August Flashback: First Time in Baltimore

Logan,

Even though you can't remember being there, last month's trip to the east coast wasn't the first time you were there. When you were 9 months old the three of us flew out to Baltimore to visit my grandma, the grandma now living just down the street from us. We spent a day exploring the harbor....

We kept you in your trusty backpack, which worked pretty well....

until we hit the aquarium, where you screamed your dang head off.

Here's a hasty shot of the scarlet ibis, and we're outta there -

hauling our crabby baby with us! Sorry to spring that on ya, Baltimore.

Love,

Mama

Gardening in August

Gardening in August is usually a challenge. This year has been especially rough. We have had nearly 2 months straight of 95+ degree weather and very little rain, which means that there can be no slacking off on watering. I've been spending an average of an hour outside every day. This falls during morning nap time, which is typically my only time to do household chores. Therefore, my flowers are alive (some barely!) but the inside of my house looks like a tornado came through it.

*sigh*

Here's the front of the house this month:

And here's the backyard:

I've lost quite a few plants to the heat and the awful grass man (do you see how horrible the grass looks in spite of hiring a "professional?" Ridiculous!). However, I still have plenty of color and some real stand-outs. This is the time of the year for morning glories:

Milky Way White

Black Knolia

Picotee Blue

My first Heavenly Blue of the season!

The dahlias are really getting pretty, although I'm having to go to battle with spider mites on some of them.

Some of my celosia plants are really looking nice.

And the zinnias are really doing their thing! Next year I'm definitely going to plant more of these.

The trumpet vine that took 5 summers to bloom is making up for lost time as well.

My stand-out favorite, and the first time I've had success with, are my moon flower vines! These guys start blooming at sunset and are usually still open in the mornings, until they get hit with direct sunlight. They are HUGE and lovely, which I expected, but what I didn't expect was the fragrance! The scent these blooms give off is so unbelievable! These will be on my gardening list from now on. I have them next to the patio so that I can see them and smell them if I'm sitting outside in the evening.

Me, looking spectacular, demonstrating how huge these blossoms are!

I'm in love!

Mama

A Day at the Fair

Heading to the Missouri State Fair every year is a long-standing tradition in my family. I grew up just about an hour from the fair ground, and went every year when I was a kid. When you guys came along I started taking you to the fair, too. It's exhausting, hot as heck, smelly, farmy, whirly, twirly, eating awesomeness!

Our first stop this year was the petting zoo.

That baby goat was darn cute!

Pappy bought food for Logan to feed the critters.

These goats are so silly! Claire doesn't even have any food for them!

Feeding the emu.

The next stop was the camel ride. I wouldn't have paid $5 for it, but Pappy did! Yay, Logan!

Sure, he looks sweet now...

But don't take your eye off him!

The Subway food stand: proof that no one wants to eat healthy at the state fair. This joint was empty every time we went by it!

Pappy and I took a quick trip to the Missouri wine tent. All Logan wanted to do was ride the rides.....here is his reaction to having to see yet ANOTHER attraction!

Oh my. Good thing looks can't really kill, or Pappy and I would be in trouble!

We did manage to find a play ground, which allowed Pappy to run in and check some things out in the commerce building while I watched the kids play.

Then we headed to the Missouri Conservation building. This is one place the kids don't mind going - the fish tanks are way cool!

Teeny baby paddlefish!

Claire and a timber rattler are giving each other the eye.

And where else can you ride giant amphibians?

Checking out the chicks, man.

Claire seems pretty fascinated by this mama pig!

And she had a love-hate relationship with the pineapple whip. I think it was giving her a brain freeze.

As Pappy and I stop for a bite to eat, Logan is still carrying on about the rides!

Luckily, Claire doesn't know the difference....yet.

At last! We hit the Midway!

Here is proof that we actually made it to the rides!

And while I was away snapping photos of Logan coming down the huge slide, Claire was having a hissy over having to sit with Pappy! Here is the look on Pappy's face when I returned! "How could you leave her alone with Pappy?" he cried.

Nothing a few roasted nuts can't fix.

Claire would say, "is better?"

Aha! See - another ride!

Logan "won" this Sponge Bob at an ingenious game booth where you pay to fish in the fishing pond, and you win a prize every time. $5 isn't terrible for a blow-up Sponge Bob.

But then Claire loved it so much, so Pappy searched high and low and found another $5 Sponge Bob just for her!

Pappy saves the day!

And Logan and I spent $8 winning him a couple of 28-cent goldfish.

Who, unbelievably, made it home after spending a day in a baggie, a night in a mixing bowl, and another day in a ziplock! Even as I type this a week later, they are still swimming about in Logan's tank!

Love you guys,

Mama