Slipping through my fingers. Yep, that's what time is doing.

It's been a busy week at Rhapsody Ridge as John and Wendy, over a long weekend, entertained two Tucson couples, friends of theirs, who are visiting in the Northeast.

Weather Report: The heat subsided. I warmed up Toby's slurp of goat's milk before serving early this morning atop his back porch cat tree. Must dress differently at times now to sit out there with my coffee, or I get cold. Aidan doesn't want to hear observations about the leaves beginning to change because his soccer games will get cold, and dark, and snow will drive them into big hangar-like emporiums of indoor athletics.

Paint colors for the exterior of the house were decided upon. The floor covering for the laundry room and adjoining half-bath ("powder room" on HGTV) is still being decided, and the water supply is on a list. I've confiscated Keoni's shower time and moved it earlier in the hope that the water supply lasts through the day's demands.

This coming Monday Aidan begins Seventh Grade. He is PO'd that his mom didn't get the school email telling when the "find your locker and classroom" day happened. They went over on their own this week though.

I tried shopping at the humongous King of Prussia mall and found nothing I wanted. Of all the retail space in the world I, and my feet, just can't tolerate shopping malls and this one has all the features I dislike blown into staggeringly large proportions. And the ingress, egress and parking are Pennsylvanian purgatory. I hope never to return. Even for the I-Max.

We all went to Bryn Mawr Film Institute, sat among many aging-nicely Yuppies and thoroughly enjoyed Lawrence of Arabia, remastered, big screen. My! What a score, what visuals. Roger Ebert was right. My bane of poor hearing was somewhat overcome by a new adjustment on the aids. And, pretty good earphones provided by the theater. Missed a little accented speech, but, hey, I read the story.

Aidan outgrew his loft bed with the desk beneath. He and his dad dismantled the whole thing and hauled it piece by piece to the barn. Until a bed frame is purchased...

It's about 10 a.m. He's hit that stay-up-late and sleep late syndrome of the teen years. Monday is going to be REALLY hard.

Aidan, who feeds the dogs, has figured out why Sebastian has turned up his nose to his dog food. He doesn't like moisture on it. Who knew! This is a new thing.

Karma lies in the windowsills these summer days. When Toby comes into view her body tenses, she growls, and her teeth-clicking can be heard--even by me.

My buddies and I go sometimes to Stella's Cafe in Sellersville for lunch. It's Tiki's place. It's one of those cafes where they know your name, and you know theirs.

Tiki.

She put a commemorative plaque on this chair where one of her (late) regulars sat. Friend Dave is talking to her.

He left her this picture she has over the beverage station.

A friend sent Aidan a text picture he had of Aidan in Action...

Wish it was high resolution. I'd love to make a poster for him in his favorite shirt.

Aidan's target setup for his crossbow. It turned out to be of lethal power belying its cheap provenance. The activity around this is closely monitored.

Aidan and I almost forgot to record August's Saint-Saen's concerto progress, but here it is...




He's been assigned and started another piece--Brahms, too, but I don't have the details. Lots of practice. I think the only boredom he truly experiences is riding in the car.

The season of veggies, fruit and melons is in full cry. I love shopping the farm stands. Some are temporary, some permanent. They are everywhere in this region. Here are a few of them...

The farm house, barn and buildings are across the road. This is Allentown Road.

R & J Farm Market where we got our milk for almost two years. The dairy is in adjacent Bucks County.  It is open year round. There's produce, meat, some local honey, pies, candy, potted plants, etc. It has hired (family, mostly) help and a cash register.

I put this one in because that is the high school Keoni attended on the hill in back.

The little sign in back is for Nelson's ice-cream--a new addition in a second-hand freezer they added inside.

I'll swear by their milk. It probably isn't Vitamin D fortified, but truly is good pasteurized, homogenized somewhat, so short shelf life. Nothing sits long in their cold cases.

This is alongside the parking lot. It's the entrance to the growing corn maze they will have this fall along with a pavilion for all the pumpkins, corn shocks and gourds.

A little further down the road is Frankenfield's Farm Market. They have the best corn of all. They are seasonal.

Tomatoes.

Flowers--pick your own...

...and pay in here.

Prices.

Honest John box.

A portion of the produce fields.

A local enterprise of a different nature.

This one is seasonal, too.

The tomatoes are about the best of all tried so far.

This is Brumbaugh's. Seasonal, as well, though open a bit longer and has the most vegetable varieties.

I liked this old farm building in the early morning.

Shucking corn. Mmmm-Mmmm.