Sparklers...

We went to a cookout this past weekend... good food, good conversation, and the kids had good fun running around with sparklers (Thanks for hosting the wonderful evening Carons!)...

All the Grandkids...

My brother, his wife and kids were up from Arizona and we were finally able to get all the kids together at Mammaw and Pawpaw's house. We quickly snapped as many photos as possible and just hoped we would have one where they all had their eyes open and were looking in the general vacinity of the camera. Well, this is the best I could come up with...

Brave Little Kitty Meets Bert & Trudy

Okay, so this probably comes as no surprise to those of you that really know me... Peyton, the brave little kitty, is now residing in our home. I just couldn't believe there weren't people lining up at the pound waiting for a chance to give this little guy a good home. When I heard no one had expressed any interest in adopting him, it broke my heart. Officially, we are just fostering him. Unofficially, we are just making sure the rest of the family, the four legged ones, accept Peyton into the fold before we sign adoption papers.

At first Peyton hissed at Bert (our big, lovable greyhound), but he quickly learned that Bert is just a big softy. Peyton even decided Bert's bed looked quite comfortable and cozied up to Bert for a nap... and he used one of Bert's big paws as a pillow! Later, the brave little kitty reclined against Bert and gave himself a bath (he even gave Bert a few licks). Bert was motionless during the whole interaction. I think he is actually a little scared of the wee kitty... perhaps because Trudy (our rather unsociable Calico) has shown Bert that cats can be very 'pointy' when they want to be. Which brings us to the next hurdle... Trudy. It will be harder to win her over. So far, she has not offered Peyton HER bed... only numerous hisses and growls.

A Very Brave Kitty

At the request of my friend AnnMarie, also the South Kingstown Pound manager, the kids and I ventured over to the pound to photograph one very brave little kitten. His name is 'Peyton' and at just 6 weeks old he journeyed from Woonsocket to Narragansett ON THE UNDERSIDE OF A TRUCK! He must have clung on for dear life as his head was being severely burned. His wounds are being treated at the pound and he has come a long way. We are hoping he finds a very good home (which, if my daughter has her way, will be with us). I would love to take him home. I'm not sure how our cat 'Trudy' would take to another cat in the house.

Lazy Days on Larkin's Pond

It has become a summer tradition... lazy days on Larkin's Pond. We pack a picnic lunch, but the kids are so eager to jump in the pond, I often think I should have had them eat before leaving the house. A PB&J and carrot sticks just can't compete with splashing around in the pond with friends. Hunter loves to swim and hunt for various pond creatures (which have included frogs, fish, water bugs, salamanders, crawfish, snails, and mussels). Marky likes to swim out to the floating platform with the older kids. Hunter has yet to pass the swim test to venture out with the big kids. He was close last year, so THIS might be the year. Not sure how big sister will feel about having her little brother tag along. We shall see.

Marky surprised me as she spent most of the day sitting next to me, quietly reading. She is an avid reader, so it doesn't surprise me that she plowed through an entire book ('Tiger, Tiger') and a couple of magazines. I just didn't think she would chose reading over swimming with her friends. I, on the other hand, was not as successful in my literary endeavors. I always have good intentions to tackle my stack of summer reading, but end up chatting with other moms and set my books aside for another day. I started David Sedaris's new book, 'When You Are Engulfed In Flames'. He is one of the few authors who consistently makes me laugh out loud. After just a few chapters, I had set down Sedaris and drifted off into conversation with a few friends. Oh well, there's always tomorrow...