Day 17  Because of the water restrictions and the lack of rain, our flowers and lawn are barely surviving.  But, somehow, this little guy is hanging on.  I love to find life and beauty in unlikely places.  Even in the most devastating situations, life finds a way to keep going.  And, not just go on but to do it beautifully.  

Day 16.  Today we were given the opportunity to go pick some peaches at a friends house.  So, we went.   I wasn't sure what we would do with fresh peaches.  They don't have a long shelf life.  So on the way Stacy and I talked and decided to make jelly.  Which is good for me.  Several years ago I wanted to be healthier so I bought a very expensive juicer.  It has only been used a few times.  Not my best investment.  But, tonight, we juiced, and juiced, and juiced some more.  Still not enough to justify the price, but it sure eases the pain.  Now if I could just find some plums.  Mmmmm.

Who needs a shuttle?  Just take the space elevator.  Sometimes a change of perspective can help and sometimes it can mess you up.  This pic is actually side ways.  But I like it better this way.  And it shows that we do actually have clouds.  What if you could climb these cables up to the point where you could see above the clouds and out into space.  Ok, I know it's not possible, but what if you could.  Would you?  I think I would.

Will I take a picture for tomorrow?  Let's ask the crystal ball.  It's not really crystal, and it's not really a ball, but I didn't have a magic 8 ball.  I don't need any help deciding to take another picture anyway.  I know some of these pictures will be lame and some will be pretty good, but hopefully some will be just plain good.  They will all be fun to take.  So much like life.

Day 13  We got two little red eared sliders from a road side stand.  Honestly I didn't think they would live very long.  Now we have had them about six months.  I know they are not tortoises, they are turtles.  But, I still think of the story of the tortoise and the hare when I watch them, and the phrase "the slow and steady win the race".   These turtles are not slow, they get around pretty quickly.  But what really gets me is their persistance.  They will put their nose against the glass and swim as hard as they can.  I really thought that they would give up but here we are six months into this and they still try to push their way through the glass.  They just don't give up.  If these little turtles can do it, so can I.

Day 12  New shoes.  I have worn these shoes everyday for four years.  I wear them to the office to mow in to the lake, I mean everywhere.  I really thought that they still looked new until I put them beside some real new shoes.  So I got new shoes.  But don't worry, I bought new laces for the old ones and will still use them.  It sure is hard to get rid of the old.  I wish they would last forever and I would never have to get new ones.  Ok, not really, not forever.  I am so glad that God's love never wears out.

This is really fun.  Today is day 11.  This is Dugan as seen through a glass wall.  The most amazing thing about these photos is that he actually let me take them.  But it was fun to see how they would turn out.  He is so handsome (takes after his dad) but sure reminds me of some one else somedays.   We credit Dugan with saving his sister's life before they were born.  All he cares about is that he is two minutes older.  I know I was just going to post one picture a day but this second one was too funny not to share.