Summer is just about over, and it's been a whole year since we moved to Vancouver, Washington. We've all pretty much familiarized ourselves to the area. I don't know that it feels quite like home yet, but I can finally get around most areas without having to use navigation. One thing I can say about Vancouver is that it is really beautiful. We are surrounded by trees and trails, rivers and lakes, and views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. Chris says it's like living in a forest. It rains so much here, everything is green, although it has been a pretty dry summer with some heatwaves raising temperatures into the high 90s. It's supposed to hit 100 degrees today. I don't know if this is typical for the summer, but I am definitely not a fan. I am looking forward to the fall and cooler weather, and hopefully more of this. 

Last winter, we had two snow days, and it was so pretty and peaceful. Relic loved it. I am looking forward to a cold winter. Here are some photos of Salmon Creek trail, just when of the trails that runs near Vancouver neighborhoods. 

It's been a couple years since I have posted anything. Life has been busy, everyone's getting older. Penelope is now 17, to think I started this blog back when she was just a baby. This last fall our family made a big move back to the PNW. We moved to Vancouver, WA. It's been 10 months now; Penelope is finishing up her junior year at her new school and will soon be a senior. I've been busy with work and trying to get adjusted to our new home, but all has been going well. I wanted to share some photos because we visited the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm again after 16 years. I made a post back in 2009 but unfortunately the photos I had shared have since disappeared from the web. Fortunately, I still have them in a photo album. 

Here is our most recent visit to this lovely farm filled with my favorite flower, and Penelope all grown up.

Living in the country we are surrounded by horses. All our neighbor have horses and ride, some even compete in barrel racing events. So cool! Horses are beautiful creatures and if I wasn't severely allergic it would be nice to have one or two. My horse riding friends say it's impossible to own just one. When Penelope was little I really wanted her to take horse riding lessons but not knowing a lot about being around horses and riding I was always afraid of the idea of her falling and being hurt. Last summer Penelope was able to start riding lessons for the first time at our neighbors ranch. We got her a riding helmet and some riding boots and my brave girl just hopped right on. Of course, this momma was still afraid to see her get on for the first time, and every time after, but I am so proud that she is able to take on new activities with no fear. She's even fallen off a couple of times, eeek...and gotten right back on again. Here are some photos of Penelope's first couple of times learning to ride. 

 The sound of birds singing outside is a constant from inside our home. With the occasional thud because, oops that's a window. I often see hummingbirds that look like peeping toms buzzing around  as if to say "hey I see you in there". We see the occasional vulture devouring one of the many bunnies that live nearby and the occasional hawk or eagle soaring through the sky. If I was a bird watcher I would have a field day with my camera snapping away at all the little and big birdies. The quails are the cutest with their pointed feathers on the tops of their heads, they like to linger in flocks pecking in the dirt. The roadrunners are the silliest as they speed across the road and then there is the elusive giant owl. I have only seen him once from afar but the neighbors all say he is huge! We have several bird nests along the eaves of our home, we try to leave them be. We also find remnants of old bird homes out in the field. Nests made out of anything these birds can find, even horse hair from the neighbors horses! 

Here are some photos Chris took awhile back when he was playing around with my new camera. Just a few little birdies hanging around. 

I should dust off my camera and try to get a few shots of some of the other birds mentioned above that like to visit our home.  

 I can't believe I started this blog when Penelope was just 10 months old...