Remember when a box turtle showed up on our family room floor last summer?   Well, another one came to visit.

This time a realtor who was pounding a sign into a neighboring yard rang our door bell and said, “I think your pet turtle is trying to cross the street.”  Well, we don’t have a pet turtle, but we went out to see, and sure enough a turtle was making his way out of our yard and across the street.

This time we found a male ornate box turtle because he has bright orange eyes and red scales on his front legs.  Again we kept him inside for a day to watch him eat slugs and crawl around our floor, and then let him go to hibernate in peace.  (The slugs were caught outside by the kids, not found while crawling around on our floor just in case you were wondering.) This time we put him right back where he (probably) came from– our back yard.  He went under a big spruce tree and dug himself a hole.

Ellie was beside herself.  She just didn’t know what to do or think.  She really, really wanted to pick up that shell and run away with it, but used all of her will power to mind her manners.

Hopefully we see you next year, Sheldon!

(turtle photos by Barry)

Friday evening Jonah wanted to plan a hike.  Brenna was off at a birthday party, so we loaded up the boys and let Jonah decide where we would go.

And we looked for fall.

The nights here in Colorado have cooled off, but our days have stayed near 90 degrees.  Our outside time has been relegated to the evenings when the air has that changing feel and smell, when you almost need a jacket.

We found some hints of autumn– yellowing leaves, piles of acorns from the scrub oaks,

and just a hint of red.

There were signs of summer holding on too.  The snake weed is still green and crisp

and noisy.

………

I hope you all had a good weekend.  I did.  I got a lot of work done on my SweetPod Saddle Bag pattern.  Primarily because my computer genius was home to help me scan and edit my illustrations and other computer geniusy stuff like that.

It was also General Conference.  Not only did I get a break from the busy-ness of running Primary (the children’s program at church) today, but my cup was filled with wisdom and peace as we listened to a prophet of God remind us to be thankful.  And you know what, I am thankful.  I’m living my dream– married to a superhero and blessed with 5 beautiful, perfectly healthy children.  I live in such comfort and ease and I tend to take it all for granted.  Tonight I want to thank you, dear readers, for coming here and reading this.  For giving me a reason to share my everyday and in a small way alleviate some of the isolation that can sometimes come from being a homeschooling mom to a large family.  Thanks for letting me show you the stuff I make and saying nice things to me.  I really appreciate you all– those of you I know in real life, and those of you I don’t.

So, I just want you to know I’m thankful for you.

What are you thankful for today?