BEAUTY and fun IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD

The path to our garden bejeweled with purple irises

      Shelling peas brings out the pioneer spirit

A locust shell.  I remember finding these stuck to trees when I was a kid.

This flower has a face.  Reminds me of an octopus.

Back yard sky gazing

Sunbathing peas on our picnic table

Notice the front porch post.  Delaina holds the camera at creative angles

Wildflowers in a nearby field

Delaina's photo and my favorite of the day

We tend to overlook the beauty and fun in our own back yards.  Our mother daughter photo shoot produced the above images on a beautiful July day.  We're trying to entertain ourselves with simplicity this summer.  We're treasure hunting at yard sales, picking wild berries, baking bread, canning beets, shelling peas and snipping fresh herbs just before dinner.  We're scanning the newspaper for free local fun each week.  Attending free concerts in the park, youth talent night at a nearby campmeeting, carnivals, country festivals, community days and church events.  We're discovering there's beauty and fun in our own back yard.  We're stepping away from the remote, and other tech gadgets to be part of our community and talk face to face with our neighbors.  I feel like Olivia Walton (except for the seven kids) and I love it.