Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the
sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can
ever learn from books.
-John Lubbock
Last weekend, we spent some time with close family and dear friends deep in the woods of Idaho. We stayed at a little cabin on a big ranch and enjoyed the warm, late summer sun and cool nights. The group of my family and the other two families that were there have grown up together and gone on many camping trips and vacations together for the past 20 or so years. It was so nice to have all of us in one place--as adults and married. Counting the spouses and children added to the crew, we have nearly doubled in size--and it feels so great to multiply the love that we have shared for so many years.
We spent Saturday floating down a little stretch of river that we had all to ourselves. We would hike up to the top and float down a few hundred yards and start it all over again. It was our own lazy river. There are times when I waste my own imagination, but spending time with kids while they make rafts out of driftwood and sand castles along the shore reminds me that I should never use age as an excuse to not find fun and creativity in everything around me.
1. Giant clouds above
2. A calm sunset
3. Chatty osprey
4. Hank had his first swim--this is how much he liked it.
5. He might look vicious, but...
6. Grasshoppers, grasshoppers everywhere
7. Digging holes in the sand
8. Keeping the boys in line
9. The boys playing sweet music
10. An afternoon at Gold Fork hot springs
11. Straight from the rock
12. Roasting hot dogs and s'mores
13. Last moments with sweet friends
