Do you SKYPE?

I have just been introduced to Skype and am having a great time visiting online! I recommend it to my friends, especially the grandmothers. Noah's uncle was kind enough to put a camera on my computer and download skype for me. We were delighted to have a visit with Noah the morning of his first day back to school. Thank goodness we were looking decent at 7am Tucson time! We were headed to Little Rock where Leon got the staples out of his knee and a good report from his doctor.

This morning started with a skype call from Robert, if that is the proper terminology. He didn't have a camera but that did not matter. You don't have to have one! I learned to put my photo up and he even sent along this picture of the yard long cucumbers that he has in his North Carolina garden!

As for my garden I left everything up to Mother Nature and she failed me! But we are on our third day of a slow gentle almost all day long type summer rain which is probably going to save my grass, shrubs, and trees. And the highs are in the 70s as opposed to 100 plus like last week!

OK, Brian, do you skype and what's in your garden?

Tucson visitors

On August 4 Noah's aunt and uncle came to town and Noah was delighted to give them a whirlwind tour of Hot Springs. We drove past Magic Springs, one of Noah's favorite haunts, and through town along bathhouse row in historic Hot Springs. On Whittington Avenue Noah showed them the house where he was born and we even slowed to listen to a concert in the national park. We stopped for a view of town from the top of the nearby mountain which in August seemed like a lush forest to the visitors from the Arizona desert, even with the 103 degree temperature.

A cancelled flight due to the small hurricane in Houston gave Noah an opportunity to share more with them. He enjoyed leading them along the trails in the yard.

First Carlos and Noah tried the woods. Oh my gosh! We did not spray there for chiggers.

Carlos and Belinda come through the wash where the coyotes were born last year. It is our only hill with a thrill.
We then joined Kay, our captain, for a ride on Mable and a tour of Lake Hamilton at dusk. It was the perfect ending to a busy day. How kind of her to muster the energy on her first day back to school/work!

John joined us after a small celebration for his birthday. He and Carlos bonded and they will have to tell that story.

Noah is always delighted to have a visit with Nick! Nick brought his favorite bear along for the ride.

Then it was time for Noah to introduce Uncle Carlos to Mable! Hang on, Uncle Carlos! Full speed ahead!

Mable got a little full of water and Uncle Carlos had to just lie back and take it. It got dark and their next video was just a blur as Kay finally managed to sling them both off Mable. It was quite a thrilling experience for Carlos. Noah had gotten so good no amount of turning and waves could trick him into a spill.

Noah left early the next morning for the flight home with his Aunt Belinda and Uncle Carlos. We are delighted that he could make the trip and wish him the best. We feel so fortunate to have him in our lives. I know he will have a wonderful home and a great school year. He could hardly wait to see his cousins, Joe and Christina.