“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.” – Jesus, Matthew 13:16

Ah, the dilemma of repressive summer heat and an old house. It’s too hot to hang out inside all day… but it’s also too hot to be outside. Alas, there are three grandchildren who could benefit from activity. What to do?

Our solution Friday – and it was a good one – was to get up slowly and then make our way over to the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park & Eco-Center in the late morning.

It’s a good thing there is so much shade at the bird park. And, once again, the children really had a great experience.

Geoffrey was fascinated with the birds. He stopped and looked carefully at every last one, made intelligent observations and asked good questions.

If it is bird photos you want to see, then check out my previous posts (“Sylvan Heights Bird Park“, and “Are our eyes primed for wonder?“). The birds really are amazing. But this time my focus, so to speak, was on the children.

I know, our grandchildren are not catalogued as specimens or special exhibits. But they are remarkable, and unique, and rare; and Friday they absolutely beat out the birds in terms of beauty and interest.

The genius of our plan – other than stopping for lunch at the really excellent Italian restaurant in Scotland Neck – was to schedule a couple of hours at Steve and Cindy Brittain’s swimming pool in the late afternoon.

A hot day at the bird sanctuary followed by complete immersion in H2O – talk about refreshing.

Consequently, by the time we got home to cook a late birthday dinner for Rebekah we were all suitably refreshed… and mellow… and happy. It really was a good day.

Stories – if we pay attention:

Now if we could only dial summer back just a little and into the mid-eighties where we can breathe without incinerating our lungs…

I talked with our other grandchild – Mr. T. – on the phone. “Grandaddy,” he said; “this is an important question. Are you still writing your stories?”

You bet I am. So long as I am alive and paying attention there are going to be stories to tell – DEREK