Countryside Friends

While out on a stroller-walk with Ava, I

thought I should take a picture of a view

that I love so much. The church is within the

grove of trees to the left of the road sign.

Murdock's elevator, further off in the horizon line,

is between the two groves.

Much to Ava's entertainment, Maggie

would dig out the cold, fresh water that

had newly been put into a large pan for her,

following a long morning walk.

Meet Bumper, caught cat-napping (ha, ha!)

at the top of Ava's stroller (above the seat).

Ava even pushed her around like this and the

cat didn't move. It's no wonder that Bumper

took a road trip later this summer to Murdock by

riding on the trailer. She jumped off when Grandpa

had stopped at a shop; he sure was surprised!

Meet Lucky, half horse, half dog. Maggie

and Lucky are buddies. Lucky lives next

door to my parents, so when my dad takes

Maggie for a walk or snuffling in the mornings,

Lucky comes bounding up the ditch or running on

the road (nails going clickety-clack), to join them.

One of my best memories of last summer was watching

Lucky's and Maggie's heads bobbing up & down in the wheat

field, getting pheasants up now and then. Late last summer,

Dad thought he better ask Ronny, Lucky's owner, if it was all right

that Lucky come with on our walks. Ron replied, "I was wondering

why that dog was so tired."

My girls! Ava and I went over to see the Wentzel girls, whom

I babysat many years ago. The girls are now as old as I was

when I was babysitting them. All of them were in our wedding.

From left to right, they are Emily, a junior in high school; Megan (I think--it's still hard to tell you two apart!), a sophomore in college; Shari, their mom; Ava; Mallory, a sophomore in college; and Laura, a sophomore in high school. We had such a fun night catching up! We love you girls!