Izaac practicing his driving skills in the Jeep.

I didn't have the camera out much while Izaac was here last week because he was very busy (read: non-stop running/energy). My tennis shoes got a workout!

He had several new experiences during his stay. One morning (Uncle) Johnny and the man who grew up in this house (and still lives nearby) got ladders out and picked as many apples off our 'wealthy' trees as they could reach. (Izaac nearly got hit by a falling apple while inspecting the process.)

Izaac also helped out (Uncle) Johnny water our small garden (and himself) with the hose, which seemed to fascinate him. I'm not sure whether it's the water or just aiming the end of the hose attachment he likes best.

Five isn't a crowd....

These are the 5 orphans snoozing together on the back porch. Usually only two or three sleep together (the combinations change every nap) because one of them won't be in the mood to nap, and end up just bugging their other siblings.

From left, that's the runt (still without a name), Gracie, Pat Hughes, Georgey, and that's Ron Santo in front. We kept calling 'yani' Ronnie, so as the die-hard Cubs' fans we are, we named the two that came BACK from Des Moines Ron Santo, who is the ginger boy with tuxie white chest and paws) and Patrick Hughes (who is the black tuxie boy).

Cubs fans will recognize these two names as the radio announcers for the Cubs. Ron Santo is a former Cub player also. I have to listen to the radio for most of the games and they are very entertaining, and won't be getting 'traded' to a different team, so we thought it was appropriate.

The corn patch and the Prairie

On the left is our very small but productive sweet corn 'field'. It was definitely successful (read: yummy).

On the right is a patch of 'test' native prairie on the edge between our yard and the rest of the native prairie planted in about 80 acres around our house. I have no idea what kinds of flowers these are, but they are pretty.

Izaac here at Camp this week and he and Uncle Johnny just finished watering the corn patch and the rest of the flower pots in our yard this evening, plus the newly-planted iris from Uncle Charlie's yard. Izaac and I spent the afternoon in Sac City with Grandma Walker (not actually HIS grandma), Mary and John's sister, Kathy. Lots of gabbing.