Camping

We came home last week smelling like wood smoke, with dirty feet and good memories.  Over Memorial Day we spent some time camping at my parent’s farm along the Rapidan River with my family.  As far as camping goes, it’s just bring your stuff and hang out by the river – there are no “accommodations”.J   I love for my kids to be able to spend time here because it’s where my brother and I spent long hours of our lives exploring, “playing Indian”, and learning about the things growing on the bottomland by the river. 

This cicada came out of the ground overnight, climbed up our tire, and began its “birth”. The whole process took most of the morning and it was fascinating to watch its transformation. It puts me in awe to see the things God has created and how they work in their own perfectly designed ways.

 

There were cicadas everywhere and they sang to us through the day. On the east coast every seventeen years brings massive amounts of cicadas. They have a seventeen year life cycle living under the ground and finally emerging for one summer of life in the fresh air.

 

 

 

 

Multiflora Rose.

 

 

Empty cicada shells hanging from Stinging Nettle

or “Burny Donkey” as we used to call it.

 

 

 

Elderberry ready to bloom on the riverbank.

 

A male Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly –

 the iridescent blue is gorgeous!

 

 Boxelder seeds hanging from the tree.

 

 The four cousins.

 

Missing teeth!

 

Umm… yes, you’re seeing correctly. Not the best thing I’ve ever eaten, but really not too bad! Tastes just like chicken. Well, not really. J

 

 Kadence tries a fried cicada.

 She wasn’t so sure, but I love her pleased

 expression right before she said

 “They’re actually pretty good!”

 

 

 

 

 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

tell of all His wondrous works!

Psalm 105:2