Say Goodbye to the Summer

Summer ended pretty much at the end of August this year, September cooled off, although October was nice. We've had this big tow tube, name of Big Bertha for years but it never saw water. It's kind of hard to handle, big and bulky. But we had a full boat with a few kids, so we decided to bring it along. 

The next day, leaning against the garage it was deflated like my ego upon this discovery. What was the message? Is that all it had? Am I supposed to water ski? Water board? Was the air in it too old? Too hot? Too cold? Should it be stored or should it be sold? That's all you'll be told.

Dustin seems to have too much confidence in his spotter Derrick.

Apparently Tonya expects Maddie to grow quite a bit by the size of that teething ring.

Ashley and Ethan prove the size of Big Bertha

Maya makes a much better spotter than Derrick. She's unsure if she wants to ride in that thing or not.

Benson has a serious word with Gregory and Lizette about what he considers their dangerous habit of sitting outside the fence without a life jacket.

I am the monarch of the sea. The leader of the Queens Nay-vee.

Two with total twenty toes and being to towed toward forward

Blue

Looking back for Benson's approval, apparently, Gregory an Lizette have reached compromise with Benson and have sat behind the gates but without life jackets. Benson's good that way.

Ethan scores, while Ashley dances like an Egyptian.

All the school kids so sick of books 
They like the punk and the metal band 
When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh) 
They're walking like an Egyptian ~The Bangles

Growing up. Isn't Ethan a handsome young man?


Beautiful daughter couldn't make up her mind
Between a doctor and a lawyer man
Her mother told her daughter go out and find yourself
A brown eyed handsome man ~Waylon Jennings

Rachelle, usually wearing her emotions on her sleeve, but having none today displays her displeasure by holding her nose, while Derrick ponders if the gesture warranted or not.

Bucking Big Bertha has tossed Tonya and Ashley like a salad, no doubt because of sassiness.

Mermaids Three.

In the garden of the sea
I see you looking over
With my wistful melody
You leap into the water
It is no breaths sighing
This is the mermaid song
The singing of my sisters
The sea has drown for long ~Sarah Khider

What can I say? This is Madeline, a happy girl.

At midnight on the river
I heard her father call,
But she don't care and I don't care
If we get back at all


'Cause when I'm paddlin' Madeline home ~Harry Woods

Barbara Ann waves her hand, 
so it's a go for her tube in tow
But here's some news
She's wearing shoes
Cause in case she flips and takes a dip
Her bare feet won't be clown fish meat ~Pete LeBeau

Oblivious but to the clear blue sky

Asley gives a hug, while Rachelle is just a little bit smug?

The Turtle Lake Duo, look west toward California and wonder.

Maya asks Tonya, "what do you do if an elephant charges? Pay him anything he wants".

Ethan, wanting to make sure Benson is as comfortable as can be, shades the sun from Benson's eyes.

Bertha scares the heck out of everyone attacking the boat like the shark in Jaws.

Maya scolds Benson for letting some ducks get too close.

Benson, an obedient dog, quickly lets out several barks scattering the ducks.

Maya, obviously pleased with her leadership abilities, acknowledges the applause.

Ethan leads the walk, on a 300 foot dock.

Having enough of the paparazzi in his day job, No, No. No more pictures says Derrick.

Barbara seems to pay no heed to Derrick's paparazzi problems.

Derrick, being from Canada has no problem deftly handling this giant hockey puck.