Virginia Camping Trip

Caroline and I had a wonderful time camping at the Philpott Lake Campground near Fairy Stone State Park in Virginia in late October. It was very cold, with temperatures at night getting to around freezing. We built a wonderful fire with the help of some fellow campers, and cooked some tasty meals on the camp stove. During the day we geocached and hiked, and generally had a great time.

Durham Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Caroline rocks out on her new Guitar Hero guitar.

Max the Guinea Pig ( taken Sunday, August 17, 2008)

2008 Welkin Court Salsa Walk

Jacob, Emily, Murphy, and Caroline

Lake Elton Flora, Durham, NC

Caroline and Murphy

Cool fort built by some neighborhood kids

Murphy enjoying the lazy afternoon sunshine

Birdhouse in our backyard, Durham, NC

Lake Crabtree County Park

Lavender Festival

Caroline and I went with her sister, Emily, and Emily's good friend Klugh to the Lavender Festival at a local lavender farm. We had a picnic, followed by lavender ice cream from Maple View Farms. We also got to sample some delicious lavender lemonade. It was a wonderful afternoon!

Tree Swing

Today I finally got around to hanging the beautiful tree swing that my sister Cheryl got me for Christmas. I had requested it through my amazon.com wish list. I have fond memories of the tree swing we played on when we lived at Otter Lake in Hanson, Kentucky. I am especially proud because I figured out how to hang the swing all by myself.

Baby Mockingbird

As we were driving home from Caroline's parents' house on Sunday evening, Caroline spotted a bird on the road ahead. I tried to swerve away as quickly as possible, but we thought I might have hit the bird anyway. So, we turned around and went back to check on it. We thought the bird was injured, so we scooped it up with a canvas shopping bag and took it home. We called the Piedmont Wildlife Center for advice, but they were closed. Then we called my co-worker Mari, who is trained in rescuing birds, and she suggested that we keep the bird in a shoebox lined with pine needles until the morning. Upon consulting our bird book and the internet, we determined that the bird was actually a baby mockingbird. He seemed better once we got him in the shoebox. In the morning, he was chirping away and seemed to be unhurt. I took him to school, and Mari confirmed that he was indeed unhurt, and that I should try to return him to his home. I drove to the spot where I thought I hit him. Right before I released him, he opened his mouth wide. Louise, another co-worker, had found a worm for him, and so I quickly grabbed the worm and fed the baby bird. He then hopped away, and soon we saw the mother mockingbird swoop down! I looked up, and there were several nests in a tree right over my head. I think I found the right place, and I think he will be fine!

Relay for Life

This weekend, we participated in the Durham County Relay for Life, which raises money for the American Cancer Society. Our team, MCS Kids for a Cure, raised well over $4000. Relay for Life is an overnight event where teams camp out at the Durham County Stadium. One member of the team has to be walking at all times. There were some students from Jordan High School doing henna tattoos, so Caroline and I both decided to get one. She got what they called a "simple Arabic design" on her hand, and I got an intricate one on my leg.

Geocaching

Caroline and I took up geocaching after she got a GPS for Christmas. We have been having so much fun with it. Here are some photos of some of our most recent finds, including one with our 2 1/2 year old niece Katie, who loves "treasure hunting".