Date Night--Framed!

For a fun date night, Robyn and I picked out our own art-photo, matte, and frame--then wrote a poem together.  It was fun to work together, side by side--we had no idea what we would do when we started, and we were happy the outcome.

Here's the result: 

 

 LEAVES &  BRANCHES

                       HEARTS & HANDS

                                                LAUGHTER & TEARS

                                                                  ALWAYS TOGETHER

                                                                                       JEFF & ROBYN  

                                                                                                          8/31/2013

One way to look at it is that there are 6 leaves: one for Jeff, Robyn, Christian, Austin, Stephen and Ryan.  These are the original branches.  Our love will grow together, forever, with them and through their families.  Robyn and I put this on the wall to remind us to stick together through the happy times and the sad times, hold and love each other always.

Cooking with Robyn

Robyn has had an amazing garden this summer.

Nearly every day, her work schedule permitting, she prepares fresh meals with ingredients that she harvested from her garden, often with her own recipes.

Here are a couple of dishes this summer.

A crockpot, ready to start

Grilled steak and peppers; pasta with tomatoes and basil.

Family Photos

Some informal photos from a Sunday afternoon.

 Stephen Davis and Dad

 Ryan

 Mom and Stephen Davis

Our Backyard National Geographic Channel

Several months ago, I was eating breakfast,

when a lightning fast Cooper's Hawk struck its breakfast in our back yard.

 

 Our back yard fence was a fine perch for his catch.

We see Cooper's Hawks occasionally, but usually our little backyard finches, mourning doves, towhees, and songbirds are quick to hide.

Remembering Summer Sunshine and Flowers

A pot of zinnias, which grew from seeds planted by Dylan, Bennett and Grandpa Jeff

In late August, the Monarch butterflies paid a nice little visit.

Little Harbor--Catalina Beach Campout, July 2013

Months of planning culminated in a unique camp out on the Western Shore of Catalina, right on the beach--at Little Harbor.

Campers: Me, Ryan, Stephen and Eric; Christian and Dylan; Scott and Jake; Ryan Webber, Jaden and Tray.  We had a blast, from Thursday through Saturday in mid-July.

 

Playing at the group-site fire pit, with the neighboring camper family kids.

Our cooking fire, and nice shade structure.

Christian tending the fire, Scott setting up a meal.

Scott the pancake master.

 

Christian and Stephen, with breakfast.

Christian cooked bacon on the open fire.

Eric catching the rays, in between spearfishing expeditions.

Grandpa Jeff always ready to chase any kid, especially as a sea monster at the beach.

 Jake and Dylan in the waves.

Ryan W and son Tray flying a kite in background.

 Ryan and Scott taking a rest.

 Christian getting ready for another spear fishing expedition.

 Little Harbor at night. Each night a new boat or two would come and some would leave.

 No more battery power for the phone.

 Some of us hiked to the top of hill overlooking the harbor.

Front Row: Tray, Jaden, Jake, Dylan

Back Row: Ryan W, Jeff, Scott, Christian.

Not shown: Stephen D., Ryan R.

 

 Grandpa Jeff, Dylan, Christian

 Jake (with the walking stick made for him by Scott) and Scott

 Eric points back to the rocky point along side our camping area.

Muscle Men

 Ryan ran 14 miles (7 up and back) on this trail in the early morning hours before anyone was up.

 Scott and Jake test the hammock.

 Scott and Christian show off the spearfishing catch.

They made it back, after swamping the kayak twice!

 Christian samples his catch.  It doesn't get any fresher than that!

 Ryan R loved to show the little boys the tidepools, hermit crabs, limpets, and --best of all--lots of little shore crabs.

 Walking around the camp area, getting ready for our ride back to civilization.

 Stephen, Ryan R, and Eric, waiting for our bus.

Tired and happy campers on the windy ferry ride back home.

Not shown:

Whales seen on the ferry ride over, including their flukes as they dived.

Jeff and Stephen's various snorkeling expeditions around the harbor, where the saw a beautiful leopard shark swimming through the underwater grass.

I'll try to post some of the under water photos Stephen took.