Our Nest Is Empty For The Week....

Our girl took her first plane alone to Southern California to celebrate her birthday with her bestie whose birthday is just three days after hers. She was so excited yet very restless and filled with anxiety just thinking about her going up in a plane all by herself. Our sweetheart was so nervous, she cried right up to the time she got on the plane. Poor dear. Thankfully it was a flight where she was able to text us...We waited and watched her plane fly away before leaving the terminal. then about 15 minutes later we got a text that she was fine...It was a piece of cake. All those nerves and she realized it wasn't so bad after all. We are three days in...I miss her dearly. She has been calling us every day giving us the scoop on her day. In the meantime it has been just me and my dear Mr. Darling... He had been busy earlier in the week preparing for some exams before his official ordination floor exam....So I spent a couple days alone...Yet gave me a whole lot of time to think over things we are going to be changing in our lives as we enter the new school year. The evenings have been spent just hanging out with my darling and watching movies that we normally wouldn't have Freckles watch. This morning we woke up. He made me a nice smoothie for breakfast and told me he was taking me on a picnic.

We got the picnic basket ready along with our quilt, picked up some drinks, chips, sandwiches and cookies. We headed over to a park, found a sweet spot in between a bunch of big trees. Set up our picnic, ate, talked, giggled and took some fun pics...

Since Seminary and all the hubbug from moving and with my darling doing the internship this last year on top of getting the church plant going, we have not had any alone time let alone a time to date. It was perfect and just what we needed. A way for my dear husband to just decompress and not have to think about all the exams...I was so touched that he planned our day out today. I am so in love with this guy.

It was something we both needed. He is so tired and burned out. He deserved a day of doing absolutely nothing. It was nice just to eat together and talk about stuff..we even lay on our backs on the quilt and looked into the trees, at the sky, at the bugs flying around us and the spider webs among us. ANd he held my hand. That's when I felt like we were younger...my heart skipped a beat and my feelings for him grew even more. I felt so good, so happy and had a fun time just being goofy with him.

(this was our view as we gazed up into the sky...Notice it is also heart shaped)

It was a little taste of what it will be like not very far off in the future. Our nest without our baby birds. It has been kinda strange not having Freckles home with us...Yet, it has been good for all of us. For our girl to spread her wings a bit and for us to be us...in love all over again.

Outdoor Summer Dinners

I'm so excited! Last week I was invited to rummage through an old house to grab whatever I wanted from there and keep for myself. I felt like I was a real life picker like that show American Pickers. We found some treasures which I will share in my next post...One treasure however was a picnic table that was outside of the house. I have always wanted a picnic table. I am however, contemplating on whether to paint it or not...It is a bit worn but will hold out for a while...I thought perhaps paint would help seal it from any further weather damage....The table was delivered this week by the gentleman who invited me to pick stuff. I cleaned it up and set it out for a nice evening dinner with my family.

It was super hot in the house but nice and cool outside making it a perfect evening for dinner outside. I decorated a bit out back to give it a Summer fun atmosphere. We made chicken tacos with fresh fruit and iced tea. A simple dinner which didn't take up too much energy from the hot house. I used this Radio Flyer that was also given to me by this particular gentleman...It's wheels were broken off along with all the other hardware leaving just the metal wagon part. It was perfect for what I intended to use it for...I repurposed it into a big tray to carry our food on! It was perfect!!! I love it!

It was nice...Just the three of us...Oh and Missy of course..She sat under the table waiting patiently for any scrap or crumb to fall onto the ground for her. Our intentions are to share many Summer nights outside together, eating meals and playing some games. 

I just love making happy memories with my little family!

Nope...No Snow Here.....

Freckles got all bundled up today for our walk to the park this afternoon to enjoy a little exercise, fresh air and a picnic in the great outdoors. Though it's not snowing here...She wanted to sport her Winter wear out today. So sweet, she is. Exciting news for her this year she will be attending her very first Winter Camp next month...She's going alone...(Sigh). If you have ever met my daughter you would know that she is very shy..Which partly worries me and partly makes me thrilled for her. She is also a big time Mama's girl. I can't believe she actually wants to go. There will be a few girls from our church going as well, so hopefully she will feel comfortable. I really pray for me...I am a big ole' worry wart. I trust where she is going... Since my son has gone several times in the past few years. He's actually going again this year but, for the HS~College group. So he won't be there to look out for her. I will be driving her up and dropping her off for three days. Three whole days without my little girl. I hope I can stand it and won't be home sick for her ( I know I will ). I hope she will be happy. She seems to be really looking forward to it. And preparing just how she will be dressing when she's up there...And she's hoping and praying for Snow.

Well, one month to go and I will let you all know how it goes. On another note...We had a fun time at the park today...had a picnic basket lunch nd sat on our picnic blanket while people watching.
 
 Our dog Missy loves going to the park too...
So much so that she was rolling in the grass with glee (grin).
 Oh look she's making grass angels...
Since we don't get snow here, that is the next best thing.
Funny doggie girl. We spent a while at the park then walked back home.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Backyard BBQ....

Summer nights are here!

 Freckles and I decided to set up camp in the backyard and have a backyard BBQ with the guy's.
We set up the whole yard just for the occasion. Cooked up some burgers, pork~n~beans,
Corn on the cob and fresh picked tiny plums from our trees.

The table was set and ready

 for an evening outdoors.

Yummy burgers in a basket!!!

Don't you just love it when you catch

 someone with their mouth full?

Or when they have a mouth full of food and make faces...."Freckles"!!!

 MMMM...There is my handsome Mr. Darling...I love that guy, dimples and all!!
Freckles and Maestro played a bit of guitar....
Mr. Darling promised to teach Freckles guitar this Summer....How exciting!!!
Be sure to come back and see our backyard campground up close...
Happy Summer Nights!

Picnic At Duck Hill Pond

After being stuck indoors all week...

With a bad cold....

Freckles and I had a well deserved picnic at Duck Hill Pond.

 We packed up a few of our favorite card games, lunch,

 snacks and of course bread for the ducks!

Say Cheese!!!!

It was a sweet afternoon...

Just, Me, Freckles and the ducks!

 

P.S. We also celebrated

National Cheesecake Day with a slice of cheesecake for dessert!

Yum!