived happily ever after :)

Deu 11:13-14  And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,  That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

Waterloo and the Spring House in Jackson County

We had a a field trip (of sorts) to a bee keeper's today. 

(Well, anytime you go anywhere when you home school- it's a field trip, isn't it?)

The bee keeper gave us some honey and sorghum. Woo hoo!

(I know- half the bottle of honey is already gone! It's just - well- it's just SO good!)

 

Well, guess what! The bee keeper happened to know right where that spring house is located. Yeah, the one we've been looking for f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

Isn't it the cutest?

 

 

But it is truly out in the middle of nowhere....down a gravel road...past the little bridge.....around the bend....Yeah - those kinds of directions for a place like this.

This little spring house is also on the back side of Waterloo. 

I've known about Waterloo for a while but wasn't sure how to get down into it. 

But- you keep asking and you keep seeking and sooner or later- your answer just sort of shows up!

I met someone the other day who kayaks down this creek and they knew it well.

They were able to tell me exactly where to go.

The tornado hit this area and the trees are still down and it's so secluded and rough, I can't imagine a way to clean the trees up. But God's rules of nature will take care of these things over time.

The fallen trees do take a little away from the beauty of it, especially in pictures, but we loved it there and it was considerably cooler down in this area.

We heard about the waterfalls back here and wondered if this was all there was to it:

Love that glassy look on the water! SO pretty!

But we kept walking.......until we heard the roaring!

It got louder...and louder!

That's when we came up on this drop.

My parental-fear-of-heights kicked in. 

(You know what I'm talking about...that crazy, way-past-insane, sick, paranoid, gut-dropping feeling that you get when your kids get within 50 feet of a drop!- Yeah, that feeling.)

And there it was! 

Oh- my -goodness!

 

Now, since I have that fear, previously discussed, I didn't make my way around from this angle to get a front view, but Kemmie did with his ipod :)

Look at it:

I begged and pleaded like a 2 year old to 'let's go find the way to the bottom' but they-who-didn't-wear-their-get-in-the-water-shoes declined as profusely as I begged! Hmmp!

And- there was a rope that made them worry about trespassing. Sigh. Chickens!

The kayaker had told me that it was okay to go down into the lower area (the owner's house is apparently the one at the top of the hill) but perhaps I can ask around again, just to be sure, and go back when we have more time.

I so hope we can go back there and spend a few hours!

If any of you go- do tell us all about it!

It's beautiful!

Gen 1:9  And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

Flowers and Butterflies

Something Very Special Happened in Our Family....

We got a new family member this July!

My oldest son Keenan and his beautiful bride Madison were married last week while on leave.

We could not be happier or prouder!

Did I mention to you before that she is a sailor too?

So that means we got a new family member and a new sailor- all in one day!

God is good!

Aren't they lovely?

Adorable!

They will have a wedding next year after they save up leave time etc. But we had a cake ready for them when they arrived- since they had to have something to save and eat next year -for tradition's sake!

And Madison knew right what to do with it :)

And that's when the fight started!...And lots of fun and laughs!

I love this picture- except for the Rudolf effect :)

Sweethearts!

Double your trouble, double your fun ....

I pray they are always as happy as they both look here!

Aren't they a beautiful couple?

Sweet exchange.

One of my favorite pictures!

Their rings are beautiful!

Madi learned that you never know what mom will ask to be done for a picture. In this case- climb up the willow tree!

King and Queen of the tree!

Cuteness!

Do they look smitten, or what?

True love- and shovels!

Flower pickin' silliness :)

May the Lord give them many days of joy and closeness!

Sweet smiles!

Prov 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Congratulations Keenan and Madison!