Dog days of summer

We've had some really hot days (and nights) lately! The garden is growing like a jungle, but sometimes I feel like I'm wilting. I've been jumping into the pond a few times a day. (Before you laugh at a Florida girl wilting from the heat, remember that in the Florida of my childhood, there was air conditioning. That means there were some breaks from the heat. I've always loved summer--and being outdoors during the summer--but I also liked to come inside and cool off. Here it's just hotter inside. Also, I was never pregnant in Florida. And, yes, I do know that people lived in Florida before air conditioning. . . but I didn't. )

Anyway, we had another wonderful week at our dacha. Will's biggest project this week was replacing the ladder to the upstairs. I've been up there most nights, so that I don't disturb the rest of the family when I can't sleep, and so that they don't disturb me when I can. Will didn't like me going up and down the ladder that was there. (Although I was doing fine with it.) Here he was cutting the bottom step:

Jaan helps Papa
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

. . . while. . .

Raia watches
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

And then Raia shows off the. . .

New stairs
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

The highlight of the week was that we had almost all of the young people from church out for dinner and fellowship. It's been hard getting everyone together all summer, and we've missed those times.

With friends
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

And then just some random photos:

Bubble Man
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

(The results of a bubble fight with me, when I was washing dishes.)

Squash!
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

Size comparison
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

Morning sleepyheads
Originally uploaded by fylliska.

(I answered questions in the comments sections where they were asked.)