July

Dave's plant always shuts down the first week of July.  The last couple of years he has just done so much around the house and farm that he doesn't feel like he has had a break at all even though he loves that work.  We made sure to plan a few things this time.  On the first we had a few things to do and then went into the local Show and Shine.  Not worth it sadly.  As Dave said most of the cars there were newer than what we drive.  The next day we went on a hike.  We looked for a new one that neither of us had done before and found a cool one that ended at a ghost town.  It was a beautiful hike.  I definitely wore the wrong shoes.  I had gotten some knock off barefoot shoes and they have thinner soles.  Which for every other hike we have ever done would have been fantastic, but this one had tons of sharp jagged rocks covering most of the trail and I could feel every step.  I was very sore at the end and my calves hurt from stepping oddly over them.  It was a neat spot.  Sadly most of the buildings had been moved out in 1920's.  Dave took the drone and we flew it at the top around the mostly empty town site to see where things were.  The old fire hydrant was cool.

There was remnants of the hotel and lots of the coal mines and ovens.  We had a picnic lunch and walked all around. 

On the way home we stopped at Blairmore and had ice cream.  I have heard for years that their ice cream is amazing.  Not sure what the hype was.  But ice cream is always a nice treat. Next we stopped at Lunbrek Falls and soaked our aching feet.  Wow did that feel good.  When Dave stopped I thought we were just going to look around.  I didn't know you could climb down to them.  And to put our feet in that water after walking all day, heaven! 

Most of July I was filling in for other at the clinic.  Worked almost full time. We keep having rain, a few nice day and then more rain.  It is still green.  It is never green this time of year. We have been taking care of the garden, mowing lots and working.  

Blake is doing great.  He is really enjoying his companion right now and how they work together.  Still has the bed bugs even after 4 times being fumigated.  I have started planning how to take care of his suitcases so we don't get them in the house when he gets home.  He has had a few things thefted.  His favorite plastic chair and his tan pants to name a few.  

He says that is just life in Sierra Leone. Blake has had a lot of times that the branch president will tell him that he is speaking in 5 min, he plans a talk quick, then the speaker will show up. It's funny.  They are still finding lots.  It is the middle of rainy season.  He is soaked through most days.  Videos he sends us the water is just running down the street.  They roll up their pants and away they go.

One day I went out at lunch to find my tire a bit low.  I drove to UFA and filled it up.  When I got back to the clinic it was lower than when I started and by the time my lunch break was over it was flat flat.  I know how to change a tire, but did not know where to put the jack on this car and how to get the spare from underneath when usually they are in the trunk.  I called Dave and he said he would come rescue me.  He was able to leave early and was waiting for me when I got off.  I wanted to do it so I would learn how.  He said he felt like a bad husband just watching me.  We did it together.  It was a good thing he came because even with the instruction sheet I never would have figures out that spare underneath.  What a weird set up.  Then we went for Chinese after, because I did it. :)

At the end of the month the girls came and it was a blast. 

Jane is walking all over and starting to say a few words.  Being a grandparent just gets more and more fun.  Dave is often saying he doesn't want to put pressure on anyone, but he would like at least 10 or 15 of these little souls running around. 

All in all it was a great month.  Sunny and rainy and green, and busy, and blissful.