Janine's New Look

Last week Janine got her hair cut. Check out her great new look. Her hair was so long, the hairdresser cut off more than 10 inches. So Janine qualified to contribute that hair to Locks of Love. It's a charity that uses the hair to make wigs for kids who have lost theirs to cancer treatment. She got a free haircut to boot!

Still, look at her! Like her sister and brother, she is growing so fast!

Wilma's Party

Saturday evening we went to a graduation party for Wilma, one of the ballet ladies. She just received her Master's this summer and threw a big party to thank everyone for their support. Here she is doing just that.

It was great fun because the kids were invited too and had a great time. They got to run around the yard, drink soda and eat potato chips to their heart's delight.

Wilma and her husband Matt live in the neat old house in the lower photo. I love the stone used for the foundation. But like many other houses that age around here, there are stairs by the dozen. While it is a very interesting place, I would have a challenge living there because there is a Dairy Queen about 75 yards to the left...too much temptation.

The Best Part of VBS

The best part of Vacation Bible School this year at our church was the end of the last day. This year's theme was space secret agents, or something like that, so the kids were treated to a model rocket demonstration. (This is a late post. VBS was two weeks ago.)

Here's Wendy, this year's VBS director, sending one up. She did a great job pulling it all together, so I hope she got something more than just pushing the launch button.

The kids had a great time this year. Sarah was one of the bad guys in the daily skit now that she has officially moved out of VBS eligibility.

John was in a group of boys who all had a lot of fun. They were blessed to have a male leader who took the time to make special crafts that were more boy-oriented. What a great guy!

Janine never lacks for fun or friends, but this year she had a fever for two of the five days. Still she made up for it by getting everyone's phone numbers on Friday and set up play dates for the past two weeks.

Still, I was most impressed with the volunteers. I am very happy that John's leader was a man. Even more, this guy used some of his own vacation time to do it. One of the ladies at the check-in desk was kind enough to take the kids home on Tuesday when I had a new client kick-off meeting early that afternoon. (Bobbie did not return from her cousin's funeral in Philadelphia until later that day. ) Great folks all.

Backyard Buck

Look what I found on a memory stick the other day. Sarah took this photo a few weeks ago in our backyard. There's at least four points I see on that rack. Thankfully he's nowhere near all the yummy plants in the front yard choosing to hang out near our unmaintained apple trees instead.

(That's our bamboo in the background. If only the deer developed a taste for it. Sigh.)

New Section of Garden

It's time for a garden update. Here is the new section of the garden that Bobbie cleared last summer and planted with annuals. This summer she moved the lavender from one of the more shaded plots as well as other perennials. She left the peonies, Stella d'Oro daylilies and the yews in back next to the driveway.

Take a look at the area nearest the sidewalk for some dahlias. Then there's gladiolus in the back. This plot will become more interesting as the rest of the plants grow in.

That's basil along the stone border on the left. Originally Bobbie thought this would be a dedicated herb garden, but once she realized what a nice sunny plot it is, she changed her mind.

Oh, the ballet ladies are not having a garden tour this year. Too bad, this plot looks much better this year compared to last.