August 2021

 August was a relatively uneventful month with a couple of highlights. The most impressive one was Sophia passing her test and getting her learner's permit. She will hold the learner's permit for at least nine months before she can take the road test. She is already a good driver. She has driven to the barn using back roads and to local shopping center. 

Sophia went to the Howard County Fair with a friend from high school. She also went to Hershey Park with friends from the barn. She is not a fan of rides but she did go on a roller coaster (and didn't like it) and a couple smaller rides. Unfortunately it rained just as they were getting ready to go into the water park section. They had a blast hanging out.

Sophia's friend Jemma is going off to college. There was a party for her. They girls from the barn always have fun together.

Sophia was pinned with her Silver Award Girl Scout pin in August. She and one other troop member worked and earned their Silver Award last year. Hopefully she will manage a Gold Award but there is a lot that goes into that. Sophia is so busy with school and work. Hopefully she can make it happen.

We did some back to school shopping. Sophia and I went to the mall on our own then took her cousin, Stephanie shopping with us.

Sophia received an award for best senior level record book in the state for 4-H. This is quite an achievement. You had perfect scores in each category. I need to push you to get the record book done but you do it well once you sit down to focus on it. 

Sophia started her sophomore year. This is her first in person instruction in high school. She drives in with Steve every day.

I have done so low maintenance gardening. I sewed some wild flower seeds. They are blooming and attracting bees, birds and butterflies. I wasn't getting any hummingbird activity until I realized our fence is higher and they may not have seen the feeder. I bought a taller shepherds hook and the very next day I had hummingbirds. I am getting three that visit regularly.

Our animals are all doing well.