Harrisonburg, VA

Last post I mentioned that I hadn't gotten any decent pictures from our visit to see Raechel and her boys, and Rae was good enough to send on the best shot of our two families together. The funny things about this one are the expressions on Oliver's and Charlotte's faces.

So glad they could pull it together for one lousy picture.

After a nice visit with the Myers, we're now in Harrisonburg, Virginia to visit Stephen's sister, Janie, and her husband, Ryan, enjoying family, good food, the mountains, and a simple, slow pace. It's a perfectly peaceful respite, the ideal vacation.

So far we've played with water drainage grates at rest stops...

Investigated the workings of a guitar with Uncle Ryan...

Gone on a scooter ride over the hills in pursuit of the sunset...

And stood around like goofy, hot pink rectangles while the city of Harrisonburg settles down to evening behind us. And by "us," I mean "me," at least in that instance.

We've also gone thrift shopping in some of Harrisonburg's many second-hand and discount shops, gone on walks, visited with Aunt Janie and Uncle Ryan's chicken, eaten fresh produce from the garden, and marveled at Janie and Ryan's fantastic understanding of living simply and responsibly. We still have the rest of the week to enjoy our time here, and the plans include eating at a restaurant where Ryan works, visiting some lambs on a farm, watching yet more livestock at a livestock auction, touring a nearby cutesy town, looking through a telescope at the darkest skies in the eastern United States, and hearing local musicians at a cook-out.

That all sounds fun, summery, and exhausting, doesn't it?

Merry July to everyone! I hope you are all embracing and enjoying summer to its fullest. I don't want to be a downer, but please remember that winter is just around the corner. If that's not depressing enough to boot you out the door and into the pool, then I don't know what is.