Cute Redhead

Hi! What a busy summer this has been so far! Once I finally got to start working, I hit the ground running and have been doing nearly 40 hours a week. My checkbook is breathing a sigh of relief at that! The Lord has provided miraculously with financial aid at Northland, but it'll still be a bit squeaky this fall.

What's especially fun is that three of my four siblings are working with me at Zeb's General Store this summer. It's so nice to look up from the hubbub and share a smile with someone I know well.

Today I got to visit the Squam Lake Science Center with my good friends the VanDynes. We had a great time and saw all kinds of neat exhibits and animals. I'll have to share a few pictures the next time I do a post. Some of my favorites are the curled-up fox and the stretching black bear (they were a bit sleepy). The bald eagles were also very neat. The vultures were not.

Well, today I also met this really cute redhead. In fact, I ran outside barefoot, wearing my (modest) pajamas, and snagged him right off the sidewalk! We sat on the porch and chatted for a while before he had to leave. Here's his picture:








Told you he was cute! =) He was running loose and had to go with the animal control officer. She promised to let me know what happens with him. What I find very interesting about the situation, though, is that of all the lost dogs that had to wander across my yard, it was an Irish Setter. It's my favorite breed, and I used to own one! Is God trying to tell me something??? Unlikely, but I thought that was interesting. =) I'll be quiet now and remember that I can't have dogs till I move out of my parents' house...

Well...it's bedtime! I like bedtime. And I'd better end this post before I become excessively loopy. To any and all who actually take the time to read this stuff, Thanks! Have a fantabulous night!

Snow...

...on the mountain. Yep, it's true: It's June 3rd, and Mount Washington still has a little snow. If I recall my facts correctly, it can snow at the peak during any month of the year. Here's the link to a site for Mount Washington: http://www.mountwashington.org/
I always enjoy reading about our mountain - home of the world's worst weather!

Anyway, I've been keeping busy since coming home from school - wrestling with to-do lists, practicing piano, annoying my older sister (but having plenty of good times with her too!)...I love being home! I've played piano in church 3 times, made home-made ice cream twice, and I even made my very first cheesecake: Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Gingersnap cheesecake. Yummy! (That recipe can be found here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/11/caramel-pumpkin-gingersnap-cheesecake-so-there/ Definitely worth it!)

I haven't actually started work yet, but that's because it doesn't get busy around here till schools are out. Never mind that my school gets out the second week of May...oh well. I'm sure I'll be wishing for these quiet days later in the summer.

Yesterday my siblings and I went over to church to do some work on Solid Rock, our little publishing ministry, and we found the coolest thing on the study window:

It's called a Cecropia moth, and its wingspan is between 5-6 inches! Apparently they're nocturnal, which might explain why this one seemed a little confused. He was very friendly and spent quite a while perched on my finger. I took 127 photos. =)

This picture shows his wingspan a little better. My favorite part was his incredibly fine little antennae. The incredible beauty of this humble little moth makes me think of Psalm 8.

1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!

2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength because of Your adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained;

4 What is man that You take thought for him, And the son of man that You care for him?

5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!

6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

7 All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Freedom!!!

Hooray! Finals are done, "pack check" and White Glove are behind me, and I get to go home tomorrow! I don't have anything else to do today except organize a remnant of my belongings and attend Northland's Spring Concert tonight. Free time...what a novel idea!

The remainder of my semester went very well. I was able to pull my grade up significantly in Hebrew. I feel pretty good about the final; we'll see, though. It's so hard to tell sometimes! I did switch my major from English to Biblical Languages, so I'll be taking Greek next year in addition to second-year Hebrew. That should be an adventure!

I've been able to fit in lots of fun things lately too. Last Sunday after the morning service I got to go with some friends on a picnic lunch to Dave's Falls, which is not too far from campus. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful area - it actually reminded me a lot of home! The trees are different, and the rock isn't quite like New Hampshire granite, but the general look was very similar. Here's part of the falls.

I got lots of nice pictures of my friends - including some cute ones of a newly engaged couple - but probably my favorite picture of the day from an artistic standpoint is this one. The color against the tree caught my eye as I was walking past. I turned for a quick snapshot, and when I saw this on the computer I really liked it. I've always wondered what fish think of lures like this - when bugs are this color, doesn't it usually mean they're poisonous? Anyway, it makes for a nice picture. =)

Well, I need to pack my last few things...and then enjoy a quiet afternoon. Maybe I can do a bit of writing so I can actually talk about the theme of my blog!

I'll be home sometime tomorrow (Saturday) evening. I'm very excited to be home, back with my family and church family. I'm looking forward to a great summer - hopefully accomplishing many of the goals I've set for myself! =)