Sunrise, sunset, good times, flowers, and babies

Good Tuesday morning!  June 21, folks.  Enjoy these long summer days, because they're gonna start getting shorter day by day.  How's that for a downer, hahaha!!   Here's a sunrise I captured from our side porch last week.

Actually, I feel very sad when I look that direction these days.  That shed roof in the picture belongs to our neighbor man who passed away at the end of May.  We did not know he had passed away until two weeks later!  Apparently we were at work the day the ambulance came to take him to the hospital.  Rick was in his late fifties and single, soft spoken and friendly.   We knew he had some health issues, but he enjoyed working in his yard, and we would chat from time to time.  I always thought that someday when I'm not working away from home all the time we would have him over for a cookout and get to know him better.  Ugh.  I still expect to see him puttering around in his yard when I walk into my laundry room and look out the door.  And I feel really sad.  I have no idea if he had a relationship with God.

On a happier note, we finally went to Lowes last week and got some things to put into our planter.

Our lilies are just starting to bloom.  We will have LOTS of them in a week or two.

On Friday evening Dick and I drove down to Sam's place.  At the same time Ray and Thyda were driving up from Virginia.  So many times our trips to Lancaster County do not coincide with theirs, but this time we finally planned ahead.  

It was REALLY unusual at Sam's place that evening.  Jenn was still away on her two-week drill, and Sammy and Bianca were spending the weekend at Jenn's parents.  We took our good old time getting there since we knew that Sammy was not eagerly awaiting our arrival.  Bella, the dog, made up for it, haha!!

I did a little bit of cleaning for Sam that evening and he and I did a late grocery run.  That was fun.  We did a whole lot of grocery shopping together when he was in college.  There was also some excitement outside.  Two helicopters landed in the athletic field parking lot behind their house.  There was also an ambulance.  It seemed that they were transferring a patient, but it apparently was not an emergency.

If you look closely you can see the helicopter hovering just below the tree branches.

This was the sky looking the other direction.

Later when we got home from the grocery store the helicopters were leaving.  A lot of noise, a lot of light, and a lot of wind, but in no time they were gone.

On Saturday Sam was delighted to be able to sleep in.  Dick did repairs to Sam's mower and weed whacker and got both of them in good working order.

We met up with Ray and Thyda at an old favorite hangout - A&M Pizza on the Manheim square.   I wanted to get a picture of everyone, but Sam insisted on taking the picture instead of being in it.  Only later did I notice that we four had all dressed in navy blue and white, LOL!!!  I teased Sam that we had made him take the picture because he didn't match.

After lunch Ray and Thyda went back to her parents to get Leo, their dog, then came up to Sam's place for the rest of the day.   Those two dogs, Leo and Bella!!!  It was like a mad circus for a while.  But I think they ended up liking each other at least a little bit.  Unfortunately, my camera remained out of the action for the rest of the day.    Dick and I left for home around 6:30 pm.

On Sunday late afternoon, after our naps, we went over to Anthony and Lori's for a Father's Day cookout with some of their friends.  We also invited a young family from Houserville whom we have been wanting to introduce to Anthony and Lori.  

There really were fathers there, but somehow I got a picture when all of them were elsewhere!

I love this shot of Andy with his son Kai.  Is that not a classic Father's Day picture?

As always, a gorgeous sunset view from the fire pit.

This was my Father's Day collage for our family.

This is probably the earliest picture of my dad and me.  I've said it before and I'll say it again - he always made me feel loved and special.  I think that's one of the greatest gifts a dad can give his daughter.

And now some Hunter happiness from yesterday.

This boy is just three months old and was already trying hard to go places yesterday.  Look at him digging his toes in to get some traction!

And pulling his knees up!  Lisa's Sophie was just like this when she was a baby.  I have a feeling Anthony and Lori are going to have to baby proof the house sooner than they hoped to!  Austin's life may be about to change!

So far Austin thinks Hunter is the best baby ever.  Look at this precious picture Lori posted on Saturday!

I was still at their place yesterday when Austin got home from YMCA camp.  He immediately wondered if I wanted to watch him play wall ball outside.  Like Anthony said, "It's not worth doing if there's no one watching."  Hahahaha!

Please notice his matching outfit!  Lori said he usually resists her suggestions to match his shirts, shorts, and socks, but that yesterday morning after he was dressed he said, "I guess matching is good."

And now one last adorable picture.  This is a screen shot from a video I took yesterday with my camera viewer reversed.

And here's the video.  As you can see, he likes that baby in the viewer!

Have a good week!  I know mine will be BUSY as we prepare for the annual Stauffer camping weekend at Camp Hebron this weekend.