ASU Move-In

 Bob and Christina drove Lukas to campus. The car was loaded and while we headed down the hill, Lukas navigated details regarding his computer which was in transit back from Dell. After an early lunch, it was time to move in. Lukas obtained his key and we unloaded the car. The airconditioning felt great after the few meters outside hauling boxes and tubs. 

Although we did stay for a little bit to help set up, it only delayed the inevitable 'see you later' moment. Masks and sunglasses covered up a lot of emotions before we jumped into the car and headed back up the hill.

We are looking forward to what God has in store for Lukas, grateful for him, and thankful that we can talk and text often. 

Last Supper - Not!

 Lukas last evening at home, we ate dinner outside on the patio, talking and laughing, all of us trying to avoid the hard thing facing us - Lukas heading off to college. We are all excited for him yet he will be missed by us who are 'left behind.'

Another Puzzle Complete

 Noah and Christina have been working on a challenging puzzle - a map of the Grand Canyon - while Bob has been reading aloud to us at night. The puzzle is finally complete, the book we are reading is not. We will put reading the book on pause until Lukas can join us again, not fair to read ahead and him missing part of the story. 

Back in Church

 Sunday was in some ways a sad day but also a joyful one. It was Lukas' last day with us before he left for college. We were finally able to worship as a church family again - albeit in the parking lot seated in our bring your own camping chairs. What a joy to hear all the voices praising God and to be able to look around and see familiar faces. It is fortunate that we have weather that allows us to be outside and together. 

Getting Ready

 Lukas' last few days at home were a whirlwind in family time, organizing, sorting, and packing. 

One Last Project

 Lukas made a curtain for his dorm closet. The leftover fabric he turned into a set of napkins - not many move to college with cloth napkins. What kind of dinners is planning to host?

Learning Lesson

 Lukas savored his last few days at home. He baked, he sewed, he sorted, and he organized. Wanting to make one more batch of bread, he tried out a new recipe. The dough was nurtured over a few days before it was time to bake. Since the bread did not brown up to his liking, he resorted to the broiler. The broiler was faster to brown that he expected and the bread became bird food. Never leave the broiler alone is a good lesson for life. 

Not one to be defeated, Lukas immediately set a new dough and baked up delicious, crusty bread - if only it had lasted long enough to allow the photographer to get a picture. 

Backyard

The backyard was in dire need of attention when we moved into this house. Bob and Noah laid out a vision and a plan for how to make it habitable and enjoyable. After the drawings were complete, we talked about goals and desires - low maintenance, xeriscape, relaxing, colorful, and hospitable. These goals dictated the next steps of weeding, clearing out, putting down paths, nurturing existing plants, building boxes and benches, and more weeding and rock hauling. Internet research, asking friends, and reading garden catalogs and we were ready to buy plants. Some made it and flourished, others are limping along, and some withered up and died. We have spent time outside relaxing and it is now a Covid friendly gathering place for friends. 

Our backyard is in many ways an analogy for our lives - plans, goals, and actions. The plan remains the same, the goals are adjusted along the way, and the actions - well, sometimes they are right on, and sometimes they need to be realigned. Life is organic. 

Project Complete

 Noah designed his own backpack after coveting Lukas' custom bag. Planning, cutting, sewing, ripping, and sewing again and now the backpack is complete. Another skill in his tool belt for life. 

Fire Restriction Lifted

 All summer, we have been under stringent fire restrictions - no fire pits, no charcoal grills, no open flames. When the fire warning was lifted, we headed to the store for smores supplies and fired up the pit. It was a lovely evening, sweet treats, fun company, and bright flames lighting up the evening sky. Noah claimed the hammock and watched the shooting stars - it is one of many benefits of living in a small town, and one that is designated 'dark sky' town. 

High Desert Blooms

 Flagstaff is considered high desert. With all the gorgeous Ponderosas around, it certainly is a challenge to ones perception of desert. When the monsoon hits, the ground turns green overnight. However, even without a lot of moisture, there are many things that bloom in our neighborhood. The colors and variety is a feast to our eyes.

A Taste of Brazil

 Sandoval and Elisabet almost always serve us tasty Brazilian cheese bread bites when we visit. They are small, light, airy, cheesy, and gluten-free. It was a delightful surprise to see a bag of something that might be similar in taste right here in our local grocery store. Verdict - yes, pretty good and easy to make, just pull out of the bag and bake. I think these might be a freezer staple for us. 

Worth a Try

 The pizza steel has been in heavy use each week for the regular pizzas. It has also served as a serving tray for sushi. This lead Noah to want to experiment with ice cream - could this be the answer to homemade ColdStone Creamery treats? He prepared a small batch of quick ice cream - cream and sweetened condensed milk - and spread it thinly on the frozen steel. Unfortunately, it was not setting up as he had hoped. That did not stop us from eating it, and the refrozen leftovers did not occupy a space in the freezer for long. Taste good, execution not. 

Chef Noah

 Being frugal is a family trait so Noah advocated that throwing out the oil after a small fry job seems a waste. Rather, he found a recipe for coconut shrimp that required frying, and that became dinner. Being efficient is another family trait and therefore it seemed prudent to Noah to also make french fries, 'the frying oil was hot anyway.' It was a delicious dinner and for us an unusual dinner - fried food is generally not on the menu in this house. Not sure any french fries bought in a restaurant will measure up to these. What a special treat.