Rockwood Park in Chesterfield and Powhatan State Park in Central Virginia

Two parks in one weekend!  First, a 1.5 mile hike in nearby Rockwood Park in Chesterfield County last Friday:

Our canine companion needed to keep his eyes on the trail; we had to quickly divert him from Mr. Black Snake just a few yards ahead!

Thankful for the water spigots along the trail to cool off his puppy nose.

Powhatan State Park, along the James River in Central Virginia:

Not completed yet, more trails to come.  But there are lots of trails through meadows and woods as well as a canoe/kayak launch (kinda steep...) and open air picnic areas, shelters, bathrooms already available.

The James was a little higher than usual, with a more-than-slight current.  Still, we saw stand-up paddle boarders leaving with no complaint about the river.

Looking for the second canoe launch area we came across this more rustic campground area.  Turns out it's for folks paddling down the river who need a place to stay the night.

 Very vine-y.

Entangling vine-y?  Camp at your own risk???

Real Life in Public Schools--a Teacher's Viewpoint

This isn't a "gripe" article.  I see the things the writer describes in the schools I serve; hard-working teachers overwhelmed by the work required in addition to teaching students.

the-tough-decision-to-leave-the-classroom/

Dragon and Chicken Take a Bath

Adventures in dog-sitting.  Tucker's favorite stuffed toys were smelling a little "ripe" from accumulated doggy drool, so they took a dunking this morning.  Hand washed, spun out in the washer to remove the water then left in a sunny window to air dry for a few hours.  Ahhhh, that smells much better.

Kingdom Come VBS

Vacation Bible School starts tonight and runs through this Friday at WEPC Kingdom Come VBS
This morning I gawked in complete wonder at the ingenuity of the volunteer artists and beauty of the signs, sets and props all around the building:

 The artist even applied pseudo pearls to mylady's gown.

Yep, duct tape gate.

 Love the flames

 Where the serfs live?

 Look for a Royal Barbie above the flames.

Totally amazing.  God-given creativity and tons of hard work.

Successful Week at the Boomer Gym

During the last week of school I only went to my boomer gym one time, which was pitiful.  This week was much better, getting there the minimum three times--yippee! 
Very interesting to do the strength training and cardio in the morning instead of late afternoon.  Lots of hard-working, sweating buddies lifting very heavy weights and racing through the cardio sessions.  Motivating!
My Boomer Gym

Ellen Foster is an Interesting Read

Well, it's been a little hot and muggy to be working outside most of this week, so I've puttered around the house all day and in the late evenings I've been reading one of my "almost new" books from the thrift shop. The author sure has a great scheme for avoiding the use of quotation marks...

"Ellen Foster" by Kaye Gibbons

Sad in parts, of course.  My favorite line, spoken by the main character about a teacher who helped her along the way: "She lived in the sixties.  She used to be a flower child but now she is low key so she can hold a job."

I'd love to put that in the signature line of all my e-mails.

Lovely Father's Day Post

My work buddy, Fiona, wrote her Father's Day essay from a unique perspective:

http://www.timesdispatch.com/entertainment-life/columnists-blogs/in-my-shoes/in-my-shoes-a-new-view-of-father-s-dream/article_71757d0c-33c1-56a1-8c89-b7a3840b1772.html

Looking Forward to Summer

Photo by J.G. Collier 2014

This photo of Tucker says it all--summer is full of opportunity.  Exercising, cooking healthier meals, getting together with friends; all great goals for humans and canines.  Started off this morning with lifting weights and whittling down the soles of my shoes at my boomer gym, sweating along with new and familiar friends. Worked on two goals in one!