summer time

The Carmona house is definitely in the summer time groove. Nim had her swimming lessons last week and this week Gita is in art camp and Noah in skate camp. Our dinner time has shifted from the winter time 5:30 to the summer time 7:00 ~ bed time is shifting as well. Evenings are spent outside until the fireflies come out. We are eating lots of corn, and berries, and melon ~ and the freezer is stocked with popsicles. Yes, summer is really here.

swimming lessons and pool time

lounging 

reading in the hammock

Mom and John visit NC

Although we have had many wonderful visits with my mom and stepdad in Utah and in Maine, they have not been to western NC to visit us in years. Actually, since our house has been finished. Well, last week, they paid us a visit and we had a wonderful time! Our neighbors were away at the beach and were in need of a house sitter to care for their pets ~ the timing worked out perfectly for mom and John to stay there for 5 days. Right next door! We shared some delicious food (both at home and on the town), walked around town, got caught in a crazy storm, spent an evening at a concert at the lake, and many hours drinking coffee and watching hummingbirds. The kids were so very happy to get to show off their rooms, animals, and favorite things. And we enjoyed the opportunity to show our loved ones a glimpse into our lives.

We miss them already ~

Noah's an 8th grade graduate!

little helper

what do you do when your youngest asks, yes asks, to vacuum the living room,

including all the chair pillows?

sit back, enjoy, and take a few photos, right?

what we did this weekend

After 11 years of sleeping on a futon, the Carmonas

are upgrading to a real mattress ~

7 more sleeps until it arrives at the doorstep

thank heavens!

around the homestead....

the cabbage is almost ready

the naughty dog sneaks through garden beds

the muscadine vines climb the fence post

the blueberries are popping out

the flowers are blooming

the potatoes are thriving in their neat and tidy rows

and the green beans too

the gooseberries are turning plump and pink

and the cherries are ready for nibbling

we are loving the many wonders of May~

hand carved spoon

This week our dinner table was blessed with a new serving spoon made by Nimuae. For the past few months we have been hearing weekly status reports after Nim's Tuesday wood working class with Mr. Crowe. She would tell us what tools she used, the progress she made, what grain of sandpaper she was on. Then last week (hurrah!) she got to bring home the finished product. Isn't it beautiful?

Nimuae's spoon, hand carved, cherry wood