Summer::June in a sun-scorched land...

If the beginning of summer 2005 wasn't crazy busy enough, I decided to start a blog.  

I'd read that blogging was an excellent way for writers to practice and hone their skills, and though I had not even read a blog yet, the concept appealed to me. As Emily's homeschooling year was coming to an end and we prepared for both Nick and Casey's graduations from college and weddings two months apart, I began what I naively thought was a private journal--thankfully on a platform that no longer exists.  

Twelve summers, six grandchildren, and a dramatically different blog and life season later, I'm beyond grateful for the numerous creative opportunities and the diverse and rich relationships that blogging has made possible. And though there's been nothing predictable about my postings in the midst of this transformational season, I have no desire to withdraw entirely from creating in this small space for whoever happens to find me here.

Today, I offer a glimpse of June--a month that began with a pond-fishing birthday for 5 year old Tyler and concluded with a glorious beach sunset.  It's no secret that I'm not fond of summer with its heat and humidity, but there's no denying the beauty and the delight of being with those I love that I would clearly miss if I never wander outside.   

June brought the last of the wild butterfly orchids in the live oaks near the creek, crepe myrtle and firebush, night-blooming jasmine and honeysuckle vines, a white-eyed vireo and a mockingbird, all-star baseball tournaments for 5 year old Wyatt and 11 year old Mason, rain-drenched cypress around the pond and wildflowers in the thickets, baseball camp and a birthday for Mason...and so much more. 

The LORD will guide you always, he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

~Isaiah 58:11 

Weekends {are for} wanderings...

Weekend Wanderings on Pollywog Creek 

~ with photos that didn't make the cut

One of my mother's favorite adages was that growing older ain't for sissies. And I must admit that lately I've been a bit of a sissy.

I abandoned the RA blog months ago, but posted an update last night for inquiring minds and because I forget everything I don't write down. You only have my permission to read it, though, if you promise you won't take pity on me. Pray, yes. Pity, no. 99.99% of the time I'm totally at peace with God's overwhelming love for me and His sovereignty in all things that concern me. I've simply had a few .01% feeling hopeless moments in a temporary bump-in-the-road season. Things will get better - I'm sure of it.

~ ~ ~

Earlier this week I made a super-easy perfectly delightful summertime dessert - inspired by Martha Stewart's strawberries and cream bars. Unfortunately, we ate every last bite before I even thought about taking a photo.

The recipe calls for 6 cups of strawberries, but after Emily made strawberry/banana/yogurt smoothies, we only had 3 cups of strawberries left. So I halved the sugar and froze it in an 8-inch square pan. I only had to stir it twice in the freezer before adding the topping, and because I had almost a full container of cool whip in the fridge, I used that instead of making the whipped cream topping the recipe calls for. It doesn't get any easier. 

It does melt quickly after removing from the freezer, so be sure to eat it as soon as it's cut and served.

~ ~ ~

It's another big "New York Yankees vs the Boston Red Sox" weekend, and I have two ripe avocados in the fridge that would be perfect for making guacamole for the game. 

What's your favorite guacamole recipe?  

Photos: from a short walk down to the creek on Thursday

Beautiful hearts...

...that flame bush in the backyard




...that's supposed to be attracting hummingbirds




...but all I've seen




...are spiders and insects.

Taking a little break from watching the College World Series (It's Great. To Be. A Florida Gator) and working on a guest post for (in)courage. (I'll let y'all know next week when it's up.)

I do love those girls over at Dayspring's (in)courage, and I'm jumping-up-and-down thrilled to be able to write for them. If you're ever in need of a little encouragement from your sisters (which for me is daily), I highly recommend spending time reading and commenting and letting those beautiful sister hearts speak to yours.

Speaking of beautiful hearts, Shaun Groves new release 3rd World Symphony is ready to preview and pre-order, and I wasted no time doing both. I can't listen without thinking of my beautiful friend Ann and my family's adorable Compassion child, Diego, from Guatemala.

Third World Symphony by shaungroves

 Jeff Goins, Writer, is one of my favorite new reads. His blog is a wealth of information for writers, bloggers, and other creative thinkers, and the guest post on his blog today, The Clean Water Crisis, reveals his beautiful heart of compassion, as well.

Heeeeeeere come the gators...

A few days before my birthday last week we drove to Gainesville to eat peanuts and slather on sunscreen and watch the 4th ranked Gators beat Georgia in baseball.

The weather Friday night was perfect - mild and breezy - even a little chilly at times...

...but Saturday afternoon in Florida's bright sunlight and 90-degree heat was brutal. Before the game on Saturday, we stopped by the campus bookstore to purchase more must-have Gator paraphernalia. Did you know that you can buy packages of "official" eyeblack already printed with "Phil 4:13"? And yes - I bought a pack.

We also stopped by Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as Florida Field and thanks to former coach Steve Spurrier - The Swamp.

It was Coach Spurrier who said ".....a swamp is where Gators live.....a swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous. Only Gators get out alive."

Our seats for the baseball game were near the top behind home plate on the 1st base side of the field.

Perfect for capturing that walk-off Gator home run in the bottom of the 9th inning Saturday afternoon.

A couple of days before we left for Gainesville, we discovered this gator swimming in our pond.

We hoped he would move on while we were gone, but two weeks later, it's apparent that he likes Pollywog Creek as much as we do. He's not a big gator. He's young, maybe 4 or 5 years old and about 5 feet in length, it's hard to tell. But a gator is a gator, and like all other gators, this guy has big teeth, a healthy appetite and a less-than-pleasant disposition.

I shot this short video yesterday as he moved from the bank of the pond back into the water...

We have had gators in the pond before, but never one as brazen as this one. He fails to retreat when approached and will actually follow me in the water as I walk around the pond. This gator definitely qualifies as a nuisance gator so we've called for a trapper to remove him.

Stay tuned in. I'm hoping that tomorrow I'll be able to post: Heeeeeeere goes the gator...