vacation recap part 4

The last full day at the river was spent mostly out of doors. Brian Murphy kindly made the 50 minute trip from Birmingham out to the farm to spend the day with us. We started out after brunch by shooting black powder guns with Stephen's uncle Louis. I had never shot a black powder rifle before. I am not really into guns all that much but the black powder experience was a rewarding one. Modern artillery, by contrast, is so efficient, cold, and precise. It is to a the shooting world as a cigarette is to the world of tobacco smoking. But black powder rifles are more akin to the pipe. More of the senses are involved and there is more interaction with the various workings of the experience. There is a fuller and more learned relationship between the shooter and the shooting event. When I took my first shot there was a satisfying boom (as opposed to the crack of a more modern rifle) that reverberated through my ears and body in a pleasant manner. And there was a blast of smoke out of the barrel that blew back in a cloud around my face. The smell of powder and sulfur filled my nose. I felt like I had been a part of something, as if I was bodily connected to the event I initiated.

The day, Monday, was the most pleasant of the days we spent there. We didn't even need our jacket by the afternoon. After shooting guns we (meaning me, Stephen, and Brian) went down to Big Cypress to try the boat again. I could go on and on about how nice it was out on the water and what a relaxing and fun time I had rowing about and talking and joking around. But instead I'll just list a few links to photos that Brian took. here is one of me (as you can see I am getting a head start on facial-hairy-February) and one of Stephen.

After boating we went back to the house and gathered the kids for more outdoor exploration. We eventually made our way down to the river shore (for the first time) and looked at rocks, skipped them, and tossed sticks out into the water for Foster to retrieve. Earlier Stephen had told my children about the possibility of finding petrified wood about and what do you know? August found himself a piece. Just as the sun was going down the whole gang met up near the red house and we took some group pictures and said our farewells to Brian.

We finished off our vacation with another relaxing evening by the fire playing cards. Thank you, Matt and Alex for meeting me for lunch on Friday. Sorry I missed you Jed. And thanks for hanging out with me all afternoon, Matt. Thank you, Brian, for coming out to the farm to see me. I always enjoy our brief times together. And a special thanks to Stephen and Rebekah. Your friendship, hospitality, and generosity ministers to us greatly - more than we probably even realize.