I have a box of canned peaches sitting outside out backdoor on the railing because I have no more room in my cupboards. This morning Paul went out the backdoor (our backdoor opens to the inside of the barn) and there was a baby barn swallow in the box. I put on my garden gloves and took it out and it flew away. Well not really away but to some far corner of the barn where it will learn to divebomb us when we are coming and going to our cars. 

This is a red fox we saw at Mt. Ranier on Wednesday. He was only about three feet away from my car door. Actually he was so close that I was a little scared and I started to roll up my window. 

We did not go to Yosemite after all. We took a day trip to Mt. Ranier and it satisfied out outdoor cravings for a while. We want to go back to Mineral Lake in the town on Mineral, Washington to fish. Actually we would like to live in Mineral, Washington (population 250) someday. Paul and I bought fishing liscenses for the first time this year and so far we have caught one fish and boken one pole. We are about seventy dollars into this (liscenses, poles) and have one tiny little fish. My brother Daniel reminded me that most people don't really fish so that they can eat fish, they fish because it's a great hobby. He said this one time when I complained because I didn't catch anything one day. I guess this is true but I still like to think that I will eat enough fish this summer to come out on top!
So our sister in law, Anna, has inspired us to start our own business. She has started her own making _____(I won't tell because I don't want anyone to copy her idea). Paul is struggling to find a job this summer because the job market around Lewis County just really stinks. We decided to try and sell some of his pictures. We'll see how it goes. He has some really, really good ones and everyone is always encouraging him to sell them. We are in the process of learning how to use photoshop.
I am absolutely loving this summer break thing. Tomorrow we will garage sale (I always missed the good friday sales before school got out) and help out my brother (Pastor Kyle) at a youth group event. It's so nice to have time to do things that you enjoy doing. Before you get jealous remember that before school got out I was working like crazy! I will be working even more like crazy next year with kindergarten AND first grade. So I will enjoy this time now. I think I may be making up for lost blogging so pardon my longwindedness.

Penguin at the Point Defiance Zoo 

Paul on the steps of the capital building in Olympia where we took a tour. 

Today I used a new recipe for dinner. It was a chicken with a honey mustard glaze. I like to hear what Paul's opinion is about new recipes because sometimes I won't make them again if he doesn't like them. It doesn't hurt my feelings at all, really. He always tells me the truth and this time he said it was just an O.K. recipe, not really outstanding. I like that he tries to say something positive, though. This time he said, "It certainly is a very colorful recipe, honey." I love him!

School is finally over and the long days stretch out before me. September seems so far away. I am on my fourth day of freedom and have not yet run out of things to do (and I do count daily naps as something to do). Paul is not faring so well. He is a much more action driven person for which being AT home means that you are NOT out doing something marvelous and wonderful in the wilderness. We were in Portland this last weekend and did some fun things. I was able to try some goat's milk ice cream from Whole Foods. I have an allergy to cow's milk which keeps me from eating two of my favorite things - cheese and ice cream. I recently found out that goat's milk does not effect me in the same way. It was actually heavenly and did really taste goaty at all, though Paul swears he can tell a difference. Both Paul and I love to try different kinds of goat cheese, this may sound a little fancy schmancy to you but Paul started snacking on my goat cheese behind my back one time when there were no other snacks and has developed a taste for it. We went to Mosaic, our old church and saw all of our friends. We went out to lunch with our friends Kara and Jason. We stocked up on groceries from Trader Joes. That was Portland Oregon.
We were discussing going to Yosemite tomorrow, but is seemed a bit spur of the moment. Paul just said, "let's go". I don't know where we are going.