A "dam" good time

Last week we ventured over to the Hiwassee Dam, only about a 25 minute drive from where we are. We had heard that it was cool to see because the water on one side of the dam is so much higher than on the other side. As we stood on the bridge and looked down on the low side, I got that nervous feeling in my stomach because we were up so high! I wouldn't even walk out to the middle of the bridge, and I kept telling Ryder and Harper to stay way back from the railing. But the views were beautiful!

Yikes! That is a long way down!

Here is where I stopped and watched Andrew and the big kids walk the bridge.

the lake on the high side

Shepherd was so excited to see the geese! He waved at them, probably thinking E.J. the duck had multiplied. 

I need to get this boy some sunglasses! 😎

walking on the low side beneath the dam

We were standing up on that bridge just moments earlier! Ryder and Harper both realized that if it weren't for the dam, we would have been underwater in this shot. That was a weird feeling!

The campground owners have recruited Ryder and Harper to help out with the baby goats, and it has been wonderful! The goats are only 5 or 6 weeks old, and their mama goat pretty much rejected them, so they need to be bottle-fed right now until they eat more solids. There are also two other baby goats (cousins to the first pair) that need to be socialized, and the owners just don't have enough hours in the day to spend time with the goats and still run their business during the busy summer season. So Ryder and Harper go over to the goat pen at 9, noon, and 3 each day to do the feedings and play with the goats. It is a big responsibility, but they absolutely love it and are learning so much! Andrew ordered them a book about goats, and Ryder has gone online and done more research just because he wants to! We call them the "goat whisperers" now.

Ryder is feeding Will, and Harper is feeding Trouble. Will was a runt that almost didn't make it, so he earned his name because he obviously had the will to survive.

 

These goats are like affectionate little puppies!

This is where Harper spends most of her time these days...at the catch and release fishing pond. 

One of our campground neighbors french-braided Harper's hair, and it was so pretty! I tried to recreate it a couple of days later, but I'm still learning and it was pretty loosey-goosey.

Two afternoons in a row we had heavy downpours with hail. Ryder and Harper had fun catching the hail and playing in it while wearing their bicycle helmets. 😝

Andrew groomed his beard last week, and we couldn't believe how bushy it had gotten! Harper was sad, and Shepherd just kept staring at him like he couldn't quite figure out what was different. We reassured the kiddos that it will grow back!

Shepherd waved at this butterfly during one of our walks around the campground.

Oh boy! A bowl of water to play in!

Here, Garcia. I made you some stone soup. Hope you like it!

fresh trout on the grill

Harper caught her first bass! Ryder helped her hold it for the picture because it was a little awkward to hold onto.