It's Cherry Season!!

It snuck up on us but the cherries started ripening all of the sudden. Well, maybe not all of the sudden....I just wasn't paying attention. In trying to avoid chemical spraying we experimented with a product called "Surround", a kaolin clay that is dissolved in water and sprayed on the fruit. It provides a physical barrier vs. a chemical barrier against pests.
We'll see if it works. So far we have a pretty high percentage of good fruit, worm free.
The old tree is loaded and the 2 year old baby tree even had a couple handfuls. The kids and I got started picking this morning and spent the afternoon pitting.

I have already put up several bags in the freezer before this picture. There are many many more still out there. Hopefully we can get to them before the worms do!

Sara's High School Graduation!

~Prelude~





~Prayer~







"Come Thou Fount"
~Presentation of Diploma~


~The Lord Bless Thee and keep Thee~

~Prayer for the Graduates~
~Mendelssohn Sextet~


The servers....at least some of them. : ) (from l.to r.) Aunt Michelle, Sara, Abbie, Alex

~Volleyball~

Brothers of the Frontier

Dad, Mom, Josh, Jon, Jake, Amyann and a couple others all took a day trip up to the top of a mountain. A huge trolley transported them up to the top within 12 minutes.

Josh, inside of the trolley.

The newlyweds.

Mom and Dad on top of the mountain.

Jake and AmyAnn

Well, the ladies decided not to do any hiking around the mountain...

"Hey guys, lets go this way."

"Okay, I think we might be lost. Where is that
mark we put on the tree?"

"We need a plan of action."

"Maybe this way?"

Is that some sort of wilderness training you learned in boot camp Josh?
(remember this is melted snow.....as in 33 degrees!!)

"I really think the path is just on the other side of this tree trunk. Help me move it."

"Maybe we can row our way out?"

Needless to say, the brothers of the frontier got everybody out alive. Thanks guys.

While the guys were lost they did some sledding. Of course they had left
the sleds down the mountain, but that did not stop them from improvising.

Jake and AmyAnn

Mom and Dad flew to Palm Springs, CA for Jake and AmyAnn's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding set at the Botanical Gardens. AmyAnn was beautiful and Jake as handsome as ever.

Mother and Father of the Groom.

Add the brothers of the groom.

The groomsmen and ring bearers with the groom.

The whole wedding party for a crazy picture. Notice who jumped the highest and who looked the goofiest:)

Welcome to the Flora family AmyAnn.

The Pastor that wed them sang them a song that he wrote based on 1 Cor. 13.

And of course, the kiss.

The happy couple. Congratulations Jacob and AmyAnn!

Happy Birthday Justin

Happy 9th birthday Justin.