Happy 10th Birthday, Ellen!

Today Ellen turned 10!

Exciting
Lovely
Loving
Energetic
Nice

Colorado: Rocky National Park

The mountains are some of God's most beautiful creations!

In Rocky Mountain National Park, we drove around enjoying the scenery, hiked around Bear Lake, Alberta Falls, and went to Adams Falls. We saw lots of wildlife.

Some of the aspen trees were turning but not too many yet.

We saw a lot of chipmunks, deer, and elk all over, but we didn't see any moose. One of my favorite parts was hearing the male elk bugle and watching him herd the females.

"Feed me, please. I'm hungry."

This is a marmot that suddenly startled me. I was just walking on the sidewalk looking for a marmot when I suddenly looked down, and there was this marmot who was just sitting on the rocks minding his own business!

Colorado Springs: Pikes Peak

We drove up to Pikes Peak on Saturday. The drive was very beautiful, but there were times when we were very close to the edge!

This is what you can see as you go up Pikes Peak.

We reached the top! There was tons of snow at the top, and it was lightly snowing! We stayed away from the edge, but when you looked down, you couldn't see anything because the clouds were so thick.

Colorado Springs: Garden of the gods

The rocks in the Garden of the gods are absolutely beautiful! (They are big too!)

We saw a lot of deer and big horned sheep.

Ellen and I really enjoyed climbing on the
rocks around Balanced Rock.

Kissing Camels

Two pigeons just decided to take a nice rest in a hole in the side of a huge rock.

This past week we went on a family vacation to Colorado. We left on Thursday and spent that night in North Platte because we had to take Ginger to York, NE so she could have a vacation at my aunt and uncle's farm. Friday through Sunday morning we stayed in Colorado Springs.

Harvesting Our Pumpkins!

Today we harvested our pumpkins, and we have twelve pumpkins! We even have three that are not ready to be picked and one tiny one that might still turn into a pumpkin!

Recently, we had been noticing that one of our pumpkins had begun to rot, and so mom looked up on the internet about how to harvest pumpkins. She read that when they are ready you cut them off of the vines a little way from the stem. Then put them in a dark, dry place for as long as you want to store them. (They also suggested to clean them with bleach and water, but I don't think we are going to do that.) After we picked them, we put them on some shelves in our garage. Hopefully, they will cure nicely, and we will have pumpkins to decorate with this fall.

For there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:..... a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;
(Ecclesiastes 3:1,2 NRSV)

Before The Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea; a great high priest whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleas for me.

My name is graven on His hands; my name is written on His heart. I know that while in heav'n He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there who put an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free. For God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb, my perfect spotless righteousness, the great unchangeable I AM, the King of Glory and of grace.

One with Himself I cannot die; My soul is purchased by His blood. My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ my savior and my God.

By Charitie L. Bancroft

More Pumpkins!

Now we have at least fifteen to twenty mini pumpkins on our pumpkin vines.

This is one of the big pumpkins, and it is already turning orange!

There are flowers on the vines, and the pumpkin grows behind the flower for awhile. Then the flower falls off. (In the picture above, the flower is going to fall off.)

The bottom of the pumpkin is where the flower used to be.

Making Pancakes

Yesterday, we made a mix and then used it to make some pancakes for breakfast. And dad came home just as we decided to make some. perfect timing. :)

Sarpy County Fair

In the afternoon on the last day of the fair, they have some foot races and an animal scramble.

Ellen and her friend Hanna

My cousin Olivia caught a duck.

This is our friend Jake's duck that he caught.

My cousin Amilia

Hanna, Ellen, and Olivia with her duck in the box

These are the things Ellen and I entered in the fair through the Douglas county 4-H.

Ellen entered this shirt that she sewed and received a red ribbon.

I entered this shirt that I sewed, and I received a blue ribbon.

I crocheted this baby soaker, and I received a purple ribbon and special recognition.

This is a sweater that I crocheted last fall for myself. For this I received a purple ribbon, and it was selected to go to the state fair. I also received the junior Fiber Arts Award.