Wet and Wild

Another week of heat...this one just has come with a nightly bout of thunderstorms with oodles of rain leading to an even steamier next day! We continue to spend Patrick's days off of work up at Aunt Agnes' lake house as a way to survive this summer heat and develop a comfort level with Mother Nature for the girls. Well, girl....Mari is still very hands off....so much so that she has been moved to over come her separation anxiety issues [which is a HUGE accomplishment] in order to stay home...or with a friend....with Auntie Peggy....well I'm beginning to think just about anyone who would save her from the 'wilderness'!!!!!!!!!!! Now she has 'dealt with it' a couple of times so the plan is not a complete failure. I'm just trying to bring myself to realize that my Grand Canyon dream vacation might have to wait until we can afford the hotels in the area!  BFF/Cousin Deirdre is just fine with Mari's nature aversion because it means she gets to take Mari's spot in the car!

After another night of heavy rain and thunderstorms, these two found an interesting little spot in Mother Nature. What are they looking at??

Rain water run-off!!

Practicing her creek crossing skills (-;  The lure of the water was, of course, too strong to resist and I did have a set of muddy shoes and play clothes to wash!

I must admit I was a tiny bit tempted to join in the leaf races and pebble tossing that seems to go hand in hand with rushing water....but I really, really hate walking in wet, squishy shoes. While I ran the load of wet muddy cloths in the machine the girls bathed....

....in THE LAKE!!! The funny thing about being 'regulars' up at the lake is that none of the grown-ups mind if you use their boat as a diving board. This is a good thing for a family who has no boat!

Boy, I've really been trying to get her to stop holding that nose.....

Wondering what caused her to make this face?

Yep, at least one of my girls is fine when Mother Nature gets up close and personal!

She tried catching these tiny toads that hop around the woods up here but those buggers have proven to be SPEEDY. BFF/Cousin Deirdre is a nature lover as well so they spend hours tromping through the underbrush in search of adventure. So far they've watched two fawns frolic in a glade and found and old abandoned house over grown with vines....besides the toads ...and mosquitoes!!