Katie and I survived a full night of camping out in the back yard last night.  It was soothing to listen to the rain as it fell off and on throughout the night, and we had an early morning wakeup call from a couple of robins about 5:30.  For the most part Katie and I had a nice snooze and we’ll do it again soon I think.  I’ve packed up the tent so that Daddy can mow the grass.

At work yesterday I was searching for a book in the teen fiction area, a part of the library I really don’t have much experience with.  The book was not to be found, so I began to look for it throughout all the shelves.  Along the way I realized there were several titles I was interested in reading, and recognized with a start that there was no reason I couldn’t.  I’m planning on grabbing a few titles next time I’m in that branch.  Another chance to read “outside my box.”

Today I glanced out the laundry room window and thought I saw a big rock in my neighbor’s long gravel driveway.  Then the rock moved and I realized it had legs.  And a head.  So I ran outside with a camera, and this is what I saw.

It’s a snapping turtle, about a foot long, maybe 10 inches wide.  She wasn’t very happy with me so I took my pictures and retreated back across the road and down into a little dip where I could watch her without appearing to be threatening.  She sat for a long moment, then kept on moving toward the pond.  I think she had been out laying eggs somewhere.  She moved very delibertly, picking up one giant foot, plopping it down and then doing the same with the another foot.  Even so she moved quite quickly and was soon safe in the pond.  Very fun to watch.

Katie and I went to PetCo today.  Apparently it was adopt a dog day and there were lots of people and dogs outside.  I probably wouldn’t have gone today if I had known.  After we made our purchases we drove to the park.  That too was full of people, a family celebrating some sort of event complete with a giant blow up jumping house in the shape of Thomas the Train, and a little league softball game going on, teams in uniforms, each side with a mess of people cheering them on.  Katie and I decided to skip the practice in our normal area, and went for a walk in the field instead.  Just as fun.

So that’s the news from up in Michigan on a Sunday.  Nothing earth shattering.  But sometimes that’s a good thing.