Spot the Spider...

A small spider scuttles up the bark of our maple tree. He was well-camouflaged! :)

Bonfire Fun...

There's something so lovely about having a campfire on a cool late-summer evening. It's good for the body, soul and mind to watch the flames dance above the embers. We had a small bonfire last weekend. It was so relaxing to hang out around the fire and roast marshmallows together. The kiddos both loved it. Definitely good times!

Roasting marshmallows over the coals. :)

Cricketing Sunset...

A lovely sunset as seen from our game of cricket in Washington, Indiana, last Tuesday evening. :)

 Dan plays a powerful shot.

 Beautiful colours in the heavens above.

 Another view of the sunset - just a minute or so later.

Leopard Slugs...

I came across these large leopard slugs while working in a friend's back garden recently. They are easily the largest slugs I've ever seen. Unfortunately, they are not indigenous to the USA, having made their way to many corners of the globe from their native Europe.

 Small snail sharing its living space with the slugs.

Summer is for Sunflowers...

We love the freedom of being able to have our own plants in the garden and to watch them grow from a tiny seed to a large flowering plant. Candace planted sunflowers in the spring and in the last few weeks two of the largest ones have flowered. They are such beautiful plants - and I love seeing the butterflies and bees that they attract! :)

 Getting ready to flower.

 Opening up.

 A bumblebee pays a visit to extract some pollen.

Our kiddos next to the large sunflowers. :)

Camping and Hiking at Shades State Park...

We took a spontaneous family camping trip to Shades State Park on the last weekend in July. (28th - 29th July.) We were only away for the Sunday night, but it was a fantastic time and we managed to do a lot of hiking and fun activities at both Shades and Turkey Run State Parks on the Sunday and the Monday. It was such a successful trip, camping in a tent with a three-year-old and a one-year-old, that we may have to camp for longer in future! :)

 Cute camping scene near Clay City, Indiana.

 Entrance to Shades State Park.

 Our campsite. The tent is just out of picture to the right.

 Shades was the only state park that once had a landing strip for light aeroplanes. It has been closed since 2001.

 Sign commemorating the airstrip.

 Playing at the playground.

 Wood frog clinging to a tree.

 Cool uprooted tree.

 Hiking along the ridge.

 Pretty ravine.

 Maidenhair Falls at Shades State Park.

 Walking along the bottom of the ravine.

 Northern banded water snake.

 Devil's Punch Bowl at Shades.

 Tending the braai.

 I had a little helper. :)

 Our campsite as seen through the trees.

 Walking down to Sugar Creek.

 Beautiful green scenery.

 Sugar Creek winds its way through both Shades and Turkey Run State Parks.

 Splashing rocks. What more could a boy want? :)

 Monarch butterfly puddling by the shore.

 Pretty flowers.

 A frog peers out from its hiding place.

 Colourful fungi growing on a log.

 Cute little toadstool.

 We love camping and hiking! :)

 The suspension bridge at Turkey Run State Park.

 View of the Sugar Creek from the bridge.

 On the suspension bridge.

 Rocky Hollow Nature Preserve.

 Family selfie.

 The Nature Centre at Turkey Run State Park.

 Riaan meets a copperhead.

The Turkey Run Inn.

Family Cycles...

We've done a number of bike rides as a family now that we've acquired a bike seat for our youngest child. Both our kiddos love to go for a ride on the back of our bikes! There are so many new roads to explore here. We've cycled rolling hills north of us, we've been over to the airport, and we've even been across to the White River, too. A family that cycles together sticks together!

 Cycling with the little man behind me.

 Toddles loves her new bike seat!

 Light plane at Daviess County Airport.

 The White River marks the boundary between Daviess and Knox Counties.