Laowai

I've been busy around the house this week. Thanks to jetlag I've been getting up early to hack away at our overgrown yard. So many tall weeds choking out the perennials! And today I got my little garden plot under control and planted carrots, beets, basil and radishes. We also have a mysterious puddle in our basement that won't go away so I've been calling on the plumber and the chimney repair guy (fun). And since our basement was such a mess of random things I spent one morning doing a major clean-out (more fun). 

So basically it's more house stuff and less hiking in the mountains around here. 

On the bright side Brian made us a nice backyard dinner. And then as it got dark a big fat raccoon just strolled up behind us like he owned the place. Well I guess he did own the place until we moved back last week. Brian grabbed the lid to the grill and tried to scare him off and the raccoon was completely unaffected. He just kept casually lumbering and sniffing the ground. 

So we high tailed it into the house. Wild America!

Another bright point – we went to the beach a couple times. We swam today and it felt so nice!

On Friday we tried to go to the beach but it was closed so we had a little party in the backyard with the sprinkler.

Here we are having a dinner of good ol' American style hot dogs.

The wallpaper removal continues. We rope in friends to do the work whenever possible.

I got this sweet little chair repaired. Grandma Dice gave it to me years ago – she said it was either her mom's or Grandpa's mom's sewing chair (oops – I can't remember which). Now it lives in our kitchen and I love it.

And now it's August – how did that happen?!?