Labor Day Adventures...

This year, Labor Day was on Monday, 7th September. It traditionally marks the end of the summer season in the United States, and almost all outdoor pools close on this day. We had a good day here in Detroit. 

I headed out for a morning cycle and came home to find Candace harvesting a bumper crop of potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers. It's been so much fun to cook our own vegetables this year. Later in the afternoon, we went to Fair Lane Estate and walked through the grounds, enjoying time outdoors as a family.

We wrapped up the day with a bonfire in the evening. What great memories!

Cycling fun.

Labor Day potatoes.

Meeting a friendly frog.

Enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.

The lake at Fair Lane Estate.

Shagbark Hickory tree.

The children at the spring that used to water the rose garden.

Riaan's Lego Bridge of Khazad-dum...

"Go back to the shadow! You cannot pass." So says Gandalf to the Balrog in Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring. 

Using Lego, Riaan recreated this epic scene that played out on the Bridge of Khazad-dum in the Mines of Moria. The Gandalf microfigure that he built from scratch is amazing!

This is not the first The Lord of The Rings scene that Riaan has built this year. He has also built the Beacon of Minas Tirith, Weathertop, Helm's Deep, the Nazgul, the Hobbits cowering from the Ringwraith, and another Moria scene.

The Balrog is quite terrifying!

Our little creative genius. :)

Tubing in Ann Arbor...

Candace had wanted to go tubing for a long time, but we didn't get around to it last year. This summer was really slipping away, and so we made plans with friends to go tubing in Ann Arbor on the Saturday, 5th September. It was a lovely warm Labour Day weekend.

Despite taking a while to get comfortable and some initial fear to conquer, we all had a wonderful time and went down the Cascades course several times. This course is completely free if you bring your own equipment, like a tube and life jacket for the little ones. It's a man-made course on this side of the river and therefore it is quite shallow. As long as the river is at its normal level, you're never out of your depth. :)

My friend Rashad in the background. :)

Lunar Eclipse...

We stayed up late to witness the spectacular lunar eclipse from our back garden on Thursday, 27th August. It was well-worth the late night, and a great reminder of how big God truly is! 

Enjoy the photos of the lunar eclipse's progression below. :)

An almost-full moon just before the eclipse started.

Getting closer...

Blood red moon - the dusty red colour is caused by the earth's shadow on the surface of the moon.

Last Days of Summer...

We managed to do a couple of outdoor summer activities during the last days of August. We visited Belle Isle for another beach breakfast. The children loved swimming in the river, while Candace and I enjoyed walking along the beach. 

The next week we took advantage of Turtle Cove Aquatic Centre's reduced evening rates. This waterpark is located in the Lower Huron Metropark and is a lovely place to relax, especially on a weekday evening, when it's not too busy.

We've really enjoyed this summer in Michigan!

Paddleboarders on the Detroit River.

Gifts from South Africa...

We received some amazing gifts in the mail last month. They included gifts from my parents, 3D-printed keyrings, bookmarks, and decorations from my brother, and jewellery, coasters, a Cape Town hat, and another awesome puzzle from my sister. Thanks, Cape Town family!

Eliza was so excited.

And here is Anya with her collection of presents.

My new hat, 3D-printed Springbok keyring and Table Mountain scene, and a fun SA puzzle.

The completed puzzle from Debbie. :)

Swallowtail Transformation...

I was walking in the back garden early one morning, and I noticed that one of the butterfly chrysalises had hatched into this beautiful eastern black swallowtail! It even let me carry it from the butterfly cage to a flower, as it was rather shy of flying. :)

Eastern black swallowtail caterpillar on dill, one of its host plants.

Delicately perched on my fingers.

I left it on a milkweed flower, where it could prepare for flight.